Klondike 2013

Scouts are crazy.  Every year, a winter campout is planned and my boys have had the "privilege" of going on the Klondike Campout for the last four.  I remember my brothers going and speaking favorably of it.  Steve talks about it with excitement and a smile.  Braxton and Evan do, too.  Weird!  I am so grateful that I can stay home, sleep in my warm bed, use my blessed indoor plumbing, and not shiver.  I worry about them the entire time.  It was REALLY cold at this last one.

Here are the brave souls (minus Steve).

Notice how dumb teenage boys are?  Where are their coats?!!!  Obviously their moms aren't with them.

No coat, no hat, no gloves, but Evan's got a smile!  That must be some hot cocoa!

Although, I don't want to EVER do this, I am glad that my boys have found pleasure in it and look forward to the all-you-can-drink-hot chocolate and the games that test their survival skills and teamwork.  Just another event to prove our family's motto for the year..."I can do hard things."  I am so proud of them!  But I have to give credit to Steve, who gets the boys excited, prepares the parents and boys for what is to come, and (shhhhhh-even though he doesn't like camping) does it with a smile because he knows what it can do for 12-13 year old boys.  He's my hero!

Basketball

The past 2 months have been enjoyable and frustrating as I watch my kids play basketball.  I LOVE basketball.  I can play basketball, I know the rules, I love the skill it requires, and I love the team camaraderie.  I love the sound when a ball bounces off the square and swishes through the hoop.  I do admit that I hated many practices, hated the "mad" feelings against my own teammates as we scrimmaged, hated getting cherry-picked, and hated losing.  As a mom, watching my own kids is a weird experience with many love and hate moments.

Carter, despite his unbelievable swimming skills, recognition, and fame, he decided he was burned out and wanted to try basketball this year.  With him already doing scouts, piano, sax, and 2 seasons of soccer, we couldn't add year-round $1500 swimming on top of basketball.  So, he has taken a hiatus and joined a basketball team filled with other boys from his school.  The beginning was rough, but he improved immensely and I found myself excited to see what he could do each Saturday.

It's always fun to be on an undefeated team!

My Athlete

**a note about these socks...These are Nike Elites.  They come in multiple colors and have a stripe up the back of a contrasting color.  They cost $15!!!  Every boy on his team wears them.  In fact, "all the guys at school have them" I've been told.  Apparently, they have extra cushion in the right places to help the kids jump and perform better. :)  I have no idea if this is true, but it was one of Carter's Christmas gifts that he never thought he'd get.  I think I saw the beginning of tears in his eyes when he opened his gift.  I do have to say that he wears them 2-3 times a week, depending on how often they are washed.

Emma loves to play, but is still figuring out how to be an athlete. :)

Her ball-handling is getting better.  It'd shock me when they'd have her run point.  CRAZY!

She had a cute team with girls from multiple schools.  Two were even taller than she was!

I'm most proud of her improvement on defense.  I taught her the stance and how to switch feet and hands depending on the direction your defender is moving.  She got a lot of turnovers because of it and was much more of a force to be reckoned with on her defensive end.  We're still working on her rebounding and using the backboard, but it'll come.  I'm just thrilled she wants to keep at it!

Braxton and Evan are playing church ball and having a great time with that.  Lizzie is a great cheerleader and is becoming really good at the games that are on my phone. :)

Braxton turns 15!

My "man-child" has reached his 15th birthday!  But who am I kidding...this is the most compliant, obedient 15 year-old boy around. He not only reached it, but he's taken his years by the reigns and is making it into what he wants it to be.  For that, I am incredibly proud of this handsome young man.

Some details:

Favorite color - red

Favorite food - spaghetti w/ meat sauce

Favorite book - Michael Vey: Rise of Elgen

Favorite movie - Avengers

Favorite Team - BYU anything

Favorite Subject in school - Bass Chorus

Favorite Music Group - Eclipse (a capella)

Favorite Video/Computer Game - Civilization 4

6'1" and 164 lbs

Eat your heart out, young women!!!!

He's a BYU fan, through and through.  Already making plans for BYU-I.

His present started ringing as the tissue paper was pulled out. :) I think he's the last one at NVHS to be the owner of a cell phone.

Here, everyone wanted to learn how to use it.  

We couldn't let him escape the spanking machine!

The way to Braxton's heart has always been through his stomach.  He also has the gene from me where chocolate  is required for satisfaction.  His favorite candy bars are Nestle Crunch Bars and Kit-Kats,so we got creative and made sure they were incorporated.  

