Fall Frenzy!

I love fall!!! It is my favorite time of year! I love how the weather cools, the leaves change and the mountains look like they are on fire, the football games, the corn stalks and pumpkins on my porch! It is all wonderful! This year it feels like it is on fast forward and I just want it to SLOW DOWN! I'm sure part of the reason is how busy we all are! So it's been a bit of a fall frenzy around here!

Will's football season is officially over and they had a rough season. However, I feel that they learned a lot! I'm pretty sure I've already said this, but being the young team they were they did have A LOT to learn! Going from little league to high school football is a HUGE transition! I look forward to seeing how they do next year! It's going to be awesome! Will is planning on starting to work out with Carter's trainer John Madsen over the off season so get bigger, faster and stronger, so his next season will be GREAT!! He is really excited to get started but I do have to say he has NO IDEA what he's in for! John is going to kick his butt!! :)

Carter's varsity team is officially in the playoffs! The first one is this Friday against Taylorsville! They played an AMAZING game last week in the black and blue classic against Bingham, but unfortunately didn't come away with the win. Thankfully that game didn't effect our standings and we'll be going in as the 4th seed! Seeing how well they played last week I KNOW that they can continue on and I'm excited to see the game! Carter is also going to start working out with John again after the season is over. He is bound and determined to win that power lifting meet this next spring! He's tired of taking 3rd place! :)

Brianne did an AMAZING job singing in church! I couldn't have been more proud of her! She was so composed and didn't even miss ONE note! It was stunning! It's hard to believe that she is only 11 when you hear her sing! I'm trying to convince her to tryout for a musical at our local theater but so far she's a firm NO! But I'll keep trying!!! I don't think that voice should go to waste! She is however singing in our Ward choir again and has even recruited 2 friends along! And I love that she chose to sing alto- it's a challenge- but one she loves to take on!

Chan has big news too! He got a new truck! You would think that he won the lottery with how happy he is right now! We went and traded in the Honda (AKA "beater truck") because it was having issue after issue and we really wanted him to have a more reliable used car to drive. We figured the best thing we could give him is our Subaru! It's an Outback wagon and has over 130,000 miles on it but it's in GREAT condition and the perfect car for him to drive! The only hitch is that it's a stick shift and Carter wasn't used to it! But he had tried on occasion to drive it but never did it often because he didn't have to. But NOW he DOES! Thankfully he's picking it up quick and is doing GREAT! Anyway, we traded in his truck and leased a brand new Toyota Tacoma 4 door! It's a beautiful truck and rides like a dream! It's even getting him out of bed earlier in the morning because he can't wait to drive it to work! So cute! I'm so happy for him too because he works so hard for our family!

As for me, not too much has changed! Just doing my usual volunteering and my respective Mom duties! But I will say I am SOOOOO excited to have Brianne come into Young Women this week! YAY!! I've been waiting a long time and I KNOW she's going to love it!

October 13th update!

This football season is going by entirely too fast! It's been a rough start as Will's Sophomore team has only won 1 game (ouch) and Carter's Varsity team has had it's ups and downs as well! They both came out with HUGE wins this past week over Copper Hills and they BOTH had fumble recoveries! So crazy! I also think I neglected to mention that Carter broke his pinky finger a few weeks ago. We thought it was just dislocated but after seeing an x-ray and a specialist we discovered it was broken AND dislocated! Unfortunately they can't really fix it until the season is over! Otherwise he'd be unable to play! Gotta love boys- just rub some dirt on it and GO! We enjoy so much going to these games and being a part of all the happenings that the boosters provide the boys. It really is a blast!

Brianne is going to perform her very first solo in church this coming Sunday! She has been practicing a song called, "A Window to His Love" for over a month and is finally ready to sing it! I heard her sing it from beginning to end a little over a week ago at her voice lesson and was already crying! I am sure I had better bring a box of kleenex! I have been encouraging her to sing in front of people and I know she'll be great and it will build her confidence! I'm really looking forward to it!

