September 2018

Summer Family Home Evening activity with the Weymouth's. They moved into our ward not to long ago and our kids match up in age with a few of theirs. It has been fun getting to know them. This was a frisbee game with some serious competition. Ally loves going to the Weymouth's because they have so many animals. It's like heaven over there.

Their cat had a litter of kittens and Ally enjoys playing with them every chance she gets. She is letting this one lick milk off her finger tips. Not necessary but certainly fun for a twelve year old girl.

First day of school. Running behind and trying to get her new Chacos on. Oh how she wanted these very fashionable sandals. She saved up all the money for them and waited for a sale. She was very proud of them on her first day of school. Buying them in the fall was a risk but hopefully they will still fit her by spring. She did buy them a smidge big.

Fall season is traveling soccer for Ally and I. She is a serious competitor and loves our weekends on the road trying to crush the hopes and dreams of poor unsuspecting soccer players from around the state. Seriously though, I wouldn't want to have to play against Ally.

It's fun to be traveling and seeing new places. This is Sandpoint, Idaho There was an antique car show in town we got to walk through between games and a beach we relaxed on for a bit. We stayed in a bed and breakfast to keep the costs down this trip. It was just a bit weird being in someones house but the price was right.

The house we stayed at had this little toad hopping in their flower pot as we pulled in after eating Thai food for dinner. Ally is a big fan of toad/frog hunting and was thrilled to find this one. We did a little walk around their property to find more but it was really dark in their neighborhood and we got spooked so we hustled in.

This is our new team year. We combined our league with Whitefish and are now FVU, flathead valley united. Patty is the girls coach. She's young and tough and the girls love her. She pushes them hard and they come home sweaty, smelly and sore from practice. I'd say it's a great team for Ally to be on. The girls are all playing in their correct age bracket this year and it's been more of a fun social experience than in past years. All around great.

They've also been winning lots so that's awesome. Winning is always a good motivator. They've lost a few as well though this season which keeps them humble.

I love this little soccer player of mine. She gives her all to every game and is often sick the day after a tournament pure physical exhaustion. Ice baths and icing of the thighs is common post tournament weekends. She gets really sore legs. Playing four plus games a weekend is hard work!

So I've been working on a lavender field this summer. My plants are doing pretty well and have seemed to settle in just fine. It's fun watching them grow.  I've been cutting any blooms that pop up this year so the plants focus on growing roots. Hopefully next year I can get some blossoms.

We did a self defense class with Brother Dimmick in our ward. He brought a few of his colleagues with him. All ex-cops or social worker type jobs. They were honest and tough with the girls. Then they let them practice beating them up. Showed them moves on how to get out of certain situations. It was a really good night. We should do it every year just to keep things fresh in their minds.

How does your garden grow? My grapes made it through their first winter and are looking great this year. I have been trimming any grapes off (not many) that have popped out on the vines so they can focus on growing roots and fatter vines. They all grew beautifully this season. I can't wait to see what next year brings.

Ally and I went to Trail, B.C. in Canada for a tournament. We had so much fun watching for caribou (didn't see any) and drinking Canadian protein drinks from McDonald's. Also, surprisingly their McDonalds had really great crescents and bakery items. What? Who saw that coming? We ate their two mornings in a row because it was so good. Props to MickyD's.

Ally getting geared up for her game. If you could smell her soccer bag you would wish you couldn't smell. It's terrible! It's proof as to how hard this girl plays.

The sweetest thing happened at Ally's tournament in Trail. The girls got to vote on MVP for the tournament. They each cast a vote to Patty on who they thought MVP ought to be and they voted for Ally. She was super happy about it. She did have an amazing weekend though.

Pizza on the sidewalk trying to stay out of the rain before we hit the road home. This really is a fun team! We all went out for Indian food Saturday night and then the girls swam in the pool at Patty's hotel. I had fun chatting with Patty and a few of the other parents. Patty spent some time in Jerusalem on a school exchange in college and we had fun comparing memories.

One of the parents on the team sent this awesome shot of Ally our way.

Again with the icing of the legs. This soccer really does take a lot out of her. You wouldn't believe how much she loves it though.

Ally giving me the "why are you taking a photo of me right now look?" I love that look.

Nothing like the taste of a winning medal. Got to love it! I told her to smile-this is what she gives me.

Testing out the Facebook live skills. We spend an hour on Sunday letting all the family log on and try to get geared up for this mission call opening. Carter's papers are in and we are anxiously.....anxiously.....anxiously waiting for his call to come. Our crazy nutty family found a way to add bears and other drama to the call. It was a lot of fun laughing at each other. In the end we are fairly sure everyone can log on and watch the call opening using the Facebook live. Thank goodness for modern technology. Everyone can "be here" for the big moment.

This is Carter checking the mailbox....unsuccessful again. This waiting is killing all of us. Every day we think it's going to be in there and then everyday there is no mission call. For the love of all that is good somebody send us the mission call.

I had my strawberries in a rain gutter system I built last year but they were getting too much water and to doing very well. I moved them into this new box I build from the old railroad ties that were around the previous owners garden. Hopefully the strawberries will be happier in here next year. We got a few berries but we want lots!!!

This day we were so sure there was going to be a mission call in this box we video recorded Ally opening it. Carter was at work and kept asking me to check the box every day so he'd know if it had come or not. Anyway, no call....again. Ugh!!

Tyler has been building a cool mountain bike course through the racetrack section of the yard. This cool jump was made of wood he found in the shop. It was a bit taller than he had suspected and it hurt his back a bit to go over it. He'll have to buildup a landing or something. It's fun to watch him outside working on this project.