Taking the plunge....

So I have decided to plunge myself into the "photography abyss"....not sure where it will lead me, that remains to be seen. I did however have a awesome week meeting new friends and learning how to take a better pic. All I can say is...."my poor boys"! This is the first class of (probably) many I'll take from Jon Williams. He is a crack-up....and can be easily offended LOL!!! (not really)

School Days Begin Again....

We are the Champions....

Congrats to AC OGDEN and my oldest boy!! They won this years Boys U14 Striker's Cup Championship....good times :)

Fresh La Roca Salsa....

Ok....so I'm not known for much in my family, especially when it comes to anything that involves the kitchen. Now that's not to say I don't know how to cook, it's just I don't enjoy it. The clean-up especially. However....there are 2 things that I make that my family thinks ROCK! The pic above of my FRESH SALSA is one of them. I have been told that I should package the stuff up and sell it.

I would share my recipe....but to be truthful there really isn't one. I always use the same ingredients. It's just I don't really measure anything. It's all on taste. I just know when it tastes right. I keep adding stuff until I'm satisfied. I love the fact that I have a salsa garden. I honestly think that having fresh organic tomatoes, peppers etc. is the secret to it's yumminess.

My oldest said to me while I was making the salsa today..."Mom you make the best fresh salsa and pizza".....aaahhh geee thanks. I guess I'll be making some HOMEMADE PIZZA this week :)

P.S. My boys have officially named my salsa "La Roca Salsa"

Severely Outnumbered....

Lagoon....that is where my 10 year old wanted to go for his friend B-Day Party.  Of course I couldn't just take him and his friends, I had to take the rest of my Boy Band.  So in conclusion....I was SEVERELY OUTNUMBERED by boys....oh well....what's new?

8/8/09....

What a fun BiRtHDAy!  My newly minted 10 year old couldn't have planned it better.  

Sushi for lunch, Ice Cream for dessert, and a Movie to top it all off.  

Now all that's left is the friend party....sigh :)

HaPPy BiRtHDaY to my SuMmER BAbY!!!

He's finally reached the DOUBLE DIGITS!!!  And in true fashion (my #2) is celebrating his 10th BiRtHdAY on the soccer field.  Why change tradition?  GOOD LUCK today buddy and I hope you have an AWESOME birthday.  Good thing we had your party last night....your old 

mom is exhausted :)

AC Ogden....

I think I tend to not post alot of pics of my oldest....hmmmmmm I wonder why?  Maybe because he is such a BRAT when I ask to take a picture of him!!  I honestly don't hardly ask him anymore.  The header of  him and his BROS in the pool took me a good long 10 minute conversation (or should I say pleading) on my part.  The picture took 10 seconds to take, his whining was well over 10 minutes....the little SHIZ!!!

Whatever....he knows I eventually win in the end.  Here is a pic of his OLD but NEW boys U14 soccer team.  I took it up at the Park City tournament.  OFC is now the new and improved AC Ogden....so there you have it.  

P.S.  Notice that my other boys love it when mommy takes their pic....hopefully they don't catch whatever it is my oldest has :) ooooohhhhh wait it's called StInKY MeAN PUBerTY!!!!!

Finally....

Ok.....one would think that if you grew up with a pool in your backyard then you would be an avid swimmer. NOPE!!!!  Not one of my boys has been very adaptive to water....at least in the beginning.  They get that from their dad....definitely not from me.  I love to swim and have always loved the water.  I was even a lifeguard back in the day.  I'm pretty sure their dad didn't even take swimming lessons.....but he can do a mean doggie paddle LOL!! 

Anyway....it's taken just over 5 years for my youngest to decide to attempt the DEEP END along with the SLIDE and DIVING BOARD.  It's funny what a little peer pressure will do.  We had my friend Tiffiny and her kids over to swim the other day.  Her little 5 year old was jumping, sliding, dunking etc.  Well that's all it took....the pics above tell the rest. 

NOW my youngest wants to swim daily....which is fine by me.  BUT he also insists that I go down the slide and off the diving board as well.  Uuuuummmmm I'm more of a lay by the pool with a cold drink and a good book kind of mom.....but I guess I'll have to give in occasionally :)

So to complete my story....my 3 older boys have turned into awesome little swimmers....and my baby is well on his way.

Hanging Cleats....

Last night I had a ton of fun volunteering for the HANGING CLEATS Foundation.  Tiffiny, her hubby and myself had a great time.

The Hanging Cleats Foundation's goal is to provide a better path for children in underprivileged countries where drugs and violence are part of their every day lives by constructing/reconstructing soccer facilities, donating soccer related equipment and teaching basic soccer classes.

The foundation held the event at the Kimball Arts Center in Park City in conjunction with the MLS All-Star game this week.  The game is July 29th at the RIO TINTO Stadium! The boys and I have tickets....should be exciting!  Last night there were a few soccer player/celebrities there....of course I really had no idea who any of them were....but it was still pretty cool.

