The Rivers Run Through It

Halle’s Birthday - 2012

2012-02-18T22:24:00.001-07:00

Another year! My little girl is growing up so fast. This year her birthday lasted all week. Sherri and the girls came over for cake on Sunday. Since Rod was out of town on her actual birthday, the boys and I picked her up early from dance and took her to dinner.

Halle begged for a party, and I said no a million times. Parties always end up being such a big production! I finally gave in, but she was allowed to only have a few friends. I did it mostly so she could create some relationships with the girls from her new school. I always feel bad leaving friends out, but it is so hard to know where to draw the line.We ended up going to see another dance studio’s recital. It was well done and the girls seemed to have a good time.

What would a party be without goofy pictures!?!?!

After the performance we went to have a treat. Yummy Cupcakes!The party was just the way I like them. Easy and cheap! Halle had a fun time. She is lucky to have such awesome friends!

Ouch!

2012-02-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

Parker crashed on his scooter and this was the result. Ouch!!!!!

Disneyland - 2011

2012-01-15T10:55:00.001-07:00

We have been really wanting to take Parker to Disneyland for a few years now. With Wes going on a mission in a few more months, we were down to the wire if we wanted the whole family to go together. We were thrilled to get the opportunity to go this past December. The park was more than crowded and Wesley got strep throat, but we managed to have a really great time. Parker loved Disneyland! I encouraged/bribed him to ride ALL the rides, even the scary ones. I can’t say that he loved them all, but he was a real trooper. It was a great week. I loved having my family all together.

This is the only car Connor will be driving alone for a while if he doesn’t get his Eagle Merit badges done!

Oh man, Parker was so excited to finally meet Mickey.

Tower of Terror

Parker wasn’t quite sure what to think of the Sliding buckets on the big ferris wheel.

We are prepared for the Grizzly River run! Rod and the boys thought we were losers for wearing ponchos, but guess who was dry and who wasn’t!

They closed off the line for Goofy and Halle was having a come apart, so this was our compromise for getting a picture with him!

What could be better than ending our Christmas Trip to Disneyland than with a picture with Santa Claus! My older boys were so good to me and got in the picture. I was one happy Mom having all my kids with me for a whole week without any distractions! I know that life as we know it will be coming to an end and I am glad that I will have these memories to hold onto forever!!

Christmas Dance Recital

2012-01-03T18:27:00.001-07:00

Halle had another successful year at her Christmas Concert. The routine was so cute and she did a great job!

She is lucky to have so many people who love and support her. ( Connor had his own Choir Concert that evening.))Such Proud Parents!!Halle and Cute Emily. ( The cutest Picture of the night!)Sophie and Sydney are such great Friends!!Of course Parker is her biggest fan! He is such a good sport to come to all her performances and spend so many nights at the dance studio!

Christmas 2011

2012-01-01T20:06:00.001-07:00

I love when we can pull out the Christmas Decorations that create a different feeling in our home. I especially love how all the kids participate and “teenage attitudes” don’t interfere with our family traditions.

I have such a great group of kids! Cute too!

A trip to Temple Square with Ryann and Ginny helped to get us into the real spirit of Christmas.

Pajama Time!! My kids are the best. They are always excited about the pajamas they get and even if they don’t love my ensembles, they never complain!

Time to leave a treat for Santa!

We had a great day spending time together as a family. I love the fact that we can just slow down a bit and take a break from the normal routine. We hope that you all had a fabulous Christmas

Parker Turns 6

2011-12-28T22:23:00.001-07:00

It’s so hard to believe that my baby turned six! Where does all the time go? He is such a cute kid. His personality is developing every day. Some days I am not so sure if I like it! He can be very strong-willed and has started throwing tantrums. He also has become somewhat sassy. In spite of all this, he is still a loving, cute kid. He brings so much life to our family. He reminds me a lot of Connor (which I am not sure is always a good thing)! I can’t wait to see what the future has in store and what great things he will do. I love you Parker. I can’t imagine my life or our family without you!

Parker insisted on having a party. He really wanted to go to the skating rink, but I worried that his friends were still a bit too young for that, so we settled for a party at home. I tried to keep the number small, but you can see in the pictures that didn’t happen. I still managed to forget a few key friends! Oops!

A pinata was a must! The kids had a lot of fun with it, but it stressed me out with worry that someone would get hurt. We only had one slight injury. (Sorry Kate!)

Here’s to another great year. Parker, I hope all your wishes come true!!!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T19:43:00.001-07:00

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend. My parents came down from Rexburg to celebrate with us. We had fun just hanging out and seeing family. Of course, there was way too much eating….

On Thanksgiving Eve, Sherri and her kids came over to have soup and dessert. It was fun catching up.

Dinner was yummy, but a lot of work. My vote is for dinner at Tucano’s next year! Anyone in?

The kids favorite part of the meal is the sparkling cider. Bottoms up!

Cheers! Here’s wishing you all a very happy holiday season!!

Braden’s Accident

2011-11-24T18:53:00.001-07:00

Saturday morning I was at the gym and I got a phone call from Braden’s Scout Leader. He told me that Braden had been in a biking accident and was currently being checked by an EMT. The next phone call I got was the EMT telling me that they were going to take Braden to the hospital in Moab to be checked out. She told me that he had been knocked unconscious and they thought his collar bone was broken. Unfortunately he was three hours away from home and all I could do was sit and wait. Next, I heard from the doctor at the hospital. She said that his CT scan had shown a small spot of blood. She wanted him looked at by a Pediatric Neurologist and monitored overnight. She wanted him sent to Primary Children’s hospital and so a Life Flight plane was on it’s way from Salt Lake City to pick him up! I was in shock! Several long hours later, we were finally able to see him and give him a kiss. He was really being a trooper, but I could tell he was tired and scared. After another CT scan, they determined that the bleed on his brain must have just been from impact and that it was no longer bleeding.

After a long night in the hospital, they released him. He has a concussion and a broken collar bone, but we are all well aware of how lucky we are. We are so grateful to his wonderful scout leaders who took such good care of him. We are so thankful to his fellow scouts who were such a support and were so encouraging. At this holiday season we are the most THANKFUL for Braden and that he is still here with us!! We know we owe that to our Heavenly Father and to those who said so many prayers on his behalf!

Art with Heart - 2011

2011-11-24T18:16:00.001-07:00

Brooklyn, Marlee and Halle heading in for dress rehearsal.

