Soccer Star

Owen has a new friend named Cole. Cole's family moved in down the street a few weeks ago, and it has been fun to have little guy Owen's age over to play! Cole's dad is coaching soccer at the rec center and invited Owen to join the team at the last minute. I was hesitant, given the outcome of Bennett's 4-year-old soccer experiences. But Owen was so excited, we decided to give it a try.

I am happy to report that he loved it. LOVED it. He was (of course) the cutest kid out there. Every time he passed by he smiled and did this little wave to me or gave me a thumbs up! He was pretty tentative, but he ran after that ball the entire hour, and kicked it many times! He had a couple of almost-goals, and was just a happy sweaty kid afterwards. If you have never seen a 4-year-old soccer game, I highly recommend it. It is hilarious! The dad next to me was really getting after his daughter for not being aggressive enough, but his wife and I just laughed and laughed. Every time the pack of kids ran past the drinking fountain while chasing the ball, they would all stop and line up for a drink until the coaches could convince them to come back out and play!

Also heartwarming was hearing Bennett tell Owen, "Whoa, Owen. You did an awesome job playing soccer! I'm serious! All I did when I played soccer when I was your age was cry and cry." Owen was all aglow.

Salsa

This is a picture of Jason mocking me and my fear of things that warn of potential explosions as a result of product misuse. Pressure cookers scare me. Also, lighting grills, inflating helium balloons and inner tubes. But, despite my fears, the salsa looks great. Good job, Jason! Anyone who knows us understands that Jason does all the canning 'round here. I just eat the finished product. Wait! I did stir the salsa as it cooked for a minute or two, as well as labeling the lids, so... wow, I'm feeling really like a team player.

Celebrate good times... Come on!

Happy birthday to Jason!

First, I just have to say that I made him wear that protective eyewear when he blew out his candles for safety reasons. Bright light! Also, if it is possible, you should definitely have a pastry chef as your next-door neighbor. Instead of birthday cake this year, we enjoyed almond torte and citrus biscuits with strawberries and cream thanks to Natalie! Thanks, Natalie! You are the master.

And thank you to everyone else who came and brought the party, along with a world-class selection of rootbeer. Mmmmmmmm. And to the maker of the delicious pizza... oh yeah, that was me! And it was rather tasty if I do say so myself.

And thanks to Jason for being the best. He is so much fun to shop for! How many 37-year-olds do you know that get skateboards for their birthdays? I am so happy to be getting older with this guy. Every day is a par-tay.

Good times for one and all this fall. (I like to rhyme! All the time!)

A lovely outing with the kiddies! We saw: 2 fuzzy caterpillars, one huge, black beetle, a snake, beautiful fall leaves, and no fossils.

Congratulations to my very amazing parents and brother! Well done, marathoners!

I'm not sure how I missed this event in the past; perhaps I just didn't realize how cool it was. But we won't miss it again. What a great time!

Old School Style

Bennett and I found this while checking out some breakdancing on YouTube. You've got to check it out if you have any interest in breakdancing or Mr. Rogers. :) Enjoy!

Saddle Sore

Is riding a bike 206 miles in one day your idea of a good time? If so, this is the event for you! If not, you can ride along with me in the support car and eat Swedish fish all day! I am so proud of Jason for finishing this grueling ride for the second time. I am utterly amazed at the strength these riders have. I was saddle sore just sitting in my car for the drive to Jackson! Congrats, babe!

I wish you could tell how fast the riders were going in the photo above.  Jason clocked his fastest speed ever during the race:  54 mph.  I can't even think about that too hard or I will throw up.

Feel the burn!

It was a long, beautiful day!  Finn was an amazing traveler!  He had a bit of a diaper rash by the end of our trip, but as Lynn Kirby pointed out, his Dad understood his pain.

Jason and Russ rolled in together looking strong!  Thanks, Sport Legs!  And not a moment too soon... the race was closed just 5 minutes later!

The next morning he enjoyed the breakfast of champions at Bubba's in Jackson.

Check out our Bishop, Darren Perkes, and his first counselor, J. Lamb.  Lotoja brothers!

We had a great time the day after the race in Jackson Hole with the Gibsons, Kirbys and Perkes. Look at all these hard-core biker friends I have right in my neighborhood! Incredible.
*See if you can spot the former cheerleader of the group.

Preschool Part 2

The Owenator is attending his second year at the Child Development Lab on USU campus. He absolutely loves it. We feel so fortunate that he was able to attend again this year; it has been so good for him. The school is focuses on learning through play, and is an outstanding program. His friend, Olivia, goes too, but they are not in the same class. :( Owen was happy to see his old friend, Euicham, though! They were in the same class last fall, and became friends because they were both very shy and introverted. And Euicham didn't speak much English, so it was fun to watch them together. Owen still kind of does his own thing at school, but seems more confident, and always smiling. Love, love, love him.

Rock Star Style

You should hear these boys rock.  By the way, I should mention that this is NOT Guitar Hero.  It's a real guitar, plugged in, and rockin' LOUD!!!

Odds and Ends

TA-DA! Summer is over!
This was taken after an excellent day of playing in the water (and mud) at Merlin Olsen Park with a bunch of friends. Much fun was had and many a mudpie made that day. And then, just days later...

Rain, rain, rain!
It was beautiful, and I was finally able to bake again. My kids had been asking me, "Mom, when are you going to make cookies again? And rolls? And bread? And cake?" Basically, everything that requires being cooked in the oven. Or stovetop, really. Our kitchen pretty much shuts down all summer due to extreme temperatures in our red brick oven.


Here was a last-chance camping getaway up the canyon the weekend before school started:

What a cutie. Finn loved camping! He slept like a champ.

Owen Lee, peeking out of "the big boy tent." That's right, we have to split up at night when we camp, into two little dome tents. Someday we will actually have to get a tent we can all fit in together! For this camping trip Jason slept with Bennett and Owen in one tent, and I slept with Finn, Jake and Lucy (yep) in the other!

It took some MacGyver skills to get this stove to work, but it was well worth the trouble for these fine pancackes. Good work, Jason and Bennett!

This picture almost makes me want to keep Lucy! :)