Soccer has started :)

It is that time of year again. The kids are back at it, soccer that is. It is so fun watching them play. They progress so much from season to season.

I was afraid I wasn't going to make it back in time for the start of Ryan's game. The youth in the ward had a temple trip. We left around 6:00 am and was hoping to pick up Ryan at the Scout camp (he had a campout) at 10:30 to get him to the soccer field by 11:00. Well we were close, picked Ryan up at 10:40, soccer field by 10:55, we almost made it in time for his game (almost made it Ryan still had to change into his uniform). I had to run another one of the boys home and when I made it back he was in the game, yea!!! Clark was able to go to the temple because his team had a bye (so pictures of his game to come), which was wonderful because that is what he needed to be doing.

Ryan, waiting for the ball to come to him.

Mmmm...snackin' on a ding dong!!! The family at Emma's soccer game.

Emma saving the ball from going out of bounds. She did a great job in her game, her coach had her playing midfielder, she has progressed so much since last year, it's fun to watch her

Stake Youth Sports Day A few weeks ago our stake had a youth sports day at a ball field and had kickball, soccer, softball and water balloon volleyball going. With me being a leader (advisor) I went not knowing if there were any other leaders going to be there (Clark was going anyways). I got there and the kids were having fun. I had left Ryan home because he isn't in young men's yet and he didn't want to go but then I had decided I was going to go home and force him to come because he needed the exercise and the fresh air. Long story short he fought me, I won and he had a blast!!! I am so grateful for the leaders in our stake that plan the activities for the youth, they do a great job. Clark, Ryan and Emma had a blast!! I wasn't going to let Emma participate but then one of her friends came and they wanted to do the water balloon volleyball game so they let them play. By then it was so hot they loved getting sprayed when the balloons popped.

Clark playing kickball & trying to run to third base

Ryan waiting for someone to kick him home

Watching the game of kickball. I have the hardest time getting Andrew to keep his hat on, I am contemplating putting elastic on it so he can't take it off so easily

Clark and Curtis flipping the water balloon over the net. Yea it made it over!!!

Ryan and Zack catching a water balloon. Good job!!

Emma and Grace flipping the water balloon over the net. Yea, it made it!!

Typical Andrew, he loves balls!!! Here he has a softball in his left hand kicking the kickball, soccer ball and the football. He is so silly. He had a blast running around once he was taken out of the stroller. I tried to keep him in there as long as I could, one less child to keep up with, he is such a busy body.

Spring is on its way!!!

A few weeks ago Emma was one of two kids chosen out of her school class to get to attend the Young Authors Conference. She was so excited, especially because one of her best friends was the other one chosen. One of the things she had to do was write a story (the theme was funny stories) so she went to work on writing a funny story. She came up with "The Super Cat". She did a great job, and when she was finished we proofed it and added a little bit more to make it a little bit longer and sillier. At the conference they have an author that comes to talk up reading and writing, this year it was Chris Rumble. I liked that he made a point that to be a great writer you have to be a great reader. He even helped the students come up with a story by showing them how he does it. He did a great job and I was really impressed with the program.

Chris Rumble teaching them how to brainstorm to get ideas for a story.

Once they were done with listening to the author they divided up by grades and went and read their own stories to the other students. Emma was reluctant to get up in front of the others, but she did it and did a great job. I hope that she keeps wanting to write, she has a wonderful imagination. She also loves to read, she loves Ramona books and she has just found the Nancy Drew books, they are a little bit hard for her but that's okay she is enjoying Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew (more her level). You can usually find her reading if she has disappeared.

This week has been Spring Break for the kids. We haven't really done anything this week except Tuesday; Clark had some friends over to play Xbox. They had three T.V.'s with Xbox's and two of them were linked together. Clark and Ryan had a blast and Andrew slept through most of it (that was the best part). Then yesterday we went to the park for a couple of hours and Andrew slept through that too, he must of been a tired boy. He woke up just as we got to the car and I was putting him in his car seat. But that is okay I didn't have to chase him all over to keep him from getting hit. Today we worked in the yard, and Emma played with a friend. Emma and her friend concocted a plan yesterday that she would take a change of clothes to Young Women's with her (she had to come with me) and her friend would ask her mom if they could have a sleepover. Well it went their way and she spent most of the day with them. She had fun and that is all that matters. We aren't going to do something grand this break but maybe go to the park again, so I hope the kiddos have enjoyed not having to go to school. They are not looking forward to the next few weeks (testing) but they will endure and do a great job, they are so smart.

Update on the garden.

Clark took the day off today and worked on the garden, we had to put a fence to keep the dogs out. It looks great, now to stain it, I even got it planted. Yea for springlike weather, hopefully it won't freeze, I planted my tomatoes, now I've got to find squash and zucchini plants.

Aggie is so upset with us. She had made a bed in the dirt and was mad when the fence started going up. She kept trying to get in, and every time I went in she was right there to try to sneak in. Hopefully she doesn't find a way in.

While we were outside trying to get the fence up Andrew took off with the hammer and was trying to help. He would walk around and hit whatever he could.

The almost finished garden area. Peas, radishes, tomatoes and a cabbage. No, I wasn't planning on cabbage but Emma brought it home from school, her class is having a competition to see who can grow the biggest cabbage (the stake claims 50 lb heads, we'll see what happens).