Halle’s team danced to Rio. The costumes were so fun and the dance was awesome!

Art with Heart is such a great opportunity for the girls to think about others who are in need. This year was Halle’s fifth year participating. She was supposed to perform two nights, but due to Rod’s Mom’s funeral, she only performed one night. We were so grateful to her teacher for being understanding and grateful to the girls for being flexible!

This was the first year that Rod and Parker attended. They were both impressed. I love being associated with this dance studio. It was very apparent which dances belonged to the Dance Club. Way to go to all the girls and teachers who worked so hard to make this a success!

Halloween

2011-11-06T21:59:00.001-07:00

We had a great time this year for Halloween As always, the kids loved the Ward Party and “Trunk or Treating”.Parker and his buddies, Micah,Payton, Meagan and Ryder.Halle and her friends Sydney, Sophie and Courtnie.

Parker’s Bestie, Payton!

Braden and Connor’s Jack 0 Lantern Snowman!

Parker was n\Link from the Zelda games and Halle took on a more evil approach by being a Vampire Girl. The kids had great fun. A Big thanks to Lauren, Danielle and Sherri for taking my kids trick or treating AGAIN!

Fall Break

2011-11-06T21:39:00.001-07:00

We had a great time for fall break this year. I just took the kids and did little things each day. We saw a movie, went miniature golfing, went roller skating, and got pedicures. It was fun and best of all I did not have to work at all! I love my new job!!

Halle and Parker enjoyed spending the day with their good friends Courtnie and Meagan.Halle cracked me up while we were getting pedicures. She had to sit slumped down like this to get her feet in the water and feel the massage chair at the same time!

Halle had a birthday party to dress up for. We had to rush to get her there on time, since we were having so much fun playing. We had a great time and I enjoyed spending some time with my kids.

Park City Getaway–October 2011

2011-11-06T20:30:00.002-07:00

When I was up in Park City for the half marathon, Rod and Connor had to go up to Park City for a lacrosse game. We decided to make a weekend of it and invited Wes to join us. It was fun to have the kids all to ourselves.

This moose was right outside of our hotel window!

We had fun riding the Alpine slide, even though it was really cold!!

I sure love these kids! I am so grateful that they enjoy being together and have so much fun together. I am so blessed!

The Pink Series Half - 2011

2011-11-06T19:28:00.002-07:00

My friend Tanya invited me to run in a half marathon that she was in charge of. It was a race only for women. The night before we headed up to Park City and helped to pass out the race packets. It was fun to hang out with the girls.

Tanya, me, Sandy, Mindy, and Kari

Me, Kelsey, Katie, and Sarah

The day started out freezing cold with rain and snow, but got a little warmer. This picture is from the finish line. Although these cute girls ran way faster than me, they hung around the finish to cheer me on! Although is was super hard and the older I get the slower I get, I am glad I ran the race. It pushed me to train and I’m always up for a good challenge.

Relaxing between Conference

2011-11-06T18:58:00.002-07:00

We went up the canyon between conference sessions and had a picnic. It was nice to relax for a minute and let the kids be kids. We played Lacrosse, frisbee, climbed trees, played in the leaves and found fuzzy caterpillars. It was nice to take a break and spend some time together as a family.

LAX

2011-10-23T19:09:00.002-06:00

Our life has revolved around Lacrosse this Fall. With Rod coaching and Connor and Braden playing, most of our Saturday’s and least two nights per week have been occupied with games and practices.

Braden continues to learn and improve. He really seems to like playing.

Connor loves lacrosse and can’t seem to get enough of it. This Fall he played on the Freshman/Sophomore team and the JV/Varsity Team.

Rod has become as addicted to the game as Connor and has started his training to get certified. It is nice that the three of them have something to share and do together.

School Activities and Dress up fun

2011-10-19T22:56:00.001-06:00

So far the kids have had a lot of fun in school. Having to work with two different elementary schools has been challenging. Trying to remember all the dates for the carnivals, crazy hair day, crazy sock day, etc. has been difficult. We have remembered some and missed some, but the kids are participating more often than not, so I guess you could call that a success!

Of course, I had to head to work, so I left Rod in charge of making Parker’s hair crazy. All he could find was white hair paint, so Parker looks like a little old man, but I guess that is crazy?!?!?Halle had to dress in western wear. I think she looked pretty darn cute.At Halle’s school carnival, they added a red stripe to go with Parker’s gray. And then topped it all off with a spider tattoo on his face! Awesome!Halle got feathers in her hair and a cat on her cheek. What could be better?@?@?At Parker’s Carnival, he got red hair all over and Halle loved her stripes!

For Lexi’s Birthday, they dressed up like a Prince and Princess.Halle’s crazy hair day attempt turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.

I was lucky enough to get to go on a field trip with Parker to the Fire station.

Parker loved going in the Fire truck.Then Braden had a choir concert. He auditioned to sing part of one song with two other boys. Wow! I was impressed that he was so brave!

Good job Braden. The night before Braden’s concert, Connor had his first choir concert. It is fun to watch my kids develop their talents. The first couple months of school have been non stop excitement, but the kids all seem to be adjusting and doing well. I just hope that I can keep up!

A visitor from TEXAS!

2011-10-19T21:52:00.001-06:00

Rod’s sister Ginny came to visit us, all the way from Texas. We don’t get to see her much, so it was really great to spend a little time with her. The kids wouldn’t give her room to breath.

Of course we had to have Cory, Ryann and Paul come to dinner. We love having them here!Ginny, Rod and Cory. Now if we could only get Nancy to come visit….Although Ryann only lives in Salt Lake, she is so busy being a senior, dancing and working that we hardly ever get to see her.

As always, we had a great time with Cory and Ryann and having Ginny along made it even better. We sure love you guys and wish you could visit more often. Come back soon!!

Share a Smile Triathlon 2011

2011-10-01T20:26:00.001-06:00

For my birthday this year, I told the kids that all I wanted was for them to do a triathlon with me. They all agreed, some a little more reluctantly than the others, but they did it! I was so proud of them all.

The little kids were the most scared of the swim. Since we didn’t do lessons this summer, they weren’t to sure of how they’d do, but they both did super!Halle sped right across the pool. I was impressed!Parker really did not want to do the race, but once he hit the water, there was no holding back!

