2015 thirty-six

Last night of speed training.  Blake is running so fast you can't even see him in this iPhone image.  haha  He improved .9 seconds! 

2015 thirty-two

Yes, I had a very happy family with the outcome of this year's SuperBowl!

Go Patriots

2015 thirty-one

We started our day by finishing our January family goal...Random Acts of Kindness

Brooklyn hid $1 bills in the toy section at the dollar store.

Then we headed to the Draper Care Center with two bouquets of flowers.  We asked the nurse who could use some flowers.  This experience alone was worth the entire month goal.  We fell in love with two sweet ladies.  I was too shy to take a picture of Nie Nie, but she needed someone to just talk to.  She told my kids all about how she loves animals and how she loves to wave to people who are passing by.  Bonnie (pictured) was such a sweetheart.  After we talked to her for awhile and got to know her, I asked if she needed a hug.  She said YES.  It was the coolest experience watching all four of my children dive in for a hug.  Her wheelchair started moving and she said "Wow, and I even get a ride".  As we left her eyes filled with tears, as did mine.  She said "thank you so much for coming and bringing me flowers, please come visit me again."  I hope we visit both these ladies often and I hope my children remember how they felt on this special visit.  I know I am changed. 

 Later, we attended Elizabeth's friend's birthday party.

(Yoyo Chang in the batman costume)

Her host family invited all the families to the Lowe's Xtreme Air Sports in Provo.  

Brynn, Blake, Brooklyn and I had a great evening.  I loved getting to know some of the other Host families and soaked in all the "hosting" tips I could get.

2015 thirty

Brynn, Brooklyn & I took Elizabeth to the high school basketball game tonight.  

It's been a long time since I've been to a high school basketball game, but so much fun.

If you look really, really hard you can see Zack, Max, and Blake in the student section.  

2015 twenty-eight

A little after school paper boomerang lesson from Blake.

Elizabeth's friend, Yoyo, came home from school with her.  

All the Chinese students went to the Jazz basketball game tonight and it so happened that Jim had four 2nd row VIP tickets for the same night.  So these lucky three had a date with dad.  

2015 ten

A lazy catch up day for me...but a fun ski day with friends for Blake.

three hundred forty-nine

B had the cutest Christmas program tonight!

She has worked so hard for her side-aerial! 

two hundred eighty-eight

For a Spanish Class assignment he had to practice soccer a few minutes this week.  

two hundred seventy-nine

These 4-wheeler came in the mail today for our almost 18 year old.  

Saturday night disco skating has become more serious than we thought.  

We can't stop laughing...seriously?

one hundred fifty-eight

After taking M to the doctor for an x-ray of his wrist (from football last night), we spent the afternoon watching Z play a little 7 on 7 football with his High School team.  

Dad took the other kiddos back to the lacrosse tournament for more action.

P.S. JUST A SPRAIN! 

one hundred forty-nine

Another fun day at the school's annual Jogapalooza!

one hundred thirty-nine

School Carnival

And…a gymnastic performance.

Great Day!

thirty-three

Come on Broncos! Seriously?

thirty-one

Off to Lacrosse Conditioning!

And this guy skipped school today and claims he had the best day ever on the slopes!

Glad I didn't get my third call of the season to meet him at the ER! 

(broken nose, broken thumb…both false alarms, thankfully)

twenty-seven

"I'm open!"

Monday nights at his basketball games.

FYI: He always wears his lacrosse uniforms under his b-ball jersey!

Also…Photo credit goes to "pink"

twenty-four

Their last week of ski school.

The bus picked them up at school, drove them to the resort, they took a 2 1/2 hour ski lesson, and then were brought back to the school.  Great program…not so great picture.  

They were soooo embarrassed that I was taking pictures, this was the best one.

fifteen

The boys watching themselves in the High Rollers highlight video on You Tube!

I love these LAX brothers!

(and so excited they both made the video!)

Side Note:  This is the second day I have shot in manual mode! Not great at all but I am determined not to go back to the AUTO button again! I'm even taking an online course in February,  clickitupanotch.com has been super helpful until then!  I also ordered a new lens that I think will make a huge difference!

four

After a hard day of lacrosse, we enjoyed some local pizza and a walk on the beach.

While we were on our walk, I suggested asking someone to take a picture of all of us.  No one liked my idea so Jim tried taking it of all of us.  I love the view of the beach in the background!  So funny and actually pretty cute!

After this I did ask someone to take our picture, but I love this one more!

three

After we left the two girls in Las Vegas with the T's, we headed to southern California (Del Mar) for another lacrosse tournament with their club team. All three boys had a great tournament.  This picture is of Z ripping and then scoring for his team.  You can see the line of recruiters watching him.

Jim found a team from San Diego for The Jett to play on.  He had a great weekend and tore it up on offense and defense.  This is the only time he was sent to the "naughty box" after laying out another kid.  Their team won the championship and he was welcomed to play with them when ever he could!

Week 9 - Undefeated

"You be goalie now!"

He has had a great indoor soccer season.  They are undefeated and even beat another team that was undefeated and were really good.  It is still so funny to watch these little guys and I love how serious they all are.  Do you like the shin guards with short socks and the mountain water shoes?  At least they stay on his feet.  One game he took his shoe laces out and tried to play.  His shoes were flying off every second so I snatched Z's shoe strings from his shoes.