Sunday, May 10, 2009

Good Job Michael and Jacob


Michael and Jacob both did a wonderful  job at their piano recital.  We are so proud of them!
Jacob played Jackson Blues and The Spider and Michael played Night Storm and Dreams Come True.  Way to be Boys!

Jacob  was awarded a bronze medal.  He recieved this award because he had memorized and mastered a certain number of songs since the beginning of the year.  Great Job Jacob!





Saturday, May 9, 2009

Your Mission if you choose to accept it..is....


For Michael's 10th Birthday Party we decided to throw a SPY/SECRET AGENT party.  This was such a raging success and so much fun.  Here's what we did:

First, the boys had to dress up in the secret agent attire and get their pictures taken for their Secret Agent ID badge.  I just had to include most of the pictures because they are so funny and cute.  So much drama!






He may have a future in the Mafia.......


Scotty had to get in on the action!
                                  Jacob too!  After the boys finished with getting checked in..they were told that they were going to have to go through agent training.  First we worked on improving their memory/recall skills.  A tray of 20 random things was placed in the center of a table.  They could look at it for 2 minutes.  When time was up they had to write down as many things as they could remember. They had 2 minutes.  Fun.

Then they played "Who Am I?"  The name of a secret agent was placed on their backs and in 20 question style they had to figure out who they were.  We used agents like James Bond, Jason Bourne, Mission Impossible's..Ethan, Cody Banks, etc and even Scooby Doo.


Then the secret agents had to got through physical fitness training.  My big boys set up a big crazy obstacle course in the back yard.  It was so cool!!!

Check out the string maze ....the boys had to go through it without touching any of the string just like those lazer security alarms in museums.  There are just a couple of pictures here but they boys had to jump over things...climb through stuff, hop etc.  The boys loved it so much they went back through the obstacle course  several times.


After all that training, we congratulated them and told them we were sure they had worked up an appetite.  So to celebrate their successful training, we were taking them to dinner at the Mystery Cafe'  They came inside to our dining room and each boy was given a menu with three courses.  Each menu item  had "mystery names,"  such as "Fried Idaho" for potato chips, "barnyard strut" for chicken drumsticks, "brown bubbler" for rootbeer, etc.  Jonathan and Joseph acted as the waiters and took the kid's orders and then I set up their plates with their "mystery order" in the kitchen.   The kids loved this and it was so much fun!






Our only girly guest.  This is Ella our next door neighbor.  Her cute mom lets me borrow her very often.  Ella  loves to hang with the boys and we love having her around.  

After the dinner they danced, goofed off and played in the back yard with spy music blaring.   I have included some of the spy music here on this blog's playlist.  It was really fun.  

Then we showed a very cool clip of a spy movie with the coolest stunts for about 15 minutes.  Then we said, "Agents you are now ready to try out your new secret agent/spy skills."  We handed out flashlights and walkie talkies and sent them outside to play night games and doorbell ditch!   The kids had a riot...pure fun!  After doorbell ditching, (most of our neighbors don't mind and the ones who do we avoided) the boys played flashlight tag.  We got a bonfire started and they all came and sat down for a bit when the air got chilly.    We were going to play "Murder in the Dark," but we ran out of time.  
                                     Run Hide!
                                 Hurry..duck behind the car!
                                   Ok, guys be ready....to run!
                                  Ooh the excitement!
                                  The bonfire was great...it got a little chilly on that spring night.

  

After they were tuckered out we went inside and I presented a mystery cake....a Baked Alaska! Michael requested this...for a second year in a row.. He loves this unique cake.    Most of the boys had never seen such a thing and were very curious when I popped the thing in the oven.  I told them it was a bit like a bomb.  When it was properly browned I took it out, lit the candles ..some were the kind that sparked...like a fuse...then we sang happy birthday and cut the crazy cake.  

Michael opened his wonderful presents from his wonderful friends. Michael got a digital camera from his Mom and Dad and he was just beside himself.   This boy is such a techno and can't wait to start his own blog and make lego movies.  



Happy Happy Birthday Michael!  I hope you never forget your 10th Birthday Party and all your fun friends!   What  a fun time.



Happy Birthday to Michael...



This is my angel boy.  He is our child who is so good that we wonder if he isn't just too good to be here.....you know what I mean?  He was a sweet, patient happy baby and a calm easy going toddler and has grown into a peacemaker boy, kindest brother to Jacob and a complete joy to his parents.  He turned 10 today and that makes me happy and ....sad.   I know how fast the years go after this magical age.  One day they are 11 and then you turn around and they are taller than you and speak to you with this low voice.....and that little boy who tugged on your hand and said "look mom...." is gone.  Oh it is all good...but really does time have to go so fast?

The day Michael was born, just before we left for the hospital, I looked out the window and the morning sky was filled with pink fluffy clouds as the sun was just rising over the mountains.  Since I didn't think it was necessary to find out if we were having a boy or girl and wanted to be surprised I thought this was a sign from heaven that my impressions that we were having a girl were right!   Boy, (no pun intended!) was I surprised several hours later when Dr. Yamashiro announced, "it's a boy!"  I must say my disappointment at first was real but once I held this precious baby boy and felt of his beautiful little soul I had no regrets.  He is so precious to me....and I cannot imagine life without him.  Michael is such a blessing in our lives.  Happy 10th Birthday Michael... 

We have a New "Double Digit" in our FaMiLy!

We have a new "double digit" in the family!    Michael Thomas Knudsen turns 10 today! 



So Happy!
All ready for 1st grade!

Giddy-up Cowboy!  Riding horses at Grandpa's house!
The happiest sound in our house is Michael and Jacob laughing together.
That's my happy boy!

What a cute kindergartner



Lunch Date with Dad!




Cute little two year old...his favorite thing is doggies.
See ...this is one peaceful, serenely happy baby.  Pure sweetness and joy.

Happy 10th Birthday to Michael !!  "Double Digit" refers to reaching the age of TEN!  Michael is now a double digit member of the family and this means greater privileges and more independence.  If Michael wants to walk to a grocery store near our home ..he CAN..with a buddy ofcourse.  If he wants to stay up a bit later with his older brothers...he CAN....This is when our boys start learning more independence when it comes to money...managing their savings account...Being 10 means that he will be treated like he is older now..and will be expected to help more and be a big brother and do bigger things.  It is an exciting time!  I love the age of ten.  In my observation it is just a golden age for a boy...before life gets too complicated but old enough to be able to do so many things.    Happy Birthday Michael!


Friday, May 8, 2009

I adore this sister of mine!




Despite the fact that both of us were miserable with seasonal allergy symptoms...yes it is once again time for our annual pollen torture......my sweet sister Christine and I escaped from the daily grind and got away to BYU Women's Conference!  It was such a great day.  The presentations were absolutely rejuvenating to my mother soul!  Being with my sister was like a big breath of fresh air....with a big sneeze (pollen again)  I love my sister and her sweet companionship.  She is such a true friend to me.  After the last session, we wandered campus for a minute, spent some time browsing the Gordon B Hinckley Alumni House and then went to an early dinner...We ate at Costa Vida..Yum ...a close second to Cafe Rio but really hit the spot!  I love you Christini...thank you for a wonderful day!  



Monday, May 4, 2009

First Day of School 2009


 Eric (Senior) Joseph (Sophomore)  Hillcrest Highschool


 Jonathan 8th Grade Churchill Jr High




Michael (5th grade)   Jacob (3rd grade)    Scotty (preschool!)