Basketball Season

Both Jack and Isabella began basketball season at the beginning of the month.

 Nate is coaching Jack's team this year, which he loves. We have some friends on the team also making it more fun. Both of their games are on Saturdays and overlap occasionally. The games are also in the afternoons, I like the early 8 am games, give me those any day. Bella is on a whole new team and didn't know anybody. There is such a big difference between the girls and the boys games. Jack's games are aggressive and there is a lot of ball stealing. When one of the girls loses control of the ball, they kind of politely let the other team take it. They are still learning and have a coach on the floor, it's just a funny contrast.

 Bella has been playing for three years now and really loves it. Sophie and Tessa tolerate the sport. They don't really watch, there is a lot of trying to get away and a lot of snacks. They do sit through a lot of games, so it's not surprising. 

The other night Sophie decided she wanted me to put curlers in her hair. I told her they weren't very comfortable to sleep on but she didn't care. She loved the curlers, but the next morning when I took them out she was mortified. She freaked out at all the curls, burst into tears and hopped in the shower. She thought she looked like I dog-not sure what dog she knows that has curly hair. Anyway, I don't think she will be wanting anything to do with curls again anytime soon. It was really funny and random.

On Sunday Jack wanted me to make him some cinnamon rolls. I have a awful cold going and declined but told him he could go ahead and make some himself. He did and they were decent for a first try. I look forward to him baking more often.

Also something that never happens, everyone sitting on the couch behaving and getting along.  Usually people are fighting over space and poking one another. The reason why they are all subdued and getting along-new episodes of "Good Luck Charlie", on Netflix. 

Baseball and Softball Season

May is such a crazy month for us.  It seems like it happens every year.  This year both Jack and Bella are playing baseball and  softball respectively and we spend our evenings at games and practices.  Bella played t-ball and coach pitch, but then took a year off, so it's kind of new again for her.  She plays all over in the infield and outfield but hasn't pitched or caught yet-not sure if she wants to.  Her league is really about learning how to play, they usually get in two innings in their allotted time.

                                  Doesn't she have the cutest stance.

Jack has been playing all over this year.  He has been catcher, pitcher, first, third and shortstop.  He is pretty speedy and athletic.  He really grasps the game and the play is pretty fast.  He has a lot of kids his age on his team, so they are a bit older in the 5th 6th grade league and play pretty well together.

                                Sadly this is my least crazy picture of Jack pitching. Need to do better.

The rub in all this is their games are on the same nights at pretty much the same times.  So Nate and I divide and conquer and go to opposite games.  We switch on and off.  I take Tessa with me and he takes Sophie.  What has really been great about this season so far is there have been no rain outs.  Rain outs=makeup games=season seems sooo long. 

On the house front, we are so close.  They were cleaning it today and the front door has been painted.  All they have left is the touch-ups.  We will hopefully be there in just over a week!

Lehi Jamboree

The hottest weekend in August is the Lehi Youth Football Jamboree.  I have no idea how they know it will be the hottest weekend, but it is, and that is when they schedule it.  Nate had been gone on a scout camp out, so he arrived just as the action began.  Roger and Cassie took Bella and Sophie swimming, which was great, because the girls would have been melting out there with me.

 

Jack is standing the the middle with the yellow penny on.  He is playing quarterback this year, so it should be a fun year.  He loves being in on the action, and you can't get anymore in than that.  He is also playing defense, so I am working hard to make sure he stays hydrated.  They played a seventh grade team in their scrimmage (why?!?) and did pretty good despite the size difference.  I will try and post his stats after each game on his football blog, In the Zone. 

Round-up parade

Our ward was tasked with creating a float in the Lehi Round up parade this year.  We missed out on much of the decorating because it all occurred around the time Tessa was born.  But the kids had the opportunity to ride on the float or walk in the parade.  Bella decided she wanted to watch the entire parade, so she was with us.  Sophie rode on a little bench on the float and got to blow bubbles while Jack pulled the float along with some other kids from the neighborhood.

After the float the kids were on got to the end, Jack ran back and walked with the Youth Football players.  He really was excited to see his friends from his team last year.  I can't believe football season is upon us again.  He is pretty excited about that!

Hope of America

In Utah County, fifth graders can participate in Hope of America.  Hope of America kicks off the freedom festival, which I didn't know until I just googled it.  Anyway this was the year for Jack and we all got to go to the Marriot Center and watch hundreds of fifth graders perform.  It was a great show. The kids set in a giant flag shape with a few on the main floor.

