Aunt Char's Birthday

Happy Birthday Charlene!


Char and Tommy came into town this weekend for parents weekend at UT. It is so much fun having Colby here and being on campus for activities. Sunday night dinners are sometimes tiring but I love that our house is filled with family and always a couple of UT friends.


We had an amazing dinner: Mozzarella and tomatoes, pork loin, grilled asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, favorite salad, deviled eggs, tons of desserts and birthday cake.

Whats a party without streamers and games?

Larson found some cool Halloween things and wrapped up for everyone.

We had such a fun night having family and friends in our home. The kids love it!!!

Aunt Char will be back in 2 weeks!!

And He's Off!

One of Larsons favorite things to do right now is get on his bike.

Look Closely at the Bike

The pedals are missing. Our neighbors let us borrow this bike and promised us in one session Larson would be riding his own bike.

This is the best part: You never even have to touch the bike. He gets on and just keeps wobbling side to side to get his balance. The pedals are missing so that they are not in the way of his legs balancing. You have to have the bike on a slight incline so that it will go down on its own.

How ingenious. No more bending over and breaking your back holding onto the bike. No more having the kids yell, "DONT LET GO" They do it all by themselves.

Amazing and yes, the next day he was on his bike literally biking up hills and jumping over the curbs!

The Little Guys

Larson is always smiling.

Larson and his camera

Recently I have realized a different dynamic in our family. Sometimes Jordan and Jackson are off doing something and that leaves the little ones with Tom and I. We have just always been use to having J & J with us. It is weird to have people look at us and think we just have 2 little ones.

Jordan & Allie

Allie is one of Jordan's closest friends. We were so happy that the girls had a night that nothing was going on and they could just hang out together.

They just seemed so relaxed and having so much fun.

On Friday night they got on their PJ's and talked Tom into taking them to Walmart to buy "girl things" They came home with a magic pet squirmy, magazines, candy, and lots of fluorescent colored duct tape. I keep finding things in the house that are now covered in duct tape. It is the latest rage. Uses from jewelry to clothing and everything in between. It occupies them and lets them be creative.

I think Tom is a good daddy to go Walmart and hang out on a Friday night.

The girls made these Edward/Jacob masks from their magazines. They were really cracking us up with these.

I loved this weekend! I love for us not to be 100 % scheduled and just let the kids be kids. They just seemed so happy and we loved watching everything that they were doing even if two 7th graders were driving a monster truck around the neighborhood.

Young Women's Night

Theme of the night was come dressed as your favorite Book of Mormon character.

I used creativity and just came as the Book of Mormon and Jordan was my bookmark.

If you are not familiar with the Book of Mormon, do not let these costumes scare you. It is hard to dress as Biblical people!

The girls played a trivia game and actually made scripture bags. They were really cute. My Jordan had never touched a sewing machine before. She really loved making it. I am so sorry that I just dont have those skills to teach her. (an apology to my Mom who is professional)

Larsons Photography

Logan fell asleep on the couch and Larson came to me saying "aahhhhh" Logan is sleeping. Can I take a picture? These are the pics he took. I swear he takes better pictures than most adults that I know.

7th Grade Student Council

This year Jordan didnt even have to run for her team representative so I certainly wasnt going to go poster crazy like we did last year. So here is her one poster.

The Boys

We may not have a backyard pool or even our personal movie theatre but somehow our house is the place to congregate. Just the way that I like it! It doesn't mean that it is going to be quiet or the house very straight for long but our kids love to have friends over so that makes me happy.

7th Grade Choir Fall Concert

I have to admit that I just didn't think that choir was going to be such a time commitment. I just wasn't in choir mode because she was signed up for theatre but they allowed Jordan to split the year. She started off with choir. The first $140 went for t-shirt and formal dress. What?? I didn't know there was a formal dress.

She was fitted at school and they even hemmed it there. (thank goodness, I wouldn't have known how to do that). Jordan kept telling me how ugly the dress was and that she could not be seen in a dress at school. I did not even look at the dress until we took it out of the wrapper to put on for the concert. I thought they did a really good job with it but she does not care for it! I told her that mine was some aqua marine color with huge ginormous puffy sleeves and ruffles around the neck line like a clown. She commented that was a hundred years ago.



Anyway, the concert was great! This is what we heard more than once leaving after it. "It was short and sweet!" From start to finish 30 minutes and we enjoyed watching the performance. I don't have the right lense for my camera to take indoor pics but I included this one so you can see how small Jordan is compared to her classmates. We actually heard a comment about the "little girl" in front.

Jackson's Football

The Eagles

These boys are working so well together and are just being so good to each other. Eric (on the left) is one of Jackson's best friends and has played with him the last 3 years.

This is the first time that Jackson has had a coach for football other than his own Dad. Boy did we luck out. Coach Tom is amazing. Not only does he run the best practices ever, he also demands respect from his players and cares about each of them.

The assistant coaches are just the same. They help each individual boy and then bring them together as a team. So thankful to all of them for the time that they have taken with Jackson and the others.

Logan on the sidelines

Tom is enjoying just being able to watch Jackson even if he is working the chains on the side.

Jackson after scoring.

We have had so much to cheer for: they are winning but more than that, Jackson is developing a true love for the game and we watch him become more determined each week. This has been the best season yet!!!

Larsons First Flag Football Season

Tom has stepped back to coaching the 4 & 5 year olds.

Larson was excited for it all to begin.

Larson listens to his Coach Dad well and takes practice serious. (with a little fun added in)

Reversible Jersey???!!!

Larson could not believe that it was two shirts in one. He kept on switching it back and forth the first day that he wore it.

His Ed Hardy shirts have competition now.

He loves wearing his jersey to school.

Larson takes the hand off.

Runs it down the field.

TOUCHDOWN!!!

As always, snack, the most important part of the game.

The Fresh Beat Band

This is what we do when the big kids are gone.

Go Eagles!

7th Grade Canyon Ridge Cheerleader

This time last year I took Jordan to her first middle school football game. I wanted her to see all the things that she could participate in for her 7th grade year.

Cheer is what she chose and she is really having fun with it. We all came to her first game to cheer her on. The next game was a buy, the next, rained out, the next she was sick so she was so happy to get back out there for this weeks game.

She hasn't been able to stunt at the games yet. Some kind of issues with her bases but I would rather her not than to see her head hit the track. She really likes that part of cheer so I hope she can do it soon!!!

For me, I find such great joy in participating and watching the kids in all of their activities.

Back To School 2009

Jordan- 7th Grade

Excited to go back and be with friends but very relaxed first day compared to last year!

Jackson- 4th grade

Jackson always enjoys his summers more than the school year but he is ready to get started.
Both Jackson and Larson are attending a brand new school in Steiner. We are very fortunate to have such beautiful schools here.

Larson- our kindergartner!!!

Very excited as you can imagine

Yes, that is the first project of many that had to be completed. Before the first day of school homework assignment??? Really???

Another Larson moment when everything is good in his universe. Starting the day with his first time on the school bus. WHAAA OHHHH!!!!!

I let him get on the bus and then followed in the car just so I could help him to his class room.

Well, apparently he did not need my help!! I was just like the paparazzi following behind.

One happy boy!

At his desk and ready to rock the first day.

Love his confidence!!!

For the record, this was the first summer ever that I think I was ready for them to be back at school. We have never been at home as much as we were this summer and it just got to be a little too much with the 4 of them at home some days.

Welcome Fall schedule!!!!!

(I will probably regret saying that after about the 3rd week of nonstop driving and schedules)