Softball 2012 Part 2

 Softball this year has been SOOOO good for Brianne. Like I said before her coaches this year have taught her so much and have made her a better player! It's hard to believe this season is almost over :( just two more games!

 It all came together this season and at last weeks game Brianne had an awesome day! She got two major stops as short stop and left fielder and hit a great ball past third base! I can definitely see her going strong into this sport!

 Isn't it true that as you learn about the sport in all it's detail that you learn to love the game! This has SO been true for her! She always liked "hitting" and "playing catch" etc, but now she knows the GAME!

 I love pictures like this one above! She is IN IT! But again, it's how she was taught!

 I don't know why, but she's always been a decent hitter?! I didn't play softball at all and Chan did as an adult, but she evidently started her own softball gene!

 Right now her favorite thing is stealing bases! That is coach Bryce with her coaching her on when to go!

 I admit there has been times when I was worried she wouldn't get there! But she's done great and always manages to beat them there! And her Gamma Kathy says she thinks she a better runner!

 Doesn't that smile say it all! I took this right after she stole home for a score! Happy DAY!

 The dugout is fun for her too! She's made some great friends and enjoys hanging out in there with them.

 She's looking older to me too lately, and in this shot in particular!

 Look at her go!!!

 She got it!

You can see the ball she's about to hit in this shot! She did hit it, but it was kind of a pop fly and she STILL got to 1st! So proud of her! I can't wait to see where this sport takes her! She's found one that fits! Yay! Go green people eaters! (I know it's a silly name, but they ARE 10-12 year olds after all!)

PTA... Fun?

I was asked a year ago by a friend of mine to be the PTA Treasurer for Brianne's school and I swear I looked at her and started laughing! She knows me well enough to know I am NOT a math person! But she assured me I would be great and kept asking me if I would do it. After a month of mulling it over I finally told her I would and she was thrilled! I signed on for the same two years that she (my friend Kelly) would be the President. I went to the state convention last year and sat in on a class to learn what it was I would be doing and got even MORE petrified that I wouldn't be able to do it. Finally, in July the big day came and we went to the bank to get everything changed over and the big binders and checkbook were handed over and it was my turn to stand in as treasurer. Thankfully, another friend Jennie did it before me so whenever I got confused or overwhelmed I would shoot her a text or call and she was right there to assist! I started the year off pretty unsure and over the past months have discovered that I CAN do this! And it's not entirely because I am able to do the "work" it's because I have made the most fantastic friends being in this organization! I have made some lifelong friends and they are amazing women and I have learned so much from each of them. It is because of them and their friendship and leadership that I feel I was able to step in and do this job. But I will admit I am VERY proud of myself for doing it! In May we had our only PTA fundraiser and it was a fun run. We ask families to donate funds to the school and we have a run at the high school and the families can run with their kids, we have food and the teachers do fun relays etc. It's our 4th or 5th year doing it and it's a big event and we were hoping to meet our goal of $10,000. Thankfully, through the generosity of our community we went OVER our goal! I got this picture of Brianne that night- we were so happy! I am so glad now that I decided to do this and it's been quite an adventure! It's hard to believe my first year is almost over... one more to go!

And one last thing, I rarely "toot my own horn" but this year I was able to receive a Utah PTA Leap award for my service in our local PTA. It requires you to serve in several areas and attend certain meetings to be able to receive it. Since I have been serving in PTA for almost 6 years doing all sorts of things I was finally able to complete all of the required things. In level one and two! So a little pat on the back for me and on to finishing up this year and on to the next!

Bingham Powerlifting Meet 2012

The first week in May Carter was able to participate in the Bingham Power lifting meet. It's several high schools that participate and it is mainly the football players who are in the power lifting programs at their respective schools. They compete in different weight classes similar to wrestling and Carter competed as a heavy weight. They had to do three different weight lifts: the bench press, squat and clean and they took the highest weight from each and added the total together. Alta's team took 2nd overall and the picture above is all the boys and the coaches that were there. Carter is in the back row kind of in the middle. The best part about this night is that in the individual competition Carter took 4th place overall!!!!! That is HUGE!! He has been working so hard and it's so wonderful to see him be successful! In case your wondering his total weight was 985 pounds! Crazy right! He was the only Sophomore to place in the heavy weight. Way to go buddy! And I just have to share that the next day he and I were talking about the meet and he told me that he knows that Heavenly Father helped him through it. During his bench press he was having a difficult time and got 2 scratches for lifting up his feet. He said he realized that he hadn't prayed before he started his bench press (which he always does before each lift), so with his last try he said a quick prayer and was able to reach the weight he needed to get. I am happy to see him including the Lord in all he does and I know he will continue to see success as long as he does that. Way to go Carter! We are SO proud of you!

Softball 2012! Part 1

 I was so glad that Brianne wanted to play softball again this year. Last year she learned a lot and really enjoyed the challenge, so she was so excited to play again! This picture was taken after her first game of the season and she played GREAT!

