Soccer

Cole kicking the ball

Noah, ready to stop the ball

The boys started playing soccer in the fall for the first time. The other half of their season is going on now. They both are not real big on soccer. They would rather not play. I told them they had to finish their season but that we would not sign them up again.Here are a couple pictures from tonights game. It is pretty funny to watch. Half the time they just stand out there in their own little world, the other half they actually get into it.

Funny Little Jenna

Here are a couple pictures of Jenna, my little playmate. She is the only one home all day so we get to spend a lot of time together. Some days she drives me nuts and I am sure some days I drive her nuts, but I really enjoy the time we get to do things just the 2 of us. The other kids each have one night a week where they get to stay up late with mom and day and play a game or something. It is fun to be with them one on one it is just hard to get that time as much as we should. Anyway, Jenna has some funny little habits I thought I would share. The top picture is of her twisting her hair which she started doing awhile back whenever she is watching tv, drinking her milk, or just tired. The funny thing is my brother Brandon did the same thing. Even when he was older and had no hair he would have his finger on his head twisting the air. She is sitting next to me right now twisting away. The other picture I had to post because it is so dang cute. She quit taking naps months ago, but lately she started taking them again a few times a week (thanks!). She will tell me she is tired and wants to watch a movie. So she lays on my bed and falls asleep to a movie (these days it is either Shrek or Bugs Life). She also like to play with my cell phone. One day she was doing both and fell asleep like this. I snapped a picture and moved the phone and within 2 minutes it rang. I was so glad I had moved it so she didn't get scared and wake up. She is so much sweeter when she is sleeping. ;-) No, she is a sweetheart, but can be a real monster sometimes. I love her and I love spending my days with her.

Swimming Lessons

Jenna blowing bubbles

Cole working on his kicks

Rylee, our fish, she loves the water and is becoming quite the swimmer

Noah practicing his backstroke

Jenna coming off the big slide, she is the youngest and smallest in her class and the only one who wanted to go down the slide.

This morning was the last day of swimming lessons for the kids, at least for now. They have all been taking lessons on Saturdays at the Fairmont pool in Sugarhouse. They all really enjoy it. The boys have been taking for 3 months and the girls for 2. The boys have really learned a lot and improved greatly. Rylee has gotten better as well. The lady in charge at the pool asked me if I had considered putting her on the swim team. I hae thought about it but will probably wait until the new pool in Bountiful is done and put her in then. Jenna loves the water as much as the rest of them. The first month her & I did the parent tot class which was a lot of fun, but this time she went by herself, which she was very proud of herself about. Last summer we had season passes to Cherry Hill (a small local waterpark) and loved it! We are doing it again this year. We have some friends who have passes and Leah & Nate got passes this year so we have lots of people to go have fun with. I am definitley looking forward to summer!

BRANDON

B being an awesome dad and uncle at the Dinosaur Park last summer

Me and my siblings "holding" B up after his law school graduation in May 2004.

Me and my girls with B Nov.2004, shortly after we found out he was sick.

These are some pictures of my big brother Brandon. Most of you know he passed away 6 months ago of cancer. He was an amazing brother, daddy, uncle, friend, etc. The list could go on. I have been thinking about him a lot this last week since Monday was 6 months since he left us for a better place. I believe things/trials (whatever you want to call them) in life happen for a reason or a number of reasons. I miss him so much as I know so many others do too. But I try to think about what I can learn from him and from this amazing experience our family has gone through. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I am so grateful that he was my big brother and that I was blessed having him in my life and my kids life. It is hard not being able to call him and talk to him, but I am glad I have many memories of him to reflect upon when I miss him. I am especially glad we got to spend quite a bit of time with him the last year or so before he died. He and his little girl Kaienta came and stayed with us off and on and it was so much fun to create new memories with them. I will cherish last summer forever, just because of the time we had with him and Kaienta. I love them both and miss Brandon so much. I am glad I have such an incredible family and good friends who have helped me through these last few months. What else do we have in this life that could ever be as important as our family and our friends.

Little Things I am Grateful For

I know it has been awhile since I have added to our blog. Sorry! I have thought a lot about it but just haven't had a lot of time to sit down and do it. I am going to try to be better. Anyway, I have been having a number of different thoughts, emotions, feelings, etc going through me lately. The last few days I have really tried to be more aware of all those little things that make me happy. Here are a few I thought I would share, in no particular order.
1- I got a new (well, for me it's new) washer for free after mine quit working about 2 months ago.
2- I found the whole set of the Little House on the Praire books at DI for less than $5. They are my favorite books from growing up and I have wanted to get them to read and share with Rylee.
3- We (Mike & I and others from our ward) have started playing volleyball again once a week. I love it! and have missed playing.
4- Getting to make a cheesecake today for a shower, not only because I love to bake but cheesecake reminds me of my brother Brandon. (more about him in another post)
5- Finishing our CERT (Community Emercengy Response Team) class and surviving our mock disaster. Mike & I have been taking this 7 week course which has been very informative, but somewhat time consuming for us. I am grateful the class was offered here for us.
6- That Jenna is potty trained. She has been since December, but I had the "oppurtunity" to change other kids diapers a few times recently and I realized how nice it is not to. Thanks Jenna!
7- Flowers! I planted bulbs for the first time in the fall and I now have daffodils and tulips in my yard that are so cheery! (when they are not covered by snow, which is hopefully over with)

These are just a few of the little things. There are also a number of big things I am grateful for.
1-My family! Mike and the kids, my parents and siblings, my in laws and extended family!
2- My friends, you know who you are and I don't know what I would do without you. Thanks for everything!
3- Mike! Working so hard so I can stay home with our crazy little family.

This list could go on and on, but I am starting to get teary and can't see to well. I just hope we can all spend a few minutes each day and reflect on how blessed we are. I know for me the last few days hae seemed a little better, a little easier to get through because I have been more focused on what I have not what I don't have.

Jenna's Playgroup

Some friends and I all have kids right around the same age that are the only ones at home while siblings are at preschool or school. So we decided to have a playgroup with them. We have been doing it since September, once a week for 21/2 hours. We rotate weeks, so we each get some time by ourselves to run errands, or whatever we like. This week it was my turn to have the kids. Luckily it was nice outside and we played outside most of the time. They are all so different, but all so cute and funny. Jenna looks forward to Mondays. She's always asking when she gets to play with all her best friends. It is so fun to watch them interact with each other.