Soccer Stud

Last year when the recreation director called and asked me to coach Levi's soccer team, I informed him that I couldn't because I had never watched a soccer game before in my life.  I didn't know the first thing about the game.  This year when he called and asked again, I still didn't know the first thing about the game, but I had watched the city league 5-year-old version of the game last season, so I went from soccer mom to soccer coach!

 Turns out I got an awesome team.  With only a few exceptions, those little kids were there to play.  They worked hard, tried to do the things we practiced, and they worked together.  This was not the case for most of the teams that we played.  We pretty much creamed every opponent we took on.

 This shot is of Levi and I doing victory swivel hips after he scored a goal. 

 Most of our team is also in our ward, so they had pretty good camaraderie.

 Levi felt like he was playing the game with his best buddies.

 Levi started the season being really competitive, so we had a talk about good sportsmanship, and how winning isn't always the most important thing.  After that, he was really careful to be a good sport, and we were so proud of him.

 Sometimes his good sportsmanship efforts went a little too far.  There were times that he would be taking the ball down the field and an opposing player would fall down.  He would leave the ball to check on them and help them up.  As his mom and his coach, it was hard to know what to say! 

When the season ended I was still not qualified to be a soccer coach, but Levi did a great job and had a great season.  He worked hard and I was proud of his whole team.  Now that soccer is over, he is counting down the years until he can play football.

Grandpa's Mountain

Isaac has been begging all summer literally, to go camping at "Grandpa's Mountain" (a title he invented.)  He was so disappointed when "Kid's Camp" didn't mean camping at my parent's property on the mountain.  We finally made the trip a few weeks ago.

What is the greatest thing about going camping on "Grandpa's Mountain?"  Well, there are too many greatest things to choose just one.  The kids always look forward to riding (and driving) the 4-wheelers.  The beauty is really hard to beat since the property is really high and secluded.  Sitting by the fire and eating peanuts has become a mountain tradition.  Spending time with (and getting spoiled by) Grandpa and Grandma is always a treat.  Definitely topping the list of greatest things is catching frogs down at the pond.

 Isaac held onto his frog really tight to ensure that it wouldn't escape.

 Levi could hardly wait to get down to the pond.  Thankfully, we ran into Aunt Beck there and she hooked us up with an old coffee can to keep our catch in.  With her mentoring, Levi became a master frog catcher.

 Little brother felt safer with his frog in his pocket instead of squished between his palms.

 I was in charge of holding the frogs while the hunters continued searching for more.

 When we got back to camp, Levi has a whole can full of frogs to play with.

 And play with them he did.

 The coffee can full of frogs kept the brothers entertained for hours.

 Daisy was less into frog catching, but begged and begged for us to take her up to Horny Toad Hill.  We kept telling her "after lunch" we would go.  So as soon as she had finished eating, she was on the four wheeler ready to head out for the big hunt.  After waiting not-so-patiently for the rest of us, we finally made the trek up to Horny Toad Hill.  Daisy caught this baby horny toad all by herself.

 Isaac liked the horny toads better than the frogs because they didn't jump.  He could play with them longer.

 At first, it didn't seem like we were going to find many horny toads, but then Levi spotted one and snatched it up.  He and grandma found the most horny toads of all.

 Isaac kept a few in his pockets for the ride back to camp.

After the big horny toad hunt, it was back to work on Grandma's tree house.  Dad and Levi worked together to get the boards into place.  Mom and Grandma measured and cut (yes, grandma was using the chainsaw) and Grandpa handed them up and stood on the ladder until they were screwed into place. 

The leaves hadn't really started changing yet, so we're hoping to make it up the mountain one more time this fall.  We love all the things about camping at Grandpa's mountain!

Wide Open Spaces

 A couple of weeks ago, our family traveled to the end of the earth...or at least the end of the state.  Jeff had a work appointment near an outpost they call Gandy.  We made a family trip out of the affair.  We all loaded up in the mini (with a few snacks and the bb gun) and headed toward the sunset.  Things were pretty desolate.  We even wagered how many other lone vehicles we would see along the way.  Our stop was about a mile from the Nevada state line, so we got a family picture, and ate at a place where the restaurant portion is in Nevada and the convenience store portion is in Utah. The daughter of the family we talked to is one of 17 students in her entire school, which includes 6th through 12th grades.  And we thought we lived in a small town!   It was a fun trip (much better than I expected, actually) but we were glad to make it back to civilization.

