My Beautiful NINE year old...

...with attitude!

Tricks of the Trade

OK - I have been asked how I do so much soccer without eating out all the time. So now you get to hear some of my tricks.
1)I have some recipes that I make that can be eaten before and after (Costa Vida Pork - thanks, Carri; enchilada chicken, lasagna, enchiladas, ham fried rice, french dip sandwiches). 2)I have a treat bucket that has various snacks in it. We just haul it to games with us. 3)I have a case of bottled water in the back of my van. 4) I plan ahead and don't do anything but get ready for the game an hour before ( feed kids, get snacks ready, tell kids to get dressed, nag them to get their bags ready, etc!). I know Mom is going to laugh when she reads that I plan ahead, but hey, I can do it for one thing in my life, can't I?!?!?!?
Check out www.allrecipes. com as well!

HELLO WORLD!

It is time to surface and take a deep breath!!!! I wish I had something really inspiring or laughable to post about, but nay, it is not so! Tis only a Monday... thank heavens!
Soccer Mania happened again this weekend, which is normal in September and October. Audrey was awesome, Aaron was terrific and Todd was FABULOUS (team's first goal of the game -ROCK ON!) . Thao went hoarse from coaching the team! It was a good soccer weekend!
And Lance and Joey have decided that it's time for Halloween already! What a bunch of silly boys...
Finally, I am so looking forward to LDS General Conference this weekend. I love it! It "fills my cup", and gives me that little "umphh" I need. Oh - and the leaves are starting to change - we saw them on the way to Park City Friday! YEAH!

Is there such a thing as SOCCER OVERKILL?

OK - this is my Saturday: starts out fine, I finally get a winter coat, get Audrey to the store to get a b-day present for a party and to the party. Then the fun starts. With a threat of rain, Thao and Todd are off to Bluffdale for Todd's soccer game, Aaron and the little boys and I are off to his game in West Jordan. Halfway through his game, I leave to pick Audrey up, letting her change to her uniform in the car, while driving through a downpour. Aaron's game is postponed for 10 minutes due to lightning, but only after everyone is soaked. As soon as the game is over, we race to a bathroom, then to her game in Riverton, calling Thao on the way to remind him where to go!
Audrey plays her game, with another brief thunderstorm (during halftime - what are the chances!), then finishes, we load back up, race home to change and wolf down some food, then pack back up and go the the U for the ReAl soccer game. (Thanks, Fraziers for the tickets!!!). Again, we got drizzled on, but at that point, we were already wet.
What a day!!

Todd's team tied, Aaron and Audrey's lost, and ReAl lost. Maybe the weather rubbed off...

SHOCKER!

Carri, this is for you 'cause Mom didn't think you would believe it without the pix!!

Guru Lance on Bed-making

My son, the Guru (who is 5 years old and his Kindergarten teacher knows more than mom), told me today that he did not want to make his bed until he was 20, or maybe 60, because it didn't make him happy, and he had much more important things to do...

As Thao would say, "What a punk!"

Said punk wants me to do his "own blog for just him", so here goes. Lance loves Transformers, Spiderman, dinosaurs and Iron Man, and Spiderman, and Transformers and...(do you see a pattern!?). His favorite sibling is Aaron (I like that kid, too), his favorite place is then zoo, then school. He loves watermelon, grapes, cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets, but he will eat about anything. His favorite color is now red-used to be green. His buddies are Tyson and Luc and his loves his cousins, Devon and Hieu.

He loves to play on the computer and it's amazing how he can figure it out! He is reading about anything (signs, billboards, menus!), and likes to brag about that. Silly boy. Loves to ride his scooter and h always wears his helmet! He's getting pretty good at soccer, too (AHHHHHH - WHAT ARE WE THINKING!!!!). He is smart as a whip, and although he's having to try extra hard to be nice lately, he is a good boy. My favorite things about Lance are his adorable smile and sense of humor and that he always is asking what he can do to earn a penny!

Update on Joey

The kid's head has turned from a lovely bump to a black and disgusting yellow black eye and forehead! He's fine, I just had to share this BEAUTIFUL picture!!!!

BIG Ouch!

My poor little boy! When head meets neighbor's trailer, things don't turn out so well for the head!!!! Joey's OK, but it sure made me nervous!!!


So now that Joe's picture is up. here's a little bit about my littlest boy. Joey will be 4 (!) in December. He is ALL boy, contrary to what we thought before he was born. He likes Thomas the Tank Engine, Transformers, Spiderman; he loves the rats and the neighbor's dog. He favorite color is blue, he likes pizza and donuts! He is the biggest cuddler of the family, with Aaron a close second and maybe that's why he likes Aaron so much! He loves his silky, his puppy dog, and his Grammy. I love Joey because he is so much calmer than the rest of them, because he loves me and because he is so darn cute!!!

The New Kids On The Block

We had to show off our pet rats! Mizmo is our only girl (sound familiar?), and Max and Patch are the boys! They really are sweet and even Thao likes them. They have really cute personalities, and are so freindly and patient with the little boys!

Long Live Freedom

On this seventh anniversary of 9/11, the Tran family would like to express our thanks to those men and women serving our country and defending freedom (that's you, Matt! We love you!). Our hearts are full as we think of how very blessed we are to live in this land of opportunity and freedom. May we always remember where those blessings come from and live in a way to keep freedom and liberty alive.

TAGGED!

Thanks a lot, Carri! I was going to be sarcastic but this is kinda fun!

