christmas shoes

 

 

A couple of days before Christmas there was a knock on our door. I could see through the window that it was someone I had never seen before.  Tyler answered the door.  I heard some talking, I heard some laughing and apparently a gift was given. 

 

 The next thing I know Tyler comes in to the family room and shows me a pair of brand new Vans.  He casually says a kid just gave them to him.  I not so casually asked, "umm what?" 

 

 

After a little bit of digging (Tyler is not much of a talker) I got bits and pieces of the story.  I don't know all of the details, all I know is that Tyler noticed that this kid walked around school alone.  Tyler didn't like that.
 Tyler decided to do something about it.
Tyler made it a point to become this kid's friend.
 Tyler talked to this kid every day in seminary.
 Tyler asked him about all sorts of things including his shoes (he said he had a new pair of cool shoes on almost every day). 
Tyler cared. 

 And now Tyler is walking around in a new pair of shoes. 
Given to him by a boy who was grateful. 
Given to him by his new friend. 

 

Tyler makes me proud to be his mom.
 And even if I don't know the whole story, I know enough.

 

 

i hope they call me

The opportunity doesn't come around very often.  Having the missionaries over for dinner is a rare treat around these parts.  They have dinner appointments every night. There are so many members who want them.  You kind of have to fight for a chance. 

We were lucky enough to have them grace our dining room table one Saturday night in November. We so enjoyed talking to them about their homes, their families, their preparation for their missions.  They were kind and funny and happy.

I decided long ago to never let an opportunity pass to have the missionaries over.  They fill my home with the spirit.  They share their testimonies.  They set an example for all of us.

And this time they took my oldest boy, my future missionary, along for the ride.  

I don't really know them, but I love them.  I am thankful for them and for Tyler who was willing to be their chauffeur, their student, their companion.

If only for one night.
And what a great night it was!

Hurrah for Israel!

 

just call him beckham

 

 

 

There is nothing unusual about our family and soccer.  There is nothing unusual about a typical Saturday involving 3-4 games at multiple fields. 

 

There IS something unusual about us being there to watch this kid.

 

Tyler hasn't touched a soccer ball since he was 5 years old.

 

 

That is no longer the case.

 

Out of the blue, he and a group of friends, decided to join a rec league.

And I don't think this league will ever be the same.

 

They call themselves Liquid Gold.

They have a laid back, but dedicated coach.

They look forward to every practice and every game.

They run and sweat and laugh a lot.

And they are a ton of fun to watch.   

 

 

Tyler is already talking about how sad he will be when the season is over.  He has already planned to play with these guys in the fall and then again in the spring. 
He is happy.
 Soccer is really making him happy.

 And that makes me happy.
It really does, even if it means adding another game to our already crazy Saturdays.

Bring it on Liquid Gold.
Bring it on!






the removal

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Along with a little sushi to celebrate!


(And we are going to enjoy every minute of this beautiful smile, for six months at least, until he gets braces put back on again.....will it ever end?!)

February 29, 2012

Today we celebrated this cute boys 4th birthday.

Although he's not really a boy anymore.
 He is practically a man.

He is sixteen.

And it is a leap year!

I felt a lot of pressure this year when planning his sweet sixteen (do they even call it that for a boy?). A 16th birthday on a Leap Year- to me that is huge.  I felt it had to be memorable.  I felt it had to be impressive.  I felt it had to be big. 

 But that is not Tyler.  Tyler doesn't need huge and impressive. Tyler didn't want big or over the top.  So I took a step back and scaled down my ideas for a grand celebration and Tyler got what Tyler wanted. After all, it was his birthDAY!

I had to at least let the passerby's know that Leap Year 2012 was a day to celebrate at our house.

  So there were balloons. 

 Of course, there were balloons. 

Balloons and signs that barely survived the cold winter morning.

Leap Year 1996, Leap Year 2000, Leap Year 2004, Leap Year 2008 and Leap Year 2012.

We enjoyed a delicious steak dinner, Texas Roadhouse style.  And Tyler practically died of embarrassment when the singing and the mandatory saddle sitting took place.

He came home to a pile of presents.  I had offered him anything he wanted.  A huge friend party, a big dinner out with close friends.  I think I would have done whatever he wanted. 

 What he wanted was simplicity. 

What he wanted was family.

  And his family came. 

 Aunt and Uncles, Grandmas and Grandpas, and cousin after cousin after cousin.  They came on a busy weeknight.   They came because they love Tyler.  They came and they surrounded him with good old fashioned family love. 

 And he was happy.  

And I am happy, because this boy is mine. 

