Saturday, October 30, 2010

Serena's Soccer Game


We got to see Serena play soccer this weekend! I forgot how cute the little kids are....how the ball is chased around the field and little legs do their best to keep up! Watching her play reminded me of Bryanna and her early soccer days. Snack lists, banners, parent tunnels for the kids to run under while the onlookers yell encouragement. What a fun day we had. Thanks Mary & Rey for letting us share this Saturday with Serena and Holly.
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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Happy 15th Birthday Bryanna

 

What could be better than a girl with her daddy? Darrell took Bryanna to Roy's to celebrate her 15th Birthday. A daddy daughter date. It.was.amazing. Happy Birthday cute girl. We love you so much!
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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Max the Wolf



We were so proud of Max tonight when he got his Wolf badge! He was excited to earn his award and see his friends. I got to be with one of my favorite friends, Erin Deller, and her son Max, so the night was fun. Go Max - you are on your way to Bear.
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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

New Mexico Tournament

 

Bryanna's new team, Arsenal '96 Select, came in 2nd place in their very first tournament of the season in New Mexico over the Labor Day Weekend. We really enjoyed watching the whole team rise to the ocassion. Bryanna only allowed 1 goal in 4 games...and she was mad about that goal! The whole family got to go spend a week together. We had a blast! Go Bryanna, we are so proud of you.
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Saturday, May 22, 2010

Junior Flag Football Champs



Max had his first team experience playing for I-9 Sports junior flag football. The players ranged in age from 8-12, and his team chose the name "The AllStars". And boy were they ever! They went undefeated and won the championship today. Max was so proud! I am so happy he got to be the star for once. What a great experience for him.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Brimhall Academic Excellence Award 2010

 
We were a proud family tonight as we attended Brimhall Jr. High's award ceremony and watched Bryanna receive the highest award for academic excellence. She is both an athlete and a scholar. Bryanna, you are truly an amazing young lady and we are so grateful to have you in our family.
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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

My Mother's Day

Mother's Day conjures up many images....flowers, your family all gathered at the table, a wonderful dinner, presents, adoring faces.

My perfect Mother's Day conjures up this image:


Nothing like the smell of Six Flags Magic Mountain with my kids for Mother's Day weekend. Bring it on!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

My 4 Cute Friends



I was sad to move from my old Ward. Sad to think that I would lose touch with friends that I had grown to love, friends that knew me and my trials. But we have this pact to gather for each other's birthday over dinner and catch up. And we do it - not just plan it or say "we should get together". We actually DO it, and I love it. Tonight was another link in the happy chain.

Mary, Marci, Tiffany & Amanda - you guys are awesome and I love you. Thanks for being my 4-ever 4 friends.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Take it to the House!

So you know how you want your story to go? Those perfect moments that you hope for, and sometimes, just sometimes they happen? Those stories you know no one will believe because they sound like a plot lifted off of Lifetime channel? Well we experienced such a moment and I can only tell you it happened. For real.

Max is on a flag football team with boys between the ages of 8-12, all mixed together. This is a winning team, with a huge experienced coach that has two strapping sons playing for him. They win. That's what this team does. And Max has been put on the team.

The last play of his very first official flag football game, the quarterback is looking to throw the ball. All the usual receivers are covered, and there is only one little boy unmanned. Standing pretty much unprotected because he's not a threat. And besides, he is 18-20 yards away from the quarterback. But a play has to be made, so he must take a chance on the little guy. My Max.

And the ball goes through the air. And the sideline holds its collective breath as the scrawny kid takes two hesitant steps towards the arching ball. And he CATCHES IT, takes a couple steps over the goal line and MAKES A TOUCHDOWN!