4 RANDOM THINGS I LIKE ABOUT MY HUSBAND
He (sometimes) takes me dancing
He's my best friend
He has amazing ideas
He is a worthy priesthood holder

4 MOVIES I CAN WATCH MORE THAN ONCE
Ever After
A Walk In The Clouds
Lord of the Rings
Willow (oh la la - Val Kilmer without a shirt!)

4 TV SHOWS I WATCH
What is TV? jk -Sarah Connor Chronicles
Journeyman (I miss it)
Jazz basketball games
occasionally the news - I am truly boring!!! I'd rather read a book...

4 PLACES I'VE BEEN
California -LA,, Disneyland, Little Saigon
Lake Tahoe
Yosemite Nat'l Park
the peak of Mount Timpanogos

4 PEOPLE WHO E-MAIL ME REGULARLY
LDS Church Family History Center
My Amanda
Angi
Library (I, too, put books on hold! Awesome idea!)

4 FAVORITE FOODS
Chips and Salsa from Chili's
Soft Gingersnaps
Cinnamon Almonds
Vietnamese Food
And I could go on and on and on and on...

4 PLACES I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT
Vietnam
Washington DC
Any nice beach!
Thanksgiving Point Gardens

4 THINGS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR
Summer
To have 2 sons who hold the priesthood
Maybe a trip to Vietnam
PTA Reflections will be over

4 PEOPLE I TAG
Sara
Angi
I just started my blog, I don't have anyone else who hasn't already been tagged!!!!!

I'm so grateful for Mondays!!!!

What a weekend! We had 4 soccer games this weekend, and one that was canceled (thank heavens), as well as practices for all 3 kids and a team pasta dinner at our house. Then we had 2 family baptisms on Saturday as well! Thanks, Sydney, for living close, so we only had to hop the fence! The other one was in Roy! Quite a day, but we are so proud of Sydney (my brother Curt's daughter) and Hai (Thao's sister's son) for making a great choice to become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful extended family!
So, after Hai's baptism, we went to Chili's to eat (we were starving)! Hai is the one on the far right. Sorry - no picture of Sydney!!!! And it's Todd's team on top...

From the mouth of our home teacher that Thao never lets come over (and who is a really good friend!)

The Man Rules­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down

Finally , the guys' side of the story.
( I must admit, it's pretty good.)
We always hear ' the rules '
>From the female side.

Now here are the rules from the male side.

These are our rules!
Please note.. these are all numbered '1 '
ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.
We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports - It's like the full moon
or the changing of the tides.
Let it be.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do.
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.


1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.


1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.
Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one

1. You can either ask us to do something
Or tell us how you want it done.
Not both.
If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials..

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched.
We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say 'nothing,' We will act like nothing's wrong..
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball
or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.
Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;


But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

SUCKER!!!

So Lance (5 years old) was helping me yesterday, and decided to get a snack for Joey (age 3 1/2). Why the snack had to be THREE suckers, I will never know. And why he had to put ALL three in his mouth at once, only he knows. At least he enjoyed it before the sugar rush hit!!!

Help Me!! I'm Drowning...

really, I do have good intentions to blog, but...

Soccer team dinner at my house, soccer tournament, soccer playoffs, soccer practice, soccer injury, trip to the doctor, soccer season starting, visitors from Vietnam, Lagoon, shopping for school getting ready for school, back to school night, PTA, Activity Days, Scouts, Family History Center, Church, visiting teaching, library, bank, Sara, phone calls to Carri, Olympics, school starts!!!!!!!

BREATHE...

Dang funny!!!

The last couple days I have taken the kids swimming. Joey (age 3 1/2) loves to jump in from the side and have me be there to catch him. I have told him he has to ask me if I'm ready BEFORE he jumps. So this is the scene: Joey on the edge of the pool, shivering.
He asks, "Mom, you ready?"
I tell him yes.
He shoves his first two fingers into his nostrils to plug his nose, and jumps!!!
The first time he did it, I couldn't see to catch him I was laughing so hard!!!!!

How did I get such amazing kids and why aren't they always this cute...

Need I say more than that?!!??!!??
Pictures were taken in October 2007, Todd age 12, Aaron age 10 3/4, Audrey age 8, Lance age 4 1/2, Joey age 2 3/4.

Hijacked!!!

Ha Ha Ha! I hijacked your blog! I promised I won't do it much, but I just couldn't resist. Anyway, here's some fun pictures from the 4th of July!

MY Guitar Hero

My very own personal Guitar Hero (Todd), officially became a teenager on the 22nd, the day after Grandpa's birthday. I can't believe Thao is old enough to be the father of a teenager! Todd is an amazing kid - he plays the guitar INCREDIBLY, he is a fabulous artist, he is tall and handsome and has a great smile when he chooses to share it. Other than the occasional spurts of moodiness and attitude, he is a great kid. The kids in our ward (especially the girls) like him and think he's funny. I get comments from people at church who are impressed with the way he passes the sacrament. He is a great babysitter when he doesn't torment his siblings. And I am very proud to call him my son!!!! Happy 13th, Todd!

Soccer OBSESSION

In case you don't already know, Team Tran is obsessed with soccer! Audrey is on the Premier Girls competition team, and Aaron and Todd are also on competition teams. Until we start tournaments and games in August, this means practices T, W, Th. And last week and this week, Thao is working on getting his coaching license, so he is gone M, W, F evenings and most of Saturday. So it's crazy around our house! It sure makes me glad we haven's signed Lance up for soccer yet!

I will try to put pictures on later if I can get the computer and the children to cooperate!!!!