Basketball

We decided to do basketball for our spring sport this year for both Wade and Seth.  It was Wade's 3rd basketball season and Seth's 1st.

Seth was SO awesome!  He was SUPER intense and determined to shoot baskets each game. He really got into it, wanted to have the ball as much as possible and would fight for it.  Anytime he was benched  by Coach Corbin (who happens to be the father of Seth's best friend), he would beg to be put in.  He also started to boss Coach around telling Corbin what position he wanted to play and would argue with him if Corbin did not comply.  Matt and I had to intercede and give Seth a "respect" talk and things got better, but it was surprising and hilarious to see Seth care so much!

His games were so fun to watch!  They don't keep score or call a lot of fouls so the kids basically have free reign to play ball.  Since Seth was such a ball hog :), he would score several points each game and report the total, to me, at the end.  It made him especially proud to get "swishers!"  I'm glad we gave basketball a try with Seth and will definitely do it again next year because it was too much fun for him and for us :).

On a side note...don't you just love how Seth is wearing his shorts?  I tried to tell him to pull them down a little, but he insisted he had them the way he wanted them.  You gotta love the little nerd ;). 

Wade was a lot of fun to watch too, but for different reasons.  The older he gets the more competitive sports are and it is SO exciting to cheer him on!  His team played "up" and we are glad they did because they won all but 2 of their games.  This was a great success because some of the teams they played had kids on them that were as tall as me (I swear!)  

Wade did really well and improved over the course of the season too.  He is an athlete and works so hard at everything he does.  He wants to succeed and gives such an awesome effort.  It was another great sport season for both boys!

As always, I like to snap some pics of the darling cheering squad.  This pic is the first pic I have of Case actually smiling...he must have really enjoyed the games :).  And you gotta love our little Ry Ry who loves being along for the ride.

"Let's Play Music"

Seth just completed his 2nd year of the "Let's Play Music" program.  He did really well!  The concepts and notes seem to come easily for Seth.  He is such a smart kid!  I really enjoyed practicing with him this year because he enjoyed it so much.

One more year and he will complete the program and move on to traditional piano lessons!

Seth and Mrs. Renae

Gilbert Temple

It is an amazing blessing to watch a Temple being built.  We have anticipated the Gilbert Temple for a few years now and have really enjoyed watching it go up these last several months. Angel Moroni was placed on the steeple of the Temple this week.

 

 Oh, what an incredible thing to see!

My kids love to drive by the Temple.  Every time we drive by, and I mean every  time we drive by, they scream, "Look Mommy, it's the Temple!!  Look! I see it, over there, LOOK!!!"  I LOVE it!  I love that they are excited, I love that they get to witness this, I love that their little hearts and minds are so pure and innocent.

Such a wonderful blessing to a part of this.  I cannot wait for the completion, it will be beyond special to live near a Temple!

Casen's Blessing on Mother's Day

Mother's Day was my best one yet this year because Matt blessed Casen.  It was amazing to have so much family in town to support us and make the day even more special.  Matt gave a beautiful blessing that was perfect for our little one.

I love being a mom more than anything.  I wouldn't want ANY other job.  I had the best mom in the world to learn from and I try to be like her everyday.  I love the quote from Abraham Lincoln: "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother."  This quote is perfect and describes exactly how I feel.

This quote also helps me to realize how my children view me.  I believe a mother is most people's number 1 person.  The one they go to for comfort, love, nurturing, or anything really.  My mom was my everything and I am realizing that I am everything to my own children.  Such a huge responsibility that I take very seriously.  Although I am far from perfect, I try everyday to be the mom they deserve and love every minute of it.

Elementary School does such an  awesome job with Mother's day each year.  I LOVE, LOVE the gifts my kids bring home each year.  It is so fun to read their little thoughts on paper and see what they come up with each year.  Here are some pics of their masterpieces:

In addition to these, Seth filled out a sheet that said my favorite food was pizza (which is his), my favorite color is blue (right), I am 100 lbs. (I WISH!), I have yellow hair, and am 60 inches tall (pretty close, I am 67 inches.)  Just LOVED it!  He is at such a fun age!

I love my babies so much and feel so blessed!

Trent's 4th Birthday Celebration

This crazy kiddo is 4 years old and I can hardly believe it!  4 just sounds SO old!  Trent is such a fun and crazy kid who keeps my blood boiling most of the time ;).  We just love him so much and could not imagine our family without him.

Trent's party was extra special this year because we had lots of family in town (for Casen's blessing) to celebrate!

 With temperatures already reaching the 90's, we thought slip-in-sliding in the backyard would be perfect--we were right!  Lots of fun for all the kids!

 

After the kids were nice and worn out :), we had a BBQ and cake!

This fun loving kid had a blast and enjoyed all of the attention!

Trent is so full of personality and is so bright!  I really love to talk with him because he always has something witty and/or silly to say!  He is at such a great age where everything is so exciting.  He loves to stay busy and is often found playing with Rylee or creating a costume to wear.  I believe he is our little comedian and will have many people laughing for many years to come!

4 things Trent is doing:
1.  Just finished first year of Preschool
2.  Weekly soccer practice with the neighborhood kids
3.  Sunbeams
4.  Weekly playgroup

4 things Trent loves:
1.  COSTUMES!!
2.  Reese's peanut butter cups
3.  Applesauce
4.  iPad

4 things Trent doesn't love:
1.  non-chocolate candy (won't touch candy unless it's chocolate--makes a mama proud :))
2.  the dark
3.  taking naps
4.  holding still ;)

I love my Trenty SO much!  Such a great little guy full of so much character!  I look forward to another great year with this kiddo!!

Casen's Smiling

This angel boy has learned to smile at  6 weeks old and it melts my heart....love him SO much!

Swimming

Trent and Rylee just finished their annual swim lessons with ISR.  They are old pro's now and only took 2 weeks for the refresher's they needed.  LOVE the pics Miss Holly snaps of them each year!

Casen's First Photo Shoot

I am sorry, but could this baby be any cuter?!  I am admittedly biased, but my friend Maggie did an amazing job with Casen's newborn pics.  We couldn't be any happier with how they turned out!  He was 10 days old in these pics.  He has already grown and changed so much...time is going by too fast!!