They both had so much fun! They both said that they wanted to do it again! I was so proud of them!!!Then it was time for the sprint Triathlon. Rod and Connor did the whole race themselves. Braden, Sandy Jensen and I did it as a team. Braden swam, of course, I biked and Sandy ran.

Connor was giving it his all, but Braden stayed in the lead.

Rod and Connor were neck and neck almost the whole race.

Rod beat Connor by around 30 seconds!! I think Connor already has plans to beat him next year!

It was such a fun morning. I was so proud of everyone! They all did their best. It was a great way to start my Birthday!!

First Day of School

2011-09-29T15:24:00.000-06:00

So I Realize it has been a month since school has started, but I guess it is better late than never!! This is the first year that I have not been able to see my kids off to their first day of school. Needless to say I was very sad. Rod took the pictures of Braden and Halle, and no picture of Connor! Bummer!!!

8th grader, Braden is no longer the "low man on the totem pole." He seems much happier and more personable this year. I hope it turns out to be a super year for him!

3rd Grader, Halle, changed to a new school this year to participate in an accelerated learning program. She was totally nervous to do something new, but so far, she is loving it and has fit right in!

Rod did not remember to take his picture before his first day! It broke my heart that I couldn't even be with him to send him off. I snapped this picture after school. He is really enjoying Kindergarten and is also doing well at the babysitters. We were both really nervous about that, but he has adjusted just fine and most days he is only there for 2 and a half hours. I am so grateful that he is so flexible and such an easy going kid!

The new year is off and running. We are all just trying to keep up, but surviving for the most part and having fun doing it!

Wes heads off to College

2011-09-20T18:20:00.001-06:00

Last month Rod and I headed off to take Wesley to College. He had to go two weeks early to do some training for his Assistant RA job, so we loaded up his car and off we went.....

We walked around the campus for a while. They really have some nice facilities. His dorm room was adequate. It has three rooms, one bathroom and 5 guys live there. He was lucky enough to get there before the others so he could have first pick of everything.

It was all very small and very compact. There were ants in the pantry and mold in the shower. Everything in the kitchen seemed sticky. I wanted to run screaming from the building. Rod kept giving me the eye to keep my mouth shut and my opinions to myself. I did the best I could. I could tell Wes was a little concerned about it all. He really has had such an easy life and has never experienced living in a less than ideal situation. I know it will be good for him, but it is just hard to not want the best of everything for your children. We got him all moved in and unpacked and things seemed to appear a little better.

Since he was there early, there was only one other kid living in his building. It was probably one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do as a mother, to leave him there all by himself, in some strange town with no one there that he knew. I was worried, but he did great! So far so good. We miss him, but he seems to be living it up, working, going to school, studying, and never sleeping!

Trafalga Fun!

2011-09-09T17:12:00.001-06:00

One hot, summer day, we decided to grab some friends and head over to Trafalga. The kids had tons of fun playing miniature golf, laser tag, and soaking each other on the boats. I loved that it didn’t cost much, but hated that the kids behind us had never been taught how to respectfully play miniature golf! They would just play right through the hole we were on! Crazy!!!

We sure love this kid. He and Parker are the best of buds!

Completely drenched! I certainly was glad it wasn’t me!!!

Summer Dance Attack 2011

2011-09-04T22:51:00.001-06:00

So this is the first year that Halle was required to attend the Summer Dance Attack. It worked out perfectly since this was the first year we didn’t go to the beach. Every year Dance Attack is on exactly the same week as our trip to the beach. We were lucky enough to room with the Jeanette, Brynnley, Brooklyn, Heather, Marlee, Sophie, Patricia, and Mariah. The girls had a great time and the Mom’s were able to take a break from the normal routine.

We had fun just hanging out…

Being with Friends….

Learning from Great Teachers….

Celebrating…..Acting Goofy….

Matching…….

Seeing the sites….

And just being together…..

It was fun to get away. Halle and I were so lucky to get to spend some time together and we couldn’t have asked for better company! Thanks ladies!!

Two Visits to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s

2011-09-02T23:08:00.001-06:00

This summer we had the opportunity to go to Grandma and Grandpa’s house twice. The first time was just because we missed them. The second time was because Cindi and Jayden came to visit and we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see them. It was so much fun just to hang out. We did lots of fun things…….We picked peas from the garden.We shelled the peas! Yum!We rode bikes.

We swam in the new city pool!

We went to see a movie!We went to Church with Grandma and Grandpa!We rode bikes to the park and then acted silly while we were there.

Super hero poses.

We celebrated Grandpa’s Birthday!

We played games and ate junk!We played croquet!We caught up with old friends!We fought over Winnie the Pooh!

We made crafts!We pretended to ride motorcycles. (Cindi bought three while on her trip!)

We just hung out!And laughed!And acted goofy! And enjoyed being together! Thanks Mom, Dad, Cindi and Jayden! WE sure love you guys!!! XOXOXO

Utah Adventures–Bingham Copper Mines

2011-08-21T17:00:00.001-06:00

So once again, Sandy encouraged me to step outside of the box and do something that I never really considered doing. This time it was taking a tour of the Bingham Copper Mines. We were expecting something a little different, but it was still quite interesting to see.This tire is the size of the tires on the trucks that haul the stuff up and down the mine. The driver of the truck sits 18 feet above the ground!

You can really see the detail behind Parker. It is amazing how they have worked their way down into the earth.

No pictures of Braden, Sandy or I, but I was so grateful to have them both there. Now Sandy is happy, she accomplished her wish of things to do in Utah and she did it all in one Summer! Thanks for letting us tag along!

Utah Adventures–Timpanogos Caves

2011-08-21T16:27:00.001-06:00

I have hiked to Timpanogos Caves several times before, but it has been a long time. (Halle was just a baby the last time we went.) Sandy had never been, so we loaded up the kids and headed up. It is a long hike, but well worth it. Our tour guide was awesome and the kids had a great time.

Proud Moms once again! Thanks Sandy for encouraging me to make the effort!

UTAH Adventures– “Y” mountain

2011-08-21T15:51:00.002-06:00

Sandy and I decided that it was time to accomplish some of those things that are here in Utah, but we never get around to doing. Sandy calls them here bucketlist of Utah activities! The first one to get done was hiking “Y” mountain. It was a pretty steep hike, but the kids did great!You can see the Y above the kids head.

The view of one of our favorite places (Seven Peaks) was great!

Hikers are not supposed to get on the Y. We are sitting at the very top it.

