Life's Better at the Beach

We always look forward to June for two reasons: 1) the school year finally ends, and 2) we get to spend a week at the beach with Jason's family. It's something we look forward to all year, and we are never disappointed.

After the last van load of cousins has arrived, we take a break from unpacking and run (literally) over to the beach to check things out. We always tell the kids not to get completely soaked since they're not in swimsuits yet.

Not sure why we bother since they all end up drenched either way. (And yes, this is my child.)

The next day we hit the beach en masse, and the fun really begins. The Mattingley boogie board collection continues to grow as more and more of the kids take to the waves. Here are Diego, Alyssa, and Corinne riding in together.

Jason with Courtney...waiting for the next wave

Tyler and Jordan with a plan...

...and later enjoying their sand couch with Alyssa and Corinne.

We also spend hours in the backyard pool. Here's a shot from one of the many pool baseball games. The kids use their hands to hit splash balls thrown by one of the dads. After they get a hit, they jump in and swim to designated bases around the pool. And it's always the entire group of kids against one or two dads. Some might call that unfair. The kids say it's all part of the fun.

Here's Alyssa performing in one of the many water contests of the week.

Anthony, Julia, and Courtney enjoying a ride on the giant alligator (which earned high honors as the best pool toy of the trip)

Baby Autumn looking glamorous pool side

Alyssa and Jordan enjoying the pool

Corinne, Diego, and Alyssa playing Toss Up outside on one of the decks

(This was their favorite place to eat dinner, too.)

Jordan and Tyler launching water balloons from the top deck down onto the people swimming in the pool

And here they are finally using their powers for good - trying to make ice cream. Everyone had fun tossing around the bags, but in the end, it was just too hot outside for the ice cream to freeze.

Question: What draws a crowd at the beach?

Answer: A stingray!

(It was dead but still pretty cool. And definitely the only way I'd ever touch one.)

Had to throw this one in. Here's me and what my sister-in-law calls my "trusty steed." This was about the extent of my pool fun this year. I had to keep my hand bagged (so it would stay dry) and elevated/iced (to keep the swelling down). Party on.

One of the best things about the beach is definitely cousin time. Here are Courtney and Julia hysterical about who knows what. It doesn't take much with those two.

The 16 little Mattingley beach bums

Rewind to June

So I've been a little negligent when it comes to blogging lately, and I'm pretty far behind, especially considering how busy the summer has been. And despite the temptation to do otherwise, I've vowed to catch up and get these memories posted. Truth be told, my scrapbooking fell by the wayside years ago, so sadly, this blog is now the main way we look back on our adventures. (Well, besides simply clicking thru endless pics on the computer...) So on that note, we'll jump back to June...

The music teacher at the girls' elementary school has the musical programs for the year assigned to specific grade levels, and it's the same year after year. (Some are more exciting than others.) Luckily for Alyssa, 4th grade means learning to play the recorder, and it's one the kids really look forward to - almost like a rite of passage. =)

(I should probably note that her concert was really in April, but I realized I forgot to blog it and threw it in here now.)

Then they put away their recorders and sang a few songs. (And no, Alyssa wasn't the only girl there, but she did somehow end up surrounded by boys.) =)

Here's Courtney singing at her concert. (This one really was in June.) Their school has a big International Night every year, and the 2nd graders are the designated entertainers. Despite Courtney's happy face, this would be one of the performances the kids don't get quite as excited about.

Note the attentive brother in the audience

Also that week was Jordan's final orchestra concert. And not just final because it was the end of the year - final because Jordan is switching to a different elective next year. It was a good two-year run, but violin just wasn't something he really loved. His heart belongs to the electric guitar.

The last week of school brought final awards ceremonies. Courtney received a special award for being the top reader for 2nd grade.

Then came Alyssa's award ceremony an hour later, and she received the award for being the top 4th grade reader! What a day!

Not the Best Way To Start Off the Summer

The short story: I lost a fight with a pool umbrella.

