Go Girls!

Soccer at B.Y.U.

Emma had a really fun soccer season this year! I had fun being one of the coaches. I actually just substituted the kids in during the game, but everyone needs a job right?! Anyway her team was able to run out with the B.Y.U. girls soccer team before the game started and then they played during half time. They had a great time and felt so grown up! This was the game prior to the famous hair pulling and fighting incident. I was glad the girls did not have to see that. We are excited for spring soccer. Emma loves to play and we love watching her!

Jump Rope Miracles

I have a student in my class this year with unique circumstances. The first week of school I knew this year would be a test of my patience and ability to teach. This student gave me some challenges that I have not had to deal with before. Every day for the first week he would run away. He worries constantly about food. He disrupts the class. He doesn't finish most of his work. He needs repeated reminders and assurance about his daily schedule. I love him. He is easy to love. He has a lot of emotional problems that are so unfair and causes many disruptions throughout our day and I love him.

Recess is a big deal, especially for first graders. Every recess you can find a group of kids jumping rope. Do you remember taking turns turning the rope and chanting Cinderella dressed in yellow . . . Anyway, the other day the line began forming and this one boy got in line. I was helping turn the rope and I knew he hadn't jumped before. I was worried about how this was going to turn out. He came up to the rope and missed the first jump. I told him to try again and he missed. The other children were anxious for their turn but I told him to try again. I told him that I would tell him when to jump. As the rope came around I said "jump". His feet left the ground only high enough to barely clear the rope. Again I called out "jump". He made it again. Soon all the children were calling "jump" for this boy. The spirit was strong. The children were united in helping one of their classmate succeed. The smile on his face was priceless. I tried to control my emotions, but even now it moves me to tears. "I did it teacher, I've never jumped rope before." Such joy, pure joy. A miracle had taken place. Heaven and earth were one. For a short moment a boy who has more challenges than seems fair was "just like everyone else".

This moment in this child's education will not be measured on his end of the year test. He will not receive honors for his accomplishment. This exact experience will never be replayed again, but isn't education far more than reading, writing, and math. I sure hope so because if I am wrong then I need to change professions.

Dancing With the Stars No More

I love watching Dancing With the Stars. In fact, my parents got me hooked on it. Tonight may just be the last night I watch because Emma likes to watch it also. As we were watching one of the teams got ready to dance. The boy took off his shirt. The girl had on a bikini style outfit covered in fringe. The boy and girl began to dance and Emma said, "they are not modest are they mom." Can't really agrue with that. Then they begin to bump and grind. Apparently this is a new dance to the show, a forbidden dance. Emma then asks, "do they love each other?" so I ask, "do you think they do?" and she responds, "it sure looks like it!" Is that what love looks like, lust for sure! Now it is time for damage control! Donny Osmond just danced. Emma thought he was modest, now if we can just keep him from pretending to kiss Bruno!

Our Family

We decided to head up the canyon and take some family pictures. We bought a new camara and wamted to play around with it a bit. WE LOVE IT! There is a lot we need to learn but we already feel like we have much better pictures now! Enjoy!

Cousins!

We had a great time with our cousins! We went to the Grotto up Payson Canyon. It is a favorite place, easy hike and a beautiful waterfall at the end. All the Runolfsons sure wish the Williams lived closer!

RODEO KING

Tanner participated in his first dirt biking event! He did a dirt biking rodeo! I knew we had a little bit of western in us! He did barrels and something where he drove over railroad ties. I don't really know all the lingo. He had a lot of fun. I am amazed at how much he is willing to try new things. I wish I had the same courage! Go Tanner!

First Day of First Grade!

My friend asked if I wanted a picture with Emma for the first day of school. I told her that we took one at home and she said, ''Sure, but now she needs one with her teacher!" It has been great having her in my class. I love being able to see her interact with other children her age, and I just love to look at her. She has the best smile!

Sensitive Ears

Noah has always had a hard time with loud noises. The Fourth of July parade is a challenge with all the sirens, cannons and guns. Brian brings ear plugs for him and then he plugs his ears and we put our hands over his ears. It's quite the system. I have vivid memories of being afraid at the parades when I was little. My mom or dad would take me into one of the stores while the cannons or pirates came by. At least we don't have pirates here. Hey, why were there pirates anyway?

Dressed in the Red, White and Blue!

I love the Fourth of July and the kids are really good at letting me dress them in red, white and blue. Any excuse of a new outfit, right! I made Emma and her friend Hannah matching skirts for the celebration. I thought they looked so cute, I wished I could wear one too!

Summer Of Baseball

The kids have had fun playing baseball this summer. Nic has had fun playing catcher this year. His team has played much better this year, it has been a nice change from losing almost every game last year! Noah is at the height of his glory. He had two home runs and is well on his way to becoming the next Ichiro. Emma played T-ball for the first time this year. Brian and I were her coaches. Brian also coached Noah so. . . I got to coach Emma's team most of the time. Girls are very different than boys! It was a fun season, according to Emma , the Bumblebees were undefeated! I love this picture of Emma. One would think that she is jumping to catch the ball, right? Of course not, there was a fuzzy floating by and she wanted to catch it! Priorities!

Just One More Easter Picture

Easter Sunday

Here Comes Peter Cottontail!

