Trash, Treasures and Dress Up

Trash

This weekend was a very busy one!  We signed up to clean the church early Saturday morning.  We didn't realize it was the same day as the cub scout and community trash clean up day.  It is officially called Johnny Horizon Day.  So, we went from cleaning the church, to cleaning up trash from the road sides.  It was a wet morning and we had thoughts that they might cancel it due to the rain...but to no avail, we carried on.  We really weren't dressed appropriately for the rain, but we just happened to have some extra garbage bags in the suburban, which made great rain pull-overs.  So, off we went to clean up our mile of trash.  The girls heading east down one side, and the boys heading west down the other.  It only took us about an hour because we are just that fast...and well, Idaho country is pretty clean and there was only 1 total bag of garbage.  We felt pretty lucky.  Everyone had some slushy feet by the time we got home.  It felt good to spend the morning serving our community and our church.   

 Upon returning home, Mason prepared to go to his Primary Pizza Party.  We have been  hearing him talk about this since the beginning of the year (4 full months to be exact) because his teachers told them in January that if they could be reverent they would have a pizza party.  Wow, to give 4 year olds such a promise and then have them wait until May...we are so glad that the day finally arrived.  :)  At least we won't have to answer "the party is not today" anymore.  He had a blast and his teachers really do go above and beyond the call of duty.  We appreciate all they do for Mason and his class.

Treasure

Well, Daddy found a real treasure yesterday at work.  He caught it and brought it home for the kids to admire.  Matt said that when he found it, there was a bulge in it as if the snake had recently eaten something.  By the time he got home and showed it to the kids, the bulge was gone, but he did provide a warning to be careful so it didn't get sick.  Carter is normally very careful with animals, but this time he must have had the snake in motion a little too much, because it threw up all over his leg.  It really scared Josie and she came running in the house at full speed telling the horrifying story.  Gross!  (That's what I have to say!)  I didn't know that snakes actually throw up, but I guess why would they be any different with an upset stomach?

Dress Up

 So, the day moved along with errands and costume designing.  Tonight was our ward party with the theme "Finding Yourself in Lehi's Dream."  It was a nice activity.  Matt was asked to be one of the four group leaders.  They asked him to represent Nephi and to dress up like him.  Matt thought about his costume all week and of course recruited some help from myself and (mostly) Memaw.  She is very creative and this amazing costume is what they came up with.  Matt made all his leather accessories, all but the shoes which is where I helped.  Anyway, I think he makes a pretty awesome Nephi and mostly everyone at the activity thought he was pretty great as well.

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father:  I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

1 Nephi 3:7

On our tour of Lehi's Dream, they gave us each one of these little booklets.  In one of the rooms, we got to sit and reflect on the dream and then write our thoughts.  I enjoyed reading Carter and Chloe's on our way home.  There were 3 statements for us to fill in the blanks, looking something like this...

I __________am desirous to know...

______________________________

______________________________

I___________will go and do...

______________________________

______________________________

I_____________have a testimony of...

______________________________

______________________________

Carter's Booklet said,

I, Carter, am desirous to know..."Where in the world am I?"

I, Carter, will go and do..."What Heavenly Father wants me to do."

I, Carter, have a testimony of..."Lehi's dream."

Chloe's Booklet was only partially filled out, but said,

I, Chloe, have a testimony of..."I know that Jesus is my Savior."

I, Alice, didn't take the time to write anything down, but I do have a testimony of Lehi's Dream.  Some of my favorite parts of this dream are as follows.

Lehi's words in 1 Nephi 8:12, "And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit."

Verse 30, "...he (Lehi) saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree."

Verse 37, "And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my father did preach unto them."

Verse 38, "And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto them of many things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them."

I believe that each of us are in Lehi's dream and I hope and pray that we may all be amongst the group that are "holding fast to the rod of iron" which represents Jesus Christ.  How grateful I am, to have this path already set out for me to follow.  I do bade my children and family to keep the commandments of the Lord.  I know it is the only path to true happiness.

2010-2011 School Pictures

Here are Carter and Chloe's school pictures for the 2010-2011 school year.

Carter is in 3rd grade at Oregon Trail Elementary.  His teacher is Mrs. Skov.  He started 3rd grade in New Mexico with Mr. Eisenberg at Cielo Azul Elementary.  He says that he likes Oregon Trail better.

 Chloe is in Mrs. Ruiz's 1st grade class. She started the year with Ms. Wallin, in New Mexico, and really likes both teachers. I wasn't planning on getting the kids school pictures taken, but when Chloe got to school and realized it was picture day, she called me up in tears. The next thing I knew, I was ironing her dress, Carter's shirt and heading off to the school. We barely made it in time for Chloe's class. She missed the class picture, so they had to re-take it. That's what mom's do! We do what is important for the kids, right!?!

