Fall Family Pictures...

So a girl that I have worked with in Primary at church is trying to gain experience as a photographer. So since Sears closed I haven't had anyone to take the birthday pictures/family pictures. Long story short I convinced her that she wanted to take our pictures...She did a great job and here you have Jocelyn's 4 in two weeks pictures, Taryn's 8 and one week pictures, Cami's 10 in a couple months pictures, and some family fun all in one. Enjoy...
ps. She took Creed's 18 mo. pics in July if you are wondering why there aren't too many of him...

Taryn's Great 8

 Taryn! Sometimes said as a curse word but usually out of love....I can't believe she is the big 8. She is a 500 level parenting course and I honestly do thank her for that. She has taught me to count to ten before I loss it and if that fails I am acquainted with time out. She has taught me to love so deeply. She has taught me to think more creatively with discipline and reminded me that discipline is for teaching not for torturing. She has taught me that life is way more fun when you don't worry about the details. She has taught me that effective communication requires eye contact-for both people involved....When I get distracted she lets me know I am not listening. I do the same for her. The list could go on and on and I know she will teach me so much more...whether I mean to learn or not...

I love this kiddo. I respect this kiddo. She has such a strong personality. She will never be pushed into doing something she doesn't want to-I just have to figure out how to help her want good things... She loves life. She enjoys life. She is so committed to everything she does. She is so intense. And yet she has such a kind heart. She plays so great with her younger sister. She spontaneously changes Creeds diaper whenever she feels the need. She can walk in high heels better than I can and loves make up without bounds. Again I could go on and on but really I just hope she feels my love for her as intensely as she loves me.

 

If only a photo had a volume...

 She requested a square stacked up cake like Haley's wedding cake for her birthday...with orange frosting...and instead of a skiing girl and boy on top a soccer ball...so this is what she got.

posing for the action shot

the real action shot-amazing since our camera has the biggest delay before actually taking a picture...

Spoiled girl

The mom who lives her like a crazy lady!

The dad who loves her like a crazy lady...

So we had to make a trip up north on the day of her birthday. The night before we had Grandma, Uncle John, and the Thompsons over for a family party. The next morning Brent took her out for the tradition daddy bday child breakfast. I took doughnuts to her class at school and then we left for up north. On the way she opened a special car ride gift (a new Barbie movie-always a hit with this girl). and when we got there the Lutze cousins had made cupcakes to continue the celebration. I think she had a pretty awesome day. And incidentally she got to get her ears pierced a little early just because we knew we had this trip. She didn't complain.

The moment she has been waiting for her whole life....

If you have ever met Taryn even for 2 seconds you will know that she was looking forward to getting her ears pierced the second she turned 8. And here you have it...No tears or fears. Just confidence in finally getting what she wanted and had waited for...Although she did say "MOM you said it wasn't going to hurt! It hurt more than just a pinch...." But then she got distracted picking out earrings and that was that. And we are thankful that she chose something as conservative as small white pearls....

Super Duper X2!

It's that time of year again...the time when I worry as a parent that one kid works so hard and doesn't get recognized and one kid just naturally gets acclaim (though she is fantastic and deserves it)...

BUT mercy is real in that both girls got awesomeness awards the first month this school year. I could have cried in thankfulness and relief.

Taryn was awarded the super scholar award. She really has worked like a crazy lady with her reading the last year. She started school last year on a reading level 4...We had work to do and at the beginning of this year she started at a reading level 40. Not only did she improve that much with fluency and comprehension but she now reads at 120 words per minute. Not to mention she probably has the neatest hand writing a second grader has ever had. I love this kid for not giving up. I love this kid for working so hard even when and especially when she struggled. I love this kid for her perseverance. I love her teacher for noticing and recognizing her...

Cami was awarded the super citizen award. She is a phenomenal student. She always has been and it comes easier to her than most. BUT I am really proud that she spends her spare time helping other kids finish their assignments and making sure that everyone has a friend at recess. She is very gentle with kids who struggle and she follows all rules to the T. I have never been worried that maybe she isn't quite behaving like she should. I feel 100% confident that she is respectful and kind to everyone and that is such a nice feeling to have as a parent.

