No Way! Summer's Done Already?

So three of my guys are now at McLoughlin Middle School...no, Branson just wanted in the picture. John is the Vice Principal, Anderson will be starting 8th grade tomorrow and Cayden joins the rest of the 6th Grade class today. (above) Cayden smiling nicely for mom's camera shoot.

(below) Cayden's photo after requesting a picture with his "normal face" So while Cayden is getting settled into his first ever middle school classroom Anderson is busy...As soon as Cayden is dropped off at school Sydney is the next to get ready for her first big day as the only Cazier at Livingston Elementary. She is in 3rd grade this year and considers herself new and improved with pierced ears and a brand new Cousin Heather haircut. And while Sydney is adjusting to being on the big kid side of the school playground Anderson is still busy... Oh what a rude awakening he will have tomorrow!

Music that Makes You Smile

John and I mow the lawn for a nearby housing development and it takes about two hours. I love to be the one to do it. I don't mind hooking up the trailer to the truck and hauling the lawnmower back and forth from our house. I love the two hour break I get and I love the satisfaction of a freshly mowed lawn. I don't think I would love it half as much if I didn't have my i pod. And recently I found some great new music that I totally jam out to while I whip back and forth in nice neat rows. I think you would be surprised to discover that I have been listening to Children's music.

Branson is almost two and, like the rest of my kids, he loves music. In the car he swings his head from side to side with the beat of the music and pretty much dances as best as he can strapped tight in his car seat. I went on a search for some new Toddler Tunes and was thrilled with what I found. Two groups are so utterly cool that Anderson (who is almost 14) has put several of their songs on his i pod.


Go Fish is not just for the Preschooler. They are jivey and up beat and I have yet to get sick of their music. Most of their songs are old familiar tunes but with an added catchier flair. We have the entire album of Party Like a Preschooler and there is only one song that I hit SKIP. Our Favorite Go Fish songs are: (All songs are from Party Like A Preschooler unless noted otherwise)
Amy-- The Mom Song(from their Album Snazzy), It's Hard to Be Cool In A Mini Van
Anderson's and Caydens --(this one surprised me since it is their slowest song) Skinny Marinky Dinky Dink (from their album snooze)
Sydneys--John Jacob Jingle Hymer Schmit
Bransons--Wheels on the Bus


Another new found family favorite are children's songs by Parry Gripp. We like several of his songs that are listed under ROCK as well as those that are for CHILDREN but be aware that he does offer some off color songs for his adult audience. Parry Gripp's songs are usually very short, silly and jammin'. My kids have been singing Cat Flushing a Toilet for weeks now. All of his recordings are original and I mean original...they are a hoot.

Our favorite Parry Gripp songs are:
Moms--You Smell Good
Anderson--Chimpanzee Riding a Segway
Cayden--Hip Hip Hoo-Raisin and Do You Like Waffles?
Sydney--Boogie Boogie Hedgehog
Branson--Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom

I have also found some great singles here and there by other artists but I think I will save them for a later post. And next time you see us rockin' out in the suburban you know exactly what we will be listening to!

Weight Loss Group

The group will be starting on Friday September 4th at 12:30

Anyone who is serious about getting themselves in shape is invited.

We will hold meetings every Friday at 12:30 at my home.

Meetings will last under one hour.

The goal is to work together as a group to motivate one another.

We will share our ideas, our success's and our trials in weight loss.

Weigh-In is optional.

Please let me know if you would like to participate!

amyjcaz@hotmail.com

Second Hand Fun

"Oh Wow...someone left a half eaten Rootbeer Float on the ground just for me!""Dang it!""Now wait a minute...there's still some left in here."

"Ummmmm that is good"

"Better make sure I get it all"

"Now that was Lip Smackin' good."

Words of Wisdom

I read an article yesterday that was so good, I read parts of it twice. Addressed to women across the world I knew that President Uchtdorf was speaking directly to me. Lately I have been feeling anxious and guilty about so many different, trivial things. I am guessing it is simply the end of summer blues since I have seen a distinct rise in sibling spats, whining and all other agonizing traits that my children can bestow. There is never enough time to do it all and too much time doing things that probably don't really matter anyway. I think I may make several copies of the quote below and paste them all over my house. "Rise to the great potential within you. But don't reach beyond your capacity. Don't set goals beyond your capacity to achieve. Don't feel guilty or dwell on thoughts of failure. Don't compare yourself with others. Do the best you can and the Lord will provide the rest. Have faith and confidence in Him, and you will see miracles happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones."
~President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Guilty!

Now when two athletic guys get together they can't just sit and relax by the lake. On no...they have to invent competitive games with rocks being tossed into inner tubes and sand buckets and it's very serious stuff. But what happens when the game includes bonus points for making it into the kid's paddle boat?And yes Sarah is laughing hysterically at Cayden getting pegged in the eye...well it was pretty funny.

So which one of these fine gentlemen is the guilty party?

Dad or Chad?

Love You Dear.

Nothing says Happy 15th Anniversary like scrapping the family Suburban against the family truck in the driveway.

Corn, Flour or Trout?

Every year we spend a whole week at a lake with the Haertling family. It is pure heaven with nothing but swimming, eating, boating and fishing all week long. On our second day there Rachel and I were busy in the kitchen making dinner while Branson was constantly getting underfoot, tipping the garbage can over or throwing grapes at us. In an effort to lure him into the family room, John gave him a large flour tortilla to snack on. Later as we tidied up after dinner this is what we found on the family room floor...And yes, Branson's tortilla fish was a sign. The fishing was great!

That Would Be Nice...

I would love to say that all I did today was sit back and chill...But I didn't.

I would love to say that I got to read more of A Girl Named Zippy...

But I didn't.

I would love to say that it was a good day spent cleaning my mother-in-law's house, packing up my grandmother's apartment, mowing the lawn, putting paperwork together to refinance the house and cleaning my dad's auto body shop...And it was.

Backyard Bash 2!

Feeling HOT?

Bring the kids! Invite your friends!

To the second annual Backyard Bash!

This Thursday at 11:00 you will find

Cool Sprinklers

Slip-n-Slide

Wading Pools

Squirt Guns

Otter Pops

In the Cazier Backyard!

For Mom's and kids of all ages!

Bring a blanket! Bring a lunch!

Bring on the fun!!

Need directions? email me at amyjcaz@hotmail.com