Soccer Season.........

 Christian tried soccer this year. His team was a little unbalanced so he tended to do a lot of running up and down the field without getting to handle/kick the ball very much if certain kids were playing. Once said players were taking a break Christian got a bit more action and really enjoyed himself. He liked sitting on the sidelines and drinking water most of the time saying "I'm to hot or I'm to tired from running." It was cute to see him be a part of a team and watch him interact with other kids. He ran along side not really sure how to get to the ball. Then we taught him how to keep his arms and elbows up to block people out and then you could see him using that skill on the field. He catches on fast and keeps improving every game. The best part for him is at the end when he gets a snack.

He loved being a part of team and being able to receive a medal for playing. He thought that was pretty cool.

Julia was on an all girls team this year made up of 3rd and 4th graders. She was the littlest of the team but man, she was fast and had hustle. They played 2 30 minute halves and by the end of those 30 mins. the girls were dying and having side cramps etc. Julia over did it a couple of games and had to sit and rest before going back in. So during the week. Layne and Julia set a goal to do some conditioning drills in the back yard to get her use to running for long periods of time. She would start out running the length of the back yard and then up the hill in the back yard and then add some sprints. By the end of the season you could tell her endurance was so much better. While most girls were walking to get to the ball, Julia was running and running fast to get to the ball to make a play. She is a great little soccer player. It's fun to watch her play and her team was pretty good this year too. She had a great season! Way to go Julia!

First Day of School..........

3rd grade here we come.........

Julia is always a little nervous going back to school. I was the same way. Nervous because she won't know anyone in her class and where to line up. But she is excited to get back to see her old friends and make so new ones.

Christian didn't start pre-school until a whole week later. So he was excited to wear his new back pack. I drove them both to school the 2nd week and walked Christian down to his class. He did some testing with her so he knew where to go and what his class looked like. He marched right down the hall and right in. He did however, go sit by himself once in class. Feeling things out, testing the waters till he gets use to people. What a brave kid....didn't appear to be nervous but I wouldn't know either because he would never tell me. Way to go Christian!

A new year, full of opportunities and possibilities! They look so big and grown up!

It's Great to Be 8..........

She's 8 and I can't believe it. She woke up excited and ready to party. Its going to be a fun day at the splash pad and a party after wards. Julia is excited to turn 8 and can't wait to be baptized that's for sure. She invited Mckenzie and Mckayla Checketts to join us at the splash pad for a day in the sun.

 Selfie Time on the ride down

 Group shot

 Posing for the camera

 Julia wanted a beach theme this year. Fun in the sun. Nice and simple cupcakes.....makes my job easy! She loved all the different decorations on the cupcakes, shark fins, bears on the beach under umbrellas or in the water with gummy inner tubes.

 Singing and making a wish..........

 Nail art and crazy socks from grandma!

 Journey Girl doll that looks just like her....similar to an American Girl Doll

 Everyone enjoys the ice cream and cake party and its a chance to just hang out and have some fun. Julia loves it when she can have her cousins and friends over to help celebrate!

 ABOUT JULIA:

Julia is really into having and playing with friends right now. She loves having her best friends right next door

She loves to be outside and loves to swim and be in the water. She has been taking some swimming lessons and is loving it

She is a great big sister. It's not always easy with a house full of brothers but she is pretty good with them

Her favorite thing to eat is Orange Chicken and Salad......branching out a bit.....I like that

She is going to play soccer again this fall and she is excited about that

She loves the color blue/turquoise

She loves to do anything with art, coloring, painting, beads etc.

Julia is always writing notes for people to tell them how much she loves them or just how great they are

She keeps telling me she can't wait to get braces??

Her testimony of the gospel is growing and she often bears her testimony in church

She can be very stubborn at times but also has a very soft heart and can easily sense when someone else is in pain or a bad mood

She always has a great smile and can make us laugh

We love her to pieces and we are so glad to have Julia in our family. It wouldn't be complete without her. We can't wait to see her be baptized in a couple of weeks and celebrate that milestone with her.

Pony Rides and Alpine Days..........

Trying to keep the kids busy the last few weeks of summer and not go crazy is not proving to be easy. Summer just needs to be done. I'm tired and I'm always hot.....it's always to hot! Anyway, we decided to go to Thanksgiving Point to see some animals and go on some pony rides. We thought the twins might like it and the kids love the animals. So off we went. As I am quickly learning the twins have not experienced much in their 3 years, at least not anything normal. They don't know their animals or even what sounds they make so it makes me sad. So they were scared to even go near the ponies and even try to ride them. They were brave enough to get near some of the other animals and pet them. Thank goodness it wasn't a complete disaster.

For Alpine Days they had a little water day where you could come and play in the bubbles. The fire truck shot out bubbles and it was a foamy sea of bubbles. It just covered everything. The kids loved it. They also had a couple of homemade water slides and Christian could have stayed on those all day long. He and Caleb just kept at it, I think they made a trench in the ground. It was a pretty fun day and something different we don't normally get to do!

Rodeo and Reunion..........

Went up to Preston this weekend for the Rodeo, Layne's 20th class reunion and also Miles Baptism. So a pretty busy weekend. But it's filled with family and fun so who's to complain!

Layne was in is element at his class reunion. He was in charge of a portion of it and did a fantastic job. He had to tell funny stories about his class and then had others come up and tell stories as well. It went really well. He lights up when he talks about school and his friends and where he grew up and it's fun to hear about what he was like back then. Not much has changed :) I didn't stick around to long, I left him to talk and catch up with his friends while I went back to the house to help with all the crazies! Layne also rode the float in the parade on Friday night to help support his class and the 20th reunion! He says he didn't want to but once your there and in the moment, with your friends, I knew that's where he wanted to be! He had a good time!

The kids love the parade. We sit out front of gpa Cromwell's office and collect all the candy that is thrown our way, and it's a lot. Then we usually head over to the carnival and get a lion's burger and hit some rides and games.........it's tradition!

It was also great to be able to attend Mile's baptism. Since we live just far enough away we usually don't get to visit everyone on their special day but we just happen to be in town. Julia will be getting baptized in a few months so I'm glad she got to see her cousin and kinda prepare her and let her see what she gets to do on her special day.