How was your Monday morning?

So this is how my Monday morning started. I was taking Dalton to school, I was stopped waiting for traffic so that I could turn and WHAM!!!!!!!

We were hit from behind by a 16 year old kid. Poor kid he was so upset. Luckily no one was hurt and most of the damage was to his 1991 Lexus. He called his mom and she came over to the scene. First thing she said after she asked if he was okay, "well you are now, wait until your dad sees this."

I don't know if he was upset from the accident or because he knows what his dad will say when he sees what happened. The officer was real nice and told the poor kid, no big deal I have been in tons of crashes. As long as no one was hurt you will be fine. I would sure hate to be that kid at home tonight!!! Oh wait! I have been that kid I was in a couple of accidents when I was 16, I think the thought of what could happen at home later is alot more upsetting than a little fender bender.

Happy Birthday Gavin!!

Happy Birthday to my baby Gavin. Gavin turned 6 years old today. I asked him this morning if he felt different now that he is 6. He said that he felt way different, cause now he is big!!!!

I can't believe that he came into my life only 6 short years ago. I don't remember what life was like before he was born. He has always been such a sweet momma's boy, I hope he stays that way forever.

Gavin is having a birthday party this weekend with some of his friends. He has never had a "friend" birthday party before, he is very excited. So am I, because I will not have all the kids at my house, we are going to lil flippers gymnastics. It will be so much fun, they entertain the kids for an hour or so then we go to the party room for the goodies. The best part is they clean it all up!!!

So Happy Birthday my sweet boy!! I love you very much and I am very proud of you!!!!

Volcanoes and Soccer games

We are a little out of order here, but I needed to post these. Gavin played his last soccer game of the fall season a couple of weeks ago.. He loves soccer and is very good at it. He scores every game and usually 5 or more.

He is already asking me when spring season starts, he still wants to play. As for mom I need a break from all the sports between soccer and football, I am exhausted.

These pictures are backwards. Connor had to make a working volcano for his 5th grade science class. I hate projects like this, but we did have fun. We made a ton of salt dough to make the volcano. My nephews were at our house while their parents were in Hawaii, and they had tons of fun helping to make the volcano. Ray painted the volcano and added the dinosaurs (i thought this was Connor's project). Ray did get carried away with the dino's, so I had to hide the rest of them, otherwise there would have been 50 dino's on the volcano.

Connor took the volcano to school and they got to make them erupt.. He didn't want to use the diet coke and mentos method so we used old fashioned water, baking soda, and vinegar. Also added a bit of dish soap and red food coloring to make it look real. Connor said that his volcano was a hit.

MINI BOWL CHAMPS!!!!!

Yeah!!! Football is finally over. Connor's team the West Haven Grizzlies are the Jr. Pee Wee champions 2008. Gavin and his friend Brooklyn were the half-time entertainment!!

Connor played a great game as did all the kids. We are so proud of all that he accomplished this year. The game was played at Weber State University- Stewart Stadium. The kids all had a great time and played their hearts out.

The final score was West Haven 34 and Plain City 8. CONGRATULATIONS GRIZZLIES!!!!!

Here is a great picture of Connor with his coach Mike Meacham. Connor got to run in the plays to the quarterback. Thanks to Mike and all the coaches for a great year!!!! Hope to see you all next year!!!

GO GRIZZLIES!!!

I know it has been a long time since I posted--I have no excuses, I am a slacker!!!! Today Connor played his football game at Weber High School. It was the semi-finals for his Jr. Pee Wee team! Connor plays in West Haven and is on the West Haven Maroon Jr. Pee Wee team. This season has been a blast. Connor's team has fantastic coaches, and he has learned so much, and I am not just talking football.
This season the West Haven Maroon Jr. Pee Wee has been undefeated. The boys all work so hard and give it everything they've got. I am not a big football fan, but when it is my son out there playing I absolutely love it!!! Connor is #19 this is the first year he has ever played, and he loves it.
MINI-BOWL here we come. Connor's team won the semi-final in the playoffs and are off to the mini-bowl next week, which will be played at Weber State University! I am so proud of Connor he has worked so hard and really accomplished more than I could have imagined!!
Good luck Grizzlies!!! and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Happy Birthday MOM!!!

