McKaleigh's First Basketball Game

McKaleigh had such a great time playing ward volleyball, and was really excited for basketball. She has been playing basketball in P.E., so she felt like she was more prepared for this sport. Here she is (in the green) getting the game plan.
Waiting for her turn to play. She hustled and did really well - minus a few fouls!
I also have to add, although I don't have the pics to support it, that McKaleigh is doing awesome in Karate. She loves it, and it has become so much fun to watch her as she learns and grows in this activity. on Friday night she took down 13 and 14 year old boys, which was a major confidence booster!

Spelling Bee Finale

**Disclaimer - Colton has decided to grow his hair out - hence the wild look**

This was our first ever entry in the School Spelling Bee...wow, it was intense! All of the kids looked just like this shot of Colton below, DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS, when they were given their words-some of which I would not have even been able to pronounce without much practice! It was a great experience and he even got a medal for participation!
Here he is waiting for his turn...he looks thrilled to be in the competition, doesn't he!
Grandma Deb even came out to cheer him on!
It was a really fun experience, because two of Colton's BEST friends made it into the Spelling Bee too - and they all got out in the same round (which was great because even though they are friends, they are very competitive!).

Blog Stalker?

A few days ago I read an article a friend posted on her Facebook. It was about an Athiest woman who follows Mormon Mommy Bloggers and how crafty, rosy and sunshiny their lives seem - anyone else read it?...you should, it was really good! Well, after reading her article and checking out the blogs that she follows (stalks) - people she (or I) don't even know, I have become addicted to this pasttime. Is it a pasttime if you do it everyday sometimes multiple times looking for fun ideas, recipes or crafts? I love checking out these random blogs, full of advice, funny stories, cute fashions, and fun things do do.

I have found that since I have begun this addiction- to checking out the blogs of people I don't even know...I have learned a few important things like:

-One can find all kinds of tried and true recipes, crafts and gift ideas on some of these blogs
-These random blogs contain true life funny stories of women and their struggles with weight, kids, spouses, neighbors, etc...(that contain advice that can help me with my own struggles)!
-More ideas for primary and school
-Manageable food storage ideas and plans
-Thoughts on self, happiness, and the goodness of life
-Great book reads and even some helpful synopsis
-Great ideas for service in the home and community...

I could go on and on, but I just suggest you try it! I suggest you try mormonblogs.org, or rockstardiaries or nieniedialogues (if you want some real perspective). Maybe I should be doing laundry or studying for my physical science class, but i'm not, so there it is!

The Time is Now

My house is quiet - kind of unbelievable with a 3,2 and 1 year old...but it really is.
With that silence I have decided to write a little about what I have been contemplating...

I have spent some time recently, thinking about these places in my life - and you know what?! Life is so very unpredictable - I know some days are better than others, some days I am better...why is that? Did I do something different on the days that I was a better friend, mother and wife? How can I continually be that person? Is it reasonable to think it's possible to be great in all of these areas a majority of the time? How can I keep the goal - to be better- always on my "front page?"

With that in mind, as a revolving goal...

How can I fit in some or all of the things that I really want to accomplish? to name a few, learn how to bake bread - well, teach my kids to ski, compete and love activity, learn to sew - fun things I can display, enjoy one on one with each child and my husband, go on more dates, do more family activities...there are so many things that I would like to take advantage of and go and learn and do, but where to fit it in? It has been interesting enough trying to fit in study time bit by bit in order to finish my degree...but here is another question, is it too late? Will my hope of being an educator be realized?...before I'm 45 or could be retiring?

Is it all worth it? My hope is that yes, life will go on as it has, and I will continue to try to be better, and in the end...whenever that may be, hopefully I will be able to look back and forward and say that it was all worth it, I am happy, I will be remembered, and that I gave it my best shot!

Am I Crazy?

