Family Basketball

It is a Monday night.... family night! The weather is finally good outside. This winter has seemed to last FOREVER! We haven't gotten to play too much outside, but tonight we decide to have a family basketball game. This will our first family basketball game ever.... a moment to remember for years to come.
We split up in teams. Niel, Stockton, and Zander make up one team. Amy, Conner, and Garrett make up the second team. The game is off to a good start. We are all very competitive so the game is getting interesting. Zander makes a few lay-ups (Niel picking him up and raising him to the basket). Of course, we all cheer. Zander is loving th game. We are all enjoying ourselves. But Zander soon becomes anxious and wants the ball ALL the time. Each of us are trying to give him his turn, but he grows very impatient. Amy gets the ball and begins to dribble. Zander, with very pleading eyes and with such desire says, "Mom, I love you!!! NOW GIVE ME THE BALL!"

It was a great game. One we will all remember for years to come!

The Jazz Game

I had looked forward to the day when the boys would be old enough to actually appreciate and enjoy a Jazz game. Well, the day arrived and it was more fun then I could have imagined! The Jazz played an awesome game! They killed the Wizards with the final score 129 Jazz - 87 Wizards. We were sitting pretty high up but it was a perfect spot for us. The crowd cheered loud! The stands were full of high energy. Niel and I didn't watch the game like we usually do. We spent a lot of time going up and down the stairs. We took trips for hot dogs, bathroom breaks, drinks, popcorn, and more trips to the bathrooms. I think we both got our exercise for the night. But to see the smiles on the boys faces was priceless. They cheered loudly with the crowd. They stood up and danced to the ACDC songs. They clapped with the cheerleaders. They had such a great time!! As we were walking back to the car the boys were jumping around and expressing what fun they had. Stockton told me it was the best day of his life.... he says that often, but I love it when he says it. I think Stockton was just excited to give some of his money to the homeless guy playing church hymns on his accordion outside of the Arena. Or maybe he is just so easily entertained. It was just so fun for me to enjoy their good time. It was a perfect night. I think a trip to the Jazz game could become a just valued family tradition.

Conner's Basketball

We have had a lot of fun watching Conner play basketball this year. He has improved so much over last year and has really had a good time. I, personally, can't get enough of watching him play and watching how much fun he is having.

His coach was very unusual for a group of 10 year olds. He was extremely intense, and he taught them several plays. He was very focused on trying to get them to play basketball "the right way". At first we were concerned it would be to intense for Conner who tends to put a lot of pressure on himself anyway. But as it turns out, the coach was great. He did expect a lot, but he was heavy on the praise and Conner really liked the structure.

Conner has turned into a great rebounder. He's not the tallest or biggest kid on the court, but he plays with intensity and goes after every basketball. The team had an award for most rebounds and I think he won it all but one game. It was great to see him play so hard and just enjoy the game. He never got frustrated with himself, he was just happy when he succeeded, and determined to do better when he didn't.

We were both very proud of him for how hard he worked and dedicated he was. And it was a lot of fun to watch him and the team progress.

Now he is harassing me daily to get the cement pored so we can have a basketball court right here at home.

Joesph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

We haven't been seeing too much of Megan the past few months. We sure do miss her but there is good reason why her absence is missed. She has been performing in the Play, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." The Play has been at the Center Street Musical Theatre in downtown Provo. Megan is sometimes a little shy, but you would never believe it if you saw her perform. She is in the children's choir and man can she belt out a tune.... and dance for that matter as well!
We went to the performance and enjoyed ourselves immensely. She was very animated and I could tell she was having a great time. She has been working so hard with practices and is very dedicated to the performance. Watching her up on the stage was one of those parent moments when I get all giddy and overly proud of one of our children. It was one of those moment when I smile so big my lips feel like they just can't stretch big enough. She looked so beautiful up on stage and a real natural. It was a great event to attend and I look forward to many more of them.

http://www.csmtc.com/

Soap Poisoning

I believe Niel posted a while back regarding Zander and his colorful language. I have good news, those horrible words are a rarity these days. As a matter of fact, the cussing has stopped!! However, Zander's little lips tend to get the best of him at times. "You are stupid" or "Shut-up" are angry words he tends to use when he is frustrated. Even though he has come a long way in his use of good language, stupid and shut up are just not words I like to hear in our house. I told him the next time he said either one he would visit the kitchen sink and get a taste of the clean soap on his tongue. Well, the trip to the sink was memorable.

