Soccer Season

Ethan has been playing soccer for several years now, and he really loves it.

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This summer he participated in a week-long soccer camp, with a group of young men from Great Britain coaching the kids. I'm sure it wasn't just their cool accents, but the kids really loved the guys and Ethan seemed to really learn a lot from the camp. We will probably do it again next summer.

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August started practices with Ethan's local soccer team. He was doing great, with a fun team, until one week ago when we got his team's game schedule for the season. Every single game was scheduled for Sunday! I had been under the impression that about half of them would be, so I figured Ethan would just have to miss those games, since we do not participate in sporting events on Sunday.

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After contacting the league to see if there were any other teams that Ethan could trade into, that didn't have all-Sunday games, we came to the difficult conclusion that we would have to find another league to participate in.

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So last week we got Ethan signed up with the Northwest Christian Sporting League, which does not hold any Sunday games, and also does not hold any practices on Wednesday nights.

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Ethan went to his first practice and we were happy to discover that the coach used to live in our Ward, and his wife's family is still in our Ward. Almost his entire team is LDS. His coach is amazing!!! We love him already! He is so supportive of the boys.

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Ethan's team is called the Vikings. The team mom made iron-on transfers for the boys' T-shirts, giving each of them a ferocious-sounding name. Ethan's name is Frenzied Warrior. Saturday was the Vikings' first game!

They are playing on a full-size field, so there was a lot of running!!

Our Frenzied Warrior fought bravely!

They had a great game. Unfortunately they lost, but we were proud of them!

We are looking forward to this entire soccer season, and all the exciting games out in the rain!!

Welcome to the Wild Wild West!

This weekend we went to a Western-themed party with a bunch of friends.
Better watch out! Sheriff's got his eye on y'all!

That couple's as pretty as a wagon!!

Two country bumpkins!

It's a shoot-out!

We are a very serious bunch....

Okay, maybe not so serious.....

First Day of School!

Summer must officially be over, since the kids started school on Wednesday! And to make it even more official, it was cold with pouring rain!Heidi left bright and early at 7:00 am to start her first year of High School! Next week will be even earlier, since she will start Early Morning Seminary at 6:00 am!!!

Ethan is all ready for 4th Grade!

Elise started the 1st Grade! I was a little nervous about her going to school all day, but so far she has been doing fine. She comes home tired and hungry, but they all are like that!

Here's to a fantastic 2010/2011 School Year!

Birthday Boy

Ten years ago today, I sat at my doctor's office, miserable and huge, wondering if my ten-day overdue child would ever come. Then, like a miracle (or actually just a really aggressive "check" by my doctor), my water broke and I was instructed to meet my doctor back at the hospital. So I hobbled out to my car, completely soaking through my pants and the seat of my car, and drove myself to the hospital.

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Even then, Ethan was reluctant to come. The doctor ended up inducing labor to finally get things moving. And finally, after fracturing my tailbone to bring him into the world, all eight pounds, ten ounces of him was born! My largest, and most stubborn child. I think it was meant as a warning as to things to come!

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My most stubborn and precocious child turned ten today.....

I suppose if he was able to survive (and by him I really mean me) an entire decade, we should be able to make it through another!


We love you, Ethan!

Lost

Elise has been working on her first loose tooth for a while now. The permanent tooth came in behind the baby tooth, so it took a while for the baby tooth to get loose. Once it actually started getting loose enough to wiggle, she wouldn't let me near it. She has also been avoiding eating many items, probably from discomfort.


I have been wanting to yank that tooth out myself for the last several weeks. I can't help it! Maybe it's the dental background, or maybe it's just that I can't stand having something dead, gross, and useless just hanging there, taunting me.


My kids hate this impulse of mine. I have managed to bully my way into pulling several of their baby teeth, and they still cry about it (waa waa). I do try to make it more comfortable. I apply a generous amount of topical anesthetic, courtesy of my student stash from hygiene school. Heidi has informed me several times that "it doesn't work!" I'm not sure why she thought it should make it completely numb, which of course it doesn't!!! Silly girl.


Anyway, Elise has proven to be very good at fighting me off, so I have had to watch her tooth flapping in the wind.


At dinner tonight someone noticed her tooth was gone. Who knows when it came out. It could have been anytime today, or it could have been at dinner! All we know is that it is truly "lost," as in MIA.


I sure hope the tooth fairy won't mind there is no tooth on the bedside table tonight. I know she likes to add them to her collection, but hopefully she'll make an exception in this case. She is a good friend of mine, after all.

Gummy Bears 'R Us

My kids have been jammin' to this video all week!

Summary of a Marriage

16 Years Together=

*4 kids

*2 college graduations

*64 birthdays

*10 moves

*9 cars

*15 jobs

*6 Wards

*16 church callings

*1 cat

*1 hamster

*8 fish

*11 major appliances

*5 computers

*4 cameras

*6 couches

*2 houses

What can I say? We've been busy!

Happy Anniversary, Babe!!

Weekend with Dad

This weekend my dad came up for a visit. Anyone who knows my dad can guess what sort of adventure he inspires....a hike!Eric, Heidi, and Ethan took Dad to climb Mt. Pilchuck on Friday afternoon. It was a gorgeous day, perfect for hiking!
What can beat standing on top of the world?!

On Saturday we drove up to Deception Pass on Whidbey Island. It was considerably more crowded than usual, with some roped off areas and law enforcement. When we asked a park ranger what was going on he said they were having a celebration for the bridge's 75th Anniversary. They closed the bridge off for several minutes, and let a line of antique cars drive over it for a photo op.


Down below, the kids enjoyed the rocky beach, while Dad hiked around and got some pictures.

Down the road from Deception Pass is Fort Casey. We made a stop there and had fun chasing kids around the old fort and barracks.

What topped off the weekend came on Sunday, however. My dad was able to ordain Eric to be a High Priest in our church. He gave him a really beautiful blessing, which I know will give Eric a lot of strength as he embarks on his new assignment. Our Stake President then set him apart to be on the High Council, which entails a lot of responsibility in helping the members of our Stake. I am so proud of him, knowing that he is both worthy and capable of such an important assignment. It also meant a great deal to me and Eric that my dad was able to be a part of it!

Thanks, Dad! We love you!!