Yes, two posts today!!! Today is my mom's birthday. Last night we celebrated with the family, it was a combined party for Mom, Dalton, and Connor. Three birthdays in one week gets a little crazy, and I think everyone gets sick of cake and ice cream. My dad brought the birthday cake, I think we might run out!!!! All the guys went out back and played a game of football with the kids. It was fun to watch them all have so much fun.Naoko's mom Emeko was here from Japan, she is here visiting with Jake and Naoko and baby Ty, her first grandchild. She is such a fun lady, and the kids love her. She has just kind of adopted all the grandkids as her own.

Here is another picture of the "kids" playing football. I hope the "men" didn't get beat up too much!!!! Happy Birthday MOM!!!

Happy Birthday Connor

I am such a slacker mom!!! I am a few days late with this post. Friday Sept. 5 we celebrated Connor's 11th birthday. Connor was born Sept. 5th, 1997 and weighed 8lbs. We didn't get to do much on Connor's birthday, between school and football practice our days are pretty full.
We did manage to go and get pizza after football practice, and I had ran and got a cake so that we could sing to Connor and have cake and ice cream. Connor wanted a skateboard for his birthday, but not a "Walmart" skateboard. So Ray took him to get a custom made skateboard, he was pretty excited.

Connor is such a fun kid to be around. He is full of life, and always keeps us on our toes!! I love Connor very much and feel very blessed to have such a wonderful son. Happy Birthday Connor.
I love you!!!!

Happy Birthday Dalton

Yesterday Dalton turned 14 years old. It is hard to believe how old he is, time flies when you are having fun. Dalton was born at RAF Lakenheath, England. Ray was stationed there from Feb 1994 to Feb 1997. Dalton was born at 10:10pm on Aug. 30, 1994 he weighed 8lbs 3oz and was 21 1/2 inches long.
Here is a picture of Dalton with my Grandpa Dalton. We named baby Dalton after him and I think that it just tickled him to death. My mom and Grandpa came to England when Dalton was born. They were actually on the plane, when he was born. I was so happy to see them.
Dalton has been such a joy to our family. Even though he is a moody teenager now, I love him more and more everyday.
Happy Birthday Dalton. We love you very much. Ray is taking Dalton, Connor, Rayleigh, and a friend of Dalton's to Speedstreet in Layton today, they are going to be go-cart racing all day!!

First Day of School

Here we are on the first day of school. Can I just say I am soooo excited that the kids are going back to school. As you can see Dalton isn't quite as excited as I am, but he was up and ready pretty early. Dalton is in the 9th grade this year at Rocky Mountain Jr. High, he is getting so big.
Connor got up and ready before I even got up, I don't think that it will last long, but I can enjoy it for today. He left for the bus stop at 7:35am and the bus doesn't come until 8am. I am sure by tomarrow he will be back to not wanting to get up and fighting me the whole time. Connor is in the 5th grade at Hooper Elem. They grow up so fast.
And last but not least, here is Gavin. He is sooo excited to start kindergarten today, he can barely stand himself!!! Gavin will be going to Quest Academy (charter school) and yes that is a uniform he is wearing. I will have 3 hours to myself everyday, I have no idea what I will do with myself, I am sure I can find something!!!

Football

I know that I haven't posted in ages, my sister keeps reminding me, so here is a new post!! Connor has started playing football for West Haven city recreation (Hooper doesn't have a recreation department).
Connor has been in conditioning for about 3 weeks and had his first game last Saturday!! It was a blow-out!!! Connor's team, the West Haven Grizzlies (marroon) won their first game against Mountain Crest the score was 40-0. Connor is #19 and did a great job!!!
Here is a picture of Gavin (in the red) holding the banner at halftime for the team to run through
The team that Connor is playing on is a great team and he has a great coach. This same team and coach went undefeated last year and also won the mini-bowl. I sure hope that Connor has as much fun playing as I do watching. I think he is having fun, minus all the bruises he comes home with everyday after practice. GOOD LUCK GRIZZLIES!!!!!!!

