First Snow Day of the Winter!

We usually don't get snow until close to Christmas, not any that sticks around anyway.  It's been an unseasonably warm fall and beginning of winter, so you can imagine the excitement when we got a decent storm the first part of November that dumped a couple of inches on the ground.  The kids were so thrilled and even more excited when it stuck around most of the morning so that they could go out and play in it a bit when it warmed up a bit.

Zach decided to go with Jeremiah to work that Saturday morning, so Hailey and Tate headed out for some snow fun.  Aren't they so darling in their snow clothes?

Tate has been in the snow before, but he must have forgotten about it because the first things he said as he headed out after his sister was:  "It's cold mom!"

The first item of business was to make snow angels.  Hailey tried to explain the process to her brother and even showed him, but he decided there was no way he was laying down in the cold snow, so he just stood there and watched her.

After a few snow angels, they decided to head to the swingset where they could throw snow on the slide and then slide down it to land on their bottom on the ground.  Tate had more fun throwing the snow on the slide than sliding down it, although I think that might have been because it was hard for him to climb up with all that extra padding on.

But that didn't stop Hailey from sliding down over and over and over.

Not long after this picture or a whopping 10 minutes outside, Tate was done and ready to come in.  Ironic that I probably spent longer getting him dressed and ready to go outside than he actually spent outside.  But he had fun for a few minutes anyway and then was happy to sit inside and watch Mickey Mouse where it was nice and warm.  Hailey on the other hand played all morning until I forced her to come in for a late lunch.  She was probably out there for over 3 hours by the time all was said and done.  Quite a fun morning for her.  We haven't had the same accumulation since, but the kids are anxious for more snow and more fun times playing outside in it!

Pumpkin Book Report

Zach is in 4th grade this year and we've come to realize that means one new thing - book reports.  Zach has been anything but excited about these new experiences, but as a mom, I'm hoping that it will help him to realize how important reading is and how much fun you can have with it.  His teacher is very creative and has come up with all sorts of different ways to do book reports other than the traditional typed report.

For the month of September, he read "Hatchet" and put together a poster describing the characters, plot, etc.  For October, he read "Charlotte's Web" and had to decorate a pumpkin like the main character.  I thought this was such a fun idea and we had already brainstormed ways to decorate his pumpkin before he even got the book finished.  Since Wilbur is the main character, we decided to decorate his pumpkin like a pig complete with eyes, ears, little hooves, and a curly tail.  We also added some decorative spider web and a plastic spider on top to represent Charlotte since she was a pretty important part of the book too.  Zach pretty much did all of the decorating (other than the hot glue) - he was pretty proud of the way it turned out!

I think it turned out great!

So far, he's gotten the full amount of points possible on both reports and is always so excited to come home and show us!

This month's report is to read a biography and then dress up like the person and tell the class about them.  Zach has chosen LeBron James, so this should be interesting.  Luckily, we already have a basketball jersey and he wants to take a basketball as a prop.  Even though the length requirement was less than it has been, he's already finished the book and can't wait for his presentation at the end of the month.

Way to go Zach, we are really proud of you and all your efforts in school, especially with reading and your book reports!  We love you! 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Mess!

Every once in a while Jeremiah will make the kids a special treat on Sunday nights.  I am usually too tired by the time Sunday dinner has been cooked, eaten, and cleaned up.  But since my husband is a very talented cook, we get to enjoy the desserts he often makes.  One Sunday he decided to make the kids chocolate chip cookies, which thrilled the kids because they absolutely LOVE chocolate chip cookies.  As evidenced by the following pictures, I'm not sure if more got in or on the outside, but they sure loved them and had fun eating them.

Zach

Hailey

Tate (yes that smile kills me!)

By the time they were done, they were pretty covered, but it was so cute I could hardly get mad.

Lest you think the face was the worst.

Thanks Dad for making us such a yummy treat!  We LOVED the cookies - inside and out!

Fall Flag Football (say that 10 times fast!)

It's fall and for our family, that means Flag Football!  This is only Zach's 3rd year playing, but he absolutely loves it!  He has really progressed and learned so much in the last few years.  In fact, I would say he's the best one on the team this year!  Of course I am biased, so take that how you want.  It's been such a fun year, there are a bunch of kids on his team that are in the ward, that he knows from other sports, or that he knows from school.  

There have been so many times that we've watched him score touchdowns or throw/pass the ball as the quarterback.  In fact, I remember two separate games where he scored 2 touchdowns in each.  

In addition to being a fantastic quarterback, he's also really great at defense.  He has great reflexes and anticipates really well.  He was almost always one of the best at pulling flags to "tackle" the other team.  He's also had at least 2 (and probably more) games where he intercepted passes.  One game he led his team in touchdowns, interceptions, and tackles (although it was probably more, they just happened to keep count that game).

Even though we were trying to avoid it, because he was already coaching soccer, Jeremiah ended up being an assistant coach for the team.  He was mainly in charge of defense and it was fun to see him and Zach out on the field together.

Jeremiah is really a great coach and knows how to teach the boys so well.  He was always making sure the kids were substituted often, so that everyone got a chance to play equally.  The main coach and other assistants were great as well, we were really lucky to have such great coaches this year!

