September 2016

Ally's soccer team played in the Mayor's Cup tournament over Labor Day weekend. They played three games to qualify for the finals and then won their final. I can't handle the stress of all these close soccer matches. Can't we just beat teams 11-1 and have a nice relaxing game? Ally scored a few key points and is a big part of her team. I love watching her play and the pride she feels in being successful on the field. She definitely got her athleticism from her Dad.

Ally and her friend India. These two have been at soccer together for years now.

This team has a greater ratio of ginger players than any I have seen. Ally, Emily and Kaylee aka Skittles all have the same gorgeous red locks. It must be what makes out team so spicy and hard to beat. First place looks good on these red heads!!

Love their sassy attitudes. After their last game this weekend they have beat the first place tie in regular season play and are now at the top again. Seriously, their favorite place to be. Keep it up ladies, you are well underway for another great season.

Ally getting her medal from coach Cameron. He says he's going to have to adopt her or kidnap her (our choice) if we move to Montana. We have loved having Cameron as a coach. He pushes the girls and doesn't praise them for a win that wasn't actually earned. He does a great job.

We have one lonely peach tree but apparently that's enough this year. Our tree went nuts and we had loads of amazing peaches this year. We even beat the birds to them so we got to eat them. Last year we had a good crop that got decimated overnight by a flock of sparrows that came in and cleared the tree. We have enjoyed all varieties of peachy goodness, ice cream, pie, milk shakes, etc. etc. etc.

Top of our Bonneville Shoreline Trail hike. It's about 3.5 miles up to this point. Looks over onto the Salt Lake Valley from here. It has been loads of fun hiking and chatting with Byron in the morning. I have to say I am going to miss having him around when he goes back to work. (Which is hopefully soon.)

Hike up the Holbrook Canyon trail. There's a little waterfall halfway up that we like to stop at. It is great having about six different trailheads within five minutes of the house. We have loved getting to explore them this fall. The leaves are already turning and fall is definitely upon us. Gorgeous up the canyons.

Ally was proud of her birthday decorations she designed on my sisters present. If you couldn't guess there was a honeypot in there for her gift. She has beehives and we thought a cute crystal honey jar would be perfect.

In Byron's free time he has had projects on his to do list for a long time that he is finally getting around to. He is tricking out our pop-up with shelving to help with organization while we are camping. He has been a pretty happy camper so far with the unemployment gig. It helps to have a solid prospect in his pocket. He goes up to interview for the Montana job on Sept 19. It is his dream job so I hope he gets it.

Sisters! Happy Mammas on a happy day. Chandler got his Eagle Scout award today. So fun to see these three cousins all wearing their Eagle awards with pride. Good work men. Keep it up.

I wish I knew the exact year the below photo was taken but we find it to be hysterical. It looks like Carter might be crouching down a little with the folding in his pants going on but I guess you can't be sure. I know there was a period of time where he was the oldest and the shortest of this little cousin group but it never felt like he was quite this much shorter than Christopher and Chandler. Anyhow-looking at the current photo and the older photo sure made us all giggle. Time can quickly change things can't it. None of these boys are all the way done growing yet so the competition is real, but for now Carter's got a solid lead if being tall is the goal anyway.

First Day of School Obligatory Photo! The kids were good sports and let me snap a quick one on our way out the door. Byron rode along today which was fun. Bonuses of unemployment might outnumber employment, if it weren't for the whole money business. Carter is off to his Junior year at AISU. (American International School of Utah) Tyler is starting 8th grade and Ally is a 5th grader this year with ms. Whiting as her teacher. So far she loves her. It doesn't hurt that she's young and cute and nice so-should be a good year. Tyler did get shoes on before we left the house.

Ally and Tyler heading into their first day - on time I might add. Carter takes the train in and out from his school so no photo of him with his school this year.

Our park is open! They closed it down three years ago for a three month renovation. Slowest project ever. They nearly finished it once last year but then it flooded anytime it rained so they had to go back to the drawing board and redesign the drainage issues. Finally after much ado we have our little spinny park back. It does have a really cool zip-line that is pretty impressive.

Ally picked the trumpet and is getting a lesson from Dad before she heads to her first day of band. She likes to be ahead of the curve on everything. Luckily she is a natural at the trumpet and is has four notes learned with her first lesson. She can go in with her head held high.

Tyler and Carter have been working hard at this hackey-sack project. They have a pattern and are using different materials to make hackey-sacks to play with. I am very impressed with their blanket stitching skills they learned on you-tube. Good on you boys.

Ally wiggled and wiggled and lost two teeth on the same day. Double money from the tooth fairy I'd say as she can make a matching pair of earrings if she wants.

Sometimes Byron and I sneak off to play on the gun range while the kids are at school. It really ticks them off that we do fun stuff without them. Sorry kids! Okay, not sorry. We are taking advantage of what time we've got while we've got it. Loving all the extra dates with my hubby. Maybe we'll work on finding him a new job tomorrow. 

So pretty much the club soda means she scored a goal! The giant club soda meant she scored two. It's her new motivation as slurpees somehow have lost their pizazz with flavored sprite in town. Actually I think on this occasion we were out supporting our schools band teacher who was the musical entertainment at club soda for the evening. Ally and Tyler made sure we knew he was playing that night. They thought he was playing the trumpet which would mean they could pass off their concert requirements for the semester. Turns out he was playing the guitar, which makes more sense really but a little bummed about still needing to find them a concert to attend now.

The kids playing at their new park. This spinny umbrella is a hold over from the old equipment. They repainted it and put it back in. It looks shorter for some reason.....or maybe the kids just all got taller in the last three years. Either way- they are glad to have a bit of their childhoods back.