I had parent teacher conferences for Will and Carter about a week ago as well. I have to admit that Carter's have never been all that pleasant! I was worried, especially given that I had already heard from one of his teachers regarding behavior. Carter is an awesome kid but their is no real off button for him! He enjoys socializing SO MUCH! It's hard for him to remain quiet and listen to lectures etc. However, this time around it was pretty good! He's doing "okay" in school- he's doing his usual grade ups and downs- especially during football season. He always tends to droop a bit because of the rigorous schedule. I'm sure when late November hits so will his school stride (hopefully)! The most exciting visit I had was with his Seminary teacher who is amazing. Her name is Sister Newbold and Carter LOVES her lessons. She does really innovative things with the class and keeps them on their toes! She had nothing but wonderful things to say about Carter. It was wonderful to hear of his example in class and how much he shares his testimony there. It warmed my heart. He may not be the most "academic" kid, but he is a shining star where is really counts and for that I am so grateful! Will's conferences are always fun! He is a great student! He may not have straight A's but he's always trying his best and is a very respectful student. All of his teachers had wonderful things to say about him and I am very proud of how he is doing for his first high school experience! I wish I could have met his seminary teacher as well, because he loves his class just as much as Carter, but the line for that teacher was crazy long! Maybe next time!

I am loving my new job! It's an adjustment to get used to going every day and right in the middle of the day (10am-1:30pm), but I am already seeing benefits! I am able to accomplish things at home before heading into work! I find myself cleaning and doing laundry, making phone calls and sometimes even doing dinner preparation right when I get home! With how crazy our evenings are with football it's nice to have some extra time to get home made dinners prepared! The job itself is EASY! I follow students in their classroom helping with work, I take them to PE and to lunch. They are all sweet kids and like having people to help. I have attended 2 training classes to help me better understand the environment I'm in and how to contribute and those have been very helpful as well.

Fall is here and the weather is changing! Before I know it there will be snow on the ground and we'll be preparing for Christmas! I'm not ready!! Can't time slow down just a BIT!!

Football update!

I seriously can't believe it's almost October! This past month FLEW by! I have been thoroughly enjoying my boys football, and even though they haven't had many wins on the scoreboard, I feel that they are learning lessons and bettering themselves every day.

Carter has been working especially hard. There's a lot of talent in our area and he is constantly fighting for his spot. When he has played he plays well! He did get beat in his Timp View game a couple times, but since has been pushing himself even more and we have seen improvement! Their first region game was this past Friday against Brighton and they lost by about 12 points, a tough loss, but I'm hoping that this week's game against Jordan they will come out strong! Carter has also been his "usual self" and has been participating in lots of school activities. He went to a girls soccer game on Saturday with a friends number painted on his chest! He was also asked to go to the Halloween dance and is VERY excited about it. He is all in with having FUN!

Will's team has had a really tough start. They haven't won one game! :( It's hard to watch your son get disappointed week after week, but I tell ya I think it's been good for him. All it has done is to drive him to be better. He doesn't get a lot of play tie right now, but I've never seen him work this hard... EVER. I think he wants to play better more now than ever and if he keeps up his motivation to be better- he will be successful! I'm so proud of him! Will is also doing great in school. He's taking a wood shop class for the first time ever and is enjoying it a lot. I also enjoy watching him at the Friday football games get into the student section and become one of the "rowdies"! It's pretty cute and he LOVES it!

Brianne is still our best cheerleader and she comes to every game she can! She's not afraid to yell and she loves the connection she has to the players. She even took some photos for me at this past weeks game and did a great job! She is also doing awesome is school! Middle school is going awesome for her and she is fitting right in. She has several teacher that her brother had and she enjoys the good attention she gets from them. Especially the PE teacher Mr Halbert- he loves to razz her about her brothers! She's doing great in PE too! Running like a pro and they are currently playing softball and she was thrilled that her teacher noticed her skills in softball. It made her week! She's already talking about playing again in the spring! She is also excelling in her voice lessons. Every now and then I'll catch her practicing in her room and will stop and listen. She really has a gift and I can't wait for her to share it with others! she is supposed to be singing a solo for the first time in church real soon and I know she's terrified, but I couldn't be more excited! she sang in the Primary Program today (for the last time) and did a fantastic job! The leaders even moved her around on two songs because she had such a strong voice. They wanted to even out the sound! She also spoke and did amazing!

Chan is plugging away at his job and whatever spare time he has he's doing favors for his family or watching the boys play football at games and practices. He's still the Ward building coordinator, Ward Clerk and Ward Tech specialist. He's technically still in the Scout committee too but has asked to be released since his plate is full! We still try to sneak out for a date night here and there too! :)

I gave notice in the job at All Search last week and start a new job this week. The job sharing with my friend Kelly was awesome, but the work environment itself was not good. It's a shame too because I loved the job itself and the owners were very kind. However, I feel this change is another meant to be. I was offered a couple jobs at the middle school before the school year began but because I had just gotten started with that other job I turned them down. Just about a week ago I was offered another, and since I wasn't loving my circumstances, I took it. It's an aide job at Brianne's middle school and she is STOKED! I'm glad that I will have time off at the same times as them now during holidays etc. It truly is a blessing and even though it's every day it's only about 3 hours so I can still do my Mommy jobs! Happy day!
  I also got to go to Oklahoma about a week ago to visit my sisters. Even though I didn't do much, it was the BEST time! We sat and visited, had a pedicure (Heather's first time), got soda's every day at Sonic, went to get yummy cupcakes, ate out and laughed and laughed. I wish I could do it every couple of months! It was fantastic! I am so grateful to Chan for covering my duties while I was gone and for making this trip happen!

