Our Happy Family

It is my favorite time of year again

 PICTURE TIME!!!

inspite of the fighting, the bribing, the whining, the threats, and the pleading, we did get some great pictures.  I love my family!

Austin, Sarah, Tommy, Sammy

My friend, J. Van Allen, took the pictures.  We went out to charming Verrado and she took pictures at a couple of different places she had found.

Tommy has a difficult time not forcing his smile.  We have to try to make him laugh but we forgot to bring up "poopy diapers" until the very end (this picture was taken at the beginning).

I like this one a lot.

This is my favorite family picture because I love seeing Sarah standing in her cute leggings and boots.  I spent a lot of time putting that outfit together.  I know it is very simple, but for someone like me it was a very big deal to coordinate so many different articles of clothing.  Boys are so much easier - a nice shirt and some jeans without holes in them.

My parents were visiting so Grandma & Papa got a picture with the kiddos.

I love the arches in this picture (oh yeah, and I love that guy standing next to me too).

Another family picture.  I like this picture a lot too; I just wish Sarah wasn't forcing her smile so much.  Why is smiling so difficult?

My handsome Sammy.  Look at those eyes!

My sweet Austin.  Growing up way too fast. 

Sarah ...this picture is so cute...

And this one...

and this one!

This picture turned out GREAT!

Papa with his boys!

Thank you J. Van Allen!

The Red Dragons

Last Saturday, we played our final game. 

I was so fortunate to get to be the coach of this awesome group of kids. 

Sammy had a fun time playing in the first two games of the season.

A week before his third game of the season, he broke his arm so he was regulated to the bench.  He would usually color to keep himself occupied.  He always seemed to have another kid helping him.

I loved my team!  The kids were amazing. 

Kyra - dribbling, shooting, rebounding, defense - this girl does it all.  Half of my dynamic duo.

Ava - other half of my dynamic duo.  Excellent shot.  She's a gamer.

Brennan - great passer, great dribbler, great shooter, very unselfish.

Yamill - always has a smile on his face.

 Brian - natural athlete, very tough.  Brian skinned his knee three times in one practice and kept on going.  

Sammy - very good at dribbling with his left hand now.  He even made a layup with his left hand the other day.  Sometimes broken arms are blessings in disguise.

Zach - amazing shot! Once he gained a little confidence he couldn't miss.

Kade - my ray of sunshine.  Kade is the happiest kid.  He can always make me smile.  He spent a lot of time on the floor diving for balls.  Kade was the youngest kid on the team and he improved a lot.  He is so close to being able to hit the rim when he shoots (don't worry, Kade, just keep using good form and the strength will come as you get a little older).  Had a tough time dribbling at the beginning of the season now he can dribble with either hand like a pro. 

RED DRAGONS RULE!!!

p.s. I forgot to get a picture, but I need to give a shout out to my assistant coach, Zane (Zachery's dad).   One of the reasons we made so much progess is because he was there EVERY practice (even I missed one) so we were able to split the kids up and give them more repitition.  Thank you!

Peppermint Twist

Sarah started a dance class a couple of months ago.  Last Saturday (11/20), they had pictures.  Her dance outfit is super cute. It is called "peppermint twist." She will be performing in a recitial in December.  She will also be doing a daddy-daughter dance with her dad at the recitial.  I am so excited!

The Lightning

The Lightning finished up their basketball season on November 13th.  The team was a lot of fun with a lot of great kids.  

The last practice they had a little team party.  They played "fun" games at practice.  They had pizza.  At the end, Jim handed out trophies. 

Tommy showed a lot of iimprovement from last season.

He is handling the ball a lot better.

Good job, Tommy!  Good job, Coach!

My Two Cubbies

PACK MEETING

NOVEMBER 9, 2010

Tommy and Austin have worked hard over the past few months. 

They both earned several awards.

AUSTIN

Austin with his Den Leader, Bro. Shepherd. 

Austin earned bunches of belt loops:  Basketball, flag football, bicycling, ice skating, hockey, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, fitness, collecting, kickball, soccer, music, citizenship, computer, good manners

He also earned two more silver arrowpoints.

TOMMY  

Tommy earned his Webelo badge and the following activity badges: aquanaut, fitness, sportsman, artist, citizen, naturalist, and outdoorsman.  He also earned the citizenship, ice skating, and ultimate frisbee belt loops.

Tommy's friend, Bryan also earned his Webelo.

Tommy's Webelo Warrior Face

Great Job, Tommy and Austin!

The Spartans

Austin finished up his first season of Flag Football last Saturday. 

#5

Enjoying a donut after the game.

Trunk or Treat

2010 Roberts Costume Winners

Most orginial:  Spaghetti and meatballs

Tommy and I worked on this costume together.  I got the idea off a website (I have no original ideas).  It turned out great and we had a lot of fun making it.  This is also the first time Tommy has really dressed up in three years.  The last two he has been Tim Duncan and the year before that he was a snake hunter (he dressed normal and carried around a plastic snake).

Toughest: Optimus Prime

Optimus Prime with green hair

Prettiest:  Princess Belle

Scariest:  Count Dracula 

On Friday, we had our ward Trunk or Treat.  The kids look great in their costumes. Jim's chili took 3rd place in the Traditional category.  It was very good chili. 

I think the pink hair is a nice touch.

Tommy and his buddy, Tyler. 

Sammy and his buddy, Spiderman (Zach).

Count Dracula

Sammy, Austin, Sarah, and Tommy very happy with their loot.  Fortunately, we gave most of it away on Halloween and that night the Good Witch came and took the rest.  But she didn't leave the kids empty handed, she left a ton of candy wrappers and $3 dollars for each kid.