I was sleeping when I heard Zander beginning to become frustrated at Conner. Conner was being very helpful to Zander, pouring him a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Conner had used the wrong bowl, which just doesn't sit will with Zander. So, Zander blurted out the words, "You are stupid Conner!"

I quickly jumped out of bed and into the kitchen. I picked up Zander and told him it was time to try out the soap. Dirty words would have to be washed out of his mouth. I have to tell you I was being very calm, but I could tell Zander was pretty worried. He had never tasted soap before so I believe he was unsure if this was a good thing or not. He didn't want to open his mouth though, knowing it must not taste that great otherwise I wouldn't be trying it as punishment. I pressed down on the soap dispenser and drop a tiny little dab of flowerly scented hand soap on his tongue. Immediately he began to scream. It was obvious he didn't like the taste. He cried and cried! It was the full mouth cry too with lots of sound. He was loud and dramatic enough to wake up the entire house. He just sat on the floor and offered a theatrical scene to anyone who would be willing to watch. All the kids did come see him, but thought it funny more then anything. This went of for quit a while. I asked him if he wanted a drink but Zander is very stubborn and just cried in a higher, more loud pitch when anyone would talk with him.
Finally, after 15 minutes or so, after the attention of his brothers had ceased, he agreed to take a drink. Again, being the dramatic child he is, he told me his arms were just too tired and he needed me to hold the cup up to his mouth. With a slight laugh, and a little roll of my eyes, I put the cup to his lips so he could partake of the water. He lips seemed to be too tired to drink as well because the water just trickled from his lips and onto the neck line of his t-shirt. It took a lot not to find this humorous but it was hard not to laugh at this poor little boy.

Zander went around all morning drooling and whining. It took a while for him to calm down. When we seemed to at least be at the end of this production, Niel picked him up. Niel asked him, "Why did you get your mouth washed out with soap?" Very meekly Zander replied, "Because I said Stupid." "Are you ever going to say it again?" With very big eyes and a sincere voice his reply was "No!"
It was been two weeks since the soap poisoning incident and Zander will still tell you about it. He hasn't even come close to letting those words escape from his lips. And, if he hears anyone say stupid, he is quick to remind them it isn't a word they should be saying.

Thougtful

Niel and I teach the 5 year old primary kids. In our class, we are lucky enough to have one of our own... Garrett! It is fun to have him in our class. One of the little boys, Cayden, has a hard time. He loves to be with his dad. Every once and a while, he will get a little teary-eyed as he comes to sit with our class. Cayden is a very good boy and we love having him in our class. It breaks my heart to see him sad. This past Sunday, Garrett saw him crying. Garrett was sitting next to me, but when he saw Cayden, we got up and went down the row quit aways to sit next to Cayden. Garrett said, "I know it is sad to leave your mom and dad. I get sad too sometimes. But I can share my mom with you if you want. She is really nice." Cayden didn't say anything, but he smiled a little. Garrett sat next to him for a while longer. He told me later, he was making sure Cayden was all right.
How thoughtful! Garrett brought a smile and a tear to my eye. What a great example he is to me.

Stockton's Baptismal Preview

Stockton had is Baptismal Preview meeting tonight. All of the kids who will turn 8 this year and get baptized were invited to come. He was so excited to go, it was a meeting for him and he felt very important.
He is growing up so fast, and it's fun to watch him as he grows and matures. It was definitely fun to see him feel proud tonight. He has watched Conner enjoy Cub Scouts, so when they talked about starting scouts tonight he lit up. He can't wait to begin those fun activities.
But the most memorable moment for me was during the bishop's talk. The bishop was talking about making good choices and the things we can do after we are baptized. Stockton raised his hand and forcefully said "When we make mistakes, we can repent"...he then looked at me and Amy and said "See, I DO listen in church". It was a very cute moment, but it also made me proud. He is such a good kid and has so much love in his heart. Often we think he is not being responsible or paying attention, but in reality he is doing the things he should be and is so kind to everyone. Stockton is an example to me, I always hope I treat other people the way Stockton does. And I am looking forward to the great day when he gets baptized.