Luke's Party

Luke wanted to have his birthday party at Classic Skating.  It was so much fun and all the kids had a blast.  There are bounce houses, arcade games, skating, scooters, pizza and ice cream.  And all the parents could hang out while the kids wore themselves out.

Heidi came with all 6 kids - so I got to cuddle with sweet baby Jack.

Our neighbor Ryan was the only friend who came - and it was his first time to ever eat ice cream.  He said it was good but really cold!

 

Happy Birthday Luke!

Luke hit the double digits!  We started the day with birthday pancakes before school.  With Tayson in middle school he leaves really early but I woke all the kids up early so he could be there to sing to Luke.  Then everyone was off to school.  Luke wanted me to bring donuts to his class - and there was another girl in his class with the same birthday who brought donuts too.  Talk about some very excited kids who got to eat 2 donuts after school (sorry to their moms).  Then I let him skip swimming and just play computer after school.  We went to Noodles and Co. for his birthday dinner - until this weekend when Todd is home and we go out for real.  Then I took the kids to Coney's for ice cream.  I sure do love you bubba.  You are such a great kid and you make me so  happy.  I love seeing you grow up and what an amazing youth you are becoming. 

Meeting an Olympic Swimmer

The boys did a great job at their swim meet.  They both took lots of time off their previous long course times.  Tayson swam the 400 free again and went from 7:09 to 6:46 - and his head coach said he has lots of potential as a distance swimmer.  Looks like he is taking after Uncle Danny.  Luke did his first 200 free and did a great job.  Both boys swam great and had a fun time.  And this meet was extra special because there were a bunch of BYU swimmers at the meet and one of them Rafael Alfaro swam in the 2012 Olympics for El Salvador.  It was fun to watch the "big boys" swim and my boys were excited to meet them and even humored me and got their picture taken.

Rafael Alfaro

Rafael Alfaro

Rafael Alfaro

 

Another Meet

For Todd's birthday I let him sleep in and I took the boys to their swim meet.  I volunteered to be a timer and spent the morning hanging with the boys and cheering them on.  Makes for a long morning but I love watching them swim.

Luke's 4th Grade Performance

Last night was Luke's 4th grade performance about Utah.  He was cast as a Mountain Man and did a great job.  He had a speaking part and a little dancing.  He was so excited and gave us his cute closed mouth smile every time he saw us in the audience.  Great job bubba!!  

School

I was on facebook this week and saw my friend post a picture of her son with his Science Fair project.  Interesting I thought....Tayson said it was due next week.  Well, it was due that day and I wasn't a very happy mom about it.  So he and I worked quickly on getting the project put together.  Todd was in Winnipeg and we couldn't get ahold of him which added another dimension of issues since all the pictures were on his phone and the charts on his laptop.  We finally got ahold of him and finished the project.  Tays did a great job on his project and it was only 1 day late :)

Claire is working on Geometry right now - in Portuguese.  The other day I didn't have the patience to re-learn all the concepts (which I can't believe she is doing in 2nd grade) so I asked Luke to come help.  Thank goodness he loves math.  And thank goodness her pages have English on the back so we can figure out what the questions are.  I can't believe I can't do 2nd grade math.  HA HA HA.

My Swimmers

Another weekend.....another swim meet.  I love watching these boys swim.  It makes me happy to see them work so hard.  This meet was a big one for them because Tayson was trying for his last "b time" in order to move from the bronze team to silver in the 200 IM.  He needed 3:38 and he got 3:15 (he did get DQ'd for his arms on his butterfly not coming out at the same time but his time still counted).  He also swam the 500 M free for the first time.  It is such a long race and he pushed so hard and still had just enough guts to push even harder his last 75 meters.  Talk about a proud mama moment!

Luke did the 50 Fly for the first time in a meet and was awesome.  Both boys moved up to the next level in their swimming.  They have only been swimming club for 8 months and they have made huge improvements and both "leveled up" already.  Good job boys!!  I have a feeling I'll be sitting pool side for years and years to come.

Luke's Wolf

Fishbowl Swim Meet

The boys had a 3 day swim meet.  Luke and Tayson both swam on Thursday then Tayson swam Friday and Saturday.  Tayson's coach is working hard with him to move from the bronze team to the silver team so he swam a ton of events.  He hit his B times for all the events he swam.  So now he just has 1 last event to get his time in - the 200IM.  

we spend a lot of time sitting around

 I'm pretty sure he will regret making this face

Luke on the blocks

Luke finishing his 100 free strong

more and more waiting around

Tayson's last event - the 100 breaststroke

by Saturday his arms were all covered with his events so we had to write on his leg

I love watching my boys swim.  They have made huge improvements in the last year of swimming - sometimes it feels like they've swam forever but they have only been swimming club for 8 months so far.  They make me proud how hard they are working. 

Luke - the perfectionist

Luke made me erase the X and put a check-mark because his teacher said "have your parents watch you and check the right one."  So sorry I didn't do it right buddy :) 

Memories of Christmas

 Luke had his Christmas Program today and he sang like a champ. 

Advent Day 5 - Act of Service

Luke helped make dinner tonight without being asked.  He loves making eggs and is getting really good at it. 

Another Swimmeet

We live at the pool and I couldn't be happier.  I love watching these boys swim.

Tennis Lessons

Luke and Claire started the Smart Start Tennis program today.  They loved it!!

Luke's Tooth

Today at the school carnival Claire got mad at Luke and hit him in the face with her shoe.  It made his very loose tooth bleed and he was very upset.  But later that night it fell out and then he was happy.  I know I shouldn't find it funny....but it was hilarious.  Mainly  because his tooth was hanging by a thread and I kept telling him to just pull it out already.

The dog ate my homework

Lizzy chewed on Luke's homework.  Good thing he doesn't have to get it graded just checked off.

Luke's Party

For his party he invited some friends and we went to Extreme Air-sports then had doughnuts instead of cake.  Sounds like a perfect party for a 9 year old and his friends. 

Field Trip Time

Todd went as a chaperone on a field trip to the Timpanogos Story Telling Festival with Luke's class.  We sure do love it when he's home during the week!!

Luke Turns 9

This cute boy had a birthday today.  He is 9 years old!!  We started the morning with b-day pancakes then he was off to school.  Then we went out as a family to Brick Oven for his birthday dinner.  

Luke is such a happy, smart, fun kid.  He loves swimming and math and minecraft and reading.  He has grown up so much in the past year.  He is so handsome and good natured and just a joy to have in our family.  I love his big brown eyes and his dark curly hair (the longer the better although he and Todd like it better short).  I sure do love this crazy kid!!

Luke's Tooth

Hooray!!  The snaggletooth is gone!!