Soccer Season

Last week was Alexis and Collin's first soccer game of the season. Collin is on a team this year with most of his friends from last year and they're called the "Tigers". We even signed Alexis up for the first year and her team is the "Pink Pandas" (leave it to a bunch of girls to pick the name).

Collin's game was at 7:30 in the morning and he had a great time running around and even scored a goal. He was so proud of himself for working so hard and I hope he keeps up his happy attitude all season. And as long as he's having fun that's all that matters!

Alexis started out having a blast with her team in practice. Her coach is great and really works the girls hard. They have to practice 1-1/2 hours twice a week. She's also playing with 8 and 9 year-olds and I think it's great for her to be challenged since she's so competetive! Only problem came to the game and even though it was at 10am it was miserably hot. The poor thing could barely run around and ran out of her water before the game was half over. Let's just hope the weather here in sunny AZ cools off soon!

Slade 15 months

So I know I am behind, but at least the pictures are from when he was 15 months...I just love this little guy! Every day I am amazed with how much he is learning and growing (well not really growing since is is by far my skinniest kid, but still). I love pulling the camera out on him because he is always smiling. Not that I think the pictures are too different because he really is always happy. Of course his only unpleasant screaming noises come when I won't let him wander the house with my blow dryer or curling irons or hand mixer because he certainly thinks he runs the ship. Which of course he does since I can't resist chasing after him and rolling on the floor playing with him. He started giving kisses and isn't above coming back to give you dozens at a time. He is always so used to having at least me and Logan around that if Logan is sleeping while he is awake he knows where to go and find him and I have to chase him up and down the hall to get him to stay out of his room. Oh well, how can you blame him since he isn't used to being alone. I still wonder how since he was born weighing in at 9 pounds 2 ounces, that he is barely topping the scales at just over 20 pounds. Of course since he has been crawling since 5-1/2 months what do we expect, he's working hard to keep his weight down. (don't we all wish it was that easy!)

Crazy Monsoon

So a couple of weeks ago the kids came home from school just in time for a crazy burst of Monsoon weather. Don't we just love AZ? Within a matter of a few minutes our backyard was flooded and I told the kids to run and get on their swimsuits. For those who don't get to experience a monsoon it is amazing. Most of the time they happen at night so the kids don't get to enjoy watching all the thunder and lightning and the cool clouds that roll in, but this time it was perfect. They all went out and ran laps back and forth through the water splashing and getting covered in the lovely grass. I think Slade actually enjoyed himself the most. He just kept running back and forth through the yard until his diaper was hanging down to his knees. And the best part about it was that with the monsoon's happening in the summer it's nice and hot and humid so no one got cold. Gotta love simple pleasures!

All I Want For Christmas...

Is my two front teeth...After months (literally) of wiggling her two front teeth we finally got them out. Saturday night one was hanging on by a thread that I was afraid to let her go to sleep since I didn't want it to come out and she swallow it. Sunday the other one was so loose that we kept calling her the snaggle toothed witch. By that night we got her to get it out and both her new ones were even starting to peek out. It made me sad though because it seems once they lose those teeth they are no longer your little babies. She has always looked like my little girl and now you don't know how they will grow in. But even if she needs braces she'll never go back to that little girl look ever again. (One more thing to make me feel old I guess!)

Passing of a friend....

So we arrived at church on Sunday and were told that a member of our ward had been killed in a tragic car accident on his way back from working in LA. His name was Matt Bachrach and he was an amazing person. Paul and I have only know a few people to ever pass away and this has really hit us hard. It has made us realize how fragile life is and how we should all live for today and not take things for granted. Paul really thought the world of Matt and how much they had in common. Matt left behind his wife Brenda, their 6 year-old son Brigham, 3 year-old son Hunter and Brenda is also 8 months pregnant with another son. They were such a wonderful couple and Paul would often say on Sunday's that we should call the Bachrach's and see what Matt was making for dinner because he was such a great cook. He was the life of a party. Very fun loving and one amazing piano player. Paul would always ask him to play and he was one of those people who couldn't read music, but just sat down and played and it always touched you somehow. I think so highly of Brenda and what a great mother she is and how wonderful her children are. Brigham is already like a little man and just talking to him you think he is a lot more grown up than he is. Little Hunter is a doll. Brenda calls him her family cheerleader and he really is. Everything to him always seems so exciting! I know that Matt has been given a greater purpose to be called back to our Father in Heaven so soon, but I know he is also up there talking to his unborn son and making sure he will come down and look out for his mom and brothers. We will certainly miss him!

Brunette Beauty

Little Miss "sparkly". A little overdone sometimes, but what can I do? I know I have created a monster. The other morning we were getting ready for school and she started to tell me she wasn't pretty enough. Now come on. I know we are only 7, but seriously does this have to start already? After trying to tell her all the things about her that were wonderful without coming right out and saying "you are gorgeous" (like you have pretty eyes and a wonderful smile, you're a good friend and a good sister, etc.) she said she wasn't pretty unless she could be sparkly. YIKES! Oh well, I keep trying to tone it down, but with a house full of rhinestones and sparkles it's a little hard. Anyway, she is certainly lots of fun and is never at a lack for decorating everything she comes in contact with! (Good thing she doesn't decorate her little brothers!)

Fun at the Lake

Alexis and Macy
Slade and his treasures

So growing up we spent probably every weekend at the lake waterskiing. We would all get up really early in the morning (6ish) so we could get to the lake and stake out the best spot and start skiing before the rest of the world came along. We would ski and swim until we were exhausted and come home when the sun started to set. Those were the days!

So Saturday we decided to head out to the lake for the first time in 2 years. What is up with that??? It seems every summer I am pregnant or have a new baby and while we may go once or twice we certainly don't get enough use out of my parents boat. Not to mention they never seem to stay in town long enough to plan any type of outing. Also, it seems like such a hassle with so many kids. By the time you make sure everyone has swimsuits, sunblock, t-shirts, diapers/swimmers, plenty of drinks, snacks, lunch, etc.etc. who wants to go anyway....

We arrive at the lake and Grandpa decided to take all the little kids out first to try the tube. They had been gone for an awfully long time when we finally saw them being towed back to the dock. Yeah for us. We even had Alexis all excited to start waterskiing and unfortunately never had the chance since the cable to the battery ripped off. Well, all in all it really made us realize that even though it is a little work the lake is a blast and all the kids had fun romping around in the lake for hours! Even little Slade was having a great time collecting cigarette butts and beer bottle caps and playing with the ashes in the bbq grills - YUCK! Better luck next time...