Basketball Tournaments

I posted recently about Eric's basketball team - they were undefeated until the very last game of the season.
So, for tournaments, they played on the 13th. They won.
Then, they played on the 16th. It was a close game - and they won.
This put them in the championship game(on the 18th) against the team they lost their only game to(a team which was undefeated). Well, they played AWESOME and beat this team by 8 points!!!
We are SO proud of these boys. They learned a lot this year! Especially when you consider they didn't win 1 - nope not ONE game last year!
GOOD JOB CHAMPIONS!!! GOOD JOB COACHES!!!

more about CRAWDADS......

I swear...My kids are blessed with the best grandparents EVER. (Both Sets!)



The last time Eric went down to the river, he was disappointed to find out that when the weather got cold, the crawdads disappeared. Well, Grandpa got on the Internet and read up on "crawdads in the winter," and found some instructions on how to "trap" them in the winter. Grandpa and Eric built this trap together! It is cylinder shaped - each end is like a funnel. The top has a little door where they put fresh trout meat(so, they got to go fishing together for the trout first). The crawdads crawl in either end to try to get to the food(which is in side a wire box), and then they can't get back out.

They went down and put it in the river late the other night and went back in the morning to see if it worked - WELL, IT DID! There were 4 crawdads inside!!!

{the only problem was-that it was SO cold-that by the time they got home - the crawdads were completely frozen!}

WOULDN'T YOU AGREE - PRETTY COOL GRANDPA!!!

Christmas Piano Recital

The girls had their Christmas Piano Recital December 13th. They both played beautifully.

They have the recital at an assisted living center - which works out so nicely! It is great for these kids to perform for others besides their own families, and I know everyone who lives there loves the recital! Good Job girls! & Mrs. Evans!(She and Nicole played together!)

Fishing.....

(this post is a little out of order - but this was a fun adventure I don't won't to leave out-(Nov. 29th) the day after the traditional "day after Thanksgiving fishing trip" that I DO NOT go on - and Eric came home empty handed)...SO,

I guess fishing runs deep in my blood. My dad took us fishing ALL the time when we were growing up. I MUST like it, or I would have NEVER taken 5 kids fishing all by myself! (4 of my own, and one niece-in the pink- who caught her first fish ever!) We had FUN, even though it was COLD!

a "bit" of SNOW

We were supposed to get a good snow storm this weekend, but didn't end up with much.

The kids were determined to enjoy the "little bit" that we did get............

(Jason was napping & Jessica was curled up with a good book).

Christmas around the World

Eric and Nicole's grades were combined for their Christmas performances(December 11th). The concert was called "Christmas around the World," and they sang lots of fun songs! They were each picked to do an instrumental part, which was pretty special!
Nicole is in the green shirt with the wild arms! Eric is in the red shirt up front waiting for the performance to start and avoiding looking at the camera!

Christmas in New York

Jessica performed in "Christmas in New York" with the Jr. High and High School Choirs under the direction of Mrs. Wallace on Wed. & Thursday.
Can I just tell you that we have some VERY talented youth in our community!!!
They are just AMAZING!!!
They perform all sorts of Christmas music and serve dinner in courses to the audience throughout the program.
Once again - It was the Christmas Music that really touches me and helps me feel the true spirit of Christmas!!! I am so impressed by all the youth (especially those who so bravely perform solos) that share their talent with our community.
GREAT JOB!!!

the beginning of the Christmas Parties........

Our ward Christmas party was on the 5th - and set the ball rolling for the month!
We had a great time.
Here is Jason as a "shepherd", and Ryan in the back ground(red turtleneck) singing the "Nativity Song". Nicole is behind Ryan to the left- but basically all I could EVER see of her was her hair....... My adorable Niece and Nephew as "Joseph & Mary" Jessica(all the way to the right) in the "angelic choir"........ Eric as a shepherd in the skit(second one from the left).............

Basketball

Eric's basketball team was undefeated until the very LAST game of the season!!! They have played SO well!