Proud Moms! We were so happy to have made it. The hike wasn’t the challenge as much as actually getting up and doing it! Thanks Sandy for encouraging me to do something that I have always wanted to do but just never put a plan into action.

2011 Summer Vacation–Mormon Battalion Museum

2011-07-31T17:21:00.001-06:00

Someone at work told me that while we were in San Diego, we should check out the Mormon Battalion Museum. So our last night there, we headed over to Old Town to check it out.

It was really well done. We went through a series of rooms and watched a video that told us the story of the Battalion. I learned a lot, and I think the kids did too. At the end the kids played computer games and did Pioneer activities like pumping water….Panning for gold…..pulling water from a well….And making bricks. It was a great, free adventure! I highly recommend it if you are ever in the area.

2011 Summer Vacation–Aquarium and Beach

2011-07-31T17:04:00.001-06:00

We took the kids to Scripps Aquarium. It was small but nice.

Braden was such a good sport! I really loved having him to myself without the older boys. I saw a different side of him!

Then we headed over to La Jolla Beach. It was sad that it was going to be our only time at the beach this year, but the kids made the most of it. Parker really enjoyed the water like he never has before. I don’t know if it was because the waters were not quite as crazy as San Clemente or if he is just getting older.

It was another great day in California. Next year, we will have to hit the beach for a little longer though!

2011 Summer Vacation–Harbor Tour

2011-07-31T16:08:00.001-06:00

While Rod was in class, the kids and I headed over to take a boat tour of the harbor. On our way over we saw this seal sunbathing near all the tuna boats.It was nice and cool in the morning, but since we took the 2 part tour, it got very hot towards the end!!

This boat has been in one of the Pirates movies and many other movies.

The tour guide was very excited that we were able to see this boat up so close. I can’t remember what she called it, but she said that it is a very rare thing to see these guys coming home.You can buy one of these homes on Coronado Island for around 15 million! Yikes!The two tall buildings behind Halle made up the room portion of our hotel. This is the USS Midway water view.On our way back to the hotel, we took a bike taxi. The kids were super excited about getting a ride. I was super excited about the taxi having a cover! I am considering becoming a bike taxi driver! Can you imagine how strong their legs must be?!?!It was a fun morning. We learned many interesting things about San Diego.

2011 Summer Vacation–USS midway

2011-07-31T15:32:00.001-06:00

One day after Rod got out of class, we headed over to take a tour of the USS Midway. It was really cool to be able to see how the sailors live when they are on the ship. I personally could not live in the tight space (even though it is bigger than several buildings combined.) I would definitely be claustrophobic!

This is where the sailors sleep, in bunks with their personal belongings in a drawer underneath. This room is more spacious than some. Some bunks were stacked three deep!The tour was self-guided. We wore headsets. There was a kids version and a more detailed version.This is one of the rooms where the pilots would go to be briefed.There were many planes! Braden thought it was really cool.

It is like a city on a ship, with a post office, stores, doctors offices, operating rooms, and even their own jail for sailors who commit a crime.

They had a program where the kids could answer questions about things all over the ship. If you did the whole tour and answered the questions, you “earned” your wings and one of the volunteers had them take an oath. It was very cute and the kids took it very seriously!

Rod and Braden got to take a tour of the Bridge, no pictures, but they said it was really cool! If you are ever in San Diego, go on this ship, but give yourself more than a couple of hours to go through it all. There is so much to see!

2011 Summer Vacation–Our Hotel

2011-07-25T21:17:00.002-06:00

We went to San Diego for the Utah Bar Convention. Rod had to take classes for his continuing education. The Convention was held at the Manchester Hyatt. It was a great hotel with so much to do nearby.

Seafair Village was right by our hotel and of course we were right on the harbor.

The kids each found the boat they wanted!!

They had an area with all shorts of games for the kids to play. (If you think checkers is boring, try playing it in the HOT sun! Whew!)

Rod really wanted to go to San Diego without kids, but since the older boys were going rafting with the church, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to “force” these three to interact with each other. (My biggest concern is for Braden and Halle.) My efforts worked. They actually played together! This was the view from our hotel window!

We ended up in a room with two beds and I started to feel very claustrophobic within a few minutes, so we splurged on this huge room. We had a kitchen, living area, and two rooms. It was so awesome. We realized that because we have had the trailer all these years, Parker had never really stayed in a hotel before! He definitely got a warped sense of what hotels are really like on this trip! We were all very spoiled.

The smiles on their faces says it all….

So our last day at our hotel, we splurged again on lunch by the pool. It was fun to be waited on and not have to go in search of a meal for a change!

They closed the pool early, so this wedding could take place. It was a really pretty place to get married. It was funny as we stood in the window watching, many of the other windows in the opposite tower from us were full of spectators too!

All in all it was a great hotel to spend a week in. We were lucky to have such an awesome opportunity to do so!

2011 Summer Vacation–Second Stop Knotts Berry Farms

2011-07-24T20:08:00.002-06:00

After we left Vegas we headed to Buena Park to go to Knott’s Berry Farm. The kids had such a great time. It was fun to see Braden get so excited about riding all the thrill rides. All three kids were pretty brave! I realized that my body is older than I think it is. It took me longer to recover after each ride!

This is Parker’s First Roller Coaster ride. It was actually so curvy and bumpy, Rod and I were dying but Parker loved it and had to ride it again!

This was Parker’s first “Big Roller Coaster Ride”. He was very nervous. I think he liked it, but did not want to do it again.

Rod's best friend from his childhood, Daren, met us there with his two boys. (They are in the car with Braden.) We love being able to spend time with them each year when we go to California.

Halle LOVES Brian (Daren's son). It is so funny to watch them interact. She bosses him around like she is his girlfriend!

We stayed at the Embassy Suites and loved it. The kids just had to go swimming before we left for San Diego. (Notice Braden did not participate, he was so excited to have the chance to watch cable TV. We got rid of it several months ago, so he was trying to make up for lost time!)I know this picture is blurry, but I thought it was so funny. Parker and Halle weigh about the same, yet she is picking him up!?!? I’m surprised that she didn’t bump her head!

This is the view from our room. It was all indoors. They offered a cook to order breakfast. It was all so cozy and convenient. I loved it!There was even a pond with huge gold fish in it! I would definitely stay here again!

