Eric and I decided to shamelessly promote our businesses this year (and well, last year and the year before...) and entered ourselves into the Plain City parade! The girls had a grand ole time chucking (not throwing) candy at innocent bystanders. I had to keep reigning in Haylie, she would throw it at anything that stood still. How much candy does she think a tree would eat? 
Wow-now that looks sooo professional! :)
What a poser!
So cute!
Okay, I'll be the first one to admit I'm sooo not crazy about soccer! I'll avoid it like the plague if I can. I didn't play it growing up, I don't really like watching it, and it seems to take up the majority of your life on Saturdays (not my idea of a good time). So, that being said, I decided to introduce Haylie to the wonderful world of T-ball. 
Batter up!
I hope Haylie likes this, because I love watching her play. It's so much more interesting to me (although watching 5-year-olds play is a little like watching "yard ornaments"-not much there yet). Daddy made sure she looked the part. Check out those awesome softball pants.
Haylie's team was called "The Ladybugs", which consisted of a bunch little blonde girls and Haylie. They were all so cute.
Yay for T-ball!
It's been quite a while since I last blogged so it looks like I have some major catching up to do.
Over the Memorial Day weekend Eric and I took the girls camping up to one of our favorite spots-Hoop Lake! It wasn't very warm, but at least there wasn't any snow on the ground and it stayed fairly dry considering the endless supply of storm clouds that hung over us for most of the trip.
Still, it was time with my family so it could have rained the entire time and I still would've been just as happy. 
Eric and Mikaela reeling in a fish!
Haylie likes to reel 'em in herself.
Mikaela's fish! It was good!
On our way home we got held up on the freeway by a bunch of cows. The cowboys were herding them right down the middle of the road. We saw one cow headed the other direction, we figured it was headed to the "Green Onion" (the only bar in town). It looked like it needed a drink. Now there's something you don't see everyday right outside your vehicle window!
Don't get me wrong-when it comes to my two daughters there isn't anything I wouldn't do for them as long as it's in their best interests or best for my sanity. Case in point:
While visiting our neighborhood grocery store this evening with both kids in tow, I had no more than stepped inside when Mikaela (bless her little demon soul) decides to throw the big one since her favorite shopping carts have all been taken (you know the ones I'm talking about-those gigantic carts with the "sports car" attached to the helm which make them ultra inconvenient and prone to ramming anything and any child within a 10 foot radius).
There's screaming, wailing, gnashing of teeth, and a few death threats involved before we finally head off in search of food. Everyone in the store gives me the evil eye because, heaven forbid, a child should throw a temper tantrum that I apparently cannot control. Even those who were looking on sympathetically are no match for Mikaela's ferocious antics and thus, look for the nearest escape route. I can't say that I blame them. I was beginning to do the same!
And why is it the elderly old ladies think they need to hone in on these "extra special bonding moments"? I mean, I'm trying to threaten bodily harm and the maiming of extremities when these gals show up and want to wax nostalgic about how they remember going through this as well. One granny was bold enough to tell me, "Don't worry, honey, this too shall pass." Uh huh, yeah well, would you mind keepin' it moving on down the aisle so I can have a serious "smackdown" with the spawn of Hades masquerading as my child without catching crap for it? And just for the record, I would NEVER smack my child....in public. :)
It's much more fun to keep them in anticipation. Kidding, people! Sheesh!
Thus ends another fun-filled day. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. Wait...
Driving home from the store last week I asked Mikaela if she needed to go to the bathroom. She told me no. Haylie took this as her opportunity to "educate" Mikaela on the finer points of listening to her body. Here is just a small sample...enjoy:
Haylie: Mikaela, you need to listen to your body and your brain. It tells you you need to go potty.
Mikaela: Uh uh.
Haylie: Yes huh. You will pee your pants if you don't listen to your body.
Mikaela: (in full-on monkey voice) I don't "fink" so.
Haylie: Mikaela, what does your body say? It says you need to go potty. Mom, tell her she needs to go potty.
Mikaela: I don't "fink" so, Haylie.
Me: Well, if I tell her to go potty, then how will she know when her body tells her to go?
Haylie: Because you will tell her body.
Mikaela: Whatever, Haylie.
So glad Haylie feels the need to make sure I'm doing my job as a mother correctly.
Last week we lost a really good neighbor. He took his own life and unfortunately, Eric was the one who had to help his family take care of the aftermath. He was a good person, and a great neighbor. We are very sad to lose him, it won't be the same without him. In a weird way it's been a good lesson for us though. It makes us both appreciate what we have and the blessings we've been given. It has also given me a greater sense of making sure I do what's right and making sure I teach my girls what's right so that I will have the opportunity to live with my eternal family after we leave this life.
Thank goodness for eternal families.
I had completely written off being able to go to Wicked in Salt Lake, since tickets sold out in less than 30 minutes, until my fabulous sister Darby called me with the best news in the whole world. Her co-worker couldn't use the tickets she had bought and wanted to know if Darby or someone she knew could use them. Heck yes! Darby called me and asked if I wanted them. Again, heck yes! I was totally excited. I'd never seen the musical, but I knew all the songs by heart. I went with Mama Sue and we had an awesome time. The story line was great, the actors were wonderful and hearing the songs performed live was so cool. I love theater!
The stage just before the musical started. Haylie was pretty disappointed that she couldn't come. She knows all the songs by heart, too. I told her next time it comes, she can definitely go with me. Thanks a bunch, Darby! I heart you!