Jack had to be there pretty early, so Nate the girls and I walked over to the creamery on ninth for dinner. I used to live in the dorm just behind the creamery, only it wasn't the creamery, it was Kent's Grocery store.  There is also tons of construction going on at BYU.  They tore down the Deseret Tower dorm building and are building something else.  I am convinced everything is in a constant state of remodeling in the state of Utah.  At least for the past sixteen years or so. 

Anyway, Jack was in one of the white stripes and surprisingly easy to find.

The Marriott Center is where graduation is also held and it felt much the same as it did eleven years ago when I graduated and was nine months pregnant sitting in those cramped seats.  Seriously, I am 5' 4" and my knees hit the seat in front of me!  The section we were in was not crowded, so there was a bit more room to spread out, and I am sure pregnancy contributes to the overall claustrophobic feelings in the seats, but a bit more room would probably be appreciated by all.

Sophie wanted Nate to hold her the whole time, so he was feeling the claustrophobia as well.  Bella liked the whole thing and can't wait to be in fifth grade herself now. Her favorite part was the dancing grandmas.

They got huge applause and were really fun to watch.  The program ended with the kids singing with flashlights, which you know they all loved.  Jack was super bummed when I reclaimed the flashlight from him at the end, don't worry, he has lots, mine always get snatched.

I can't believe in a few weeks fifth grade will be over for Jack and we will be enjoying summer.  He's growing up and his schedule is getting so busy!  He still has a few more events before the end of the year we are looking forward to, and baseball a few times a week.  But I think we will all be ready for some lazy summer days by mid-June.

Baseball Season

Jack is on the Twins this year, for which I am grateful, from a fashion point of view.  I have noticed many of the teams main color seems to be gray, The A's and the Angels seem to have variety, but everyone else is a shade of blue or gray.  I know-silly to care, but c'mon, make the Padres orange or black.  Put a little variety in the mix!

Anyway, Jack has played catcher, second base, and third base thus far.  He has fun playing baseball.  It doesn't seem to have the same intensity as football has for him-for which I am glad.  He just goes out there and does his best and has a good time.  I suppose baseball isn't usually as physically taxing as football, so maybe that is part of it.  I missed a lot of games last year because so many of them start at 8.  And I know this year will be similar, so I am really trying to enjoy the ones we all get to go to.  This year Nate isn't coaching, so he sits with me and wrangles the girls. Well, Sophie mostly.

I wish I could remember how well Jeff and I paid attention at A's games when we were young when my dad took us.  We were pretty little, but he would load us onto BART and we would ride out to the stadium.  Jeff was really little, because he once fell asleep and peed all over my dad.  I remember this as being hilarious.  It probably didn't occur to my dad to bring a diaper bag or change of clothes or not let Jeff drink tons and tons. But I am sure at the time my dad didn't think it was very funny.  I do have an appreciation of watching baseball live as a result.  It just isn't as fun on TV.  I like the atmosphere at games, especially small ones.  Nate and I have been to a few big league games since we've been married, but the minor league ones and the ones Jack play in are my favorites.  I just wish the seats were a bit more comfy!

Happy Birthday Jack!

On the 22nd Jack turned 11 years old.  It was a busy week for him, so we opened presents and went to birthday dinner the night before. 

Jack got a lot of fun things, but the best thing in my opinion was a football card holder that Isabella made out of scrapbook paper.  She just wanted to make him something he would really like for his birthday and did it without any prompting or help.  I love the fact that they are great friends.  They have always gotten along so well together.  Jack also got a sleeping bag, some legos, new scout stuff, and some deodorant as a hint from me.  He thinks that's way funny.  He had a baseball game, then wanted to go to Chuck-a-Rama (why?!?) then we came home and opened presents.  So he didn't even get to play with anything he got that night. 

On Friday, his actual birthday, he got to go on his first camp out with the eleven-year old scouts.  I was fairly nervous, just because it being the first time and him being so new.  But he had a fabulous time and told us all sorts of crazy stories.  Hopefully he will keep giving us the details!  They are fun and crazy to hear at the same time. 

I made the whole group pose for pictures. They are all smiling because instead of saying cheese I had them say-whoa what a big belly you have.  Anyway, he can't wait for all the fun scouting stuff he gets to do this year and I am excited for him.  I think I will be less nervous next time now that I know what to expect.  And he will probably not take quite as much stuff, because I really don't want to wash all that stuff again!

We didn't even eat birthday cake together or blow out candles.  Jack seemed okay with all of that-which is what counts.  In the past it's usually Sophie's birthday that gets all changed around and the spring ones work out just fine.  But now we will have three kids with spring birthdays and I imagine they will just get more busy.  I have great hope that I won't be in the hospital on Bella's birthday this year, but there is a chance that I will, I am getting all organized so my mom and Nate can really make it fun for her if I don't make it.