My baby!!!!

It's official, my baby is growing up! Gavin just learned to ride a 2-wheel bike. We went over to my parents house a couple of days ago and the boys(melissa's) were riding their bikes. Gavin wanted to try so what the heck and he just took off on it!! I guess it is time to remove the training wheels.
Today we took off the training wheels on his bike and fixed the back tire which had a flat, and off he went. He rode all day long, just grinning the whole time, he was so proud of himself and so was I. Gavin is growing up so fast, he will start kindergarten next month, it will be so strange to have all 3 boys in school. What is a mom to do??? Gavin thinks I will take a nap!!!!!

project 101

So as everyone that knows me knows that I am not at all crafty or creative, I had never ever painted a piece of furniture until this last week. Ray's mom (aka: grandma funny) came to visit us from Texas this past weekend. She is so talented and I think can do just about anything.
We have had these old pieces of furniture for several years, they belonged to Ray's great aunt. They are great pieces of furniture but the color was horrible. I guess 40 or 50 years ago yellow was a good color to paint furniture, not just any yellow but a dingy yellow. So grandma funny came to "help" us refinish the furniture. She came up with this great idea of painting it this beautiful blue that matched the chair I had bought and then put a glaze over the top. The best part about this is that the paint we used with the glaze we got at Home Depot for only $1. It was in the "oops" bin, and we fell in love with it.
Here is the finished product it is hard to tell the colors my camera didn't do it justice. The next piece she got all crazy with and I just love it. Thanks grandma funny we love you.

Vietnam War Memorial

Last Saturday Ray and I took the kids to see the traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall. I have always wanted to see the real one, but since I don't think I will be traveling to D.C. anytime soon I wanted to go and see this version. There were alot of Veterans there that day and it really made me thankful for what these people sacrificed for our country.My moms cousin Thurle E Case Jr was killed in Vietnam on March 16, 1970. Although I never knew him I have always heard stories about him. I was born on his birthday and I have always been close to his parents, my aunt Dot and uncle Thurle. This was the main reason I wanted to see the wall, I wanted to find his name and I did.
Thanks you to all veterans, for everything you do everyday for my family and this country!!

Happy Fathers Day

I just wanted to let the fathers in my life how much I appreciate them. First my dad, he is a very important person to me, I think more now that I am an adult and a parent, I understand him a lot more. I am very thankful for all he has done for me, and I love him very much. He is the best dad a girl could ever want!! I love you Dad!!!
Next I want Ray the father of my children and my wonderful husband how much I love and appreciate him. I couldn't nor would I want to go through all the trials, and tribulations, also all the wonderful times we have gone through together with our children, I am very blessed to have such a wonderful husband and my kids have a great dad! I love you honey!!!

Rub a dub three "MEN" in a tub

Last week Gavin and I drove to St. George to help Melissa and Matt move, I don't think we helped too much--I had too much fun playing with Ryker and Gavin played with Cooper.
The night before we left to drive home, all three boys needed a bath, so they thought it was fun to get in Melissa's BIG tub!! Gavin and Cooper were real silly, Ryker was just happy to be there.
Welcome home VanKomen family, we are so glad that you are back with the "crazy" families!!

Happy Birthday Ray

Today is Ray's 42nd birthday. Seems like yesterday he was just 26 years old and we got married. He is a great dad and fabulous husband.
Ray doesn't like to celebrate his birthday but the kids and I got him a small present and made him a cake. My parents did come over to wish him a happy birthday, and Brittney sent him a text from the Grover family.
The only thing Ray wanted for his birthday was a "boob" cake. I am not very creative and wasn't sure how to make one, I looked for Hostess snowballs, but couldn't find any, so I improvised. I baked two "boobs" in large custard cups and then covered them in whip cream, and of course with cherries on top. I don't know who got the most giggles out of it. The kids or my mom.