Tsunami Fall 2013

Taylor played with Tsunami soccer for the 5th season (2 1/2 years).  Her team had a great season this year.  They moved up 2 divisions and played much tougher teams.  They were one goal away from moving up yet another division.  The picture below was after they beat an undefeated team 5 to 2.  WOW!  These girls have such heart.  They amaze me!

One of Taylor's team mate broke her leg during a hard fought win.  It didn't take long before all the girls were at her house wishing her well.  

 Taylor got SO much better this season.  She became faster and stronger.  We are so proud of her on and off the field.  

 The girls needed to win the last game in order to advance to the next bracket.  Well… they didn't win but they did tie.  They were pretty upset after, but it doesn't take long when you are 13 to remember how to have fun again!

 Parents and girls giving a cheer after.

 Taylor and KC are two of the leaders on this team.  They wanted so badly to advance a bracket.  However, at the end of the day win or lose these girls are best friends.  They are all such great girls and we feel blessed to be a part of their lives.  We spend A LOT of time with these girls and their families.  We love their families and consider them some of our greatest friends.  There can tend to be a lot of negative talk about competitive sports.  At our house we are big fans.  Our experience has been fabulous.  We have seen Taylor gain confidence and friendships.  These girls are her best friends and I couldn't love them more!

The purple turtle fixes everything!!  As we finish the fall season in 2013 we know we have lots to look forward too!  What a great season!  We are excited to see what the future holds for these incredible girls!!

2013 Parade Circuit

This summer/ fall we made the parade circuit.  Jord, Sam, Reag and Ken all danced with the Edge in some of the parades this fall.  So between that and Jordan's youth group we participated in about 5 parades in a month.  We actually had a great time and loved every second of it.  Here are some parade photos.

USU Homecoming Parade

 The girls danced so great and always had so much support.  On this particular day we left the parade and went to a soccer game of Kendalls then a football game of Hunter's and then a soccer game of Taylors.  Awesome day!!

 Note:  I am writing this post in December and Kinnick still wears this hat EVERYDAY!

MC Homecoming Parade

 Tay and her friends watching the parade.  Darling girls

Jord and Kendall.. so beautiful!

What a fun time this way.  To have all 4 girls there together was absolutely delightful!!  

Conference at the Ranch Fall 2013

Every Spring and Fall Conference we head to the Ranch.  It is a tradition that we all look forward to.  This year we were lucky enough to have Mitchy here so he went up to the Ranch on Friday early afternoon with Grandpa, Grandma and Anders.  He was SO excited.

Here is Mitchell all ready to go.  He totally cracks me up. He helped Grandpa fix the fence and actually received his first official "Ranch Pay Check"

 Because the boys love to shoot guns Grandpa bought a bunch of pheasants and hauled them up to the Ranch.  Here they are in their crates on the way up.

Here is the hunting crew.  How fun is that?  

On another note, Jord and Mannie had their first 4-wheeler roll over.  They were bumped and bruised but both handled it well.  Which, actually surprised me because neither of them lack a flare for drama.  As usual, we loved the ranch and our time there.  We are grateful to have such a wonderful place to spend time together!

Mountainside Youth Leadership Group 2013

Jord is part of the cute youth leadership group at her school.  I am fortunate enough to be the parent over the group and I love it!  These kids are the most delightful, fun and polite children ever!  We meet every other Monday and I look forward to every meeting!  The group will often open assemblies and are supposed to be an example of respect to all the students in the school.  Here they are opening up the first assembly of the year.

In the middle of October we took the MYL to BYU to a Youth Leadership Conference.  Several years ago I went with Taylor when she was part of the group.  I had been looking forward to it for years!  I know, that sounds strange but this conference is THAT GOOD!  I truly loved every second of it!!

 Jord and Ali waiting for our favorite speaker to start.  Jason Hewlett is his name and we have been singing his song for the past 4 years.  Jordan was so excited to meet him AND he knows Jeff so he gave Jord a little special treatment.  

 Jason's presentation was titled "Head to Heart"  He shared how when children are little they act from their hearts and then as they get older they begin to function to much from their head.  He said when we function from our head we are listening to what the world has to say that is negative about us and we in turn hold ourselves back.  WOW!  So true!!  Love him!

 What is you signature move??

Do not worry about the raptors walking by

 The kids had so many fun experitential activities.

Jord has had a great year so far.  Here are a few additional facts about Jord in 4th grade:

She is a fashion diva.  She is so picking it often drives me crazy!  I wonder where she got it:)

 Jordan's class is probably my favorite ever!  Her class is full of the cutest kids with awesome parents. Here she is doing a book report at school.

 Jord and her friends watching 1D.  Wow!  She is growing up!

National School Lunch Week.  Yes, she drank Diet Coke for lunch!  

So far, Jordan's best year ever!  

Ryker's Eagle Scout

We are so proud of Ryker!  We earned his Eagle Scout award.  Several months ago we were all able to help him with his project which was a great experience!  His Court of Honor was awesome and I appreciate the example he is to me and all of his cousins!

Congrats to Ryker!  He is such an awesome young man!  LOVE HIM!!

Jordan's field trip to "This is the Place"

I was able to go with Jord on her field trip to the "This is the Place" and the Hogle Zoo.  It was such a fun time!  4th graders are at such a fun age!  I try to get every chance I can to do these sort of things with Jordan.  It won't be long before there are no more "field trips"  I will enjoy every moment I have!

 The park was really fun and the kids got to do some neat things!  Here is Jordan's class pulling hand carts.

 Kennedy, Gracie and Jordan

 Here is the crew waiting to go into Hogle Zoo!  Such a fun day!!!

UEA October 2013

I love St. George.  I love that the warmth, the  mountains and the feel of home without the responsibility.  For UEA Kim, Jill, Tonia, my Mom and myself took all the kids down to the St. George house…  Sorry..  No Warren Jeffs this trip!

We pretty much sat around, ate and let the kids swim.  We did get out of the house for at least 1 activity per day.  Here we are at Jumpin Jacks

 I guess this is what teenagers do at a place like this!

The next day we did a little hiking in the red rocks at St. George.  The weather was perfect!!

 Love this photo.  Red rocks, blue sky life is great!

 Jord is so darn cute!

 Love these 3 girlies!

 Jill and I took ,Jord, Sam, Reagan and Anders on quite the little hike.  We may have had to slide down the rock mountain but we made it down!  Note that lack of Taylor's presence here.  All she wanted to do was "sleep in!"

Tonia and Hayden joined us but I don't have any pictures of Hayden because he was riding some skateboard thing down a mountain most of the time!  

Here we are at the Natural History Museum at the Dixie Convention Center.  It was such an awesome place!  I would totally go visit again!

 HUMP DAY!

 Jill never lets us down!

 Oh Jord, ever the ham!

Here are all the kids at the entrance to the museum!

After the museum we went to a park that our friend recommended.  We called it the twirly park.  It was super unique and fun.

What a fun trip to St. George.  I am never ready to come home!  I mean NEVER!!  It is so fun when we can all go and spend time together!  Until next time…..