The wish.  He's always very serious every year as he thinks of his big wish.

Success! 

Is it bad that I miss the days when he looked like this?  Sometimes I wish I could have a day again when he was 5 years old.

The New Year

Happy New Year!  

 I got this great idea from pinterest on how to transform a Christmas tree into a New Year's Tree.  Isn't it fun?  We had a great time decorating it and blowing up the balloons.  The intention is to have prizes in the balloons so that when they are popped, the popper can get a fortune or money, but balloon popping is exciting enough at our house.  We didn't need to stuff the balloons.

This year, we took a low-key approach to bringing in the new year.  We had lots of fun "party" foods and watched "Once Upon A Time." This has been a fun show that my entire family enjoys.  The familiar fairy tale characters keep the girls interested, while the action and magic entices the boys.

Isn't it the law that you have to kiss your special someone at midnight?

 The boys brought in the new year without kissing; however, they did it with a lot of noise and a little gangnam style.

Carter discovered a bazaar talent.  Disgusting, but because of the late hour, we thought it was hilarious!

 CHEERS!

 I asked everyone to make a toast.  I started to give the kids some ideas.  I toasted to health & our family.  Lizzie raised her glass to good friends.  Carter was next.  He toasted to Jimmer, sports, and his awesomeness and BYU.  Evan toasted to having successes in the new year and making a difference.  Braxton said that he wanted to take the opportunity to thank his Father in Heaven and Savior, Jesus Christ, because without Them none of "this" (motioning to all around him) would be possible.

Breakfast in the morning (after sleeping in) was crepes. Mmmmm!  I think this may have to become a tradition.  I'm sure Carter will help me make this a reality since he requests them constantly.

 This was one of our main activities--making Dad do Just Dance with us!  He danced to "Rock Lobster" by the B52s, "Istanbul, not Constantinople" by They Might Be Giants, and "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley.

We finished off the holiday by introducing the kids to the Naf Naf Grill.  What a great day!

Christmas Break

Our time off of school was spent hanging out mainly.  The kids played with their new Christmas gifts.  Evan hung up his bird feeder and he did spot a few, but the squirrels kept us laughing.

Again, we had our gingerbread contest between the girls and boys.  Again, the girls won without question.

We received a light dusting of snow that stayed for a few hours.  The kids took advantage of the moment.

 We headed over to BounceTown for some exercise and energy output.  They have added a climbing wall since we were there last and the kids loved it.  I think Evan went up to the top 7 or 8 times in 90 minutes.  He is my monkey.

 Steve and I took his parents out to eat and to "Singin' in the Rain" at Drury Lane.  It was spectacular!  So impressed with the singing, dancing, and the waterworks!!!

 We played a few games, went to the church to play basketball, watched a few movies (loved Les Mis and enjoyed Wreck it Ralph), and ate lots of good food.  

Christmas Day

YOU...better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout...I'm telling you why...Santa Clause is coming to town!!!  He came!  The kids were good enough to have him make a stop.  He had actually sent each one of them an email (via PNP--portablenorthpole.com--if you don't know about this you really should check it out).  Evan and Carter were the only ones in question.  Santa informed the other 3 that they were on the nice list, so they weren't worried.    

Are we cruel parents making them sing?

Emma got an art easel with supplies and Lizzie got a Video Barbie and...

STOMPEEZ!

Dad got a new cooling pillow, underwear, and camping equipment.

Evan was excited for his Pianoguys t-shirt and bird feeder.

This game has actually been the hit!  Thanks to my sister & family, we are finally the proud owners of Just Dance 4 and  have definitely improved upon our moves.  You should see our "Moves Like Jagger"!

The girls and their barbie stuff...

Carter & his Jimmer Biography

This is one of my favorite things.  Grandpa Bird has a tendency to laugh and then not be able to stop until he starts crying.  

Bubble wrap.  Not a present, but offers sometimes just as much fun.

Grandma Bird made us ladies all a new scarf.

The easel has been put to use everyday since it was set up.  In fact, it is still in our family room!

 The slumber party at the end of the day.  We all had such a great time.  The kids did mention that it was a smaller Christmas (no trips, gaming systems, big toys), but that it was still fun.  I'm sad they noticed, but grateful for their positive attitude about it. I'm blessed that my kids don't have the "gimmies." 

 It was fun to hear that their favorite memories of the holiday season were the Staff of Life night and Polar Express night.  Are we so blessed or what?