Junior Jazz Awesomeness!

This winter the boys have been playing Junior Jazz again. They have had great coaches and some fun teams. They always love basketball. It is fun to watch them hoop-it-up.

Just a warning: I am the world's worst action photographer.

Taylor, #20

Good job Taylor!

Porter, on the court

Porter, #5

Dal Gets His Mission Call!

I can't believe my oldest son has received his mission call.

So, ok. Dallin isn't "technically" my son, but don't tell my boys that, because he is the best older brother that they could ever ask for.

Dallin is my nephew, who used to live around the corner from us for 10 years or so. He is the kid who would play ball with my boys for hours on end. He is the kid who would babysit (along with Sam) for whatever, whenever. I don't think Porter and Taylor ever knew that they weren't the same age. They would call Dallin whenever they needed someone to pitch to them, or someone to be "all time quarter back" for their street football games. He is the kid who would let them play video games with him, even if their paddle wasn't "actually" connected. :) He is the kid who rides motorcycles with them, and they watch him in awe. What teenager do you know who just plays with their little cousins, and makes them feel so cool all the time?!

Dallin is the kid who has made Porter infatuated with the LA Dodgers. He is the kid who has made my kids love sports, and especially baseball. He is the kid who has made Porter & Taylor love flat brim hats. He is the kid who made Porter once love Adidas, but now Nikes. Definitely Nikes now, because that's what Dallin wears. Porter and Taylor learned to leave the metallic stickers on their flat brim hats because Dallin did, but as soon as Dallin wasn't leaving his stickers on anymore, well, the boys came home and immediately took those metallic stickers off their hats.

I have told Dallin his whole life that he better never start smoking, because my kids would be puffing Camels in no time.

Luckily for us, Dallin is the perfect example for my kids to look up to. They are so lucky to have such an amazing cousin, and we are all so lucky that he's in our family. And p.s. - I forgot to mention that he's an Aggie! That's just the icing on the cake!

Now, about that good example thing. This month Dallin received his mission call. He invited all the family to meet him at our very favorite Italian restaurant, La Ferrovia, to watch as he opened his mission call.

The sealed envelope!!!

some of Dallin's biggest fans...

Opening...

Reading...

It's Tonga!

So exciting!

This kid will be an amazing missionary!

Love these guys...

Scott, Kim, Dallin, Sam, & Elly

Crazy Hair Day

Who doesn't love crazy hair day? One of the most anticipated days of the school year, right?

Beware of the demon in this picture... yikes!

And luckily the preschool had "Crazy Hair Day" on the same day so that this little 4 year old wouldn't be left out!

Not terribly excited to have his picture taken, though, can you tell?

Cousin Slumber

This weekend the kids were able to have an impromptu sleepover with some of their favorite cousins. Isabella & Chloe are Kip & Kristen's girls, and my boys love to be with them.

Don't they look like nice, well-mannered kids?

Aaaand.......that's more like it!

Skiing!

One of the reasons we decided to move to Mountain Green was to be closer to the ski resorts we love. Most people would choose to move closer to their places of work.... we, on the other hand, moved closer to ski resorts. We've always enjoyed skiing, it just hasn't been very convenient to go too often the last few years.

Taylor

Porter

P & T

The Speedy Rico

Now with our favorite resort so close, we have been able to ski quite a bit this year. Even Eric is cruising now. He had a lesson at the beginning of the season, and he's loving it. Porter and Taylor are getting so good, they will pass up Steve & me soon.

"There is nothing more fun than doing something you love, with the ones you love. " That is a quote by Melanie Brenchley. You can use it sometime if you need. :)

Porter's Arrow of Light

Porter received his Arrow of Light this month. He and two other boys were awarded the same night. I have to admit, it was down to the crunch. We were memorizing Articles of Faith in the last couple of weeks. Don't we all need deadlines sometimes?

We are proud of you Porter!

Porter, leading the flag ceremony to start the evening

Bryson, Ridge, & Porter with the Cub Master

Crossing the Arrow of Light bridge

Good job Buddy!

Thanks to Grandma & Grandpa B. for coming all the way from Ephraim!

I can't believe he is done with Cub Scouts! Where does the time go?

Fun With Cousins

Some of my siblings from Tooele came up over President's Day weekend for dinner, and kindly left their children overnight. My boys love to be with their cousins, there's probably nothing they'd rather do.

17 year-old Sam wasn't exactly planning on spending the night with the younger cousins, but let's just say that the desire was forced upon her by Eric. And she is too sweet to disappoint him. Love that girl.