Zach Basketball 2014

Ah basketball season, one of our favorite times of the year!  We love to go and watch the kids play.  This year we did triple duty with all 3 kids in some form of basketball and it was crazy!  First up is Zach.  He really is excelling at basketball and it's so fun to watch him have such a great time playing!

It's been fun to watch him grasp aspects of the game each season.

 

He really seemed to know what he was doing and would spend a lot of time under the basket to rebound.

In fact, one game he had over 25 rebounds.  He really seemed to understand and do well at rebounding.  In fact, most of the members of his team nicknamed him "rebound" because of how many he would pick up each game.

He was quick to get back and forth across the court.  5th grade basketball is the first year where they play full court.  It was a bit of a workout and he got really tired, but it sure made watching the game more fun and exciting.

He was always looking around and making sure every player on the other team was guarded.  It really showed how defensive-minded he was.

He would often grab the defensive rebound and run down the court.  It was so fun to watch him dribble and shoot it!

 Shooting foul shots.  As you can imagine, being one of the constant rebounders and under the basket alot, you are going to get fouled.

If I remember right, he made one of these - which for him is awesome!

I took quite a few videos, but I'll only attach two.  This first one is of him dribbling down the court and shooting.  Unfortunately, this time the ball didn't go in.

This second one is just after he has gotten the defensive rebound, ran down the court, and shot the ball.  He gets his own rebound and puts it back up - this time it goes in!

Yep, basketball season is definitely one of our favorite.  Especially when we have a son who does well and is so exciting to watch!  Way to go Zach, we are really proud of you!

Hailey's Baptism - January 4, 2014

Baptism Day!  One of the best things about turning 8.  Hailey has been looking forward to this day for the last couple of years since Zach's baptism.  She looked so beautiful in her pretty white dress!

Once we got to the church, we had her and her Dad hold still for a few pictures.

Luckily, there was also some in the foyer that snapped a family photo for us as well.

Both Zach and Tate are making crazy faces in both of these pictures - don't know why, but it's about on par for our family lately!  :)

I wanted to grab a couple pictures of her alone in her white dress.

Isn't it pretty?

 Of course, I think the girl wearing the dress is much more beautiful!

And here she is in her baptism jumpsuit.

The outfit isn't quite as beautiful, but the girl sure is!

And a couple of more of her and Jeremiah ready to go!

It sure was a special day.  We had quite a bit of family come, even though there was a blizzard between Lehi and Malad.  She sure felt special and was so darling!  We are so proud of you Hailey!  We are proud that your making good decisions and we love you so much!

Hailey's 8th birthday!

Well, my little girl turned 8.  How on earth did that happen?  She just keeps getting bigger and bigger every time I turn around.  But the end of 2013 came and so did the special 8th birthday.

Hailey decided that this year she wanted to have a friend party.  Usually our kids get the option of going out to dinner to a restaurant of their choice or having a friend party.  Since we usually don't go out to eat very often, the dinner out tends to win most of the time.  But this year Hailey was excited to have all her little friends over.  Ironically enough, we had a hard time getting the list of friends down to a reasonable party size.  Our little socialite has more friends than I do!  But she finally wittled it down to the essential people she couldn't live without and off we went planning the party for the Saturday before her birthday.

One of the first things she wanted to do was watch a movie.  So we all sat down and watched Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus.  I think it was difficult for 10 little girls to watch an entire video when there were presents, games, and cake to be had because it was a little difficult to get everyone to sit still.  But we finally made it through.

Next on the list was opening presents.  She got some many fun girly things!  Make-up, art supplies, candy, and a bunch of other fun things!

Next it was on to the cake.  She decided she wanted to try the cookie bowls I had see on pinterest.  Like most things on pinterest, they didn't turn out very well, but we were able to save a portion of the bowls so that she could have ice cream in them.

Next on the list was playing some games.  We had to split up into two groups.  One group played the headband game and ...

... one group played twister.  It was a lot of fun watching both and they must have had a great time because there sure was a lot of crazy noise!

On her actual birthday, Nana and Papa and Taylor and Amanda all came down to give presents and have more dessert.  She got quite a few more presents. 

One of her favorites was the art set from Nana and Papa.  Nana knows how much she loves to draw pictures and write stories, so this was perfect for her!

Her other favorite were the fun dangling rainbow earrings from Taylor and Amanda.  She really has been given some fun earrings and she loves them all!  She couldn't wait to wear them!

So of course she put them right in and had them for pictures with her cupcakes!  I have to admit they did look really cute on her!

Well, my little girl is getting more and more grown up!  But she sure is a cutie!  It was a really fun birthday and I think she was very happy!