Developing Talents

One part of parenting that Jay and I feel very strongly about is that each child has some sort of activity that they are involved in.   This isn't too bad when they are just starting out but as they improve it becomes so much fun to watch them develop and grow doing something they love.   Jake has baseball and plays on the high school team and a select team during the summer.   Izzie plays volleyball at the middle school and for Texas Image.  Libby plays rec volleyball and the cello, in which she plays with the Fort Worth Junior Strings Orchestra.  So when it came time for Camdyn, the remaining time has been rather difficult to carve out, thus the delay.    We are finally jumping in and she has chosen to play the violin.   She has wanted to play for over a year and we wanted to see if the desire stuck....she even passed up dance to play the violin.    Last week she and I headed up to Keller to rent her itty, bitty 1/8th size violin.    Here are a couple of photos with the new instrument:

She is super excited and cannot wait to start!  I am super excited to watch her grow and develop and I think the discipline from music will help this little one out.

Christmas 2011 - Christmas Morning

This was one of the first Christmas mornings we have not had to wake the kids up.   Lots of whispering around 6:30 which is very doable for me.   We are one of those families who take turns opening presents so it prolongs the process - irritating children and making the parents very happy.  We had breakfast and then church and then Christmas dinner  - Love Honey Baked Ham!   The kids were happy, we spent time remembering our Savior, his birth and his life and what can be better than that.   

Rudy our Elf stayed around for one more day.....We were all sad to see him go.   Who knew the little guy could be so much fun?

Cam celebrating her American Girl Doll, Molly.   Santa LOVES  all things American Girl.

Libby with new boots - Every girl in Texas needs at least one pair of boots.

Jake and new wood bats - let's hope they last at least through the high school season.

Izzie and her new Vera Bradley hipster.  

These were the highlight of Christmas gift giving.  Cam was super excited to buy gifts for everyone at Santa's Workshop at her school.   She took her own money and bought nail files for the kids.   They read the following:  Libby  - World's Greatest Grandma;   Jake  - World's Greatest Mom;   Izzie - World's Greatest Aunt

She is about the funniest thing around - love that girl!

Christmas 2011 - Marshmellow War

Christmas came whether we were ready or not and after missing the Marshmellow War last year, the kids were bound and determined to wage war this year.   Here are a few pictures of the action.....

Ready for Action

Does this kid think he is cool or what??  

This was when Cam was all excited for the action...lasted for 5 seconds

Izzie ready

Cam has decided hiding is better than shooting

Libby on the attack

Marshmellows coming my way....not fair to the unarmed!

Christmas came whether we were ready or not and after missing the Marshmellow War last year, the kids were bound and determined to wage war this year.   Here are a few pictures of the action.....

Cam provides us hours of entertainment.....and we are at her mercy. Here is Jay being tested with the hope of a "free lunch"..... Be patient, the best is three-quarters the way in.



Apparently we need to teach her a little more about Christmas.....

Here are some photos from Easter morning (Jake's is from prom) that I just need to have printed and hung....little details..... They are growing so fast and time is going faster and faster.....






.... and as always, we must have some personality....

Looking Back / Looking Forward

This week was full of Baseball, a Prom Date, volleyball and too many other things to mention.

Jake went to Prom with a cute girl from our church, just a different ward. Prom in Texas is a little different than Prom in Utah. There is only one Prom and either the boy or girl in the couple must be a Senior - so yes that means that Jake's date was and Senior and she asked him. There is no crazy "asking", you just ask - plain and simple. There is also no "day date" just pictures, dinner and the dance. There was an "after Prom" that they skipped out on because she had to be home by midnight and we didn't object to that at all. BTW - there is Mormon Prom, it was held the night before but Jake had a ballgame and missed out. Anyways, he had fun and it is interesting to see the differences from what we are used to and really glad they had fun and survived driving on the freeway.

The rest of our time never changes just continues on in a line of running kids all over the place. We are very fortunate that Libby and Camdyn's activities are very close because Jake and Izzie are killing us.

Izzie had her last volleyball tournament yesterday and they played the best I have ever seen them play and she has improved so much over the past 4 months. It actually makes me excited for fall and 8th grade volleyball.

I have finally found gals to run with and it is great! My running is not near what it used to be but I am excited about running with these great ladies and starting to push a little.

The best part of looking forward though is I am not traveling this week - the first in 6 weeks - YAHOO! It was pretty sad when I received a text from Izzie on Friday asking me if I was at the airport and I was at a client meeting here in the metroplex. We are excited that I am home to go to Libby's school program, Izzie's athletic banquet and just be able to come home each night - can I get another WAHOO!

We are still alive........

We are still alive.......we have had birthdays (Izzie - 13, Jody, Libby - 10, and Jake - the big 16), Christmas, New Years, ice storms and the start of baseball, soccer and volleyball.

We are loving that it is March and we are have absolutely beautiful weather, love the 70's and 80's (but I hate the spring wind). Jake has started playing baseball at North Crowley High School and is starting varsity - he loves it, Jay and I love going and watching and the girls LOVE the snack bar.

Izzie has club volleyball and plays in tournaments through out the DFW area. She had really improved and her 5'11" frame helps as well. She is also participating in Track & Field at Summer Creek Middle School and does the high jump and is dying to run hurdles.

Libby is still playing the cello and recently competed at the Trophy Competition and did very well. She is also playing volleyball at the YMCA and loves her team.

Camdyn is playing soccer again this spring and has a great time. Her favorite position is goalie (no running involved). She is improving in her reading and LOVES spelling.

Jay and I are busy working, traveling for work, church callings and driving kids everywhere. He was so excited when Jake got his drivers license - one less kid to chauffeur. I am warming up to the idea.

But probably the biggest news for our family ...... We turned OFF the TV. Jay and I had lost patience with the kids and not getting homework done so the TV came off, until the NCAA tournament but we have decided that there will be no TV during the week and limited on the weekends. It has been a very good thing and really not missed at all. Who knew?