The longer version: We had been at the pool, and we could see rain on its way, so we were packing up to leave. The wind really picked up quickly, so (trying to be helpful, please note) I started to roll down the pool umbrella so it wouldn't blow away. As I was turning the crank, a huge gust of wind hit the umbrella and yanked it out of the table. Needless to say, my finger was in the wrong place at the wrong time. At this point, it's starting to rain, the wind is crazy, and there's thunder and lightning. Kind of a madhouse feeling as everyone is scrambling to leave. I knew I'd hurt my finger, but I was surprised to look down and see the poor thing - twitching and crooked. Once we were in the van, I said to the kids, "Hey guys, I think I'm going to have to go to the ER."

I got dressed and left Jordan cooking his specialty (chicken nuggets) for dinner, and I drove myself to the ER (thank goodness for automatic transmission). When I was checking in, the guy asked, "Have you been here before?" I had to laugh. "Why yes, I have - many times - just never as the patient." Jason canceled his appointments at church and drove to the hospital instead.

As luck would have it, my good friend Terah was working in the ER that day and made sure I was assigned to her. The whole time, I'd been trying to think positively...hoping it was just dislocated. But when she walked in, my x-rays in hand, and opened with "Wow!" I knew I was in trouble. Turns out, I had a comminuted fracture. Not one to beat around the bush, Terah explained that "comminuted" basically means "pieces," there were at least 3 fractures, and she was pretty sure I'd need surgery. What??? I was stunned, to say the least. (Of course, my first thought was for our annual beach trip that weekend. This was totally bad timing...)

Here I am, fresh from the ER. (Yes, all of that for one finger.) Jordan quickly dubbed me "claw mom." At this point, being right handed, I was pretty much useless.

I hurt my finger Tuesday evening, but the orthopedist couldn't get me in until Thursday afternoon. (We were holding out for the guy who specializes in hands.) He confirmed I'd need surgery and talked about doing it "next week." We explained our beach dilemma, and he told us he was at the mercy of the surgery scheduler but that she would call us later that day. I really wasn't feeling very hopeful since the next day was Friday, and that would be the only option left that week.

When the scheduler called and said they had an opening at 7:30 the next morning, I couldn't believe it. (Apparently, they'd had a cancellation.) I'm sure she thought I was insane because I was so happy about surgery.

The next morning, we left the kids sleeping peacefully (thank goodness for older kids) and headed to the hospital at 5:00 a.m.

I emerged later with this nifty plate and eight little screws. (They gave us copies of the x-rays taken during surgery.)

So I had surgery Friday morning, and we left for the beach Sunday morning. The first couple of days were a little rough. The pain and swelling were pretty bad, and I had to keep it elevated and iced as much as possible. But by Tuesday, things started to improve, and I was able to enjoy the vacation a little more. I only went down to the beach once, though - couldn't exactly get in the water, and the heat made my hand swell. Of course, when everyone else went over to the beach, I could sneak into the pool and float around without the threat of 15 kids splashing my hand. =)

It definitely wasn't the week I'd been planning, but in the end, I was just happy the surgery hadn't messed up the vacation for my family. And if I was going to be sitting around mostly helpless anyway, why not be at the beach?

A few days after we got back, I had my post-op visit. They unwrapped everything, and I got my first look at my hand...

I call it my Frankenstein finger.

(This was right before the stitches came out, so it doesn't look quite as scary now.)

Now I've graduated to this cute thing. It's actually pretty exciting because I can now move my wrist, and I have full use of my first three fingers. I'm still a little clumsy, but for the most part, I can muddle my way thru the day okay. And it's removable, so I can finally shower without having to bag my hand.

I also have stretching exercises that I have to do three times a day because this is as far as my right hand can go right now...

It's strange to look at my hand and want it to do something, but it simply won't respond. There's very little pain now - it's just very tight. I start physical therapy later this week and still have a long way to go to get my hand back.

