A few random photos for March..

 Luke during his class talent show... playing "I'm an Indian"  he had it memorized thankfully, because we forgot his book (actually it was in his bag the whole time -- we just didn't know. :))

 Crazy eye boys.  They thought they looked so funny, so a took a couple pictures.

 I thought Jake looked so cute on his way to group violin lessons.  He hates violin and will probably quit at the end of the year.  I'm sad... he is so good!!  So, I have to document all the cute photos I can.

 Pack meeting was another successful hit.  The cubs were in charge of the skit and did a fabulous job on the scenery and their costumes.  I love their den leader (my friend Shauna)... she always goes all out!

So sad this is blurry.  It's Taylor coming home from Pack meeting on his motorcycle wiht all the boys piled on... super cute... but I guess you'll never really know, because the picture is cruddy. :(

Violet Femmes!

Starting the month off right... In sunny St. George with some of the most fun and funniest girls around.  Lake to Lake 2013!

 So sad these pictures are blurry.  Jen and Katie (just had a baby might I add) were trying on outfits to see what we wanted to wear. Such a hoot. Skirts or Capris? The skirts won! 












Thank you Jen for organizing us.. She got the condo (awesome).  Shirts and all the decore to decorate the van and make headbands (thank you katie for sewing them all).

 At the start... we are rarin' to go!

 L2R: Katie (just had a baby), me, Kathryn, Jennifer, Nina, Tara

 One minor hiccup is that we left the key on and the radio blaring while we were waiting for our runner... oops  = dead battery.  Luckily the other teams are soo nice and some one quickly was able to jump us and we were off.. again. :)

 Katie finishing off her leg.. Did we mention she just had a baby!! she's amazing!

 A couple candid shots.  I didn't get many, but Katie made a SUPER cute video for us and we had a couples potluck to watch it.  It was "almost" as fun as the race.  These girls really are so fun to be around.  They keep me laughing. 

I always thought I was a big personality... I am shy compared to them!

L2R: Tara, Me, Nina.... this is when we thought we had another break, but realized we actually had to run in about 1 minute.  OOPS.. too much fun goofing off.

 The best part about our race is that we had an extra runner.  So -- we all kind of ran extra and everyone had some one to run with on every leg (for at least part of it).  Way more fun!!

 I have the best cheering section ALWAYS!!  My mom sister and nieces came to find us and follow us and cheer us.  THANK YOU!!  Made my runs so much more fun.

Kathryn, Jennifer, Katie (just had a baby) me, Nina, Tara

And we finished.  Not too shabby either.  5th overall.  The Violet Femmes rocked it!!

Best picture ever! funny that I look like a total brunette.  I really am not that dark compared to them.  They are all just blondies.  I almost didn't go down for the race.  I was feeling so crappy and had just had my second miscarriage.  I changed my mind the last second and am so glad.  I just love being out and about in the sun and hanging with all these cute girls.  Can't wait for next year... maybe I'll be the one that "just had a baby."  keeping my fingers crossed.

Brian Head

Seriously, one of the best vacations ever!!  We went down to Brian Head ski resort for 3 days and skied our hearts out. 

 We rented a condo that was right on the resort and skied and swam and ate and swam and skied and watched movies for 3 days straight. 

 The first day was a blizzard, and we almost packed up and came home... but the blizzard brought PERFECT powder for day 2.... I just kept laughing at the boys skiing in it.  They would fall and basically disappear in the snow!

 Jake and luke are old pros now.  They spent the last day learning to snowboard and did great.

 We took Sam and Nate with us part of the time and then put them in the daycare part of the time... perfect solution to little boys that don't like to be cold for too long.

 pictures of Luke (above) and Jake (below) snowboarding for the first time.

As always -- I don't document with pictures well... but my new goal is to take more meaningful pictures and keep my blog up to date. ONCE AND FOR ALL!

I think so far this has been the best family vacation yet.  We all had a blast and can't wait to go back next year!!

Blue and Gold and some other shots...

 A cute friend of mine took this at "craft time" while she was helping in the class.. Not sure what it is, but it looks to me like it has to do with sports.  SPORTs, are always on jake's mind!

