TOUGH BRONCO!!

Ethan had an INCREDIBLE experience playing tackle football this year. His team won every game (until the very last heartbreaker) but more important than that, he had EXCELLENT coaches that taught him a lot about football, sportmanship, and being part of a team.  He learned so much, I am still amazed by it. 

If you know Ethan, you know that he is not overly agressive or competitive.  I worried that he might not enjoy it or find his place.  At the beginning of the season, this was true.  He struggled to find where he fit in and for the first few games....he rarely played.

BUT he practiced hard every day.  He listened and learned every day.  He tried his best every day.  We noticed he was getting better...and his coaches did too!  The last 3 or 4 games he was on the starting defense, and the last 2 games he was on the starting offense, defense, and kick return. 

After the season was over, his team had a party to celebrate.  At the end...his coach announced he was going to award a special "Tough Bronco" trophie to one of the players.  A player who worked hard, rarely complained, and was the most improved kid on the team. He went on to say other remarkable things (one of those times I wish I would have had my video camera rolling!) and then awarded the prize to Ethan.  You should have seen Ethan beaming!  He was so proud and happy that his hard work was recognized. (Of course I bawled.)

Here he is later that night with his trophie...

WHAT A GREAT FOOTBALL SEASON! GO LITTLE BRONCOS!  They get to keep playing with each other for the next 3 years too!

I Love To See the Temple..

Ok so I know for you Utahns this happens a lot, but in Boise a temple dedication is a BIG DEAL.  We took the kids to the Open House, and the older 2 got to participate in the actual dedication.  I hope it is a memory they will have forever.

We are so fortunate to have a temple so close.  I love to see the Temple!

Ghouls, goth girls and princesses

Last year we bailed on the pumpkin patch (Linder Farms you are getting WAY too pricey!)  But we got a good deal on tickets and decided to at least hit the corn maze.  We haven't done a corn maze in several years (the last one may have ended in tears) but it was a suprisingly pleasant experience.

This was Alexis' last year of trick or treating.  She and her good pal Zoe dressed up as "goth girls."  They look mean and sassy, but they are good girls.  A big thanks to Melissa for putting the makeup on as we all know I am terrible at makeup, plus I couldn't handle putting it on my fair faced little girl.

Ethan costume was AWESOME and very creepy!  We decided the best title for him was "ghoul."  His eyes glowed red on and off and he got several comments on his scariness!  Brylee ran from him every time he had his costume on.

My first year having a princess!!  I was pleased to have this litle miss dress up as Sleeping Beauty.  As we went from door to door she would say "do you think THESE people will tell me how pretty I am TOO?"  Boy - we are in trouble.

We carved our pumpkins but apparently I am a terrible record keeper because I didn't snap a photograph.  Trust me though, they were fabulous. I do sense a theme when we were carving them though....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Alexis is 11!!

My eldest is 11.  ELEVEN!! 

I think her favorite gift was this fleece jacket made by her Grandma Beckstead.  She looked adorable in it as she set out for a day of celebration!

(As usual) she wanted Alfredo bowtie pasta at Carrino's for her b-day dinner.

We finished up the night at U-Swirl and the opening of her gifts!!  She was pretty pleased with her new bike!

11 FACT ABOUT ALEXIS!!

* Orange is STILL her favorite color

* I sometimes find her beloved "Moe" dog in her bed

* Her homework is usually done at least 2 or 3 days before it is due

* She can read for hours on end

* She NEVER breaks rules.  (Ok, I take that back.  She cut the line Black Friday shopping this year and she thought it was the naughtiest/most fun thing she had done in a long time!)

* She is an incredible big sister to Ethan and Brylee

* She wants perfect attendance at school this year

* She relishes in the title of "tween"

* She is teaching herself to play the piano

* She is working hard at gymnastics and getting better every week

* She IS and HAS great friends

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Alexis you are amazing and growing up so fast.  WE LOVE YOU!

Alexis' 11th Birthday Party

It was Alexis' year to have a birthday party so the week before her birthday we had her pals over for a minute-to-win-it celebration!  The girls had fun stacking cups, shaking ping pong balls, pulling kleenex out of a box, eating cookies off their forehead....and various other silly games.

They also throughly enjoyed dipping various goodies into the chocolate fountain we had set up.

Alexis has THE BEST group of friends.  They are such a sweet, kind, fun, loving group.  I was most impressed by how thoughtful the gifts given her were.  They all genuinely showed how well each girl knows my daughter and the gift giver was sooo excited to see her reaction!  I am extremely thankful for these girls and the wonderful example and friendship they provide to my Alexis.

I'm calling this one a success!