And once every four years I get to relive that wonderful Leap Year day.  I can still remember how surprised I was when they said, "It's a boy!"  I can still remember being alone in my hospital room holding him in my arms.  I can still remember looking at his sweet face and literally feeling my heart open up as I looked into those big brown eyes.  I can still remember snuggling him tight as we stepped out into the cold winter wind to take him home and promising that I would keep him safe and warm forever.

  I can still remember.

He will be on his mission on his next birthday. 

 He will be gone the next time Leap Year rolls around.

I can't even wrap my brain around that one. 

 I don't think he can either.

He will always be my little boy. My little Leap Year boy.
 And my love and devotion to him is huge and impressive and big.
I hope he knows that.

Happy Birth DAY Tyler!

liscenced

The picture.

The signature.

The wait.

The result.

Who's gonna drive you home.....TONIGHT?

Tyler is.

my 2 sons

Step out of your comfort zone for one whole week. 

 That was the assignment. 

  One kid decided to dress like a Goth.  One girl didn't do her hair for one week. One boy put on a big ole magnetic diamond earing and wore it around for 7 days. One boy dyed his hair red.  Most kids took the easy road and just talked to a member of the opposite sex that they didn't know each day. 

But not Tyler. 

And not his friend Ben.

 They took the assignment seriously.  They decided to switch houses, live in each others bedrooms, do each other's chores, ask each other's moms for rides and meals.
They decided to be uncomfortable.

 And so, one Sunday night right before Valentine's Day, Tyler packed up his belongings, hugged us all goodbye, and stepped right out of his comfort zone, right out of his safe place. He stepped into a life with 5 sisters, no brothers, a dad who is running for governor, and a dog.
A dog who slept on his bed each night.

      

And Ben stepped into our home and our lives. 

He slept in Tyler's bed.  Showered in Tyler's shower (which was a little tricky with Kara trying to get ready in the same bathroom each morning)

.

Ben joined us for our traditional Saturday morning pancakes and eggs. 

 He did chores and he didn't even complain.

He read scriptures and had family prayer with us each morning and night.

Ben embraced his new siblings, giving them piggyback rides, playing football with them, jumping with them on the tramp.  He taught them card games and tricks. 
They didn't want him to leave.

Ben ate dinners with us and celebrated Valentine's Day in our home.  He attended our weekly mutual night and our ward on Sunday.  He even participated in a mean Book of Mormon BattlesTournament with the boys. 

 He fit right in.

Ben was a good son and the week was really anything but uncomfortable. 

The next Sunday, exactly one week later, Ben packed up his belongings, hugged us all goodbye and headed back to his house, his comfort zone. 

We told him he was welcome back anytime.

And we welcomed our real son back.

 Tyler had missed us.  He had missed his bed.  He had missed his bathroom.  I think he even missed his siblings.  He had definitely been out of his comfort zone at times.  He fed the dog, the dog he was totally allergic to.  He rode the bus.  He did chores in an unfamiliar kitchen and bathroom.  He talked (or tried to) a lot with Ben's mom.  He watched a lot of TV.  He learned to love raw oatmeal and grape nuts with lots and lots of sugar.   

He got a lot of good material for his paper on stepping out of your comfort zone, for he truly did just that.

Hands down, their teacher said, the best project in the class.

And Tyler and Ben, for a week of uncomfortable, they earned themselves some pretty comfortable A's. 

 

12 weeks

4 playing soccer

2 playing flag football

1 playing tackle

that equals

56 games

over 100 different practices

multiple carpools

too many half time and after game treats to count

all in a 12 week period.

I am exhausted

and so are they.

Here is a rundown of our fall sports season.

Ethan played on the Cheetahs . He loves soccer. Every day when he woke up he asked me if he had a game that day. He couldn't wait to get out on that field. And when he did, there was no stopping him. Now that it's over he asks me every day how much longer until next season.

It's not soon enough for him.

Alyssa hung up her dance shoes for some cleats this season. She loved it too! She was on the Sparklers and she truly does sparkle when it comes to anything she tries. Soccer was no exception.

She gave it her all whether she was playing goalie or scoring goals on offense. It was a treat to watch her play.

Bryson was on the Vipers. It was a rough season for this first year competition team. They lost every single game. Their last game of the season ended with a score of 0-14.

With that said, I have to say that I have never been more impressed with a group of boys. This little team never gave up; they pushed forward, they showed up to practices, and they worked so hard. And most importantly, they never blamed each other. They were positive and complimentary of their teammates. They were a true team. It is good to win, but it is also important to learn how to lose and to keep going even in adversity. And my Bryce, he never really let it get to him. He kept on kicking and he kept on smiling. I love him.