So there is a woman, who is the relative of a friend who is going through the same single mom issues I went through years ago. She was a stay at home mom, who now has to work a full time job with a 2 1/2 year old little boy and a 1 year old little girl. She has been shuffling them around to all kinds of friends and family, but now has to find something more stable and permanent - I am going to be one of those permanents...I am going to start babysitting for her on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Am I crazy? Well, I see more positives, with Alex not being the lone child at home with me all week long, it will be nice to have some company a few days a week and the extra money would be nice, and i'll definately be busier.

I kind of have a soft spot for women in these positions - it's hard and to find someone trustworthy to watch over your kids so I am going to try to be that person. I was not quite an "empty nester" with all of the freedom in the world yet, as Alex has a year and a half before kindergarten, so i'm going to give this a try - wish me luck!

Couponing

So, one of my neighbors is a coupon master...she can figure a way to get items for pennies. She and I have talked about it, but I have just never had the patience to sit down, make a list, look up the coupons etc...but since I was sick yesterday, I did. I went through the ads, made a list, went through the coupon sites and was able to get 12 boxes of cereal for about $16.00...I was able to stack some of the coupons I found and in the end was very proud of this big (for me) accomplishment! I might just keep trying to figure this whole process out with that kind of savings...without the coupons, those 12 boxes would have cost me...drum roll please...around $35.00, Almost double what I paid. Maybe some patience does pay off!

New Years Eve

Every few months my brothers and I try to get together with our families, but with so many little ones, that becomes more and more difficult! We were able to plan a fantastic day of fun on New Years Eve that was full of sledding, lots of food, and the Polar Express movie for the kids. It was great...despite a few wipeouts and owies!

Uncle Dan and McKaleigh having a moment having successfully made it down the BIG hill. We have a really great hill by our house that has a grade, so the little kids can go down the smaller part and the big kids (and Elliot Myers) can go down the big hill!
Me and Alex getting ready for his trip down the hill.
All of the girls...its funny, but in all of our families the girls came first!
Uncle Eric and I getting ready to send the boys down the hill. I think this was Elliots only trip down the small hill...I guess it was not exciting enough, because after that he only wanted to go down the big hill...which I was even scared to dare.
Mallory was so skilled at using Colton's snow scooters. After one try that is all she used the rest of the day!
There she goes...just a white flash down the mountainside!


Alex was so great at carrying his sled up and down the hill. He was so funny to watch because he would get to the top, throw his sled down the hill, chase after it and make a flying leap onto it...I thought for sure he would end of battered and bruised, but he had fun all day!
There he goes...launching himself onto the sled!

He even gave the snow scooter a try...sitting down.
Then we tried together.

This is how most of the dad's spent their time...pushing the kids down the hill.

Brett and McKaleigh trying to decide their sledding tactic. Where to sled with all of the kids milling around? They really did not understand that you had to get out of the way once you made it down the hill.
Brett, Eric and Dan at the top.
Colton trying out one of the sleds...although he was great on the snow scooter. He could stand up on it and ride it down. Both Uncle Eric and Brett tried this and crashed!
McKaleigh riding down...more safely!


Elliot had a personal puller up every hill. It was like his own personal lift!

Dad and Colton getting ready to head down on the scooters. Dad was one of the days crashes!
Cousin Benji was actually one of the owies. After coming down the hill, he crashed into a snow scooter. Right away this bruise turned black and blue and by lunch time he had a shiner! He was brave though...as soon as Dan got his glove off and he could suck his thumb!

Ellie was afraid at this point she might have to go back the the house, but did not want to...she was having so much fun!
Dan and his family.

Everyone (except mom) at the top of the hill. It was a really fun day...but we really missed Uncle Brian (who was in Oregon) and Aunt Katie and Sheri and Zachy and Maggie who stayed back at the house. They did have lunch all ready when we got back...and it was great. After lunch Uncle Brett turned on the Polar Express and you would not even have known that we had a house full of small children! Thanks for the great New Years Eve day everyone!