Spring Sports have begun!

Ok, so I never got around to do that "monster post" that I was saying I would do. . . maybe it just feels too overwhelming. So instead for now, I will stick to yeserdays' events. Spring sports officially started yesterday. Our Saturdays will be pretty full for the next several weeks of soccer games for Kennedy and Elizabeth, and double-header baseball games for Luke. David and I both need a body-double in order to get to everything!

Elizabeth had her first soccer game of the season. Her team looked fantastic! David is the coach of her team. Elizabeth had an amazing breakaway to score the first goal of the game. She also had two great assists for two more goals! Her team won 4-0. Kennedy's team doesn't have her first game until next week. GO SHOOTERS!

Right after Elizabeth's soccer game, we loaded up the van and drove out to Herriman (about an hour away) to watch Luke and his team play a double header. The won both games. Killed the other team 8-2, then 14-0. Luke had a really nice put out while playing third base, as well as a beautiful bunt while up at bat, he ran the bases well. The whole team looked so good. It was a beautiful day. . . a little windy, but we all came home with pink faces!

Mia had a lot of play time at all our games yesterday. This is during half-time of Elizabeth's game. She is showing off her mad ring skills :)

The day was topped off with a trip to Barry's for some chicken sandwiches and fries. How was your Saturday??

E first backwalkover

I really need to do a "monster make-up" post. . . .but until I get around to it, you can enjoy a little entertainment. The girls were playing around yesterday, and Kennedy got Elizabeth on tape doing her first back walkover.

Is this my daughter??

There is a lot going on, and I have plenty to blog about, but just don't have the time today :( But I have to make a quick post about Mia.

First, she lost her first tooth over the weekend! It has been loose for a while, and we knew it was about ready to come out, but she was really scared. I bribed her with the promise of treats, tooth fairy visits, etc. . .She was crying and terrified. finally she allowed us to wiggle it and after a minute, it just popped right out! She was all smiles after. And of course she got her Three Musketeers and a Tooth Fairy visit too :)

The other thing I just has to share about Mia is that on sunday, she got up and bore her testimony in church! Elizabeth wanted to go up, and talked Mia into going up with her. I thought for sure she would be one of those kids that would stand there for a second and then run back to their seat, terrified! Elizabeth went first and did a great job. Mia got right up there, shared her testimony and sat down. Who is this child?? Is she the same little girl that just a short while ago I worried about because she wouldn't talk. . . like at ALL!? One of her previous primary teachers (who taught her in the height of her "selective mutism") came up to me after in tears. .. she couldn't believer that this was the same Mia she taught in class. She told me that she had found Mia and given her a hug and asked her how she found her courage to get up there. I guess Mia told her "her sister". So way to go Elizabeth for being such a great example for your sister. It was a surprising and happy moment.

Lukes Eagle Project

As I think most of you know, Luke has been working on his Eagle Scout Service Project, and I am happy and proud to announce that it is done! Here are a few pictures of some of the events that took place to help this all come together. I think we were able to get some cute things for the stockings: Webkinz, coloring book and crayons, book, gloves, and other goodies for the kids. Socks, lotion, nail kit and polish, journal and pen, large candy bar, gum, and lipgloss for the women. After we had collected everything to go in the stockings, Luke had a few friends over to help put the stockings together. After we delivered the stockings, we even had some money left over thanks for the generous donations from so many people! We were able to head to Wal Mart and get several $20 gift cards to donate to the women in the shelter. We were never able to see any of the women and children that were to receive the gifts.. . . they are quite protective of the residents there. But this has been such a fun and rewarding experience! now Luke just needs to finish his paperwork and soon we will be holding a court of honor!!

Let the parties begin. . .

I loaded all these pictures in reverse. . . sigh. So you will hear about everything in reverse order I guess.

Maybe I am trying to make up for six months of anti-social, stressed out self. . .. I have been hosting a few get togethers!

Tonight, the girls had a little Christmas party with some of their friends. I think total it was 14 girls ranging from 6-11 over. I think I planned it just right, because right when they were starting to get a little "crazy", parents were showing up to pick up their kids!

Here are some pictures of the whole crew. . notice our new "love sac" that David showed up with right at the end of the party. .. this created quite a bit of excitement with the girls. We had all the girls bring a small gift and do a white elephant gift exchange. . . always a favorite! Here is Mia with her crew. . .Abigail, Brighten, Mia, Eden, and Kate. They are all BFFs in the same class at school and all in our ward as well. Kennedy with some of her friends, Janette, Kennedy, Amberly, (part of Josie), and then Haley. We also played some Santa bingo with a small prize for everyone. . . a book and a candy cane full of candy. Elizabeth with some of her friends. . . Bethany, Elizabeth, Hailey, and Emily. I realized a week or so ago that the semester for BYU was almost over and we had barely had Bronte over at all. . . so I quickly texted her to invite her for a Sunday dinner before she went home for the holidays. Her and her cute roommates are such good sports with my girls. . . dancing, singing, and keeping them entertained. Windsor (my girls cousin) was getting a little too snuggly to Bronte. . . . Last Friday, David invited a small group of friends over from work for a little get together. It was laid back. . .we ate, visited, and of course did white elephant! Lori and her husband, Tony. Cory, Cassie, Ryan, and Bethany.