I especially like the pic (below) of Tiff and I in front of the "step and repeat" (told ya T there was a special name for it LOL)!!!

La Roca Pioneer Cup....

Congrats to Crossfire and La Roca.  I am so proud of my boys.  Both of their soccer teams did awesome in this years Pioneer Cup.  La Roca took 1st place in the U11 division!!!  Crossfire came in 3rd overall in U9.  I couldn't be happier!

Now we just need to get through 2 more weekends of tourneys plus motocross racing....sigh....I'm a happy tired :)  

Summer Fieldtrips continued....

My baby....

Weekly Summer Fieldtrips thus far....

Soooo......what to do with my boys this summer??  That is the burning question.  No summer vacations are planned as of yet :(  So I have decided that a weekly summer fieldtrip is in order. This is what we have accomplished thus far....

1. The Living Planet Aquarium

2. Discovery Gateway Children's Museum

3. Hill Aerospace Museum

4. Museum of Ancient Life (Thanksgiving Point)

5. Plus movies...movies....movies etc.

I still struggle on deciding what to do.  If anyone has any great ideas LMK.  Future fieldtrips include: Timpanogas Cave, FrontRunner/Gateway Fountains, Satellite Towers and Ogden Parkway (biking).  Rainbow Gardens (hiking).

The best part of our weekly fieldtrips is that my parents usually come along for the ride, which in turn helps me out a ton!!  The most annoying part (at least for my boys) is the incessant picture taking from my dad and myself!!  Too bad boys....get use to it :)

I'll try to post pics etc. when I have the time....

4evermyMXboys....

I've been meaning to make a legitimate post for awhile.....it's just that this SUMMER has been hectic.  Here are some pics of my boys competing in last weekends MX Races at Hot Springs. My youngest raced for his first time....oh my....I'm not sure I can handle my baby growing up sooo fast!!!  They all did awesome! 

My CeCe opted not to compete this time....which I had absolutely noooo problem with.  He tends to be very competitive....which then leads him to push himself....which then leads him to either win the race or (sometimes)....tumble, wreck, get his bell rung, eat dirt, smack it ect.  So thankfully I was saved from watching any of that.  I'm not a very good MX spectator.  I literally about throw-up each time any of them race.  Luckily when I have my camera it takes the edge off.....but only a little :(

Being a mom of 4 boys....what can I say?!

Can't wait.....

until September 1st.

It's official....

...I'm a mom to a TEENAGER!!!  Whoa, what the heck, how did this happen?  I guess this means I'm getting old :(  Anyway HAPPY BIRTHDAY buddy!    I'm kinda jealous because his gift this year is a round trip plane ticket to HAWAII!  He is flying over to Oahu to visit his best friend who moved there last year.  He'll have two glorious weeks without us.....:(  I was going to join him half way through his stay, but I opted to save for a new camera.  PRIORITIES!!  

Thanks to everyone for his b-day cash.  I told him not to ask for gifts this year....spending money for HAWAII made more sense.

My May Babies....HaPPy BiRtHdAy!!!

Cold Hard Cash (Isn't that what everyone wants for their b-day?!)....
Typical Water Fight....
My baby is 5, my oldest is 13....

1st Pool Day of the Season....

Zoo Birthday.....

Today we celebrated my baby's 5th birthday.  All he wanted to do was go to the Zoo with his friend Bubba.  Bubba and Camo....those two are quite a pair.  We threw in a big brother as well for the birthday festivities.  Good Times....happy birthday buddy!!!

My BABY is turning 5.....I think I'm gonna cry!!!

Happy Mother's Day....

So this is where it all started?!

4evermy....what?

4 fine examples of the MINDLESS ENTERTAINMENT we soooo enjoy!

Redheads....

SO today was all about Redhead's.....I guess.  When I was out and about today two different people mentioned that they liked my hair color.  Plus I stumbled upon the pic above while surfing the web (it says "Do we even need any other hair colors?)  Also while I was driving to SLC for a soccer game I noticed a license plate holder that said...."Blonde's get noticed, but Redhead's get remembered"..... ohhh that is soooooo TRUE!!!  

PLUS today even my husband mentioned he liked my hair....now those of you that know my husband realize how rare of a comment that is LOL!!!

Anyway....I just thought it was worth mentioning :)

More photo class pics....

Here are a few more pics from my photography class.  I have definitely learned alot.   I'm not looking to be any type of professional photographer. This class just teaches the BASICS! I just want to know how to use my camera, how to take a decent pic, and how to photo edit in photoshop. (Yeah I finally got CS4!!!)

Anyway....the photo editing part will come later.  I'm planning on taking a photoshop class next fall with my dad.  Should be interesting....

Photography Class....

Here is a pic of my homework assignment from my photography class.  It represents "Capturing Motion"  Thanks to my dad for being my homework partner.  Jeez we took a ton of pics today :)

Easter Fun....

Here are some pics of our Easter Break.  From coloring eggs, to various Easter egg hunts....to watching my 86 year old grandma ride a 4-wheeler :)  That was awesome....