I love EASTER! It is probably my favorite holiday, besides Christmas, Halloween and every other holiday! No really, I love spring! I love finding Easter eggs, the pretty spring colors, pretty Easter dresses and ties, tulips and daffodils etc. I love the renewal Easter brings. We had a wonderful time with Brian's family. Great food, lots of eggs to find and fun cousin time for the kids. The Easter Bunny successfully found our house and all were sufficiently spoiled. We have enough candy for our year supply but it will probably only last for the week! As I reflect on the "fun" of Easter my thoughts turn to Brian's dad. Gary was always so fun and even silly on the holidays. Being with his grandkids always seemed to bring out the kid in him. It was always so apparent the joy he felt when surrounded my those he loved. With his passing Easter has become a tender holiday in our home. We have had the opportunity to share our feelings about the Crucifixion and Resurrection with our children in a way that we may not have before. The doctrine of the Resurrection has taken on such personal meaning in our home. The first Easter Gary was gone the kids took some Easter eggs up to the cemetery for their Grandpa. A few days later we went back and the eggs were gone. Noah and Emma were so excited! They thought that Grandpa came back! They often ask, "When is Jesus coming back? We want to see Grandpa." How we wish we had an answer, how we wish we could see him too! I feel hope, joy and peace in knowing that I will see Gary again. This really is why I love Easter.

Lifesavers

Tanner tried out for the 9th grade baseball team this week. I was surprised that he wanted to tryout because hockey is his love. I was nervous and a bit worried. Why is it when our children try something new, encounter a difficult challenge or experience success it feels like our hearts are right out there with them? Tanner found out this morning that he didn't make the team. He was fine, I was a little teary. Not because I love baseball more than life itself and think the only way my child will achieve true happiness is by playing on the 9th grade team. When we got his text that said "nope" I was brought back to good old Snohomish High School! My Sophomore year I was a cheerleader and was trying out for the Varsity squad. I was nervous but confident also, does that make sense? Anyway, I didn't make it. I was devastated! We found out at the end of the day over the announcements who had made the squad. Isn't that an awful way to let people know! I was humiliated. My friends tried to say all the right things, but I still felt horrible. The halls had emptied for the day and I was sitting by my locker still crying. ***Flashback time***there used to be a Lifesaver candy commercial where a boy had just missed the winning shot at a high school basketball game. He was the only one left in the gym. You could almost feel the discouragement he felt. Sad music was playing, the lights were dim. In walks his dad. (are you getting choked up?) The dad hands his son a pack of Lifesavers and they embrace. OK, back to the story. ***
Remember, the halls were empty but me pathetically crying. My dad walks down the hall and sat down by me. He handed me a pack of Livesavers. I lost it. He didn't have to say anything.
Now I have a better understanding of how he must have felt. He left work and knew that I needed him. A pack of lifesavers is such a simple thing, but it was the love it represented that meant the world to me. Yes, I survived not being a cheerleader that year. Yes, I tried out the next year and made the squad. No, being a cheerleader did not define my life, thank goodness. My dad being there for me when I felt, in my dramatic way that my life was over, did help define me as a person. I tend to cheer for the underdog. I cry for the one left out. I want to shield all mankind from hurt and disappointment, (I know, a little dramatic). We won't always "make the team" in life. That is part of the plan. I am grateful to have experienced disappointment so that I can truly feel joy. I do know the difference. I am grateful for the "lifesaving" people in my life who help pick me back up when discouragement sets in. Most importantly I am grateful to have a Dad who took the time out of his day to be my lifesaver!
Side note - Tanner did not inherit my dramatic side. He is just fine. He may tryout for the golf team, run track, maybe take up dirt biking, who knows. All I know is that he is happy! What more could a mother ask for?

Family Time

Over President's Day weekend we spent the afternoon sledding/snowboarding up the canyon. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and it was a great rest from the craziness of the daily grind. Tanner and Nick had fun snowboarding. Noah and Brian even took a try at it. Noah attempted to sled using the snow shovel and Emma tried to sled on anything and everything she could get her hands on! We made snowmen and snow angels, ate fresh snow (we hope) and wore ourselves out!

Am I Seeing Double?

We recently celebrated the 100th day of school and what a celebration it was! In Kindergarden the kids get to make a poster showing 100 of anything they want. Emma LOVES Swedish Fish, red ones! We decided to make a poster to show her "true love". I have to say, I think her poster was by far the cutest! Needless to say she has since eaten ALL the fish from her poster!

Emma, where is....

If you are missing something you should always ask Emma. She is either wearing it, cutting it, hiding it or saving it for later! What would we do without her!

Snowman poop! Oh my!

Noah is in second grade this year. Part of the holiday celebration is to make gingerbread houses with a parent. Brian came with him and I was able to have someone watch my class so I could be there too! (My classroom is right next door so it worked out great!) I love this picture because it shows Noah's great smile! For the feastivies each child can bring their own candy. We found some mini Jr. Mints at the store and thought they would be great. My first thought was what a cute cobblestone walkway they would make. Then I remembered that I am the mother of three boys and one very silly girl being raised with boys. While making his gingerbread house the cute cobblestones became "snowman poop". For those easily offended I understand if you log off now, for those that know my family you can understand his big smile and laughter! What is it that makes little (and sometimes big) boys think bodily functions are so funny? Anyway the "snowman poop" was a hit and many others added that great feature to their creations!

Last Sunday Nicholas was ordained a Deacon in our church. It was such a great day. He was surrounded by people who love him and want him to have a happy and successful life. He is such an easy boy to love. He is so generous with his affection and smiles. Our lives would not be complete without Nicholas.

Gingerbread Houses with the Newmans

Every year we get together with our friends the Newmans to make gingerbread houses. This has become a tradition that we all look forward to! The adults have as much fun, if not more, as the kids. It is hard to come off of our sugar high after a night of building and eating and eating and eating! We are already coming up with big plans for next year! Long live gingerbread house building with the Newmans!

Ok, this is very late, but here is our Halloween picture!