Anyway, I could brag about these two all day but basically I will just say that they kick bum and I love every little inch of these girls!

 

 

Marathon...not really but we got in the spirit...



One great thing about living in St George is the race season. The city has a marathon, some half marathons, tons of 5K/10Ks, the iron man, etc....Seriously there are races pretty much every month. Every year when we watch the marathon I think I could totally do that...And every year I don't do it...for several reasons...BUT this my niece Madison was running the marathon and we got into the spirit of it by doing the mayor's walk. We do the last few miles of the marathon course  and then get to be at the finish when the first finishers finish. Anyway, the girls wanted to sprint the race but Brent and I were happy to get all kids and ourselves across the finish line in one piece without screaming or tears not in last place. (We had to be up at the start of the race at like 630 I think...) And who knows...maybe next year we'll tackle the real marathon...

 

The whole gang before....

The whole gang after...if you look close you can even see the mayor in the back ground...

Oh I totally forgot the really awesome part of the morning. So when we got to the park the radio station was using bib numbers to raffle off prizes. We registered the night before at about the last possible time to register...In our family of 6 we won three prizes...Yup we pretty much spanked it! Taryn won a 20$ gift certificate, Creed won a free membership for a month to the Washington rec center, and Cami won a tee shirt...



Fall Soccer Galore!

This fall has been so stinking busy with three girls on three different teams and me coaching two of the teams... Three games, four practices and lots of sweaty cleats, shine gaurds, shorts, and jerseys.







 

Jocelyn is on the "Snow whites" soccer team and it has been so fun to coach these girls. Jocelyn single handedly distracted every player on the field during the first game with news of a butterfly...except one girl on the other team who was smart enough to dribble right into the goal. Her team in general is really pretty good for a U4/U5 team. A few of the girls actually pass the ball once or twice a game and a few others pass it inadvertently sometimes...And I only have to take two of them by the hand to help them run around...So it has been good times. Jocelyn is #5...

 

Taryn decided she wanted to give soccer another try. I think the jury is still out on whether she will stick with it but it has been fun. When she is on and motivated by a doughnut for scoring or stopping a score  she is ON. When it is a less exciting/motivating moment she is content to watch the clouds go by. A lot of her friends are on the team and I co coach it...I think it is good for Taryn to have a little more of my attention in her activities and wow it is teaching me how to keep a practice fast moving and engaging. Her team is the "pink dynamites" and they are actually a really good team, winning all but a couple games. 



 

Cami is playing with her competitive team (United SG) again this season and it has been a great season. She is getting better at getting in the middle of things rather than waiting for things to come her way. She has been playing mid field and likes it there. Cam has endurance to run forever even if she is not the fastest. She is determined and honest in her play and I love watching her.

 

And just for the record Creed has been a really good sport cheering at all the games...he really does clap his hands and yell every time I say "GO (whoever)" he mimics me...



 



Jocelyn growing up...in a lady bug sort of way...

Jocelyn feels like she has waited FOREVER to start school because her entire life she has seen Cami and Taryn going to school. This year she is old enough to actually go to preschool and it is the same fantastic one Cami and Taryn both went to. I think we were all excited for her to start just so we could see Miss Megan again.

She chose out this ladybug outfit last spring and every week or so she would come in and ask if she could see or try on her lady bug school clothes.

When the older girls started school and Jocelyn didn't for another week I thought she was not going to make it...She would wake up every morning super early and open the blinds and say "It's wake up good morning time! Do I go to school today?"

When the day finally came it did not disappoint. The school has a "get to know you" half hour where parents stay and play then leave...I was surprisingly the last to go-she was a little shyer than I expected. But I eventually kissed her good bye and she was totally fine and by the time I picked her up she was totally in love. I hope her love for school lasts forever!