Family life is good, crazy and full of adventure, but GOOD! 

Football 2013 Week 1

It's hard to believe football has started around here again! I think mainly because it has been SO HOT! I am VERY ready for the crisp fall nights under the lights!

Carter has already had 2 games- the first was against East and it was an out of region game. They knew it would be a tough team and THEY WERE! My favorite word for the East boys was "thick"! They were big, meaty and strong! Most of the team are Polynesian and they are tough! Carter wasn't a starter in that game but played 2 series of defense in the first half (both of which his helmet came off) and then he played the entire second half as guard on offense. He really played great and held his own given how big these guys were. Carter is a tough kid who is very strong but he's not tall when it comes to Varsity line. The tackle that plays next to him is 6'5" and Carter is 5'11"! But he knows his job well and can PLAY! They played hard but had a loss. His next game was against Lone Peak and after watching film from the East game the coaches did some tweaking and changed up the starting line up- and Carter was in. I was so proud! He had earned his spot! The Lone Peak game was a totally different vibe. It was a home game (which is always better) and they came out firing! I think the loss to East was good for them! They won 35 to 17 and played an amazing game! Carter played fantastic and even got a thumbs up from his head coach which I know meant a lot to him. Carter got up this past Sunday to bear his testimony and spoke of this last game. He was VERY nervous and he said that prayer is what got him through. He said that he prayed before his first series and did well. Then went out on the second series and got beat and was angry with himself and he realized he hadn't prayed before that one. He said a prayer out on that field before EVERY series and from then on had the strength he needed in each one. He said he knew that some of that strength came from Heavenly Father. It was amazing to hear- I had no idea he did that. I knew he prayed before the game, but I had no idea he was praying before EVERY series. What a great example to his peers and his family. I am a proud Momma!

Will has had one game and it was against Lone Peak as well. It was the Thursday before Carter's and he was soooo excited to suit up! Chan wasn't able to come because he was at the University of Utah vs Utah State game (which the Utes won- hooray!) so it was me, Brianne and Chan's Grandparents. Will plays defense and is a linebacker and he was not a starter but did get in on a few series throughout the game. He is learning A LOT and I can see improvement in his play but he needs more high school experience. He literally got ran over on one play the poor kid! But he is putting in his best effort and is doing his job well! I am excited for him and all he is learning and I have to keep it in perspective that he is only a Freshman playing on the Sophomore team! I know that each game will get better and I really believe that with his determination he is going to be awesome! Unfortunately the entire team needs the same experience because they lost- and quite handily- to Lone Peak. But there are plenty of games to come and this was their first, so it can only get better! 

I have to say as well how proud I am of Brianne. She was VERY bummed that she would no longer be able to cheer on the sidelines for Will since he was playing for the high school. But since the boys started practice she has become more and more excited to go to the games and she is their BIGGEST cheerleader on the sidelines! She knows most of the Varsity team by name because they spend time here at our house and I even managed to get a photo of her with some of them after their first team dinner. She always gears up in her best Alta gear and was VERY excited to get her "12th Man" shirt to wear on Friday. She is beaming with pride for her brothers and loves to tell people about them. It warms my heart!

I never knew this would be my life when I started having kids but I LOVE IT! I love Friday Night Lights, feeding the team before the game, hearing the varsity boys call me Momma Criz, the cheering, the rowdy kids with paint on their faces to cheer on their team, eating hot dogs in the stands with Chan and giving my sweaty boys hugs when they win and lose. It's a wonderful thing to be a part of and I'm grateful for all of it! Being a Football Mom is the BEST! :)

2013 orientation day!

Today was a big day for Will and Brianne!

Brianne had her 6th grade orientation at Indian Hills. The night before she was VERY anxious and worrying about getting to classes and her locker. I decided I would go in with her and stay for the first part, get her to her first class, give her a big hug and let her go! That's exactly what I did too! She seemed much better once she got there and found some friends to chat with, but once I got her to her classroom the nerves returned for a moment. I gave her a big hug, told her how to get to her next class and said "have a great day" and walked away. I know she'll be fine! She's a strong kid under all those "nerves" she likes to display on occasion! And besides she's only there till noon today... no biggie! I can't wait to hear all about her real first day on Monday- that will be a BIG day!