I didn't get a photo of everyone, but just had to show that we have a couple friends :) Ryan and Bethany's little boy was quite the entertainer! Kept us entertained. . . . .

Well, three down, two to go.. Tomorrow night Luke is having some friends over to help finish his eagle project. and then sunday I am having David's family over for our Christmas dinner. I should be able to breathe then!! It's fun though, right??

Tis the Season

Hooray! It's Blog updating time! :)

I guess we will start with Thanksgiving. We hosted David's family at our house. I wasn't feeling great, so I felt that my preparations weren't up to par. . . but I think everyone still had a good time. I KNOW the kids did! This kids love playing and dancing in our new room. The steps you see are some built in seating that David wanted to put in. I will eventually make some cushions to go on them. Maybe after Christmas. . . . Jenn was nice enough to bring her paper so we could check out the adds. There ended out not really being anything good enough to entice me to stay out all night and then work the next day! I went to bed and tried to get some sleep instead :) I did buy a couple of things online.. ..I couldn't skip shopping altogether! Here is an update for Luke's eagle project. First, let me say THANK YOU to everyone who is making this possible! The donations are going to a great cause, and we are having a blast getting everything together. The Saturday after Thanksgiving we were able to go set up a Christmas Tree in the common room of the shelter. Let me tell you, they have high tech security at the facility. Electric fences, Stone walls. . .. they really try to protect these women and children from the situations they are fleeing from.

I think the tree turned out cute!

Now that we have seen the room, I will probably go get a few more decorations to make it even more festive! well, on the Monday after thanksgiving, we decided it was time to decorate our tree as well. we still have our old tree with a bunch of mis-matched ornaments. . . maybe someday I will get a new tree and buy everything matching, but I couldn't get rid of our sentimental tree! it may not be the most beautifully decorated. ... but we love it anyway! Just a couple of random out of order pics here. After we decorated the tree for the shelter, we drove over to the malt shop for some shakes and hamburgers. elizabeth had to show off her new TOMS that she bought with the last of her birthday money. . . she waited and planned to buy these, and yes, she saved her money from September to buy them when we had employee shop day at Nordstrom. On sunday Kennedy and I were able to get a couple tickets from Dan and Jen to go to the Christmas devotional at the conference center in Salt Lake. It was both of ours first time being able to see the Conference center. It's a pretty amazing facility. we stopped at the Tabernacle afterwards and it seems to SMALL compared to the conference center! I remember going to see conference there once while I was in college. . . We were a lot closer to the prophet then! Kennedy was dissapointed she didn't get to shake the prophets hand, but besides that it was fun visiting temple square and seeing everything all lit up and decorated. and just a reminder as we all head into the hustle and bustle of the season:

Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration. If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christ.

President Monson

update time

does anybody even check this anymore??

I guess it has been a month since I have updated here. Life is busy as usual. I have been a terrible picture taker as well. Maybe part of that is because the only camera that is working is my phone. Here is a small taste of what has been happening here. Last night, David and I headed over to Lavell Edwards Stadium to volunteer at the Costa Vida booth to support the girls' soccer teams. I haven't been to a game in ages, and I have forgotten how FUN it is to be at the game cheering for our COUGARS! But it was FREEZING!!! We helped sell burritos and salads. We had to arrive a couple hours early to the game. . . that's why the stands are so empty in these photos. After half-time we were able to go out and watch the second half of the game. It was midnight by the time we got home. I overslept this morning. . ..oops. We were all late to church today. Well, had a whole season of soccer this fall, and I failed to get a single picture of both Kennedy or Elizabeth. David coached Elizabeth's team, so he at least has this picture of Elizabeth with her team at their end of the season get together. Both girls played club soccer this fall. Elizabeth's team went about 50/50 for the season, and Elizabeth scored at least a dozen goals. She is fun to watch. Kennedy's team didn't fare quite at well. . . didn't win a single game. But they both had fun. This spring I will have to be more diligent with my picture taking. Halloween has come and gone. Here are a couple pictures of the girls at their school Halloween parade. Kennedy is with her two BFF's Amberlee and Janette.

Elizabeth with two of her friends, Kylie and Bethany.

Mia with her BFF, Kate.

The last weekend in October we went to Las Vegas for a Baseball tournament for Luke. It was the last Hurrah to end the fall season for Luke and his team. We were able to stop and wish Mom a happy birthday! The girls enjoyed being able to swim a little between games. Luke's team did pretty well. Went 2-2. Luke had a good season. Hit the ball really well. we hit one of the vegas buffets while we were there. Luke and some of his buddies thought they were in heaven :) What else is happening??

• Luke made the freshman basketball team. I lost WAY too much sleep stressing about that. But hopefully he will have a fun season. First game is this week.
• We finally closed on our loan for our addition.
• We moved bedrooms around. . . Elizabeth and Mia each have their own room now.
• Luke is busy planning and getting ready to do his eagle project.
• The girls each have a dance class they take once a week. They LOVE it!
• I will be out of a job come February. .. Nordstrom at the Orem location is closing. Crazy. I was thinking I need to quit anyway, so now the decision will be final for me. I'll work through February when the store will close for good

I'm sure there is more. . .. hopefully I'll take some more pictures and keep updated a little more.