Both kids have done very well in transitioning schools.  The first day they came home on the bus from Oregon Trail, they were so excited.  They wanted to tell me all about the "old-fashioned" desks.  (I have to say that Oregon Trail is the newest public school in Twin Falls, even though it is quite a few years old.  It wasn't even around until after I graduated from high school.)  I was anxious to hear all about these desks.  They described them as opening from the top and the chairs are attached to the desks.  (This didn't sound too antiquish to me.  That's what we used.)  I asked what their desks were like in New Mexico and they said that the chairs were separate and they just put their stuff in at the front of the desk.  The top doesn't open.  I guess I feel old.  Their school Cielo Azul was brand new when Carter started 1st grade.  Each of the classrooms there had a smart board and a lot of newer technology.  Anyway, I am glad that they really enjoy Oregon Trail Elementary.  There seems to be more of a relaxed atmosphere.  You don't have to tattoo your right arm to get into the school to bring cupcakes for birthdays, etc.  I am happy for the kids and grateful they are adjusting so easily.

Unicorns Do Exist

Look at that Unicorn Horn!

Josie and Chloe had some fun with the suds.  Chloe wanted a horn also, but her hair is too long and heavy to stick up.

Cute girls!

Fancy Girls

Here are a couple darling little church-going girls!  They really needed new dresses.  Josie picked out her little blue and yellow dress and wasn't leaving the store without it!  She loves blue and it really brings out the blue in her eyes.  Chloe looks lovely in her dress as well and I wish there was a matching one in my size so we could be twins.  I love these adorable girls, they are opposites in many physically apparent ways:  color, length and texture of their hair etc.  They are both very alike in their love for all the fancies and pretties as they accessorize their hair, lips and nails.  Gotta have some lip gloss and a hair bow!

Fancy, Fancy, Fancy!

Just leaving...

Since Carter and Chloe were little, they have loved playing in the cupboards.  They just empty out the few items in their way and then climb right in.  Mason and Josie have joined the fun. 

This particular day I heard them playing in the cupboard and they were discussing how

they were leaving.  They were saying goodbye to each other and then I realized that

they had transformed the cupboards into a car. 

I love to see them using their imaginations.  Chloe usually plays the mom, so I hear,

"Hi Mom, Bye Mom, Hey Mom, etc." and when I answer they say, "No, not you...she's the mom!" 

I sure am glad not to have to attend to whatever situation they are calling her for!

Duck, Duck, Goose

Mason and Josie have discovered the love for a new game...Duck, Duck, Goose! We have to play it quite often because it is so much fun...for them to play and us to watch. They must play this in nursery, because they seem to be little experts with the rules. Even Josie will sit patiently and anticipate being called "the goose." She knows that when she gets picked to be the goose, it is her job to jump up and run around the circle...at least once. She usually likes to run around twice, since the circle is so small.

Who will Mason pick??? And away she goes!
I LOVE the way she clearly says, "Duck...Duck...Goosssse!"

She sometimes has a hard time choosing, or she enjoys tapping everyone on the head.

Gotta love that face! This is when I can't stop smiling!

One more round, and away we go!

As the game ends, she wonders off to take care of the law breakers.

And she shoots...this is where I type the sound of a gun shot...but not sure how to spell it!

Read her lips!

Love to play games as a family!

Chloe Scores 4!!

In today's game, Chloe made 4 goals!!! She played really well. There are 4 girls on her team and only 3 of them were there, so all the girls had to play the whole game. Our girls started getting really tired during the 3rd quarter and so when they had a break, the coach told the girls that they needed to steal the ball. Chloe went right out there and started stealing the ball and enduring to the end of the game. She made 2 more goals after stealing the ball. She was exhausted by the end of the game, but she was so happy that she did so well! A little bit of close contact.
...and away she goes!
Right into the goal. It happened so fast, I couldn't get the camera situated and cut off her head! Trust me, it really is her! :)

At the end of the game, all of the parents, coaches and fans line up and make a tunnel for all the girls to run through. The girls love it when they are the stars!

Way to go Chloe! Carter's game was cancelled today because the other team didn't have a coach, so he was really disappointed he didn't get to play. He was sooooo proud of Chloe though, making all those goals!

Soccer

Back in May, we registered Carter and Chloe for AYSO soccer. Matt and I are both knowledgeable and experienced with most athletics, but when it comes to soccer, our knowledge and experience are very minimal...to say the least.