My experience with Will was a little different. He did not require me to go in with him (although I believe had I not already planned to go with Brianne he probably would have let me) so I just dropped him off about 30 minutes early so he could find his locker and try it out before going into the orientation. His day is basically a full school day followed by football practice, so he is excited. Still a bit nervous, but his nerves are more about the SIZE of the school. He's not worried about much else- in fact he's loving the idea of being in high school and playing football etc. He's even planning on attending the first "stomp" dance tonight. So fun! I know that Monday will be a whole new adventure because he'll be riding to school with his brother, a senior this year, so I'm sure he'll be feeling pretty dang cool! Such a big year... I'm excited already!! :)

Lake Powell, Vegas getaway and more!

Since Chan and I are both working this summer our time off was very limited (as was our budget) so a big summer vacation was out of the question. But thankfully Chan's parents offered to take our kiddos to Lake Powell for 5 days right before the boys began mandatory conditioning for football. Boating at Lake Powell is one of their absolute FAVORITE things and I can't say I blame them! It's beautiful there, peaceful, and super fun! They swam, watched some crazy summer rainstorms, did night swimming with glow sticks, had a dance party on the swim deck and ate some yummy food. They came home with sun kissed skin and big smiles on their faces! They left on a Wed (Pioneer Day actually) and I had that day off work. So right after they left I went to town cleaning my house! I went through the basement like a housekeeping tornado and even cleaned the carpets! Then I went upstairs and continued on until the house was smelling and looking good!  I even did every stitch of laundry and had it put away! It was an awesome feeling and the best part was that I KNEW it would stay clean for at least 4 days because the kids were away! SWEET! I went back to work with Chan the following day and then Friday we decided to have our own getaway before the kids came home. So we jumped in the car and went to Vegas for the weekend. We stayed at the Aria, which was amazing, and we didn't really do a whole lot other than hang out in our room! We just wanted some down time together and that's EXACTLY what we got! We did venture out and walked the strip, saw the fountains at Bellagio (again), walked the stores in Ceaser's Palace, ate at Planet Hollywood, walked part of Crystals mall at the cosmopolitan, and my favorite was sipping Chai tea and eating the best cinnamon roll EVER at the Aria pool. It was heaven. It was just the perfect little getaway and it's funny how the minute we get in the car to go on our little "trips" we turn into the silly kids we were when we met! We have so much fun together and I am SO grateful for a husband who sees the importance of spending time alone. He's the BEST! Now back to reality (darn it) and working again!

 I also managed to find the time to do a garage sale! I've been looking at some of my "stuff" lately and saying to myself, "How long have I had that?" I am discovering that I am sick of a lot of those things and decided to try and sell them to anyone who will fork over money for it! HAHAHA! So I spent 2 days going through closets (ONE whole day was practically spent in Brianne's room) and making piles of things to sell. I was SHOCKED at the amount of "Stuff" I had accumulated! Most of which had not seen light of day in YEARS! So off I went to the dollar store for stickers and poster board and away we went! This past Saturday I got up early and went out to face the people! Our home is in the PERFECT spot for a garage sale! I put up 6 signs (which really was a lot- I probably could have done 4) and I was BUSY!!! I was done by 1:30 and had sold practically everything! The best part you ask? I earned enough to buy school clothes for my kids! YAY!!! Can't beat that! And there was still a bit left over for me that I'm hoping to use to purchase a new bookshelf! Happy Day!

School time is almost here! So over the next three days I will be taking the kiddos to purchase a few items for school. I refuse to buy too much of anything, clothes or otherwise, because I only want to buy what they NEED. And inevitabley the teacher will send home lists of things THEY want them to have! So we'll get a few things and I enjoy that one on one time with them while we do it. I registered all of them last week and I am still in a bit of denial that I have TWO in high school and a middle schooler. YIKES! But it's going to be a SUPER fun year!

I wish I could have a vacation on a beach somewhere before it all starts, but after this week begins "Hell Week" for the boys (their 2 a day full pad practices before their official season begins) and then it's orientation for Will and Brianne and it all starts! Oh well, maybe we'll be able to get in ONE more day at the pool! **sigh**

Young Women update...

Well they finally called a new Young Women Presidency and I am thrilled to say that I am staying on as Secretary! YAY!! I was REALLY hoping that's what would happen! Brianne is THRILLED that I will still be in there when she goes into Young Women this fall and so am I! Woo hoo!