check it out!

Something that means so much to us...

For the Warmth of the Children 2009

something magical to a sick boy...

When he stops barking like a seal, I'll let him play in it!

the twins born 6 years apart...

Carter and Luke have always looked the most alike in our family. I don't know if that has anything to do with the extra special bond between the two of them. When I look at their baby pictures, sometimes I can't tell who it is. When Luke sees a picture of Carter when he was 3 or 4 he thinks it is himself. I decided I better write on the back of them, to make sure I remember who was who! Luke often refers to Carter as his best buddy. He always wants to play catch, play outside, kick a ball around with his best buddy. And almost always, Cart will stop what he is doing, no matter what it is, to make Luke happy.

Carter was born on October 15th and six years later Luke was born on October 21st. This year we celebrated Carter's real birthday with my Dad (it was his birthday first) and all went out to dinner. Then we had a birthday party for both of them the Sunday between their birthday's with Jer's family.

Yes, there was a theme.

I love this picture with his little ear bent down.

It's not a party for Carter unless lemon cupcakes are included!

We ended up outside playing with the cutest little baby Maddy,

And putting up last years Christmas present. It turned into this years birthday presents.

Lukie's b-day party to come...

beauty is...

Saturday was picture perfect for a State Cup tournament. The most gorgeous fields down in Orem, the weather was a gift we hadn't received in years it seems, surrounded by good friends and family in the parents box, (which could be bad for the wallet if we strayed), and the top notch soccer players we were there to watch. As one of our young men put a goal in from almost half field on a free kick, our mouths hung open. We've seen him do it before. It's a talent he's been given. Perfect aim, just enough lift to be out of reach for the goalie, then soar down right as it touched the back of the net. Unbelievable.

After that shot, one mom mentioned the Reflections Contest this year is titled 'Beauty is...'

I know to some it may sound so absurd that beauty to me can be found on a soccer field. Maybe one would describe it as intense, exciting, scary, fast, passionate, boring, frustrating, confusing or just somewhere they have to be.

I think it's beautiful.

When a through ball to the corner is placed ever so perfectly, when a header is knocked in from an excellent corner kick, when a keeper jumps up to punch a goal with such power as if to say 'not today', when a defender times the seamless slide tackle (leaving a forward frustrated out of their mind), when the textbook 'give and go' results in a point for my team, or when two young boys jump into each others arms because the two of them, together, just whipped up something magical with their feet.

It is beauty.

A few weeks ago, I went to a game of Carters, stressed beyond measure. I probably needed to be 20 other places right then. But there was NO WHERE I would have rather been. As I sat there, something inside me switched. Stress turned to joy, and for a brief hour, things were beautiful again. Beauty is watching your children. Watching them play, dance, sing, run, jump, fall, cry, laugh, smile, frown, sleep, succeed, fail, and grow.

Watching our children in every moment, can be just what the doctor ordered.

(Or the doctor could order a little Five Guys....my first trip, on the picture perfect Saturday, was just as good as everyone told me it would be!)

Good Luck to our USA Rebels tonight, as they compete in the quarter final match of the Utah State Cup.

It's going to be hard, cold, wet and beautiful.

as good as air soft...

I think this face is as happy as it gets.
Who knew a football and a little Madden is just as good as a dangerous weapon? Hopefully Savvy doesn't asked to be hit in the back with his new football.

A very Happy 10th Birthday to the most hard working 10 year old I've ever met.

another letter...

Carter is having a birthday this Thursday. He will be 'the big 10'! This is a huge day for him, a decade old, two digits, a year closer to his teenage years, and old enough for an air soft gun. I think he saw the progress Alec made with his cell phone letter and last week this was left on my pillow.

Of course we were already planning on buying him the air soft gun. We told him when he was 10 we would consider it. Until the following happened just the other night.