2011 Summer Vacation–First Stop Vegas

2011-07-24T15:44:00.001-06:00

Right after the Fourth of July Parade, we headed to Vegas for our first stop on our vacation to San Diego. We stayed in a great hotel that was just off the strip and Casino FREE and smoke FREE! The room was great. The kids loved how high up it was and the pool was awesome.This was a rare moment to have Dad swim with them! He doesn’t hit the pools often!The pool was a little deep for Parker, but with a Mom who will lug him around, who needs to swim?!?!This was the view of the pool from our room window.We took the kids to M&M World and then tried to find dinner. I will never walk the strip with children again. It is always bad, but on the 4th of July it was 10 times worse!We got up early to head for Los Angeles, especially to beat the traffic. These windows were great for watching the fireworks.We loved this hotel and would definitely stay in it again, but will NEVER walk down the strip of Las Vegas again! Lesson learned!

Fourth of July Parade 2011

2011-07-24T09:21:00.001-06:00

Halle and Courtnie ready for the big show. (Courtnie slept out for the first time this year!)Parker is ready for the BIG balloons!!The boys who slept out!Rod’s smiling cause this is the first year in a long time that he hasn’t spent the night on the parade route!

We just love the parade!!

This was one of the best entries! It was a little spooky!

It was definitely more than your average parade! We are so grateful to live in the country that we do!!

Wesley turns 18!!!

2011-07-24T08:55:00.002-06:00

It’s hard to believe that my oldest is 18! Where did all the years go? We had a nice evening. We took Wes to dinner and then drove by our friends car lot and let Wes pick out his birthday present! (I’ll post a picture later.)Wesley wouldn’t stand for anything else but a chocolate cake from Costco for his birthday!Wes is actually the oldest out of his group of friends, so he is the first to turn 18! Happy Birthday Wes, here’s to the future! WE hope all your wishes come true!!

Halle’s Little Moments

2011-07-24T08:19:00.002-06:00

Halle has had some great “Little Moments” this past year. Here are a few of them…..She and her best buddy Syd, decided one day since they had matching shoes that they should be completely matching the next day at school. This is what they came up with, right down to fixing their hair the same way!She loved having some great friends in her school class this past year. Syd and Marlee were tons of fun to have around!She was thrilled when I accompanied her on her last field trip of the year to Thanksgiving Point Gardens.This one is my personal favorite. She really wanted to take a cooking class that a neighborhood girl was having at the beginning of summer. I told her I thought it was too expensive and that she would have to raise the money herself. She and I made cookies and then she walked all over the neighborhood selling them. She raised almost all of the money to pay for her own cooking class. She had a lot of fun and I was proud of her for working so hard.

Parker Graduates from Preschool

2011-07-17T21:57:00.004-06:00

Parker had a great year going to two different preschools. He was often tired after a long day, but when I asked him which one he would give up, he couldn't quit either of them because they were both so much fun. Here are a few pictures of his end of the year program. I included a video because I know his Grandma will get a kick out of it. He really got into every song and sang his heart out!

Good job Parker on another great year in preschool! Now... on to Kindergarten!

Braden Plays Lacrosse

2011-07-17T21:21:00.006-06:00

So when it comes to aggressive team sports, Connor has always been the one in our family who loves to participate and gives it his all. You can imagine my surprise when Braden said that he wanted to play Lacrosse this year! I wasn't sure what to expect because aggression is not one of Braden's personality traits, but with a lot of support from Connor and Rod and also a great coach and team, Braden learned alot and had a great season.

He even made some great assists.

This is what the little kids did while I watched the game. I couldn't believe a school would have a play structure like this! Wow! It was really high!
Good job Braden trying something new and being dedicated! We are so proud of you!

Connor's Choir Performance

2011-07-17T21:16:00.003-06:00

Connor finished up another year of choir. This year he was in the boys/girls audition choir, Encore. He was also in the Men's Chorus. No solos this year, but he did have a lot of fun with the other kids going to Festival. I think singing in two choirs may have been too much and he got a little burned out, but he is looking forward to giving the High School Choir a try. Way to go Connor for being involved and sticking with it!

Soccer 2011

2011-07-17T21:08:00.004-06:00

These two love to play soccer. I just really love our cities soccer program. For the most part it is well done. The weather this year was perfect for spending our Saturday's at the soccer fields.

Halle wouldn't be called the most aggressive player on the team, but she wouldn't think of missing a season. Coach Rick was awesome and very patient with her! He tried hard to teach the girls correct positions. He did have to tell Halled to get some shorts without pockets, so she would get her hands out and RUN after the ball!

Parker started the season out as being one of the more aggressive players, but towards the end if I wasn't yelling his every move to him, he would lose focus. He really enjoys soccer though and has some potential. Rod says there is no future there, he WILL be playing Lacrosse!!

The best part of Soccer is the medals you receive at the end! Good job Halle and Parker on a fun soccer season!!

Wesley GRADUATES!!!!

2011-06-30T21:40:00.009-06:00

So, my child accomplishes something that took him 13 years of his life. It is quite an achievement for a 17 year old! Sadly enough, I can't even post it until a month after the fact! But no matter how long it takes me, I could not be any more proud of all of Wesley's hard work. He had a great time in high school and this last year he matured so much. I can't wait to see where he will go from here.A sea of blue!AHH! The moment Rod and I have only dreamed about!! Finally, we can stop stressing about this particular part of his life!
Lauren's big moment! WE are soooo proud of Wes!His siblings were pretty proud of him too!Wes and Kathryn

Wes and AndrewWes with Zach and Andrew Wes with Jeff, Andrew and Mandy. We have been so lucky that Wesley choose to surround himself with good friends! It truly made all the difference in the world.Wes loved sharing his High School time with his cousin Lauren.We were all so thankful that Grandma and Grandpa could make it to the graduation.Two grandkids graduating! WOO HOO!I love how the boys and girls wear different colors. When I graduated, it was all black for us. Congrats Lauren. WE are so proud of you! Sarah, Sherri (proud Mama), Lauren and DanielleThe whole gang!Slow down sister! Don't rush things please! I am trying really hard not to blink! I am afraid that if I do, Rod and I will be empty-nesters. I love this picture that is on the cake! The sign says it best! WE couldn't be more proud of both Wesley and Lauren. Way to go!!!!

Ballet Video

2011-06-05T21:17:00.003-06:00

Halle was so excited/embarrassed to have her first experience with dancing with a boy. Her partner, who is Miss Jennie's son, definitely does not appear too happy to be in this performance!