I am not sure who was more excited...Max or his coach. He kept yelling that Max "took it to the House". If he NEVER catches another ball or NEVER makes another touchdown, he did this time. This moment in time that sounds like a sappy Lifetime movie about the triumph of an autistic kid. This moment that no one not actually there would ever believe. This moment no can take away from him.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Mad Max the Football Player


It started with his teacher's appreciation for the Steelers. And Eric and Rey going to the Cardinal's game. And us cheering Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald through the season. For Christmas, Santa delivered a full-on Miami Dolphins football uniform (he loves dolphins). The months since Christmas have seen Max in full gear practicing to be a football player, calling out "plays" in the living room, and pestering everyone to throw him some catches. I think this kid is motivated.

So Max will play Spring 2010 Flag Football. He is super excited and so are we. Max has watched Bryanna play sports and although he expressed interest in soccer, we want him to have his own game. Besides, at this level we think flag football is the best fit. He can totally understand "get open so they can throw the ball to you and you catch and run like the wind over the goal line and don't let anyone pull your flag". He has been playing at recess with the other boys every day.

I have signed up to be team mom and overall helper. I guess my cowbell is gonna see more play time!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Brimhall Track Team



Come help us cheer Bryanna as she competes on the Freshman team in the 200m, 400m, 75m hurdles and long jump. All meets start at 4 pm. Her schedule is below:

Thur Feb 25th at Brimhall
Sat Mar 6 Brimhall Invitational at Brimhall
Thur Mar 11 at Powell Jr. High
Wed Mar 31 at Brimhall
Sat Apr 10 Kino Relays at Kino Jr. High
Thu Apr 15 at Brimhall
Sat Apr 24 City Meet (place to be announced)

Guess my cowbell is gonna start ringing again!

Monday, February 8, 2010

The Same Yet Different

As a parent, sometimes you get a chance to contemplate your children. In between the necessities of making dinner, running errands and taxi driving, you get an opportunity to ponder the little people who run your life.

Lately, I have been thinking about how different my children are. Each has their own unique quirks, thoughts, desires and interests. It is fun to watch them develop according to their own timeline.

Eric is all about math, physics, flight, time travel. He will delight in explaining the how and why of things to anyone who will listen. He puts his papers in for his mission in March- his life is about to change big time.

Bryanna is all about school, reading and sports. If she isn't on the soccer field, she can be found in a Barnes and Noble snuggled into a chair reading a book. I know she is aware boys exist, but right now she hasn't found a reason to care.

Max loves math too - this is the seemingly only link between our kids besides the last name. He will talk your ear off about multiplication and grouping and a book called Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

If you don't have a testimony of the premortal, then have kids. As you watch them grow and develop, you will come to realize they started on their own path long before you were trusted to guide them. I strive to do the best job I can. It is such a privilege to be a parent and partner with Heavenly Father. It has been the best part of my life.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Rainy Game Memories

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Bryanna play soccer this year for Mountain View. She has fought through injuries (3 stitches, broken thumb in two places, lower back strain) and emerged a better player. Last night it rained slightly for the JV Team - and although they didn't win, it is always enjoyable to watch your child play. We decided to stay for the Varsity game, and we were rewarded with rain. Lots and lots of rain. Buckets of rain. And it made Bryanna and I snuggle up together under a too-small umbrella and laugh and sing. We sang to the warm up songs, we cheered our team, we held hands to keep warm, and this mom was in heaven.

On second thought, I don't think I mind the rain. Let it come again.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Happy New Year 2010


We had such a wonderful Christmas time with my sister Mary and her family for the second year in a row! We are hoping this is a tradition - we had so much fun. RockBand (Mary was getting good on guitar), the endless rounds of Spades (Mom and Mary were this year's big winners), Taboo, Outburst, Balderdash, Martinez visit to the Grand Canyon, Paranormal Activity movie, marathon Criminal Minds and Twilight Zone, New Year's Eve. We laughed, cried and had a wonderful time. If you could have heard our Christmas Eve carols or saw our super great pajamas, you would have wished you could be there! You haven't LIVED until you have heard us sing Christmas carols in three different keys all at the same time!

This is Eric's last Christmas before his mission (he puts in his papers in April), so we wanted it to be a special one. And Mary and Rey made it wonderful. I love my seester!