I was cooking dinner while Carter, Savvy and Tyson (Savvy's friend) were out front playing. I noticed Carter walking through the kitchen and into my bedroom. Then Savvy shortly came in after with her head down and went into my room as well. A couple minutes later, I thought it was weird that they didn't say anything as they walked by me, so I went to find them. Savvy was crying on my chair and Carter was standing by her, looking rather guilty. I asked what was going on and Savvy started crying harder, saying she didn't want Carter to get in trouble. So then I made Carter tell me what was going on. Turns out the little boy down the street was playing with an air soft gun outside and so the kids started talking about how bad it hurts to get hit with one of them. Savvy and Tyson asked Carter if it hurts and asked if he would shoot them with one. I guess Carter believed that because they asked to get shot, he had to do as they asked. The two 7 year olds wanted Carter to go get Alec's gun (that sounds so bad) and shoot them in the back. That's right, the back. Now I myself, have never been shot with one of them but have heard the farther away you are, the less pain. So it should have been the right thing to do when Carter made the kids walk a house away before he actually did his thing, right? Carter told me that he kept asking them, "Are you sure you want me to, are you sure, are you sure?" (Because an almost decade old, should ask the 7 year olds if they are sure) First up was Tyson. Carter did it. He hit him. Tyson replied that it didn't even hurt. Nothing. He didn't really even feel it. No big deal. Done. Then it was Savvy's turn. She didn't have the sweatshirt Tyson had on. Just a thin shirt. I guess Carter missed twice and Savvy thought that she was done, without even feeling it. "But wait", Carter said, "I didn't even hit you". So he shot it again. She got hit. And it hurt. She cried. And cried. She had a little corn sized welt on her back. She really tries to be tough, but she really isn't. Carter knows that she isn't. People who know me, probably feel sorry for Carter right now. But this time I was calm. I didn't raise my voice but I'm the first to admit, I'm probably a little too hard on my kids. I sent him right to his room after telling him there was no way he would be getting an air soft gun for his birthday! Shortly after, I followed him down and had a long talk on how old he is, and what a bad choice shooting his sister and her friend was. Then I made him walk across the street and tell Tyson, Michelle and Greg (mom and dad) he was sorry for doing that. The first time across he told Tyson sorry and then told him to tell his mom and dad that he was sorry too. I made him march right back there and tell them himself. Jer came home later and had his own good talk with him. I think he got it. The next day Michelle called me and told me to go 'give Carter a hug right now'. She said his little face was the saddest thing on her door step. She felt so bad for him when he came to apologize and just wanted to scoop him up and hug him right then, but she was probably a little afraid of getting in trouble from me! And then she quickly reminded me of a while ago when we were planning a big paint ball weekend up at the cabin with our friends. She said "isn't it funny that Carter's mom did the exact same thing to her husband?" Oh sure, she just had to bring up the fact that Jeremy asked me to shoot him in the back with a paint ball gun before he went and played with the boys. He wanted to know how it felt and how bad it hurt. He wanted to know what he was getting himself into. So I did it. I shot him. In the back. Twice. And it wasn't a house away. Like Mother like Son. Needless to say, we're going with a football for his big 10th birthday.

fan of fall...

I am a fan of Fall. There is something about being chilly, breathing the cool air under a blanket, it feels like home to me. When the leaves start changing and the nights require a jacket, I know that the following is coming...

1. - BYU will be playing once a week.

Lucky for me I have a group of girlfriends who love watching football as much as I do. When the husbands are away watching the game together, we have our own parties. They include WAY better food than when the boys are present, car washes, red rover, diet beverages, giggling, and a lot of screaming. (from us and the kiddo's)

2. I will be getting these.

Another Anniversary celebrated. First our 14 years of marriage, and then our 10th Temple Anniversary. A perfect night away, and then a perfect night at home.

3. My kids will be playing 28 times a week!

4. Swiss Days!

5. The pumpkin patch will be visited.

6. A pumpkin carving contest will be had.

Concentration Faces!

7. A Mom's Birthday lunch.

(Can you guess which of us is pregnant?)

8. And I get to play with the girls!

It's the most wonderful time of the year.