Women's Fitness Celebration

WELL....I once again find myself VERY behind in blogging!  I'll do my best to catch up with several posts.  Life has just been SO busy with kids and work and life!! (I'm sure you all know)

Alexis and I participated in the St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration in Sept.  It is a 5K that is for and all about women.  It was so fun to spend the morning with her on a nice walk.  Love this girl, she is growing so fast!  :(

Little Broncos

Ethan begged to play football all summer.

Against my better judgement I agreed.

9 yr olds can play their 1st year of tackle.  I was informed by Thane early in the season that I am NOT allowed to run onto the field if E gets hurt cuz that's embarrassing (yeah right I'll be the first one out there to help my baby)

Practice is 1.5 hrs/4 times a week.  It is a lot of working getting him ready (water, pads, helmet, practice jersey, pants, cleats etc.)  I have cussed more than once about it.  You also have to put up with the "football Dads" who can be a real treat.

BUT watching E play on Saturday was all worth it.  He was AMAZING.  He has improved so much in the short season he was even on the starting offense.  All 70 lbs of him held a guy that was seriously almost twice his size. 

I cheered like I have never cheered before for his Little Broncos!  They beat a team that has been undefeated for a year and a half.  They were so proud of themselves.  It was great to see Ethan come alive with pride and a job well done.

He is #70 in this picture.  He's a lean mean football machine :)

After the win..

The girls came to cheer him on as well.

We had to celebrate with breakfast at Denny's!

I guess I can power through the rest of the season.

GO LITTLE BRONCOS!

Small Stars

Brylee has been waiting and waiting to take gymanstics.  WAITING.  FOR OVER A YEAR!

She finally is old enough and ready to go to Small Stars!  She and her BFF Molly went to their first class last week.

They had a blast!

I'm not biased and she is the most adorable :)

Bry and Molly

She is on the right with the pom poms :)

SO FUN!!

BACK TO SCHOOL!

Well...it's that time again.  Back to school. The bus comes rocking early, but we were able to catch a few "before school" shots.  They were big enough this year that I didn't follow them out to the school.

SIGH.

But I digress.

Here they are:

ALEXIS - 6TH GRADE (Can you believe that?  When did she I get so old?)

ETHAN - 4TH GRADE (This kid is going to conquer the world!!)

BRYLEE - Preschool (Yes I sobbed when I left her)

Another school year has commenced!!

Brylee's swim lessons

Brylee took a 2 week swim lessons at a friends house this summer.  She had a GREAT time and loved it until.....

The lessons moved to the diving board.  Yep - this is her screaming on it.  She eventually did jump off a few times and was very proud of herself!!

Drive-in movie and Lagoon

On a recent trip to Utah we went to the drive in movies and Lagoon (among many other things!!)

Good thing my sister Kristy always has her camera handy!!

I may have got slightly wet on the Rattle Snake Rapids

Such good little buddies!!  We love our cousins!

Wolf to Bear

Ethan started scouts a year ago and completed his requirement to earn his Wolf and move to Bear.

Most of the time he spent as a wolf (yours truly) was his den leader.  It was a fun and new experience for me as I have no brothers and no exposure to the scouting world.

So proud of our Ethan!!

OREGON COAST!!

One of my favorite places to visit is the Oregon Coast.  It is a cold, crazy, fun beach.  This year we hit Seaside and (every so briefly) Depot Bay.

We met up with my parents and Aunt Kristy, cousins Cayden and Kaysha, and Cousin Uncle Colby.

We got lucky in that there were a few warm days.  If you have ever visited here - you count your lucky stars if you aren't freezing!

Thane wasn't able to get the time off work, but we tried to make the best of it without him.  We were grateful for family who would help out.

The beach swings are always a hit!!

At Cannon Beach we got to see a lot of star fish and other fun sea creatures.

The 4 wheel bike.  DO NOT BE FOOLED!  This may look fun....but it is HARD work!  Ok...it was fun....but it was HARD work!!  Good thing we had Alexis to pull us through, she was the strongest one!

One of the fun things about Seaside is walking the shops..we got to:

Try on silly hats

Visit a shark museum..  (no child was injured in this photo)

Ride the Seaside Carousel..

Get treats at the candy shop

Played Fascination (a certain Mom who shall remain nameless ROCKED blackout and won over 1,000 tickets :)

Ate at Pig N' Pancake

We also flew kites on the beach and (MY FAVORITE) built a fire and roasted marshmellows.

We had some Karate Kid moments

To top it off, we stopped at Multnomah Falls on the drive back home!  It was pouring rain but my kids loved it.  VERY FUN TRIP!