Luke had a puppet show at school and his sweet teacher texted me this picture.  I love his beanie he is wearing for the show. :)

 Blue and Gold banquet ... now that Taylor is Pack Master, we get to REALLY enjoy pack meetings. They are always fun when Taylor is in charge.  We got some good cakes submitted for sure!

 What a bunch of fun cakes.  I found a few ideas on line, but Jake chose the hamburger style...  It was so easy and turned out super cute!  he won "most delicious looking."

Basket Ball Boys

Jake played competitive basketball this year on the 4th grade team.  So far in both soccer and basketball he has played up.  The B team on both sports, but he is just so dang competitive he does pretty well.  The coach is a great guy and played Jake quite a bit.

 L2R back: Jake Kaden Bryant Jack Coach Wolfe
L2R front: Addison Chase Hyatt Isach

 Luke was the all-star on his team this year.  Seriously, he and Lucas are the main scorers this year.  He did AWESOME!  He is just naturally athletic, so now we need to work on the motivated and competitive part.  He is so cute and loved to make baskets.

L2R back: coach, Nathan, Wesley, Luke, Kyle
L2R front: Zach, Lucas, Hunter
Thanks Coach Robb... he did an awesome job trying to wrangle these 1st graders.  It was a bunch of adrenaline to channel that's for sure!  Next year we'll work on double dribble and traveling. hahah

Ice Breaker Tourney

 We had quite the cheering section for Jake's icebreaker tournament in St. George.  He was in Heaven. We had all my family (even Annie and the girls were down for Kaitlynn's games).   And most of Taylor's family (Aaron and his family was visiting from Oregon and so Adam's family came down too.)

 He said, "good thing I gave them all a good show."  He played really hard and is fun to watch.  you can see his heart the whole game.

Jake excels at 'defender'.  He is not fast, but he is smart and quick.  He does a great job and the coach has already asked if he can have him next year too.  He is definitely not the most athletic on his team, but as my dad would say, "he's a heady player" and is in the right spot when needed. 

We went to the temple on Sunday and had to catch a quick shot with Grammie and Grandpa. 

 Another fun thing that happened this weekend was my cute niece getting engaged!  Luke Jeppson is a good kid and I'm so excited for them.  It was so fun to watch the whole thing as we were perched behind a tree across the street.  He took her to the "lock gate" and put their lock on it that she gave him for valentines day with the ring attached.  It was sweet. 

 I can't believe I'm old enough to have a niece getting MARRIED!! ahh.  So love this girl and am very happy that she has found the man of her dreams.  Keep it true Luke or else Aunt Dee Dee is coming after you!! :)

Happy Valentines Day...

To the many boys I love!!  I tried to make a cute dinner.... spaghetti, red jello, flower fruit plate and red drink.  They didn't like it.  My friend Jen was making Chicken Cordon Bleu and Jake was a little disappointed when I called him home from playing there to our dinner.  BUMMER... such is life with kids.  You try and they don't appreciate.

 In the end... they were happy I made an effort, (so I guess I was too). 
Oh...and the beautiful flowers were from Taylor, my true love and valentine!

Winter Happenings

Chess time..... hasn't been too bad this year, just had to deal with chess club once a week.  We skipped the December invitation (yay) but had to make an appearance at district.  We luckily slipped by making it to state by the skin of our teeth... whew!  Close call for mom and dad.

 It's funny that they actually know how to play.  That is more than I can say for myself! above: Luke concentrating on a move.

  Jake to the left playing a kid in our stake.

My two medal boys... maybe this will be the last year we have to sit through a chess tournament.

 For everyone involved.... LETS HOPE! :O  I'm such a supportive mom.... ugh.  I really don't like chess.  And really, they don't either.  They play once a year and it's at this tournament. Fortunately, they are getting old enough that there are some VERY good players.  They can't just get by anymore by verbally convincing the opponent into a stalemate. That has happened several times by the way!

 Hobblecreek did awesome though!!  They came in 2nd overall.  WhooHoo

 

We have a very cool sledding hill just a few miles from our house.  Called Jolley's ranch.  It's groomed for sledding and the kids love it.  We took the Frank boys, just because we don't have enough boys with just our family!  Aren't they cute!

 Dog Pile......

And away thy go!

 

Cute Sam and Nate always love to play in the snow.