Mite Champions

Mite Championship Game

Cougars vs. Rangers

August 13, 2012

Sammy's hockey team - the Cougars - played in the Mite Championship game.   They were playing the Rangers, who had the best season record.  I believe we played the Rangers five times - we tied twice, lost to them twice, and we beat them once.  

Sammy has improved dramatically over the course of the season and tonight he played amazing.  He did a great job chasing down the puck, hitting it hard up the boards, and just flat out annoying the Rangers best player by always being there.

Austin and Sarah went to most of Sammy's games.  Austin was cold and he didn't bring a jacket, so Sarah let him borrow hers.  

We jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.  The first goal our best player, Oka, won the opening face off and scored!  Then some how we scored again about a minute later, and about a minute later on another face off a Ranger player accidentally hit it in their own goal.  So after about three minutes we were up 3-0.

The Cougars continued to play great team hockey.  The final score was Cougars 5, Rangers 1. 

The team lined up for the awards ceremony.

Sammy and his rosey cheeks.

Sammy receiving his medal.

Sammy, aka The Train

After the game, everyone received a nickname.  Oka had come up with a nickname for everyone on the team.  I think Sammy's fits him perfectly.  On the ice he is a train - he's big, he's tough, and it takes him awhile to stop.  

The Train & Mr. Moves (Trey) - Trey's nickname fit him perfectly to because Trey has great moves on the ice.

The 2012 Summer League Championship Medal.

A few more pictures from the season - 

The Cougars 

(I don't know most of the kids names by looking at their face, cause they usually have a mask on.  I only know their names by their numbers, which you can't see in the team picture...I'll do my best)

Oka's dad (assistant), Coach Kent, another dad (assistant)

boy, boy, Charles, Bella, Sammy

Oka, boy, Connor, Aiden, Trey

Sammy

Sammy, Kade, Trey

Trey & Sammy

5 Years Old!!!

August 8, 2012

Sarah celebrated her 5th birthday today.  She got to open her presents the night before, because Grandma & Papa were leaving early the next morning.  Lucky girl!

 

She was super excited to get...

...some books...

...jelly beans...

...a beautiful soccer necklace...

....and lots of jewerly from Grandma & Papa.

Oh yeah, and she got a new bike (the training wheels came off once we took it outside).

 

Birthday Lunch at Golden Corral

 

To celebrate Sarah's special day, we went to lunch at Golden Corral right after morning kingergarten. For some reason my kids love this place.  It might be because they have...

 

COTTON CANDY!!!

To make the excursion a little more fun she invited her friend Marissa and I got to bring one of my friends - Tiffany (Marissa's mom).

We had a great time eating delicious food and laughing at the girls' antics.

 

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY, SARAH!!!

 

Back to School - A New Routine

1st Day of 2012-13 School Year

August 6, 2012

Summer break goes by in a flash.  Time to get back in the school routine.  We made a few changes to the morning routine...Tommy and Austin get up at 5:45.  Quickly get dressed in their school uniform.  From 6:00-6:30, one of them practices piano while the other eats, packs lunch, and gets ready for school.  Then from 6:30-7:00, they swap.

Sammy and Sarah get up at 6:30 (although usually they wake up sooner than that on their own).  They have until 7:00 to eat and get ready for school.

For the past 5 years, I have been exercising in the morning getting home anytime between 6:00 and 7:00, but no more.  Now that we have 4 fours in school, 3 lunches to be packed (not 4 lunches because Sarah is half day), 3 kids playing piano, and 1 adorable little girl that needs her hair done, it is just too much for Jim to tackle on his own.  It was an incredible feat that he took it all on for so long, which is why I love that man so much.

Also our evenings have become more and more busy so we felt that we needed to switch family scripture study to the morning rather than the evenings before bed.

Family scripture study (aka the most important part of the day - that has become our motto when kids think we need to rush through it) begins promptly at 7:00 a.m.

Kids leave for school at 7:20 a.m.

ALL FOUR OFF TO SCHOOL!!

Tommy's in 7th grade.

Austin is in 5th grade.

Sammy is in 2nd grade.

Sarah begins kindergarten (oh my, I am still in denial that my baby girl is going to school).  She is only in half day at the school, because it costs lots of $$$ for full day.  However, 5 of us mom's decided to band together and do a little kindergarten coop.  So one of us goes and picks up all 5 girls once a week and holds a little afternoon kindergarten class at their home for the afternoon, ending a little before it is time to pick the rest of the kids up from school.  So we get the perks of full day kindergarten and only have to sacrifice one afternoon.

Even though it is rough being on my own all day, I have been able to read 4 incredible books in the past two weeks AND I have a very long book list.  I think I could get use to this...

Tommy's 12th Birthday

Tommy's 12th Birthday

August 5, 2012

Twelve years ago, Tommy turned our family of two into a family of three.  Thankfully, our lives have never been the same.  We are extremely grateful for his spirit in our home. 

Jim, Tommy, Papa Hardy

In addition to turning 12 today, Tommy was ordained to the office of a deacon.  Tommy pointed out that he was ordained a deacon a few minutes before he actually turned 12.  He was born at 3:34 p.m. on August 5th and he was ordained a deacon a little after 3:00 p.m.  He thought it was pretty cool that he didn't have to wait until he was "12."

The whole family - Sammy, Sarah, Jim, Jenny, Sammy, Tommy

Although he has been waiting several months to turn 12.  All of his friends have already been 12 for several months, so he was happy to finally join the ranks.

Grandma and Papa Hardy with the kids.

In honor of turning 12 and joining the ranks of the Boy Scouts, Tommy recieved a hiking backpack, compact sleeping bag, and a mess kit for his birthday (he kept wondering when he was going to get basketball cards; not this year).  He did get NBA 2K12, which he was kind of excited about (I think).

Tommy with his specail pudding cake.

Rusty was hoping someone would drop something.

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to Tommy,

Happy birthday to you! 

12 YEARS OLD!!!!

Court of Honor

Court of Honor

Troop 592

July 25, 2012

Tommy has been working hard in scouts over the past several months.  At the Court of Honor, he recieved his 2nd Class and 1st Class, and he also received the Citizenship in the Community merit badge.

Great job, Tommy!