Halle's Ballet Demonstration

2011-06-05T17:06:00.005-06:00

Halle's Ballet class put on a demonstration. It was fun to see what they have been doing in class each week. She has progressed so much.

We love Miss Jennie.

It has been amazing to watch how much Halle has grown this year in dance. She is really loving it more and more. She told me last week how she was so excited to start dance again next week!

Seminary Graduation

2011-05-22T21:29:00.002-06:00

Tonight Wesley graduated from Seminary! Four years of religion classes! I know without a doubt that Seminary has helped to make him into the great kid that he is today. WE are so proud of you Wes! We love you!

A look at spring from our house!

2011-05-08T17:31:00.001-06:00

Thanks to Braden and Rod for their perspective!

eaSTeR!

2011-05-08T13:42:00.011-06:00

We had a great Easter. The little ones could hardly wait for the Easter Bunny to visit!!Following the string and collecting Easter Eggs in route to finding their present is so exciting...

Even the older boys participate and do not complain.
Although they may not have complained because they were still asleep!?!?!?

The Easter bunny was told not to bring too much candy this year. He didn't really follow instructions.

This is Halle's reaction when she found what the Bunny had left her!

The boys were suddenly awake when they saw what they received! (A PS3. The Easter Bunny was also told not to bring something so extravagant, but he ignored those instructions also!)Halle was all set in the Bieber department! Parker loves anything cars related!

It is almost impossible to get the whole family together before church for a picture. I guess I'll take what I can get. Halle just insisted on a picture with her Dad. She was not happy that Parker had to get in the picture.

If Halle gets one with Dad, then so does Parker! (Who am I? Chopped liver?!?!)

The Cousins came over to have an Easter Egg hunt. We are so glad that we have kids in our family that are the same age as Parker and Halle.

Such a fun Easter Sunday!!

HEE HAWS!!

2011-05-08T13:34:00.002-06:00

This past month Parker got the chance to go to Hee Haws TWICE! One of the days I was able to join with him. It was so fun and a great opportunity for him to see the animals and baby animals. He even got to go on a hay ride!

I am so grateful to have opportunities to spend special times like this with Parker. He is such a sweet kid!

Connor's Bday!

2011-05-08T13:00:00.002-06:00

Today is the day to get caught up! Connor's Birthday was low-key and I loved it! It was great to have just my family together. We skipped dance and Lacrosse was canceled, so we just enjoyed yummy food and hanging out together. Connor is definitely my child who keeps me on my toes! I am often wondering where he is, who he is with, and what he is doing! I have many grey hairs thanks to him! But.... Connor also brings me such joy. I love to hear him sing or play the piano. I love to watch him play sports. I laugh at the times that I am in a crowd and I can hear him over everyone else! He may be loud and a little obnoxious at times, but he is great fun to have in our family. Connor, I hope that your year is fabulous and that all your wishes come true!!!

Crazy Hair Day!

2011-05-08T12:57:00.004-06:00

So it's been a little while, but I thought I'd post a pic from Crazy Hair day!

This is what we could come up with on short notice, when we remembered it was crazy hair day right before we had to leave! Nice look Halle!

Senior Prom

2011-04-30T21:40:00.005-06:00

I still can’t believe he is a senior!

It's difficult but exciting to watch him grow up!

A huge thank you to the Loitz family for hosting the prom dinner. It turned out fabulous!

Wes’ Trip to the Festival of Colors!

2011-03-27T19:30:00.001-06:00

Yesterday Wes and his friends went the the Krishna Temple to participate in the festival of colors. They had a great time!

The chalk turned his rubber bands on his braces pink. Amazingly we got it all out of his clothes! I am not really sure what this festival is all about, but they had a great time!!

Rob, Cindi & Jayden come for a visit!

2011-03-27T18:57:00.003-06:00

Lucky for us, Cindi and Rob came to Utah to ski with some friends. They were nice enough to bring Jayden with them. It was so much fun having them all here. We hated to see them go.

They took the kids to the Children’s Museum and a brazilian restaurant. Of course they had a super time!

We brought balloons with notes addressed to Jimmy and Jason attached to the cemetery.

We had a fun game night with Sherri and the girls.

Some of us went to cheer Connor on at one of his Lacrosse games! It was freezing Cold!!!

Some of us did a lot more whining than cheering! (It really was cooooold!!)

These two had so much fun together. It was as if they had never been apart. Parker loved having Jayden here. He cried so hard on Sunday when he had to go home.

So cute! Breakfast of champions!

Thanks to Jayden for making the really long trip to hang out for just a few days!

Thanks Cindi and Rob for a fun weekend! We love you guys! Come again soon!!

Puzzle Time!

2011-03-27T18:34:00.001-06:00

We had a great time putting this puzzle together as a family! I don’t know what it is, but I just LOVE puzzles. I get so addicted to them. “Just one more piece” I will always tell myself, then an hour will go by.

Unfortunately, we lost a piece! Bummer!

Parker had to get into the action, so we had him put together something a little simpler.

He was so proud of this puzzle! Such a cute kid!!!

Braden’s 13th Birthday!

2011-03-27T18:20:00.001-06:00

So I am a little behind. It has been a month since Braden turned 13. We enjoyed a “yummy” dinner the Saturday before at one of those buffet steak restaurants. Rod and I grinned and bore it. The kids had a blast. With life being so busy, it was a simple night with cake and a present or two. Braden got an acoustic bass that is way too big for him, but we are all looking forward to hearing him play it all around the house and not having to hook up to an amp.

WE love you Braden!!

Halle's Baptism Day

2011-02-06T17:13:00.007-07:00

Saturday Halle was baptized! It ended up be a great day. After she woke up at 6 am throwing up, we said many prayers that she would be able to feel well enough to go to her own baptism. Just ten minutes before we had to leave, she was still feeling pretty bad as I tried to fix her hair. We did the best we could and got her dressed and just like that, she was feeling much better. The pictures reveal how pale she was, but she made it through the baptism and felt fine for a few hours afterwards then started feeling sick again.

Such a pretty girl in her special white dress!

Before the baptism, in front of the font with Wesley and Rod.

Rod suggested that Halle have Wesley baptize her since he was old enough to do so. I was a little shocked. I thought Rod would want to baptize his only girl, but he unselffishly thought that it would be an awesome experience for Wes and he was right. It was a great experience for everyone who witnessed it!
These four cute neighborhood friends, shared a very special day! I think it is something they will cherish forever.