This goofball managed to successfully play soccer in the midst of football season. The miracle was he only had to miss one soccer game the whole season for football. It seemed he was at practice or a game every single day since August. But he loves it and thrives on it, so we did it. It was a circus picking him up early from soccer with all his football gear in the car and having him frantically change in the backseat before we got to the field. He was so hot and so sweaty and so so stinky... and so was my car.

Brandon was still on the Extreme soccer team but they moved up to triple A this season. They did well. I don't think I will ever get tired of watching him play soccer.

Bryson lucked out with a pretty awesome coach for his flag football team this year. And he also was on a pretty awesome team. This little group of 6 were amazing. They were the smallest team, but each game was filled with touchdowns, pick 6's, and thrilling wins. His love of this game was evident on his face every time he played. It was refreshing to watch.

He also got to play with his cousin Andrew- heaven for Bryce. And with Bryson's speed and Andrew's arm they were unstoppable.

The Tree Huggers banded together for another unforgettable season. They had so much fun. This year they entered the big league where they played against some teams that were all Seniors. Oh, and they had no coach. They were flying solo.

But Tyler and his team team of all Sophmores held their own. They practiced in our backyard almost daily. Tyler had some great catches, touchdowns, and interceptions. He is in his element when he is out there with his friends playing the game he loves so much. I cannot wait to see them next year-watch out Seniors!

This was Brandon's first year playing tackle football. He started practicing in July, early mornings and hot afternoons filled with running, tackling, and drills. He was a little unsure that this was for him....until he played in his first game. And the rest is history. He was in his glory and all the practicing was worth it. This is where he belongs.

He was a starter on defense and the Cavemen made it to the semi-final game. You really have just got to see this little small fry tackle these big ole kids running by. He did, time and time again. I think it's the socks. (at least they made it easy to spot him on the field)

And now it is over.

Finally.

Until basketball season at least.

The duke

One of Kara's responsibilities as a Student Body Officer is to kidnap all of the homecoming royalty and take them to a breakfast to let them know they were chosen.

To find the Sophomore boy royalty she didn't have to go far.

Just down the hall, around the corner, and to the next bedroom, to be exact.

It was 4:45 a.m.

Tyler had been nominated and was on the homecoming ballot, but he had no idea he had won. It was up to Kara and her friend Moe to wake him up and break the news.

And here he is in all his early morning glory.

The homecoming duke of 2011 at the literal crack of dawn (actually, the dawn hadn't even cracked yet).

It is an interesting thing to be the homecoming duke and duchess, especially when you are 15 and can't date yet. They were expected to be at the dance, where they would get pictures taken for the yearbook and then be presented to the school during the dance. I drove Tyler down, walked into the school with him, waited for the photographer with him and watched, much to his horror, as he danced the royalty dance.






The duke, Tyler, and his beautiful duchess, Rachel.





It was totally awesome. I was like a fly on the wall, except I wasn't a fly. I was a full-sized old lady walking around the high school dance. How many years has it been since I have been to a high school dance? Too many to count. So, it was so much fun to watch these kids. I was really surprised and very impressed with the kids. I noticed so many dresses that had been altered to become more modest. I witnessed kids slow dancing at a very appropriate distance apart. I watched the crowds shriek and jump to the latest songs, having a blast with their dates. I loved it. I loved being there, I loved looking at these kids, I loved the thought that this was the school that my kids were attending, and I loved snapping pictures of my cute duke, who I think was mortified that I was there.

I also loved spying on my daughter and her date. When she first saw me she screamed and ran. But then she came to her senses and actually spoke to me, in between her comments that it was so wrong that I was there.

But I was.

I was there and they both had to deal with it.

She was proud of her baby brother. And so was I.

We all went to the homecoming football game to support Tyler as they introduced the homecoming court. It was a great night. A little too much attention for Tyler's liking, but I think he survived. After all, when you're a duke you just have to endure a little attention. It's all part of the job. And he fulfilled that job well.

I just had to end with this picture of the view from our football field. Not a great picture, but what a sight. Who wouldn't want to play football here?

Now those are some Friday night lights!

My son

My son got his learners permit way back in February and we have been driving buddies ever since.



My son is now taller than me.

My son's voice is getting so deep, I hardly recognize it.

My son just outgrew the church pants I bought him three weeks ago.

My son came home from EFY a new man. A very social man.

My son just opened a facebook account.

My son buys his clothes in the Men's section now.
(OK, I buy his clothes in the men's section)

My son has a great sense of humor (or so I've been told)

Did I mention my son is driving all around the town?




My son is growing up and there's not a darn thing I can do about it!