Well, by the time August rolled around, we started receiving phone calls to be coaches, referrees, and whatever else they could try and get us to be. We looked at our lives and what we had going on for the next several months and decided that we just couldn't squeeze anything else in. After declining for Chloe's team, the phone calls did not cease. Apparently they continued to get the same response from many other families. AYSO is a volunteer based program that relies solely on parent volunteers for everything. After continual pursuit, I agreed to be Chloe's coach. When I called back to confirm, they had thankfully found another volunteer for the coach. I was relieved. I offered to help out in other areas, where I could.

Two weeks before the first game arrived, the phone calls started again for Carter's team. They were desperate for a coach and would not take "no" for an answer. They told us that Carter would not have a team if they couldn't get someone to commit to be the coach. (I wondered why they didn't start this hot pursuit for a coach back in May when we paid our fees.) I told the lady that we had so many things going on that Matt would not physically be able to do it, but she would not let me off the phone without promising to ask him. I waited a couple days because I didn't even want to bother him with it...knowing it was my job to protect him and his schedule. Finally, I thought I should let him know because we needed to return the phone call. I explained all the requirements to him and then reminded him that he couldn't do it and I had already informed them. As I looked at him, I noticed a change in his expression. I asked him what he was thinking and he said he had to do it. I questioned him as to why and how. He then got a little emotional, as he often does, and told me that my dad was making him do it. My dad coached me in softball for many years, as well as my brother in baseball and sister in softball. My dad was very supportive when it came to supporting his children in their talents. I knew that Matt would enjoy this experience spending time with our children and he agreed that he would be going to the games anyway and might as well be their coach. Somehow, we knew we would have to make the time.

Matt may not know much about soccer, but he is very experienced in working with youth and knows much about leading and organizing a group. We both got to work putting in order the things necessary for coaching a soccer team. I became the team manager.

Here are some fun pictures of the kids playing soccer in their first few games. They are doing really well and we all seem to be learning the rules and fun involved in playing soccer. Chloe's first game kick off.

Chloe and Genevieve her teammate.

Chloe likes being near the ball. :)

Chloe scored a goal her first and second game. She was sooooo excited!!!

During half time, Chloe came and sat down by me and started crying. I thought she was hurt or something and asked her what was the matter. She said, "The lady bugs are winning!" I reassured her she was doing a fantastic job and that I was so proud of her. I told her we don't keep score and everyone wins! I felt such a great feeling of pride watching her play. I wished Chloe had more family there to see her play and then I realized how my dad was able to be there and watch her in spirit, every single game. At that moment I could even hear him yelling, "That's my girl!"

What an awesome sight to see her ambition and determination to kick that ball. She never seemed to get tired or complain about not wanting to play, she just kept on moving forward.

I think she has found a new love of the game. I love to look at that determined face!

This is her team of 4, and coaches. They play 3 on 3. They are the Princess Explorers! They are learning so much and improving with each game!

Mason always seems to find a way to amuse us and spend his time during the games...of course he faces the road as people are passing by. Maybe he thinks the tree is hiding him well enough. :)

Josie enjoys her snacks while supporting her siblings.I love this picture. Being out on the game field, I have remembered how much I love sports. I love the feeling of being part of team and working together to support each other and build strong bonds of friendship. I have remembered the "rush" and excitement of playing hard and doing your personal best. I have reflected on the many years I played softball, basketball, volleyball, a small stint of powderpuff football, and raced in track. I have great friends and memories from the experiences playing with those teams. It is a great feeling to exercise our bodies and see them do things we never imagined. I love those endorphins! Anyway, I loved to play each sport wearing the #24. It was lucky for me, at least I thought so back then. As I was admiring my kids uniforms, I realized that between each of them, they carried on my favorite number. There is an awesome feeling, watching your own flesh and blood, be a part of a team! Here is Carter warming up before his first game. He scored a goal this first game and he was so excited! As were we all!

These are pictures of Carter during his most recent game. His whole team has improved greatly! They played their first game without a practice because we seemed to be thrown together at the last minute. They play 5 on 5 and there are 7 kids on his team. Matt calls this team the "Bad News Bears" because they had a sad start, but they are turning their luck around quickly, and working well together!They even scored 2 goals this past game!I love seeing Carter's facial expressions!He had a couple fast breaks. After his first game, he came to me so enthusiastically and said, "Thank you mom for signing me up for soccer! I love it!"It is fun to see the boys get in and battle for the ball.Carter is working his fancy footwork. It is nice to see a smile on his face also. He is thoroughly enjoying himself. He told me that he wished he could play a game every day!I love this picture of Carter, he is really going in for the kill! :) His new friend Isaiah sticks his tongue out beside him as they run along side each other.Here are the "Cheetah's!"

There are 8 games this season and then they will play another 8 games during the spring season. It has been a very fun adventure...busy...but very fulfilling. Go Team!

Post 9/13/09