Life is unpredictable

One night on the way home from soccer practice, Tyler grabbed a pillow in the van and started rubbing his head. I think it was just to see what would happen. This picture is what happens when you rub your head with a pillow for 20 minutes!

Tyler recently completed a year long project writing his autobiography. He received a great grade - 96 - and a comment from the teacher that he should continuing writing and become an author. Tyler has been working on several books - I haven't seen any in their entirety, but the short paragraphs I've read have been very impressive! Who knows, maybe the wild-haired soccer player will become an author!

Life can be disappointing

Last night at the high school band banquet, Kyle found out that he would not be drum captain for his senior year. He was very disappointed. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Maybe Kyle is just supposed to enjoy his senior year instead of always worrying about whether things in the band are taken care of as he has done the past 3 years. It might be said that it's good to learn a lesson like this early in life - that it makes you prepared for when it happens with a job or marriage, etc..... But it sure doesn't feel good. We talked with Kyle last night and he is going to be fine, but boy, WAS HE MAD!

Life is happy

Last fall, Kyle and Alex decided that they would like to go to the prom if the dates worked out. They paid and then crossed their fingers that the schedule for Kyle's soccer games during state cup would allow them to attend. After waiting and waiting - the schedule worked! At the last minute, there was a tux to be rented, a dress to be bought and flowers to be taken care of. We even got a picture of the very elusive "Kyle Smile"!

Update - Keenan is thrilled to be on the Lake Norman A team with his friends from school. He will most likely be able to fit other things that he would like to do into his schedule now as practice is only 10 miles away instead of 60!

Soccer isn't life

After much drama this week, we have all but one child on teams for next season. We need to have the child's approval for where we want him to play - so I've got to wait for him to get home from school.

But, the real story is that Brandee was in a car accident - she's slightly banged up and carless now, but it could've been MUCH worse.


Sometimes it takes a shock like that to make you realize what's REALLY important: being together as a family.

We're still working hard on the addition to the house. We're really hoping for a June move-in! It's so exciting! Brandee was afraid she'd never get to move into the addition before she left for college (and at times I was afraid she was right!). But, hopefully it'll all work out and she can have a 'new' room for several months before she goes away for school. She is applying for next spring's semester at BYU-I. Yes, the 'I' stands for Idaho - that's pretty far away! :(

Yesterday, we heard from a missionary that served in our branch in Pennsylvania! It was great to talk to him! We hope we'll be in contact for years to come!

It's much better!

I am totally amazed every morning when I wake up and I realize that I have 8 great children, that I live in a free country and that I am able to do all the things I do!

A blog is something I've wanted to do for a while - it's hard to keep people up to date about our family happenings - this seems like an easy way to do it.

I will be posting lots in the next couple of weeks as I figure out how to do this.