Embarrassing Mom Award

Elise had some friends over last week, and I came out to take a couple of pictures of them all, and found that her girlfriends had to go home and it was just Elise and the boys.  She was soooo embarrassed to have her mom taking pictures.  Ha ha.  They turned out cute, although she refused to be in them. I  figured these boys' moms are my friends and they might like to have them too.

Outstanding Student

Elise was chosen for the Outstanding Student award at her school.  Her teacher got to choose one girl from her class, and chose Elise.  She said that Elise is always on task, a good leader, and a great student.  Elise thought she was going to get an award for being the "most tardy girl" in her class.;)

I was equally pleased when her classmates gave her the "friendliest" award.  Aww.  Last year, I think it would have been the "quietest" award.  She's come a long way.  Good job Elise!  Next stop, Jr. High. 

Lacrosse All Star

 Elise and Monet's lacrosse team had another undefeated season this year.  I think they have lost one time in the past five seasons.  The season ended with some really close games against Park City and American Fork.  Elise and Monet were on the same team this year since it is a 4th-6th grade team.  It doesn't quite seem fair though when you see girls Elise's size guarding girls Monet's size.  But Monet did great and learned some awesome moves to get around them.  She is learning a ton.  We are looking forward to stiffer competition next year in the Junior league for Elise.

Elise and two other girls from her team were chosen to play in the All Star game up at the U of U.  It was a fun opportunity.  It is also a little difficult to play on the turf.  Elise scored one of the 8 goals, and their team won 8-4.

What I loved about watching Elise play lacrosse is that she is so fast.  She'll be running alongside someone, and then she can just kick into another gear and speed down the field.  It is hard to keep up with her.  She found defense a little tricky since there are certain things that she'll do in basketball that you get called for in Lacrosse, and sometimes it is hard to remember not to do them.

Hair

Monet asked me the other day how I learned to French braid hair and if I could teach her.  I told her hours of forcing and bribing my little sisters to sit still so I could French braid their little wisps was how I learned.  I smiled at the memory.  They were so patient.  And it did take a lot of practice.  We'd do hair, and then I'd take them to the mall.  My big sister Michelle used to French braid my hair on occasion, and it was always really special when we did it like that.  Then in 6th grade I learned how to do it to myself.


Last week when the cousins were over, Elise put makeup on Monet and Faith and curled their hair.  It turned out very cute, I could tell they were really pleased with the results.  That is just how I felt when my big sister would do my hair.

And here is one of Simone and Liv, these girls are so cute!

All the kids enjoying the basketball hoop Jared recently put in.  The nets are this return system that is actually really cool for shooting practice.

Stewart Falls Hike

We got four extra kids this weekend and we decided to make the most of it.  Our kids love when their Smart cousins are over.  The Smarts have 9 kids in their family, so each of my kids have a cousin that is the same age.  This time, we had the four that were all the same ages as they are.

Simone and Olivia have so much fun together and really get along well.  It is always easy to have sweet little Olivia over.  She is so polite. 

We love Savannah and Faith too.  Whenever the Smart girls are in the car with me, there is a whole lot of singing going on.  There is also a lot of posing for pictures. 

Sassy

Miles and Jake have always been fast friends. 

Soren liked the hike to Stewart Falls too.  Slade isn't quite old enough to have sleepovers yet, but I'm sure they will love being together too.

Simone and Miles started getting a little tired toward the middle of the hike.  But Jared gave Miles his pocket knife to hold and he perked right up.  Jared and I decided we need a reward system with hiking like they have in Karate.  Whoever works the hardest and has a positive attitude will get to carry the special walking stick or something.  And we definitely need some good hiking snacks to make arriving at the destination point a little more interesting.  I think the hike is about four miles.  So they definitely got worn out.

Miles was so cute cuddling with Soren's leg.  That baby soft skin is irresistable!

Tough kids



Elise and Savannah behind the waterfall

Soren is enjoying the beautiful views

At the end, Miles wasn't sure if it was really worth the long trek just to see a waterfall.  But maybe with a few modifications, we can have a little more adventure and creativity on our next hike and less herding.  Teach him that it is about enjoying the journey and not just arriving at the destination that is fun.  I'd like to make it up to the Uintas this summer.

Soren's Smiles

Soren is smiling so much now!  I love when they finally start grinning back at you.  I think he was about five weeks when he started smiling at us consistently.   I feel so loved when he looks up at me and gives me a big smile, and when he "talks" to us.  The kids are convinced that he really says "hi" back to them.  It does sound like he is saying "hi," but I don't think we will count it as his first word like they want to. ;)

Every morning when he wakes up, Jared brings him out the the family room and everyone hurries down to make the most of that really happy time first thing in the morning.  We all sit around and smile at him.  He smiles and coos back at us until it is time for his morning nap.  I've been getting back into my exercise routine and some mornings I miss that happy wake up time. 

He sleeps really well in his bassinet.  I haven't really had a bad night with him yet, he's never really had his days and nights mixed up, and I get a good solid 7 hour stretch usually.  I was fully expecting that "barely hanging on" feeling to kick in, but we lucked out and got a good sleeper.  Six weeks is always that point for me that I look forward to their routine starting to develop and feeling like it isn't so overwhelming.  But the transition to five hasn't been overwhelming.  I have so much help from the other kids.  I tell Soren everyday how happy we are that he is part of our family. 

Monet is so great with him! I joke that I am just the wet nurse. She really loves to hold him and is always eager to help me with him. He loves her back and we call her the baby whisperer. Sometimes she is the only one who can get him to stop crying. He especially hates the car now, and that is really tricky. It is so sad when he is crying so hard that his little face turns red, and we can't do anything about it.  Hopefully soon he'll start liking toys, binkies, or something that can soothe him.  We'll be staying home a lot I guess.

He loves his bath time!  He gets this amused look on his face like he is really content and happy.  Then afterwards, he is really tired and ready to sleep.  We went swimming last week with Bekah, Jax and Lucy at Cowabunga Bay.  He really seemed to enjoy it.  He likes being outside a lot too.  I sometimes carry him around the block in the Baby Bjorn when he is tired and not settling down and he loves it, especially facing outward.  I feel kinda bad because it seems uncomfortable to not have his head really supported, but he really seems to like it.