Andrew was sure tuckered out after we came in from working in the garden. It sure is nice to have a sleeping baby to get things done. ( I actually planted the garden while he slept).

One of Andrew's favorite things to do, relax and read a book (notice the foot resting on the container) he cracks me up. When he saw the flash he just had to pose, CHEESE!!!!

What a cutie!!!! He is always so happy!!!

Court of Honor

Last night was the Court of Honor for the boys, they were able to get some merit badges and a rank advancement. Way to go Clark and Ryan!!!!!

Clark part of the Color Guard.

Ryan advanced to the Tenderfoot rank and got two merit badges (traffic safety and geo-cashing merit badges). It took us forever to get Ryan to the Tenderfoot, but we finally made it and all he needs for Second Class is the swimming part and that hopefully will happen soon. Way to go Ryan, I am so proud of you!!!!!

A few weeks ago the both Clark and Ryan (and their dad) went to the Camporee for our area and had a fun time competing and working on merit badges. They came home sunburnt (who thinks of sunscreen in February), stinky and tired tired tired! They were glad they went and had fun. The Troop came in second place overall (campsite was awesome, boys in uniform, competitions, etc), at camporee basically everything you do is a competition against the other troops there, way to go troop!!!

Ryan pinning on the mothers pin.

Clark getting his merit badges (traffic safety, geo-cashing and emergency prep). Now he just needs one more required merit badge for the Life rank. Yea, Clark way to go!!!!

What we've been up to..

These pictures may look deciving for the month of February. Yes, we have had some wonderful spring like days, and it has been wonderful!!

We have decided to finally put in a garden, Yay!! I miss my home grown tomatoes and vegetables. It's not as big as our last garden but it is a start. I am even trying to start some of the plants in the house while we are preparing the area. I am so excited!!!! I will keep you posted as to if we actually get anything. We have been trying to grow tomatoes in pot the last few years, it has worked but we get these big fat, ugly green caterpillars (you know the one in "A Bugs Life" that's what they remind me of) that get to the tomatoes before we did. We would have to pick them while they were green and they just weren't the same. I hear that they don't bother the tomatoes while they are in the ground, we will see, my fingers are crossed.

Dad and Clark putting the box together.

Andrew and Emma they love playing inside there. Something new I guess.

Andrew already wanting to help dig.

The before picture. I had started digging then realized I hadn't taken a before picture.

Starting to prepare the area. I wanted to get started before we had cement poured. We were having some cement poured to extend the patio so the kids could have more room to play basketball without the ball hitting the windows, and a pad poured in the corner so we could put a shed there. The backyard is looking different with the improvements we have been doing, but it is looking good.

 Again, I forgot to take pictures before the cement was poured. I had left to go to Ryan' s school for an awards assemebly, left a message with the contractor that the gate was open and the dog's put away, so if they came before I got home they could get to work. Well by the time I got home the cement truck had left and they were just finishing up. So all I have are the slabs with the frame work around them. When we get the garden in and the backyard finished I will post the finished looked.

 

The boys are loving having more room to play basketball. The last few months they really hadn't gone out, but since they have been able to play on it they have been out there every day. But soccer for them has started so we will see.

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess!!!!
This past Wednesday was Dr. Suess's Birthday/Read Across America Day, and at Emma's school they were asked to dress up as their favorite Dr. Suess character. She chose Cindy Lou Who from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (the live version). Doesen't she just look so cute. We had fun getting her hair to stay up with what we had at the house. She loved it that when she came home she wouldn't let me take it out she wanted to wear it to Activity Day's that night. Everyone loved it and gave her lots of compliments. She is too funny.

Also that morning was the awards assembly at Ryan's school. They like to have awards for the students that scored a 3 or 4 on the ARMT (4 being the best, Alabama Reading and Math Test). Ryan did an awesome job, for the second year in a row he scored a 4!!! Way to go Ryan, I am so proud of you, keep up the great work!!! He also has decided that reading is awesome, he has found the Harry Potter series to be exciting and with that he has jumped up in the A.R. points with over 150 for the year so far. He is doing a great job and I am glad he has decided the reading great.

Ryan and his award!! He had to have his Cat in the Hat hat on since he had it with him for the celebrating of Dr. Suess.

Also this past week I had to take Andrew into the Doctor for another ear infection again. He was pulling and putting his finger in his ear and saying what sounded like owe. He also had a fever and now he has a cold. I wish this weather would decided one way or the other, one day it is 75 degrees and then the next (like today it was in the 50's and chilly). I am ready for spring:)!!!!!

The last few weeks I have been helping out in Young Womens a little bit more (due to the 2nd counslor and friend having surgery). Just my luck it was time for the Beehives to be incharge of the combined activity and Are You Smarter Than a CTR had already been planned. So I took on finding the questions and delegated the rest out to the Beehive presidency. I browsed the CTR manuals and the internet for questions hoping they weren't too easy and that the youth would have fun playing. Everything turned out wonderful and I think they had fun. Talk about a lot of reading, typing, draft after draft to come up with the completed game. Now I have one and we can do it again (if they want).