September update

It has been a while so it is time for an update.

Ally made the Idaho History team today!!  She wanted on the team so badly and had to take a test to qualify.  I was really nervous for her because her expectations were so high and if she didn't make it I knew she would have been devastated. She puts so much pressure on herself and it's hard to live up to it sometimes.  Madison loved doing it last year and I'm excited that Ally can have the same opportunity this year.

I watched a friend's kids this afternoon while she went to a doctor's visit.  They are cute kids and play with Matthew well.  The oldest, Hannah, is 6 weeks younger than Matthew.  Tonight I was putting Matthew's pajamas on him and he was talking up a storm like he likes to do.  Our conversation:

Matthew:  I want to go to a Batman maze after I go to Hannah's house.
Me:  You do, huh.
Matthew:  Yeah, Hannah's cute.  She has short hair.
Me: No, she has long hair.
Matthew:  Yeah, she likes to play.

I love that kid.  Hannah is adorable and sweet as any little girl can be.  We'll see how he feels in 13 years.

Bowling

We signed up for Kids Bowl Free this summer.  For $20, we can bowl 2 games a day all summer long.  We took advantage of it a week ago and Emily picked up on some good technique from the girls a few lanes over.

 

Time ...

I haven't posted since January 8th?  Time has gotten away from me again.  We have been so busy that I forget to stop and breathe.  Last Sunday I forgot Madison was giving a talk 3rd hour.  She was prepared for it, but Charlie was in a meeting and I was so focused on having to teach that I forgot to go and listen to her.  I apologized when we got home and I told her that I felt like I failed as a mother.  Madison or Ally piped up and said, "It's okay, you've failed a lot lately." :/ There is nothing like your kids for keeping you humble.  I did forget to tell them that their Primary teacher wanted them to tell a story in class the week before.  It's so hard to keep up with the little things sometimes.

Power Rangers

Matthew must be the 4th child because there is no way I would have allowed Madison to watch Power Rangers.  They were popular when I was babysitting kids in high school and I always thought that they were silly.  It never was my thing.

When Matthew has a choice of what he wants to watch it is usually Curious George or Power Rangers.  He has decided that he is the red Power Ranger.  Charlie is the black and I am the pink Power Ranger.

I don't know if he knows what is going on or if he just likes that they fight and use swords.  He likes to run around with a pirate sword and fight us.  It makes me laugh every time.

Elite Academy

This week we got a phone call from the head of the Idaho Rush.  Somebody had him come down and watch Madison play during her soccer season.  He said that he could tell right away that she had good soccer skills and the success of her team was really because of her and one other girl.  He was calling to invite her to train with the Elite Academy.  It's an invitation only club and is for kids who can compete at the competitive level.  They train with professional coaches for 5 months doing part indoors and then part outdoors. It looks like there is only 1 team so I'm interested to see how many girls were invited.

It's a really good opportunity for Madison so I think that we are going to let her do it.  To be one chosen from several hundred kids is really good, especially chosen from the Recreational level and not the Select.  Kendra, the other girl from her team, is also invited and Madison and her got along really well.  Her father played semi-professionally in England and coached their team in the fall.  It had been by far the best team she has played with so far.  They worked on more skills and control and she improved a lot in 1 season.

Merry Christmas

The kids all wanted their own pictures taken this year:

This is how we read the Christmas story this year.  I'm sure we all got a lot of of it.

 We tried really hard to get a picture all together.

Mostly Matthew wanted it to go like this:

Pajamas.  Madison really wanted footed pjs this year:

Cutie pie:

 Lots of random pictures.  Santa brought books this year:

Some friends in our ward gave Matthew a Jimmy Johnson race car this year.  It was a bit of a joke since I don't like Jimmy Johnson and he does, but Matthew loves that little car.

Ally's Dance Recital

Ally took a semester of dance this year and did a short but sweet recital.  She loved it, but starting in January she is going to start taking real piano lessons instead.