They are now in tournaments. They won on Saturday. They play again on Tuesday - and if they win that game, they will play for the championship on Thursday.

Eric is #10 -blue&white-(taking the shot in this one)

Starburst CRAZE

Jessica's friend, Sophia, LOVES starburst candy. So, for Sophia's birthday she and another friend, Randi, decided to cover Sophia's locker with Starburst wrappers! Thank goodness lots of other friends got involved in collecting the wrappers....................................

the power of Christmas Music

I have not been able to catch the "Christmas Spirit" much until today when I went to choir practice after church. We are singing "Come Ye to Bethlehem" - a Sacred Christmas Cantata for Choir, Narrator and Piano by DAVID NAYLOR. I am telling you - It got me in the true spirit of Christmas. I could have stayed for hours and sang these songs. Our choir is small, but the power of these songs is HUGE!!!

Half way through, the narrator reads "And so it was, that, while they were at Bethlehem, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn." (Luke 2:6-7). as the piano and flute are playing music the narrator continues......Thus begins the mortal mission of Jesus Christ foretold by prophets since the beginning of the world. Knowing this, Mary must have known the impressive responsibility that was hers. What was it like for her to look into her son's face and see the face of God? Such a sacred trust would certainly require an honest heart and a soul given to much prayerful meditation.

These words, and the words to the songs made me ponder so many things.

Mary sure did have and impressive responsibility - and so do I!
I realize I am not raising the Savior of mankind as Mary did, but I am raising 5 children of God. I am so thankful Heavenly Father has given me the opportunity to be a mother. Am I being the best that I can be? Do I see the face of of God in my children? At times it can be SO overwhelming, but I love each one of them so much, and I will try harder to do "my best".

This week my friend(LeOni) pointed out some of the words in "Drummer Boy"to me and help them have new meaning to me.
It says "I played my best for Him".........."Then He smiled at me"
If we are trying and doing our BEST - He truly does smile at us!

(if you listen to my play list - you can hear "Drummer Boy" sang by Josh Groban- it is amazing!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN

This is when John was three - I love this picture - our three boys have eyes just like their dad!

This is a page from a scrapbook that John's mom made for him. It includes pictures from his 1st birthday all the way through his Senior year!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY-HAPPY BIRTHDAY- HAPPY BIRTHDAY-

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

THANKSGIVING TRADITION

My dad does NOT go shopping the day after Thanksgiving- His "day after" Tradition is going FISHING up in Cascade(leaving at around 4 a.m.!!!) He has been following this tradition for 33 years now. He would take ALL of us when we lived at home- but now he takes whoever is willing and wanting to go. Those who are consistant at going with my dad are my brother Randy, my Uncle Terry, cousin Terrell, and my son Eric. (this year Nicole and Rachel went also). I think there are probably only 2 years that they have missed! It is such a strong tradition - that my Uncle Terry and his son Terrell got up and went on Thanksgiving morning since Terry was having knee surgery the day after and didn't want to miss out!!!

THANKS DAD AND RANDY FOR TAKING ERIC AND NICOLE -
YOU ARE THE BEST!!!

Here is Randy, Eric, and
DAD with his tape measure out to show you how big his fish(story) was........................

Eric - with a disappointed face - because he did NOT catch any of these...............

Randy with his 17&1/2" catch of the day..................

THANKSGIVING 2008

helping out

Last Friday our Neighbor and Friend, Maggie(whom we celebrated her 90th birthday a couple of weeks ago)was outside and she fell. Thankfully she has a "life line" necklace, and they were able to contact us. When we went to check on her, her shirt was covered in blood and she was not able to get up. We called 911 because she had split her head open pretty bad.
It required 22 stitches to sew it back up!!!
The kids were all so helpful. They got a blanket to help keep her warm, and helped flag the ambulance down when they came down our lane. They did NOT like seeing Maggie with her "big owie". We decided that since the elementary kids are out of school all this week - that we would rake her leaves for her.
She is such a great neighbor and friend to us!























..........raking AND playing...........