Our whole family is very proud of the decision Halle made to be baptized!! WE sure love you Halle!!

A big thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for making the trip down to share Halle's special day with her.A big thanks to Aunt Sherri for sharing her testimony with us all. Thank you too all our family who joined us for such a special occassion!!

Swim Team

2011-02-06T16:54:00.004-07:00

It's hard to believe Wes' High School Swimming Career has come to an end! So many years... So much practice... He may not have been on a Championship team, but ....
He learned how to work hard....He's got a great dive (Wes Center of Pic right above the number 4) and swims like a fish....And he made great, lifelong friends!!!
We are so proud of Wesley. He is a great swimmer and just a great all around kid! It is so hard to believe he is a senior!!! Congrats on an awesome year of swimming!!!

PaRTy TiMe!!

2011-02-06T16:34:00.005-07:00

Halle wanted to have her Birthday party at Classic Skating this year, so she invited a group of her friends and they had a great time! I really thought Classic Skating was a great place to have a party. The girls had so much fun. We could have stayed all day!!!

Halle got to spend the wheel for a prize.

The Birthday child gets to catch as much money in the birthday box as she can. Halle loved spending the money at the little store in the skating rink.

I hope all your wishes come true!!!

Halle's Birthday

2011-02-06T16:21:00.002-07:00

It is hard to believe that My baby girl is 8 years old! She is such a sweatheart. She is so willing to help and just wants to love everyone. I could not imagine my life without her. I love having a girl!! It's been a great 8 years!! My parents were passing through on their way South and let Halle open her present from them early. It was a gorgeous quilt that they worked on together to make for her. Thanks so much Mom and Dad, she loves it and uses it every day!!!
We had a quiet night on her actual birthday. We picked her up from dance and took her out to eat. The boys had Young Men's so we had the cake and presents without them.

She got a DS game and a guitar (sorry no picture). She had a great day. We truly love having this cute girl in our family!!!

Snowman Cake

2011-02-06T16:04:00.003-07:00

Years ago, my mom bought us a snowman cake pan. The kids have been asking to give it a try. Connor took charge. Although I screwed up the frosting and it wasn't stiff enough, Connor did the best he could and it looked good considering. We'll have to try it again and see if we can get it perfect, next time!!!

For sale

2011-01-02T18:52:00.004-07:00

I have been wanting to change some rooms around in my home and want to give Parker's bed to Halle so I can free up some floor space in his room, but Halle's bed just won't work for anyone else in the house, so I am wanting to sell it. I also want to sell her chair, since we have past the point of needing a rocker. I thought that I would post it on my blog before trying Craigslist, just to give my friends the opportunity first. Give me a call if you are interested! The rocker is a glider, without the traditional wood frame exposed. I love it. It is comfortable and cute. I'm selling it for $300.

The bed is a daybed with a trundle underneath. It is white iron and in good condition. I am selling the frame and trundle for $300. The mattresses are not included.

Christmas Presents!

2011-01-02T18:18:00.005-07:00

Christmas Eve we went out for a yummy dinner at Tepanyaki and then headed over to see the lights at Thanksgiving Point. It was fun having the kids all to ourselves. The kids were excited to come home to open their first present! Of course, they all know it will be pajamas. It always amazes me that they are all still excited to see what they got.

Although some of the pj's are a little long, they all looked so adorable. (Some of my kids think they look so adorable, I still am having to force them to put on clothes during the daytime.)

No Christmas Eve would be complete without cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer.

Somewhere along the way, my kids decided that they have to sleep in the same room on Christmas Eve. I love how Wesley still participates, he's the greatest when it comes to sticking with traditions! Anyway, Christmas morning the rule is to stay in bed til 8, so they all lay there patiently waiting for the clock to change then they head down to our room to see what Santa has left in their stocking.

Wes is such a good sport. He really helps to make Christmas a magical time for the kids even though I am sure he thinks some things are a little tedious.

My kids love stockings! They are so cute and patient about it all. They start with the youngest and take turns opening each present one by one so that everyone can see what the other one received.

Waiting with anticipation at the top of the stairs while Dad goes down to turn on the lights and the music and make sure everything is perfect.

Gifts from Santa this year!!! Braden got a Beatles guitar strap and stand for his bass.

Halle got a Unicorn Pillow Pet. (I have to say, the inventors of the Pillow Pet were genious in their marketing tactics! I wish I'd come up with the idea!)

Connor got a new Lacrosse stick. All Viking colors! (What can I say... Santa has excellent taste!!)

Wesley got a cordless razor! What can I say? It sucks to get old!!!!

Parker got a remote control Helicopter! He loved it, although Wesley had much more fun with it for a couple of days until it broke. Now we just need to figure out where Santa got it so we can bring it back!

We feel very blessed to have had such a wonderful Christmas! Aside from all the great gifts, we are just extremely blessed to have each other!!

Christmas Time Activities

2010-12-26T19:24:00.015-07:00

We've had a fun month doing many things for Christmas Time. We started things off with a ride on the Polar Express.
The kids had so much fun.

The Anderson family does such a wonderful job. I know it must take so much effort on their part. I am grateful they were willing to share it with us.

Parker was totally excited to see Santa Claus. He told him that he wanted a Remote Control Helicopter for Christmas.

Halle loves any chance to see Santa Claus. She told him that she wanted a Pillow pet.

Next on the agenda, Halle's dance recital. This year they did a ballet.

Warming up with a few poses!

The whole family came out support Halle. (Rod and Connor had to hurry off to a Lacrosse meeting.) It's the only performance I make the boys attend. There are two reasons: 1. it's nice and short and 2. only the little girls perform so no worries about the cute teenager dancers!!

I sure love watching Halle perform! It's fun to see her improve.

No performance is complete without flowers!!

For the girls dance Christmas Party thisyear they went to see the Nutcracker. I was lucky enough to be able to drive all these cute girls to the performance. I think we must have the cutest girls in the state living right here in our neighborhood!!

On Santa's Helper day, Halle went to school looking very much the part!!

Next it was on to the Junior High Choir Concert.

Braden sang with the beginning choir.

Connor sang with the Men's Chorus. He loves Choir so much, he sings for both Men's Chorus and the audition choir.

He loves Men's Chorus because all his buddies are in it.

Encore did a great job.

