BYU vs. San Diego State

I knew when we sat down as a family Saturday afternoon to watch the BYU basketball game that there were going to be some funny things said.

Basketball can be interesting sometimes---Abby

Go Jimmer! Go Jimmer! Go Jimmer!---Zachary

It's 4 to 2---Zachary

Why are those guys dressed up as missionaries?--Abby

This is a very interesting game---Abby

ESPN called Jimmer the best missionary in the world---Bret

What, Jimmer Fredette is Mormon?--McKenna

YAH!!!! and NO!!! after every basket made by BYU and San Diego State--Zachary

Mom, we are making history right now.--Abby

Wait, I missed that shot...rewind it!--Me

No! Stop blogging and enjoy the game!--Bret

Point well taken.

I will not go in to all the detail about the yelling and screaming that came out of Bret's mouth. Some of it was in anger and some of it was in excitement. Let's just say that today his voice was horse and he scared our children and our dog just a little. Jaws dropped when he said the "S" word to refer to the refs....(stupid is the "S" word in our house.)

I have to say that it was the first time that we all watched a basketball game together...more to come in March!!!

McKenna's Start In Basketball

I was really proud of McKenna and her first basketball season. She worked hard and had a lot of fun. The first two weeks for her were practices followed by four games. She did well and had at least one basket each game. Notice that in all these pictures she is the only girl around. There were two other girls on her team, but both really shied away from any contact with the ball, and other teams didn't have any girls.

heading down court after a rebound....also notice her own little basketball style. She had to find some way to make that big shirt look a little more cute and girlie.

intercepting a pass

She also played great defense...it's a little weird to see my baby girl playing center position

After the last game the kids gathered round for their medal

Future Hoopster

Happy Day in February

Blue sky

Windows open

Nice breeze

Kids playing outside

Chocolate chip cookie dough made for Friday treats

75 degree weather

Trader Joes organic creamy tomato soup with cheese toast for lunch (yummy!)

Three day weekend in front of me

Playing happy music quite loud while I clean out my fridge

I am a happy girl in February.

Jimmer In The Making

Zachary and McKenna just finished up their six week little basketball league through the YMCA. They both had such a positive experience, especially Zachary. After his first day he came home and asked me to sign him up again as soon as the six weeks were up. I've just got to start with the highlight of the season caught in this little clip.

The most exciting thing about the last day is that Zachary made a basket in the game!!! This was one of only two baskets made and he was so proud of himself. Three things I love about this little clip...how he dribbled/walked up the court, made the basket, and came running up to me afterwords gleaming with excitement.

One of the main reasons he loved basketball so much was this man...Coach Charles. He was the most positive, encouraging, kind man who was genuinely excited for the progress and good things these kids did.

Every Saturday Zachary's age group worked on fundamental skills with Coach Charles and the help of other parents.

The last few weeks they spent about 15 minutes playing an actually game at the end of each practice. They were so funny to watch. A whole lot of traveling took place.

And the best part about it all was the medal Zachary got at the end of the six weeks. He is so proud that now he has a baseball trophy and a basketball medal and they are displayed proudly in his room.

Zachary and Coach Charles

Way to go buddy! So proud of you.

Valentines Day

Our Valentines started a little early this year with a secret heart attack the night before to an elderly gentleman in our ward. The kids had a blast making the hearts and writing little messages on them. But doing this in secret at night when it's dark made it way more fun!

And when the kids woke up they found that they themselves had been heart attacked!

Nothing like a Valentine from Dad...he just has a way with words that make us all laugh and smile...

other funny ones included Make Like a Banana and Split, Take a Hike, Girl Power, Keep it Real.

But we weren't done with those heart attacks quite yet....we couldn't leave out Dad's car at school!

Along with all the love and cute little messages, they wrote funny ones back: Take a shower, Brush Your Teeth, Eat more Fruit, Don't Say Bad Words, I'm going to lock you in a cage.

Then that night we had our traditional Valentines Day dinner. 12 years ago when Bret and I were dating he picked me up for our Valentines date and blindfolded me. We ended up at a candle light picnic eating my favorite Chinese take-out and cheese cake. It's a tradition we've carried on every year with our kids...Chinese take out by candle light.

A great day to celebrate the people I love most in my life!

Sunday Naps

You know Bret is really tired when he falls asleep at the dinner table for a twenty minute nap...

Bowling Fun

We went bowling this last weekend in celebration of good report cards. Abby got straight A's, raising her math score up from a B. This is extra impressive as she was also moved into the highest math group. McKenna and Zachary both got the highest marks possible with positive comments about their effort, reading and math skills. We held a family meeting and voted on what we were doing to do to celebrate their hard work and ended up going bowling on Saturday afternoon followed by dinner out (a huge and special treat in and of itself.)

Bret and I always have a little friendly competition when we go bowling. For many years he was never able to beat me, now it seems like it goes back and forth a lot. He stated out on fire with a spare followed by two strikes...and then went a little cold.

I love this picture of McKenna and the blur all around her.

The kids were nice enough rotate who shared one of their turns with Gavin and when he wasn't bowling he was making sure all the balls were lined up on the right side.

My game started out slow but picked up steam at the end. I was SO close to winning...until Bret had a strike in the last frame. He ended up beating me by 10.

McKenna had a great game with three spares.

Picking up that last pin.

I love watching them watch the ball hit the pins

Abby had a great game too and improved a lot.

Good work guys on working so hard in school! We're so proud of you and can't wait to celebrate your next report cards!

Gavin's Playhouse

Back in December I alluded to a gift I was making for Gavin for Christmas that I was supper excited about...well here it is! A playhouse table topper made out of felt. A group of five friends went in on this project together, each making 3 or 4 different items in a mass production type way. I LOVE the way it turned out, not bad for a non-sewer like me. It's so cute and I really enjoyed the time I spent sewing and creating.

Front:

*The door opens and closes as well as the mail box...somehow the mail box has become the way to pass cars in and out.

I love the window box filled with flowers that can come in and out and the shutters with a "C".

The back: the carrots come in and out as well as the lettuce leaves and corn husks.

My favorite in the garden is the corn...

One end:

The leaves and apples on the tree come on and off and can be placed in the basket. It's also a four seasons tree with snow flakes for winter, flowers for spring and fall colored leaves for fall.

The other end:

Gavin loves the dog house to go in and out of and ironically so does Sadie.

Gavin loves it and gets so exited every time we pull out "his house" to play with.