10 can you believe it?

Carter kid has had a birthday and is now 10 years old.

I can't believe it and I'm so proud of him. He's one of the happy and friendliest kids who is great at reading. He's read several thousand pages of books this year and continues to learn a video game like it's a priority. (which to him, it is). 

For some reason it's a little hard for me to let go of all the organized games and theme parties. I realized he just wanted to have a fun time with 10 of his friends. So we had the trampoline, pogo stick, wii, a movie and basketball going.  And I kept up with providing the snacks for these hungry boys. Instead of a cake, he wanted an ice cream sundae bar complete with strawberries, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream that squirts from a can. (mental note: you had to stop the squirts directly to the mouth).  The party was so much fun, I wondered why I don't do this every year.  At this age, I guess they don't need the themes so much and the cake that takes you over 3 hours to decorate. (unless you like doing that stuff of course).

He chose to have his birthday dinner at soup plantation because he loves it there. I had made a good old fashioned mom cake. You know the types of cakes your mom put together that didn't look all fancy, but did the job? I made a 9x13 and decided it looked like a Wii controller.  With a few strokes of icing and copying a controller with the buttons, it was complete with a message at the bottom of the cake, "Wii love Carter". That made him very happy.

I love this sweet and caring boy. I know I'm getting mushy...but a very happy birthday to you Carter.  We love you so much and are very happy you are a part of  our family.

Carter's mad dash

 

Carter made the front page of our city's local paper, the Acorn.

He is the in middle (4th in from each side) with red shorts on.

Last Saturday Carter had been training with his track team from his Elementary. His was to run the 67 meters race in the city's "Jr. Olympics" where all the teams from all the elementary schools of our city compete in different events.  Carter did a wonderful job and stayed in pack during the mad dash to the finish. He got to run on the high school track, have a stadium of parents cheering, and of course his highlight...visit the snack bar.

He was calm and collected. He did not get nervous...instead he was funny as he joked just before the race with the officiator. How did I get kids that manage stress much better than I do?  Carter, we are so proud of you! Welcome to your chicken bowl and skittles after your mad dash. You earned that trip to the snack bar, for sure!! Great work trying something new, practicing, running a mile at least once a week in training.  You did great!

Funny story: I was at church and a friend asked me if Carter was on the front page of the newspaper (that I must admit just ends up in the recycle bin at my house a lot).  I told her no, that must be someone else. But, since she mentioned, I dug through my recycle bin. Luckily it wasn't far from the top, and whalla there he was. Just goes to show that going to church can really help you with responsibilities as a mother.  AND, that others are watching out for your family. Thanks Tammi!!

Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration

People around the world now have a new way to learn about Joseph Smith, the founder and first president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A film called Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration is now available online, marking the first time the Church has shared a full-length film on the Internet.

This movie clip depicts accurately events surrounding the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ being restored on this earth. Joseph Smith is the first Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our church is also known to others as "mormons" because of our "book of mormon" which we deem as sacred scripture along with the Bible.

Reporter Ruins Bubble World Record Attempt.

Any you thought you had a bad day...watch this.
You know I'm gullible, accident or not...it's hard not to laugh (and then feel a little guilty for laughing after).
Scott thinks it was staged...I guess we know who is not so gullible. Is it obvious to everyone else but me??

Gullible Me

Last week, at the beginning of April I read an article that shocked me in our local newspaper for our city.  Our town has a cute smiley face mowed in the grass on the side of the hill as you enter the city. In the paper, an article appeared that said a group was taking to court the owner of the smiley face hill. 
"A collection of activists is fighting to have the smile on Simi Valley’s iconic Happy Face Hill turned upside-down, saying the figure is misleading and potentially harmful to the public.
The group, which calls itself Bummer League Against Happiness (BLAH), has approached the property owner demanding that the symbolic face at the city’s eastern entrance be turned into a frown.
“What’s everybody got to be so happy about?” said the group’s unofficial leader, Ed Stickindamud. “Unemployment is sky high. Can’t afford gas, can’t afford food. There are wars, natural disasters, famine, you name it. We think the message the hill is sending is one of ignorance. Ignorance is bliss. Is that what the people of Simi Valley want representing their city? Ignorance?”
Last week, an attorney representing BLAH presented a lawsuit in court alleging that the smile that greets thousands of drivers entering Simi Valley each day amounts to “false advertising.”
“This image is blatantly optimistic, and we think it’s wrong,” said attorney Doug Downer. “For years, that silly face has given people a reason to smile and forget their problems—does that sound safe? What if everyone just forgot their problems? What kind of world would we be living in?”

I thought this action was ridiculous and was a little bugged by it. I called Scott and kept saying, "can you believe this??".  I mentioned it to my kids and how it was important to be optimistic and happy. I guess I made it into kind of a big deal. Later that day, Jacob read the full article. The last sentence said  it was an April Fools Joke.  Jacob (and I did too) thought it was sooo funny that I would fall hard for that joke. I didn't even catch that the man's name was "stick in da mud".  He told me that this story has to be on our annual Sargent Sayings. Because he doesn't like that the sayings are all what my kids have said.

So, spread some optimistic smiles today! I always knew I was terribly gullible, and now my kids know it too. I had to laugh at myself with this one.