He's having a blast singing in Encore. Its fun to watch them perform.

Next, we were off to Parker's first preschool performance. He did SUPER! He even had a speaking part that he did a wonderful job on!!

That same night, we headed off to his second preschool performance. He was super animated and we were so proud of him!!!

Santa even made an appearance!!!

You know, you can never talk to Santa too much!!!

Meagan came along to support Parker.

Halle thought it was great that Mrs. Claus came too!!!

Parker loves Ms. Wendi! I am so grateful that he has such a great teacher. Since he goes to this preschool everyday, it sure makes things easy that he enjoys the kids in the class and his teacher.

Next it was off to the Christmas Sing at the Elementary School. This is a favorite every year!!!!

Rod and I even found time to sneak off for our work party.

Of course, no Christmas is complete without decorating a gingerbread house.

Next we headed off to the Christmas Carole Sing Along. I had to bribe the boys into coming by telling them we'd eat at Crown Burger.

I can always win them over with good food!!!

This is not my favorite place to eat all, but I'm kind of out numbered!!

This is the second year that we have gone to this. It is a free event and well done.

We got there early enough to get decent seats, but the boys insisted that we sit on the first row of the upper bowl.

Although I didn't see them singing much, they were good sports about it all.

Parker loved every minute of it!!!!

Santa even showed up. In addition to the caroling, John Schmidt performed. The boys did enjoy that!!

After the caroling ended, we jumped on the Trax and headed over to temple square. Unfortunately, my camera battery died and so there are no pictures from there.

We also took the kids to the Carl Bloch Exhibit. Although it is hard to enjoy art with kids, we wanted them to be exposed to a little culture. Needless to say, Rod and I will probably go back without them!!!

We also went out to a yummy dinner on Christmas Eve and then drove through the light exhibit at Thanksgiving Point. We had a great December hanging out as a family and taking a little break from the norm.

Parker turns 5!

2010-12-26T17:39:00.006-07:00

I know, it has almost been a month since Parker turned five. I am a little behind in my posts, but I am trying to get caught up! So this year Parker really wanted to have a friend party. I just wasn't up to having another big party like last year. It was a little overwhelming! I told him he could pick a few friends to take to Chuck-e-Cheese. We went while the kids were still in school, so we checked Halle out, cause she just wouldn't stand for missing a good party!! Parker loved all the presents! He and Payton are such good buds. While his Mom is feeling yucky, we have had Payton over at least twice a week, but usually more. Such a cute kid!!
This is Jenny one of his best buddies in the whole world. They go to school together every day and just love playing together.

Joshua and Parker go to preschool three days a week and almost everyday after school, they just have to play. They have a lot of fun together.

This picture is so cute. I can just see them in 12 years or so, heading out on a date!!! We picked the perfect time to go. We had the place almost all to ourselves. I just paid for tokens and we could have played for hours! It was a wonderful time.

Make a wish Parker!!

What a cute group. Thanks for a fun party!!

That night we had some family come over to celebrate.

Parker loves his new big boy quilt made by Grandma and Grandpa! Thanks so much!!

A stomp rocket!! One of the funnest toys every made!!!

Two wishes in one day! Lucky boy! I hope they come true!

Happy Birthday Parker! You truly are our little sweetheart! Our life would be so dull without you!

Merry Christmas to ALL!!!

2010-12-25T21:49:00.002-07:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! We hope you all have had a great Christmas!!! Thanks for being a part of our lives!!!!

Time to Decorate the Tree!

2010-11-28T20:35:00.003-07:00

Now that the Thanksgiving Festivities have come to an end, it was time to get into the Christmas Spirit. After decorating two trees, some of our nerves were a little frazzled, but we got it done! It is nice to have older kids who can help out....

Braden and Connor decided to start a new tradition and let the kid who is a Senior put on the star. So for two years in a row, Wesley was in charge of the star.

Not too shabby for a bunch of amateurs! Now that the trees are up, we can really get into this Christmas Season!! Here is hoping that everyone has a great month!!!

Art With Heart

2010-11-28T20:24:00.003-07:00

For four years now, Halle has participated in Art With Heart. The dance studio where Halle goes, has put on a benefit for several years now. It is a great opportunity for the girls to use their talents and do something to help the children who need help from Shriners Hospital. Four Roses for Four years! Way to go Halle! You did a great job and I'm so proud of you!!

CHAMPIONS!!!

2010-11-11T22:27:00.002-07:00

This football season has gone on FOREVER!! That being said, it has been a lot of fun. Tonight was the Championship game against Lone Peak. Connor's team has not been able to beat this team all season. It came down to battling it out one last time and it was an exciting game down to the very last minute!! It was fun to be in the home stadium, at night, with the lights on. The fans were awesome. We yelled til we went hoarse....

It was cold, but the excitement kept us warm!

The VIKINGS won 7 to 6!!! Connor's #1 Fans!!

Champion!! WE are so proud of you Connor. It has been fun to watch your commitment and dedication pay off! Way to Go!! WE love you!!!

HoMeCoMiNG

2010-10-17T20:17:00.006-06:00

Last week Wesley and 6 of his friends took their gorgeous dates to Homecoming. After a morning of making milkshakes and playing Quiditch, they got cleaned up and had a great evening eating out, dancing and coming back to our house for dessert. We are lucky that Wes has such a good group of friends!Jeff, Lauren, Taylor and Wesley. It was fun for Lauren and Wesley to hang out together for the evening. Wesley and Taylor made a great-looking couple. He loved going with her!!

Wesley's friend Jeff asked Lauren to the dance and we were glad he did. They looked great together, Jeff is such a gentleman!!!

TOUCHDOWN!!!

2010-10-03T14:31:00.004-06:00

At Saturday's football game, I got the feeling I should record a few plays. I didn't immediately pull out the camera, and missed two plays where they gave the ball to Connor. Now, this was the first game he played fullback this season. He has been playing on Defense as the safety, so he has not handled the ball at all. To our pleasant suprise, he ran right down the middle and made two first downs. I quickly pulled out the camera, but wasn't expecting much. I thought I had missed my chance. I never expected them to run the same play again. They did!! I tried to get my camera up and running, but I only caught the very end. Sorry about the end of the video, I was too busy cheering to point straight and have no idea how to edit it!!

I know, it's pathetically short, but I guess it is better then nothing! Way to go Connor!! It has been so fun watching you play this year!