{ Austin and Brianna Are Official Soccer Refs }

At the end of summer, Brianna and Austin took a class at the soccer complex to become official soccer referees.  They were excited to have another way to earn money, and were glad to be doing anything that had to do with soccer. Austin was playing soccer this season and also had community service to do for school there at the concession stands, but still managed to get in about 8 games that he reffed. Brianna (I missed getting a picture of her in her flashy uniform-she may be glad about that) ended up taking a season off from playing soccer, but was still able to get in about 6 games.

This last week was the end to the season and they were able to go pick up their checks. They both had big smiles on their faces about those checks. It was nice to see them excited about working, and feeling good about doing a job well done. After they each paid their tithing, we had them take the other 50 percent that they would normally have paid into their savings, to Aaron in repayment for him initially paying for the course. The rest was theirs to spend. I think they are seeing just how quickly that money goes too. You can only eat at Chick-filet so many times Austin…

{ BYU-Tennessee Game }

Last Saturday Aaron took the five oldest kids on a little road trip to a BYU game in Tennessee. When we had decided to buy tickets several months ago it didn’t occur to me that it would be the 1st of November and that Tennessee may be just a wee bit colder than Georgia. The night before we looked up the weather report and it called for a chance of rain and possible snow flurries and COLD! Lucky for them, the precipitation held out, but it was still a very chilly game.

Even though I would have loved to go to the game, we didn’t think the little boys would have lasted 10 hours total in the car all in one day and might get bored about 15 minutes into the game, so I stayed home with them and they got to have a play date with their friends. Next year when Ethan is a little bit older, I think a family BYU game trip will be in order. Aaron sent me pictures and text updates throughout the game, and I was able to follow the game through Instagram. It was fun seeing updates every time they scored a touchdown or made a good play.

This picture is my favorite. I love all my little cheerleaders cheering on BYU for me! I love that they are all wrapped in their blankets and decked out in winter gear and still smiling! That’s some true team spirit right there-I think I may have wimped out,46 degrees it a little too cold for my bones.

I’m pretty sure from looking at these pictures that there were massive amounts of candy from trick or treating the night before that were consumed on the drive up there…at least by Abby. Crazy girl!

They were sitting behind the end zone for the first part of the game. After the first quarter, they went to see Aaron’s friend Miles who caravanned up with them. They are office mates at work and have been looking forward to this game for awhile. Unfortunately, they had gotten tickets at different times so didn’t have seats together. Miles was sitting on the 50 yard line behind the Tennessee bench. The older kids got bored of that real quick, and headed over to the opposite side on the 30 behind one of the BYU benches. By the second half Aaron and the girls met up with them and they spent the rest of the game closer to more “true blue” fans.There were a lot of people there in the “student section” and our kids were happy to be surrounded by tons of other loyal BYU fans. The cheerleaders were there and the kids were loudly chanting along with all their cheers. I guess there were two Tennessee fans that were sitting in front of them that finally left after a while. Aaron said that Abby was the loudest and most into it the WHOLE game. I think that extra sugar helped!

Game fun via Brianna’s ipad…

They were happy they stuck on the BYU side because after the game they got to run down and get high five’s from some of the players. They followed the crowd out to the parking lot and met up with the players that were loading up on the buses and got a few pictures with the “hot players” as Brianna and Ashleigh called them. Here they are with #29 Andrew Mikkelsen and #23 punter Scott Arellano who had the amazing recording setting 81 yard punt during the game. The final score of the game was 27-7. Go Cougars!

 

{ Ethan and Simon }

Ethan has this new fascination with our dog, Simon.

Simon has always been interested in Ethan. He loves to hang out around his highchair and wait for food to drop.

Sometimes he likes to try and lick off Ethan’s fingers.

Ethan thinks he’ll like it too, so he offers down his fingers.

He feels that slimy tongue and decides (like the rest of us) that that’s gross.

Then we all run to get to Ethan before he puts said fingers in his mouth.

Ethan’s love for Simon mainly centers around his crate. Whenever Simon is outside Ethan tries to crawl into it. It usually has hair and dirt surrounding it, so when I pick him up he feels a little like a human lint roller. I try to brush him off and carry him back to his toys, but within minutes he’s back again.

When Simon is in his crate, Ethan likes to come right up to him and “play” with him. Simon usually gives me this look…

“Really, I have to play with him. He can’t even walk. Or talk. Or get me a doggie treat.” I think he silently thinks about teaching Ethan how to unhook his crate so he will let him out, or teach him how to open his treat drawer so Simon can help himself to some snacks. I’m sure he’d be willing to share with Ethan too. And I’m sure Ethan would be a willing party to try them as well.

After a while, they both a get a little bored. Simon usually whines to be let out, and Ethan crawls off to find another adventure.

Stairs…those look good.

Thank goodness he hasn’t figured out how to climb them yet. I am not quite ready to haul my baby gate out of the attic. Until then, he likes to go and kneel by them. He bops up and down in his excitement.

Sometimes he checks if I am watching him…

…when I call his name, he smiles…and then goes back to trying to figure out how to actually get on those things. He hears the click of my camera and then makes a bee line to try and catch me.

There are usually some minor complications as he tries to get away. That chubby little tummy can be such an annoyance sometimes, especially when moving is involved.

And as always, one adventure leads to another, so off to bigger and better things for this guy. The kitchen bench is his newest thing.

Until, I suggest otherwise so he doesn’t hit him mouth on the edge.

He doesn’t like being told no.

He sticks out that little pouty lip for us and we try real hard to take him serious. But, we know better, and usually scoop him up to try and make him giggle. He digs his face into our shoulder and laughs as he wiggles his legs back and forth from all the tickling under his arms.

We set him down so he can get back to his exploring…

..but not before we get one last look from this little cutie. It usually results in a repeat of the tickle, giggle, wiggle game. We just can’t resist that face.

{ Homecoming Dance 2014 }

I can’t believe how grown up these two are. My two oldest are 16 and 14! A Junior and Freshman in high school! Where did the time go? I read a quote today that said the days are long, but the years are so short. It couldn’t be truer. While I ache a little for those days gone by, I am in love with watching my kids grow into the most amazing people. While these teen years can be challenging, they are so fun as well. I love getting excited with them over getting asked to dances, participating in school functions, and enjoying the fun parts of high school.

Brianna was extra excited this year to go to homecoming because she is finally old enough to date and go with someone to the dance. For the past two years she has just gone with a bunch of her girl friends and they have had fun, but this just took it to the next level of excitement for her.

Austin is old enough to go to dances, but not date so he ended up just going and hanging out with his friends and dancing. He had a soccer game right up to when the dance started, so he missed getting to see Brianna off and take pictures together. They were nice to humor me the next day with some pictures of the two of them. I love these two good looking kids of mine!

Brianna got ready with two of her friends that afternoon-Ashleigh was going with another group and her other friend,Talia, was doubling with Brianna and her date. They were so cute as they rushed around trying to make everything just perfect-nails, hair, makeup, shoes. They looked beautiful of course!

The boys brought them flowers and were good sports as I snapped picture after picture. They all just looked so great!

    

The boys had planned a dinner at one of their homes before the dance. Brianna said when she walked in she almost cried. It was so nice. They had candles, and the table set all fancy with French music playing. The boys had made homemade noodles for Fettuccini Alfredo. They grilled chicken, had breadsticks and salad, and a homemade Strawberry Shortcake dessert. They were definitely wowed by the boys sweet manners. They would constantly be asking if they needed more water or anything else to eat. After that they headed to the dance and then back to their house for a movie that they laughed hysterically at. She walked in the door that night just beaming! SO fun to see her have fun with good friends!