Easter festivities 2014

Easter has come and gone, and as usual it was sneaky and before I knew it it was here.  I am glad we have the opportunity to have a ward Easter egg hunt and one at the library for story time.   Those opportunities help with being away from family.  We had a wonderful Easter Sunday, had some friends over for dinner and enjoyed their company, so glad they were able to come. 

Andrew was so excited for the egg hunt, they were told they could have x-amount and he just kept going.  I think he was trying to see if he could get them all. Luckily he didn't have too many more, we just kind of threw the extra back on the ground.

With Emma just having her twelfth birthday and moving up in classes at church, she was excited to help with the egg hunt, but this year they decided they were going to let ALL of the youth eighteen and younger hunt if they wanted to.  So she able to hunt for another year, in which she was excited for.

Clark is one that still likes to hunt eggs, if he has the chance. I think it is all about the candy for him.  But that is okay because he was having fun with his friends that were there.

Ryan decided he was too old for hunting eggs.  Here he stole a friends basket so I had to get a picture.  I think he did pick up a few eggs, though.  Who can pass up getting some candy.

Easter Sunday-  I didn't get any pictures with their baskets due to the Easter bunny came and when Dad got up (for his church meetings) he hid them.  With dad, mom, Clark and Emma needing to be at the church early we decided we didn't need the distraction getting out the door.  When we got home (minus dad) we took a some Easter pictures, and the kids couldn't wait to get out of their church clothes.

Andrew has decided he won't take a picture without have to have a silly one too.  For me to get a good picture we have had to start having the silly one first.  So here are two silly pictures.  Crazy kiddos!!

Like I said we are so grateful for the local Easter egg hunts around here.  Andrew has been going to story time weekly, and they always have a hunt for the kids that come and others.  This years had to happen after Easter due to the rain we had the week before.  Yes, we have had a lot of rain this spring, and there was another storm coming in the day of this hunt.  Luckily it held off till after the egg hunt.  They decided to switch story time around and did their craft first, egg hunt and since the rain was still holding off they read their story.  It was a fun morning and I do want to thank the Library for hosting it.

Emma's first trip to the Temple

When you turn twelve and to belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, you are able to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead.  With Emma turning twelve, three days before our youth had a temple trip, she was able to go with them.  I hope she had an awesome experience and is excited to go back.  I was so excited to be able to go with the youth, especially since Clark, Ryan and Emma were all able to go. It was a beautiful day, and it was so nice that there weren't any soccer games scheduled for that particular day. 

Our awesome youth.

(April 19, 2014)

A milestone

Last week was a very special week for Emma, she had her twelfth birthday and she was so looking forward to it.  In our church when you turn twelve you are old enough to go into young womens (or young mens if you are a boy).  Emma has been looking forward to this move for the last few months, she was so done with primary and wanted to be twelve.  I hope she doesn't get too disappointed if it isn't all she thinks it is supposed to be.  I think she is more excited to get to go to the weekly activities, and be with her friends.  Oh ya, she also gets to go to a week long girls camp with out her brothers (I think that is also what she is way excited for).    

I am so glad I have been able to watch her grow into a beautiful young woman.  She has a beautiful disposition and with being the only girl she has to deal with a lot of boy stuff.  She is her daddy's little princess and will always be.  I love even with her brothers how girly she is. Other then she is getting pretty mean (agressive) on the soccer field.  She is such a joy to have in our home with the exception she is hitting the teenage years, so we need all the help we can get. 

I hope you had a wonderful birthday Emma, I look forward to many more!!

Also with school getting ready to end for the year and testing right around the corner, Emma's school always like to recognize those students who scored 4's on their last years end of year exams.  From what I gather a 4 is the best you can get and Emma has a 4 in both reading and math.  Way to go girl! I am so proud of you!

 

(4/17/2014)

Another year older.

As usual I am late about posting about this.