 This boy is an Avenger.  Just ask him.  He'll tell you.  He is most typically found in uniform, which doesn't always include pants.  He loves to defend the world...or at least the toy room.  Another thing he loves is camping.  Isaac has asked EVERY DAY for the past MONTH to "go to the camping." 

 So we did!  We headed down to Salina where Grandpa and Grandma were camping with "the couples" (all of their friends) for Labor Day.

 We didn't take the horses...

 ...so we had to ride 4-wheelers instead.

 We went on a family hike one morning.  Every little while, Isaac (who is not only an Avenger, but a champion hiker, by the way,) would stop, turn around, and instruct me, "Take my picture."  So, of course, I did.

 I balanced the camera on the edge of a rock to set the timer and take this picture.  Right as the countdown ended and the picture was about to shoot, a tiny breeze came up and turned the camera, so only Daisy was in the picture.  We all giggled and then tried again.

 This was another "take my picture" moment, but we had sister jump in to add some variety.

 These two tough guys blazed the trail and stayed well ahead of Isaac (who has short legs but insists on hiking,) Daisy (who has long legs but complains about hiking the entire time we are doing it: "Why are we hiking?  Camping is supposed to be relaxing!") and mom, who is carrying several extra pounds these days.

When we got back to camp, we ate popsicles and enjoyed the shade.  The leaves were starting to change and the mountain was beautiful.  It made me grateful that we live in a place with so many wide open spaces, and so thankful for each moment I get to spend with my amazing and adorable family.

Don't Wake Me Up...

 No.  You're eyes are not deceiving you.  That is Hilary Weeks.  And I was at her house.  Really...me at Hilary Weeks' house.  It wasn't a dream, but if it was, please don't wake me up.

 See, she decided to do a fundraiser for her brother-in-law and his wife (which you can read more about at http://hilaryweeks.com/blog/?m=201207.)  It was the first time she had done anything like this.  She held a dinner and concert AT HER HOUSE.  So you'd better believe I was there...AT HER HOUSE!  My bestie Brandi and I headed up when the big night finally arrived.  Our friend from high school, Gina, met us there.  Hilary was fabulous beyond words, as usual.  Her home was very inviting, and we had so much fun just being there.

I had to get a shot as we left her house that night.  This is me at 25 weeks AT HILARY WEEKS' HOUSE!  And it's totally forgivable if you are jealous.  How could you not be?

School is Cool

I love summer.  I love having my kids home and being on our own schedule...or no schedule at all.  It is so hard for me to send them to school.  It totally rips my heart out.  I hate all the bad things they learn and the negative influences they face.  That said...I love school.  It is something I am passionate about.  I love learning and teaching and classrooms and new ideas and new friends.  I love writing and discovery and art and music and literature.  I love that my kids get to go to school, a privilege that millions of kids in this world don't enjoy.  And I love that their school is a safe, happy place to be.  It makes sending them there so much easier for me.
 

 Daisy is in 3rd grade this year.  Really?  Already?  I totally remember 3rd grade.  I remember cursive writing and times tables.  I remember who my crush was.  I remember caring for the first time about what others thought about what I ate at school lunch, which meant not eating things I wanted to and eating things I wouldn't have otherwise because of plain and simple peer pressure.  So far, my girl is loving 3rd grade.

Levi is in Kindergarten this year, and couldn't be more enthusiastic about school.  He has afternoon kindergarten, and waiting all morning long every single day for school to start is torturous (for both of us.)  He is so excited about homework and reading, and he has such a cute (and small!) class.  He talks about his new friends and his teacher all the time.

Daddy is back in school too, and only slightly less enthused about the whole thing.  He is in the MRI program through Weber State University and has a massive credit load (he's been devouring pathophysiology lately...ick.)  The good news is that he graduates in June!  There is a light at the end of this tunnel, and the past four years of school going have truly gone by faster than I ever could have imagined.  On to the last leg of our trip...