Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Last regular season game...

Carter had his last regular season basketball game Saturday. His team did so AWESOME throughout their season!  They really know how to work as a team and only lost 1 game.  Their team also got invited to go to the playoffs.  Carter was ecstatic about the news!

Carter and his good friend Kenyon.
 
  Below are a few videos of Carter in action.  He is wearing blue shorts and he is number 8.
He went straight to the hoop on this play.
 

 This is Carter's Sweet Money shot...He makes this shot just about every time he takes it. (I guess many hours at the hoop at home pays off)  I was so focused on the ball that I kind of cut off Carter after he made the shot..sorry about that Carter.

In this play Carter just ends up with the ball and puts it up for a basket.
 
Carter has improved his skills and confidence with this sport from last year.  The coach is putting together a competition team and invited Carter to play.  Again, Carter was super excited!
Playoffs start this week...Carter can't wait to start playing again!
 
I have to make a comment that one of our family friends (Brad) showed up to watch Carter in action. Carter was just excited to see him in the stands.  Matt and I thought maybe he would get nervous but he actually was on fire with his shots!  I appreciate people that take the time to help make positive influences on other children.  It makes children feel that not only just their family care about them, but others show interest in their life too.  I am sure that it makes them want to do better.  Thanks Brad and Tanja for your support!
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Monday, March 25, 2013

Changes...

Sorry, no pictures with this post just important things and thoughts I want in our family history book.

The last few weeks have been lots of change in our family life.  It started in the month of February with Matt's new job.  We had to adjust to his longer commute to and from work.  We also have had to juggle the kids around to be able to make it to their activities around town when I have to work.  Then, the announcement came that the kids school would be changing to a traditional school schedule rather than a year round school.  That means we will not have the extended breaks throughout the year.  The kids were not happy to hear this news.  Ashlynn was in tears when she found out and Carter wanted to change schools.  With this being said we are currently on our last track break and enjoying every minute of it.  The new change will start with the beginning of the new school year in August.  Well, it was fun while it lasted.

As the month of March went on I was feeling very comfortable and content with our life.  We were getting settled with the changes and feeling comfortable in our callings at Church and enjoying our friendships we have established here.  The warm weather hit and I was really looking forward to Spring.  Then, it all came to a halt last Sunday (St. Patrick's Day).  During Sacrament meeting there was a letter read from the Stake Presidency that half of our wards in our Stake were invited to attend a special meeting that night that involved some leaderships and boundary changes.  Instantly, I had a uneasy feeling about this special meeting.  What was going to happen...well, change is happening again with our family.  We found out at the meeting that our side of the neighborhood including our culdasac was going to be moved into a brand new ward that was created. (This effected about 20 homes).  They released and sustained 4 new bishoprics and announced all the boundary changes.  Then, they announced that everyone moving into a new ward that you were automatically released from your previous callings.  My eyes instantly filled with tears knowing that I was no longer going to be serving with the Young Women of our Ward and that we were no longer going to be in the same ward with some of our really good friends.  Everyone on the other side of fence was now in our old Ward.  It was such a sad moment for us and everyone effected by this change.  Some of us gathered in the back of cultural hall after the announcement with watery eyes and gave each other hugs and words of encouragement.  We will just have to make extra effort to see these people since we will not be seeing them as much. 

Matt was released as the Elder's Quorum President on Tuesday and was feeling lost and on what to do.  It is hard to just halt on all your hard work with the families he had been working with.  Matt and I got to thinking that we could just lay low for awhile to try our best to get to know some new people in our new Ward.  We thought since we don't know a lot of people in our new Ward, we were safe from callings for a while.  Well, that was not the case.  Matt was put in the Sunday School Presidency and I was put in the Primary Presidency before the first Sunday of the brand new Ward. I have never experienced being in a brand new ward that everything has to be put in place from the very beginning.  On Sunday, they just announced all the new presidencies, had a mingle get- together, and held shortened blocks for the rest of church.  We had all the primary kids meet up for a introduction of the new primary leaders, a sharing time lesson and people from the ward helped out with lessons in their classes.  It was crazy but a spiritual filled day.  As the Primary children were singing I got taken by emotion that it doesn't matter if I don't know most of the people that were around me that moment, but I do know that Heavenly Father will comfort and guide everyone during these changes.

Next time I am feeling content about life I am going to quickly try to change that feeling because with my experience it is always a pretense feeling that big changes are coming.                 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Dr. Suess Winner...

The kids school had a Dr. Seuss drawing contest to honor the late Dr and Ashlynn got Honorable Mention for her grade...YAY!!  She was SO excited to be a part of all the winners throughout the school.  She won tickets to the Classic Fun center and food at Chick-fil-A. 

Here are all the winning drawings.

Here is Ashlynn's drawing.  It is from the movie "The Lorax". The drawing is from the scene where the little bears in the forest are entertained with all the marsh mellows floating around and eat all of them until they drop to the ground.  Too Funny!

Can you tell she is SUPER excited about her creation! 
I just love her creative mind!
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Monday, March 4, 2013

Jr. Jazz night at the Jazz Game

Carter's team were given tickets by the league to a Jazz Game.  The Utah Jazz played the Charlotte Bobcats.  The Jazz pretty much "creamed" them.  The score was 98-68! There was still excitement in the arena from some awesome plays by the Jazz.

Cute Ashlynn...

The boys were being so silly and loud during the game.  They each got a free hot dog and small drink with their ticket, but of course they wanted other treats too.

The Jazz crew were randomly picking sections throughout the game and handing out prizes.  They picked our section and Carter was leaping over people to get to them.  He was SO EXCITED to get this Jazz Bear poster.  He now has it framed in his room.  What a fun way to remember a fun night with his Basketball team.   
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Monday, February 18, 2013

Basketball Season is here

Carter has started basketball and is really enjoying it. The season runs until the end of March.
His team is really good!  They have won the first 5 games so far by more than 15 points each game.  (In Carter's words "We have creamed every team").

Carter plays point guard and has improved his skills from last year.  He is more confident with the ball this year.  He has made some great shots.

He looks forward to practice and games each week.  Carter even fills in down time at home shooting hoops outside regardless of the weather.  I love his dedication!

Cute Ashlynn trying to pass the time at all the games.  She doesn't like going but can always find someone to hang out with or find something to entertain her during the game.
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Saturday, February 16, 2013

Ashlynn's Class Snow Party

Ashlynn's class had a snow party a few weeks ago.  They had spray bottles with food coloring mixed with water.  They all had a great time making their sculptures and painting them!
 

Ashlynn and Emily with their colorful snow bunny.
 
Ashlynn's class right before they headed into class for some yummy hot chocolate.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Valentines

Happy HEART Day!
 
 
These were the kids fun Valentine's Gifts...A Monster and Butterfly Hooded Towels!
Ashlynn was pretending she was in a cacoon.

Personalization was an added bonus.

 
 The day before Valentines the kids had a school party at the skating rink.  They each had to earn points so they could come.  The fun part was that the kids could bring along their scooters.  All the kids had a blast with the fun music, races and games on their wheels. 

Carter on his roller blades.  His poor feet were so sore because they were slightly too small for him now. They fit just fine this past summer... I just can't keep up with his growing feet.