 She got an exceptional group of coaches this year! Coaches Bojack and Lemon and they both have an amazing amount of knowledge! Their boys play baseball as well so they have great skills in being able to teach the girls the game as well as teaching them how to catch, throw and hit better. I can't believe the amount of learning she has been able to do! She even learned how to throw a pitch!

 The last few games of the season she was also able to learn how to steal home! This picture above is her doing just that! And she got it too!! Look at that great running form!

I am so proud of her and how well she is doing! It's so fun to see her play and we've been VERY blessed with great weather to watch her (well except for one that was cold and rainy!) I'll get a few more action shots of her last few games! I am so proud of her! Way to go Crizzy!!

Clear the roads!

 About a week after Carter's actual birthday he and I went down to the DMV very early in the morning before school to get his license. We had been told by a boy in our ward that going early in the morning was the best time to get in and out quickly. He was SO RIGHT! And thankfully in our state this process is relatively easy since the Drivers Ed program is done through school. He had already completed all he needed to do so all that was left was a quick picture, proof of ID and his drivers ed certificate and we were done! This picture above was taken right after he got it! Such a great day!! :)

After waiting about 2 weeks the "official" license came in the mail. He's been so thrilled to be able to drive himself to hang with friends and go to his other activities. I have to admit it's been great for me too! I am really proud of Carter, he is a great driver! Especially considering the only car he can drive right now is our HUGE Ford Excursion, which I lovingly call "The Tank"! It's a big truck and he does just great with it! I am SOOO looking forward to him driving himself to his 6:30am football practices this summer! Yay for sleeping in!! :)

Chan and Carter

I just had to post this picture of Chan and Carter after his first day of saying the sacrament prayer. I was so proud of the BOTH of them! I also thought it was kind of funny that they both chose a yellow tie! I promise that wasn't planned! Anyway, I am truly a proud wife and Mom! Love them both!!

Carter's birthday weekend

 My parents were able to come out and help us celebrate Carter's birthday. Since it was the big 16th birthday it meant that he was going to be ordained a priest and my parents never miss out on being here for those big days. This year Carter chose to go to La Costa Mexican Restaurant for his birthday dinner and my parents and Kathy came along :)

 They have the yummiest food there and Carter's favorite dish?........ Taquitos!

 The server noticed he was opening Birthday cards and took it upon himself to have the servers sing to him and give him this dessert and lovely hat! He looks pretty good in it doesn't he! It's even in Oregon Ducks colors! His favorite!

 While they were here we decided to go on an adventure and take Traxx up to Salt Lake and go to see the new City Creek Center! It was a fun ride!

 I can't remember the last time I rode Traxx but we had a fun time looking at the scenery and chatting.

 Carter took this shot of himself! Not too bad actually!

 I had my parents take a family picture of us at City Creek Center. It was amazing! The stores were awesome but the mere architecture and landscape alone is worth seeing! Very impressive!

 My Mom and Dad!

 Grandma and Grandpa with the kiddos!

 We had a lot of fun, did a bit of shopping and then got back onto Traxx to head home :)

 On Sunday we all went to church and it was fast Sunday. My Mom got up to bear her testimony and it was awesome. Later we all went into the Bishops office for Carter to be ordained a Priest. It was such a special moment, one I won't forget, it's always special to me to see Chan performing these different ordinances with the kids. It's really amazing!

I'm so glad that we were able to have this time as a family and with my parents too! I'm so proud of Carter and he's doing an amazing job as a priest. The first time he said the sacrament prayer he did it with his Dad by his side. Chan did the first prayer and Carter did the second. They had practiced together several times so he was more than ready. They both said them perfectly! Tears rolled down my face as I listened then and I still get misty hearing it now. I am a very proud Mom and wife. I am incredibly grateful for a beautiful family! Thanks Mom and Dad for coming and participating in this wonderful event in Carter's life!

Carter's 16th Birthday!

 It's truly hard for me to believe that Carter is 16! Since it was a big birthday I decided to go a little bigger on the decorations! Brianne was a great help putting this all up :)

 I even got 16 latex balloons! And one mylar that said 16!

 Then I got him a few of his favorite things. It's funny to see how it changes from year to year. This year (at least right now) he is a bit obsessed with these Arizona fruit drinks! They are a major sugar drink, but hey it's his BIRTHDAY!

 Besides the drinks there was Reese's candy and some gum- teenagers cannot have enough GUM!

 We gave him a choice between having a big party or getting money that he could spend on what he wants and he picked the money! So he was able to get more Nike clothes and shoes (his other obsession right now) and we got him his new football cleats that he picked out online.

 His other request was for me to make this dessert for his birthday instead of cake. It's called "Ultimate pretzel crusted peanut butter cookie candy brownie bars"! No joke it's made with Snyder's pretzels, Peanut butter cookie dough, Reese's candy and brownie mix! And I have to say it was DELICIOUS!! You can find the recipe on my Pinterest page :)

 I'm so glad my kids still let me get pictures of all their big days! Even if this "blowing the candles out" one was a bit staged! Hee hee! I missed the actual moment!

 A shot of the yummy dessert! It really was GOOD!!

I am so proud of Carter! He's a really great kid and I hope this birthday goes down as a great one! We love you buddy!