Man where does the time go.  It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant and expecting our first child and now he is seventeen and just about to finish his junior year in high school.  Clark is such a great young man and it has been my pleasure being his mother.  I have truly enjoyed watching him grow up, although it has gone by way to fast.  He is such a big help when it comes to his siblings.  I love to watch him in his basketball and soccer games, where I think he excels (but then I am partial).  I don't know if I am ready for him to get any older, it will be too soon and he will be graduated from high school and on his mission.  Well, whether I am ready or not it is going to happen and I am going to enjoy it just as much.  I love you buddy and I hope you had a great birthday!!

Soccer is back in full swing and...

I am running everywhere it seems.  No not really, but it seems like it.  Most of this post is about soccer, since that is what we seem to be doing in the spring.  Don't get me wrong I really enjoy watching my children play the game, and yes I still don't know why the whistle gets blown or all the rules, but I am still learning and trying to figure it out.  But before I get into soccer I have a couple of things that I want to post.

On March 24,2014 we had just finished eating dinner when one of the kids heard a knock at the door.  I hadn't heard it so I told them to check it out and answer the door.  As I walked to the door I was surprised to see Elder Zundel and his companion Elder Kane.  If you don't know Elder Zundel is Carrson's nephew (Jennifer's son).  It was a wonderful surprise to have them visit our home, even with the mess I had (it was laundry day).  No, he does not serve in our area but he his in serving in our stake, and they had come to the city to do some shopping, and they ended playing basketball.  Clark was invited to play and chose not to since he was already doing something with a friend.  I think he was bummed to find out his cousin was there and he could have played with him.  I don't think as long as Elder Zundel is serving in the stake he is going to say no again, Clark loves to play with the missionaries as often as he can.

It was great since they came at dinner time we were able to feed them.  Ryan had made lasagna for dinner (he is working on his cooking merit badge) and when he asked what pan to use I had told him the biggest pan in the cupboard.  I don't usually use that size but I am glad I did, we had enough left over for them to eat.   I hope the Elders enjoyed themselves, and they are welcome to stop by anytime. 

 Yea, I have finally got most of my garden in.  It has been a challenge this year to get it planted, since it seems it rains every other day.  So just when we thought the ground was dry enough to plant it would rain again.  I have my tomatoes and peas growing (and they look great), no for the squash and maybe some peppers, yum.

 4/3/2014

Now, on to some soccer pictures.  Most of them are just random pictures I have taken.  So enjoy watching the kids grow. 

 4/3/2014

 Since Clark is on the high school team he cannot play in the recreation league, but he can still play with his brother.  Here they are just waiting for Andrew's coach to get here.  Andrew loves to play with his big brother, unless his brother is hogging the ball and not passing it.

Andrew

 4/5/2014

 4/12/2014

Emma

4/12/2014

Emma had two assists in her game and I was able to get one.  Yea!!

 

 Ryan

4/12/2014

 

One of Ryan's team mates got a penalty in the box, so that means the other team gets to kick a penalty kick, which is one on one with the goalie.  He almost had this one, he did a great job, this is the only goal that got by him Saturday.

Andrew enjoyed playing in the sand in one of the goalie boxes during Ryan's game.  Two of his friends joined in for a little while.  By this time Andrew was getting bored since we had been at the soccer fields for over four hours already.  But he is ready to go back again.

Clark

P-ville vs Auburn

4/10/2014

They ended up winning 2-1.  I have enjoyed watching him play this season with the high school.  I am sad it is about over.  There are only two weeks left to play.  Go Team!!

 

 Corner kick that ended up going in.

 He loves to be in the wall when the other team kicks a penalty.  Crazy kid!

Hopefully I am caught up and you have enjoyed this as much as I have.

Just about there

One of these days I might just get caught up.   A lot of these are just random things that I wanted to remember so I decided to post them here, since I also use it as a journal for me and my family.

On Thursday March 6, 2014 I had to run a quick errand when the boys got home so I didn't have to drag Andrew with me.  I had already finished and was on my way home when I got a phone call from Emma, and she had something for me and she was sad that I wasn't home.  I told her I was on my way and I would be there in less then five minutes.  As I pulled into the garage she was standing there with a bouquet of flowers.  She had learned how to arrange flowers in her club meeting that day.  This year she decided she wanted to be in the fashion club at school and they have done some fun classes.  They only meet once a month but she has really enjoyed it.  And didn't she do a great job with the arrangement?  They smelt so good and I always love getting flowers.   

