Steelers 4-0

This is Cason's flag football game from last Saturday.
We went into the game undefeated, as did the opposing team.
On those terms, only one team leaves undefeated.
That team, was us!
Go STEELERS!

Our latest sport...Volleyball

This past winter Kaitlyn participated in an 8-week Volleyball Skills course. Twice, in fact.

Now she is having the opportunity to put those skills to use in a Volleyball League at our local Rec Center. She is on the "Sun Devils" team. They play once a week and last night was her second game.

The league is for ages 9-14, so she is the youngest on her team (and smallest - which we aren't used to) but don't let her size fool you. I've been impressed with Kaitlyn's determination. She is still learning and needs to develop more strength - but where she excels is that the ball does not scare her.

If she yells "got it" then she does! Every time! I have never seen her back off in hopes that a teammate will get the ball. Furthermore I've never heard her yell "got it" and not followed all the way through.

I am sure enjoying this new sport for our family. I hope that Kaitlyn continues to enjoy volleyball as much as she is now - it seems to be a pretty good match!

One Fish, Two Fish

Jake's our Newest Fish!

April has brought warm weather and the realization that summer, and swimming, is just around the corner.

Time for swim lessons!

Jake has never taken lessons before, but he has now had three lessons and he is a very willing participant. He likes his teacher and is excited to go "swim".

I ought to document that during his first class they began with some basics, such as getting your face "wet" - meaning, having Jake place his face in the water. But as the teacher encouraged Jake to "get his face wet" Jake dipped his hand into the water and wiped one cheek and then the other.

I told you he was a willing participant :)

Homemade Podium

Our Cason is our creative wonder.

Last weekend he saw the cover of The Friend from April 2009, which shows a homemade podium made with a box, a hanger and a paper cup - the idea was set.

Meet the newest accessory to our Family Night...Cason's podium.

All of the sudden the participation rate has multiplied and everyone wants a turn at the podium.

Jake alone sang three songs at last weeks FHE.

And I will admit that I DID pray into the "microphone" when asked to...

Thanks Cason for the great idea and for making us our own family podium.

What's the word?

Here's a pretty good funny...

Jake got the package of prunes out this morning and was pretty excited to be eating them.

I told him that he could only eat 3 or 4 and then would have to put them away.

Of course, he wanted to know "why?"

My reply started, "because if you eat too many it makes your body....(pause)

Jake jumped in to finish my sentence by offering "NERVOUS?"

Yea, that works. Too many prunes will definitely make your body nervous!

Fan of the Season

Rich will vouch that during Cason's football games I tend to take as many photos of the spectators as I do the athlete.

I'm a believer in LOTS of photos which eventually captures this...

1.73 acres in paradise!

For the past 4 1/2 years we've owned nearly two acres just up the road from my parents.

At one point we had plans to move to Utah, build our dream home, complete with a sports court for all of our boys, and live off of what we could grow in our own garden and orchard.

Sometimes plans change.

And I'm okay with that...when I'm 500 miles away in Las Vegas.

But when I spend time at my parents and I walk up to the property and I see these kind of mountain views....well then I wish that plans didn't change!

How did YOU watch conference?

Our Sunday General Conference watching consists of Rich taking one of the older kids to the Stake Center to watch each of the sessions there....and leaving me with the other kids to view it on the internet.

The kids, when home, have taken to really creating a "comfort" zone - with blankets, pillows and even snacks.

I don't know that it gets any more comfy than this...

Ty on the other hand looks more bored than comfy, but he only has himself to blame because he REFUSED to give up the chair...or the cars...

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all!

We've had some Spotted Frog obsessions going on at our house since Christmas, so Easter became the perfect time to rectify that situation - all of the kids received a frog in their Easter basket, along with the usual summer outfit and swimsuit.

Long live webkinz!

Between General Conference sessions the kids had fun coloring their Easter eggs. This would be the year that mom really dropped the ball - as in, I nearly forgot about coloring eggs. Luckily I had a coloring kit from last year (proof that buying holiday leftover at 50% pays off) but the kids were stuck with just 18 eggs total to share!

Bad mommy!

Thanks for being such GREAT sports about it guys!

I promise that next year, you kids can color as many eggs as you want to....as long as someone reminds me :)

Spring Break...SNOW?

We spent most of the past week in Utah for the kids Spring Break from school.

We knew it would be cooler temperatures than home, but it's Diyah and Boppa's house, so the weather is really a moot point.

Until we woke up to this....

For the record, this was early in the day and the snow just kept coming.

Sorry kids that I didn't have snow gear for you. You are actually supposed to be able to go out and play for longer than 10 minutes and they do actually make clothing that keeps you dry...and warm....and the feeling in your fingers.

Thank goodness for hot cocoa!

Searching for Eggs....

Prior to the snow coming, we did enjoy some mild temperatures - just perfect for enjoying an Easter Egg Hunt at Mike and Brandy's house.