Jason was teasing me a little about breaking my finger - since he's never broken anything, and I had several breaks as a kid. (In fact, our kids' broken bones generally get blamed on my apparently faulty genes.) I protested, saying, "But I haven't broken anything since the 5th grade!" And he said, "Well, it was a good run." Sigh...hopefully this means I'm good for another 25 or so years...

A Wickedly Fun Evening

I was so excited - I've wanted to see this for awhile! It did not disappoint, and I would see it again. Jason liked it, but I think once will be enough for him. =)

We went with Eric & Becky and Doug & Deena. (The guys serve together in the Bishopric at church.) Here we are in front of the restaurant where we ate before the show. Definitely a dive (that's a giant metal chicken next to Jason), but the food was good, and we thought it was fun to pick the perfect anti-theater place for dinner.

Our Final May Event

She's been counting down the days since she turned 7 last year!

Hard to believe it's our last one!

Courtney with Nana & Grandpa

With Joanna & Craig

With Melanie & Ben

With cousins Anthony, Christian & Diego

Not pictured (but still adored): Aunt Kelli (the photographer), Aunt Jodi (the pianist), and cousin Autumn (the cute baby in the car seat) =)

We love you, Court!

May Madness, Part 2: Everything Else

The madness continues...

Spring Soccer

Alyssa was the only one to play this season. (Courtney was signed up to play but had to withdraw right before the season started because she sprained her arm. Hey - it's been awhile...)

Alyssa loves soccer and has played every season (Spring and Fall) since she was four!

They still try to rotate the girls thru all of the positions, so here's Alyssa taking a turn at goalie.

On the move...

Getting her medal at the team party after the last game

Picking Strawberries

We had a hard time coordinating everyone's schedules this year, and it almost didn't happen. So glad it did!

Here are Joanna and Courtney among the berries (and weeds!) It was pretty late in the season, so maybe they just let things go!?

Courtney (the strawberry eater) and Melanie (the strawbery picker)

And here's the teenager - a strawberry in each hand and earphones in his ears. Not sure anything ever made it into the basket, and there's a rumor circulating that he only comes for the food.

Alyssa weighing herself at the farm's market

"There's No Business Like Show Business"
(a.k.a. the girls' dance recital)

Courtney during her ballet dance...

...and her tap dance

Courtney is right in the middle

Alyssa performing her lyrical dance

This year, Alyssa moved up to the performing company. For the rest of the year, that meant a longer class during the week, a competition, and a few extra performances. For recital, it meant an extra nite of rehearsal, more dance numbers (and costumes!), and performing in all three shows (instead of just one).

Alyssa during her jazz dance

Alyssa's cool stunt (is that the right word?) with her best dance buddy during their jazz dance

And now her tap dance...

...and then ballet (she's right in the middle)

Our two dancers after the show!

May Madness is almost over... almost.

May Madness, Part 1: Birthdays

Forget March Madness - May is the month when things get crazy at our house! All the girls in the family have birthdays...

Here's me with the kids right before opening my presents. (And one picture is plenty...)

We celebrated Courtney's birthday the next weekend. She picked her two closest friends and went out to dinner at O'Charley's.

Then we came back home and painted little wooden boxes...

...followed by cake & ice cream and a fun sleepover!

The other big birthday event for Courtney was FINALLY getting her ears pierced! Being eight is definitely great!

The next weekend it was Alyssa's turn for a party. She hit double digits this year - the big 10! She and her friends made suncatchers, played the Wii, did Mad Libs, made magnets out of perler beads...

...and of course, had cake & ice cream!

(I actually got lucky this year - the girls both wanted the same cake - just different colors.)

Alyssa & her friends

It should be noted that Alyssa's party fell on our 16th wedding anniversary. So when people asked us what we were doing to celebrate, we replied, "We're inviting seven of Alyssa's closest friends over!" =) Actual celebration postponed until June...