Also on March 6, 2014 the youth in our ward (what we call each congregation in our church) were able to tour the Hyundai Plant in Montgomery.  Since I am in the presidency and have children there I was able to go.  I was really impressed how they put together a car. The tour was awesome and I really enjoyed myself.   Since there were some cancellations Emma was also able to go with us and she was in heaven.  She can't wait to be twelve so she can go to young womens.

The youth that went (plus a couple of photo bombers).

I had to have one to document we were there. :)

On March 7, 2014 we were able to go to the Elders Quorum"s activity.  As you can tell it was a pine wood derby and it was an anything goes derby with the exception of no combustion engines and it couldn't break the track.  Since we already had some cars from previous derby's we were ready to go.  Emma wanted to race mine and Andrew wanted to race dads car.  The cars were doing great till the wheel fell off dads car and we retired (I just got it, retired it) it and took it out of the races.  Andrew was sad but there was nothing we could do.   All in all the kids had a blast and now that I have pictures and some video Andrew wants to watch them and look at them over and over.

Racing each other.  I don't remember who won but they had fun starting them.

If you watch closely you can see the wheel come flying off.  Andrew just loves it!

March 8, 2014 was a busy but fun day.  Clark ended up having a JV soccer tournament in Shelby Co. (no we didn't end up going, it was last minute and we already had things planned).  They didn't do to well Friday (they had to play two teams they had already played and tied with one and lost the other) they ended up losing both games.  Saturday's game turned out better they beat them and Clark was able to score again.  So he has scored three goals thus far this year, which is funny since he mostly plays defense.  Way to go Clark!!

Also that day was the Stake Youth Sports Day, and the kids had a blast from where I sat.  Emma and Andrew were both able to go and enjoy some exercise too.  I guess those are the perks about being a leader.  The kids played kick ball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, softball and water balloon volleyball to end the activity.  It was a lot of fun and sun.     

 

 

 This is what I get from these two silly girls.

 

 After we got home dad decided we needed to mow the lawn.  So while they were fixing the lawnmower to get it started and while the lawn was getting mowed Emma and Andrew hadn't had enough sun and exercise.  Andrew loves to ride his bike and four wheeler.  

Andrew and Emma riding.

Storytime and playin' at the park

Andrew loves to go to story time at our local library.  We usually meet up with a few of his friends and they sing and dance, listen to one or more stories, make a craft and have a snack.  It is a great out for him where he actually has to sit still and listen.  There are days where we go and and he just wants to sit on my lap instead of sitting with the kids.  He will go back and forth if they start dancing or the story gets really good, but for the most part he does really well, especially if his friends are there.

2/14/2014

We have taken advantage of some of the nice days and gone to the park.  Andrew loves to go and if I even just mention it in passing he gets all excited and reminds me.  A lot of the times if the weather is nice we will hit the park after story time.  It is really nice having one of our parks right next door.  Other times when us moms need a few minutes we will meet at another one of our local parks that is just a little closer.  The kids have a great time playing and us moms get a small break and we all get some much needed fresh air.  These are just some random pictures from different days while the kids were playing.

2/10/2014

3/10/2014

3/11/2014

4/1/2014

Being over the Beehives at church means they are in charge of a combined activity twice a year.  Well our turn came up on March 18, 2014 and the girls decided they wanted to do a road rally.  So we talked and chose some places to go to, and since I didn't want them to have the advantage of knowing where all the stops were, I turned it into a history type lesson from the area.  There were three clues and to each stop, five stops in all.  We were able to have five teams.  Some of the drivers hadn't lived here long enough so some of it was great for them to see some of the history here.  The youth (from what I hear had a blast) and some even want to do another one when it is a little lighter later in the evening, it did get dark about thirty minutes to soon.

The clues and answers.  Yes, they were color coded.

Ryan's team

Clark's team.

 (This was my team, I was the driver)

Poor guy, just got finished playing a game and had to be on a team of all girls.