We only have 1 game left in football season and we're going to be sad to not go and watch the games.  Tate and Hailey have even enjoyed going and rooting for the Gray Flash too!

Way to go Zach, it's been a great season - we are really proud of you!

Movin' On Up - Scouts!

The last little while, Zach has worked really hard to earn quite a few important badges and at the last two pack meetings, he's been presented with them.

The first is the Conservation Award where they do activities to learn about conserving resources.  He loved the panda on it and was so excited to get it.

The second is the Leave No Trace Award where they do activities that teach about keeping the planet clean and "leaving no trace" of being out in nature.

Both of these awards were presented to him in September and after all of the awards were presented, the scout leaders had put together water balloon games that all of the kids were able to participate in.  Here's Hailey waiting her turn for the water balloon relay - they had to run down the field and then sit on a water balloon.  She had already had one turn and told me that her bum was all wet!

Here's Zach playing duck, duck, goose with water balloons - his head was drenched by the time they were done!

He's so cute to watch playing with his friends!

The bear scouts also displayed the birdhouses they painted for an earlier den meeting.

Zach's was the patriotic one.  I helped him draw the lines on the top, but he painted it all himself.  We also used a stencil for the stars.

The treat was watermelon and the kids were so excited - even though we've had tons this summer, they are always excited to have more.  This was Hailey's second piece.

And Zach's third or fourth, I lost count.

Tate loved it too!

At October's pack meeting, Zach received his Bear Award.  We actually had this passed off quite a while ago, but there were a few mistakes and they forgot to get it for him for the September pack meeting, so he was more than excited to get it in October.  Don't let that face fool you, he was thrilled!

He looked so grown up standing at the front with the Cubmaster.

Presenting me with the Mom pin of the award.

I was so proud of him!

He actually earned not only his Bear Award, but 3 more arrow points as well!

The theme of this pack meeting was "Hometown Heroes" and they had the local fire department and police come out to answer questions and talk to the kids and their families.  Our kids were fascinated by both the fire engine ...

... and the police car.  Zach took a seat in the back of the police car and I told him I had better never see him in that same situation again!

In addition to the fire engine and police car, they were also able to tour an ambulance and a police swat vehicle.  The firefighters, EMT's, police officers, and SWAT officers were great and we all really enjoyed learning about our local hometown heroes.  We had a really great time that night and we sure our proud of our scout - he is really loving scouts and earning his badges and awards so quickly!

Fall Soccer

As mentioned in a previous post, I missed the spring soccer deadline earlier this year, so I missed getting Zach signed up.  In an effort to make it up to them, we signed Zach and Hailey up for swimming lessons this summer and promised to sign them both up for fall soccer (instead of one each season as we previously planned).  After 2 months of 2 sets of practices and 2 games and overlap of flag football for half of the season, I can safely say that I will NEVER miss the spring soccer deadline again!  It has been crazy getting everyone to 3 different activities - what on earth am I going to do when Tate gets old enough to join the mix???

Well as crazy as it was, they both had a blast playing soccer.  This was Zach's 5th year and Hailey's 1st year playing.  I was quite surprised at how much Zach remembered and how fast Hailey caught on.

Here are the two of them the first week of their games, all dressed up and ready to go.

Hailey had to have on her pink soccer socks - she was determined to get this color, regardless of how many times I told her the jerseys were purple!

Zach looked so big in his uniform - we had to buy him a new shirt this year!

They were so happy and SO EXCITED!

Of course their little brother had to get in a picture too, he was so proud of his older brother and sister and so excited to go watch the soccer games!

We had some back luck in that both of their games were on the same night and since Jeremiah volunteered to be Zach's coach, a lot of times I missed all or half of Zach's game in order to get Hailey to hers.  But I did take my camera for one of the games I saw most of and got some great action shost of Zach playing.

He was very impressive as a defensive back - he has great instincts and was always where he needed to be.

He just looks so grown up out there!

Love this one of him backing up in anticipation of the ball coming down the field - looks like he's doing a new dance move! 

Zach scored 2 goals the first game and 1 goal the last one, but had numerous saves as goalie and defensive back - including an amazing slide tackle the last game that made his Dad very proud!  I had left by that point to get Hailey to her game, but I did see all of the goals he made.

I spent a lot more time at Hailey's games as mentioned above, and her Dad was able to make it to half of most of them.  Unfortunately, the games were played at different parks, so it was difficult to get to more than half of the second after the first one ended.

She was so funny, the first game she hovered around the perimeter of the "beehive" of activity, but after that first game, something clicked and she was right in the middle of it for all of the rest - kicking, following, and even elbowing everyone around her to get better position.

She was all over the place and followed the ball wherever it went.

She also looked so grown up - could be that it was just because she was head and shoulders above the rest of the players?

But no matter what happened, she had a big smile on her face - she was always happy to be out there playing.

Zach was funny sitting on the sidelines of Hailey's game and playing with his little brother for quite a few games - I had to get a quick picture just to capture that goofy smile!

Although it was insane and we were running around like crazy, we had a great time this season and the kids can't wait to start again next year.  Although, we'll be sure to split them up between spring and fall soccer - that should make our lives just a bit less crazy!