Memorial Day

Part of this big family traveled up to Grandma Goosie and Grandpa Wayne's house in Heber to spend Sunday night and Monday with each other. (Britt and and her family and Brandy weren't able to make it. K.C. was out of town. Bret and Lil' Bret as well as Ty and his family were at ballgames.....) but the rest of us made it. We had so much fun! Campfire in the backyard with S'mores and Star Burst roasting. Jacuzzi time. An exhilerating game of Sardines. Big ole' Dutch Oven breakfast and then volleyball and ladder ball tournaments. Joe spent most of his time "hunting." We had a wonderful time spending it with each other.

Thanks to Mom and Wayne!!

Soccer, Recitals and Scouts---Oh My!!

Some things about May were absolutely great and some things really stunk!!! Joe played for a Triple A team, UC Real FC, for the whole season but when tryouts were over, he wasn't picked to be part of their team for the next year. This was really devastating for Joe and for Shane and me. He is a darn good player but a couple of the "coach's sons' best friends" tried out and Joe and another of his teammates were ousted and the best friends were in. Shane got him a tryout on a team from Lehi and they were thrilled to have him. He's already scored three goals for them in tournaments--so it's all good!


Jake's team (Thunder) took first place in their league this season. The team is strong and fun! Shane is co-coaching with Daren, our neighbor and friend. They have a great time with this cute little team. They added 4 new players for next season and are moving up to Triple A. Lots of travel for us with Joe also being AAA on a D2 team. I love every minute of it though. Not a lot of time for extra-curricular anything else. But we make time for Scouts and Piano.

Spring recitals are REALLY fun for the boys. They don't have to dress up and they get to play three of their favorite songs.

Diana is a great teacher and makes playing the piano a treat instead of a chore.

As you can see, summer haircuts occurred just before the recital. Joe would be happier if he was shiny-bald but this is as short as mom is comfortable with.

Jake LOVES to play. He wants to learn the music to "Pirates of the Carribean" and also to "Wicked".
His favorite thing is to play duets with Diana.

Madi and Joe "jammin'!" (After the recital.)
Maybe we should start a band! Maybe Not!

Joe is working on his Eagle now. He received his Life Scout on May 20th.

May----continued----Here's Jake!

On May 14th, our sweet Jake got a two-fer. He was awarded his Arrow of Light in Pack Meeting, (which is a great accomplishment for a Webelo) and then he went on to take 3rd place in the Pinewood Derby, that same night. He "totally won" the Pinewood Derby last year and got a great trophy for taking first place but also brought home a second trophy for having the "coolest" car. He and Daddy worked really hard on this years' car and it was DARN fast but there were a couple of kids whose cars were a little faster. It sure was fun!

Wearing the colors of the Arrow of Light.

Jake: 3rd place---Rich: 1st place---Jacob: 2nd place

Joe and his best buddy and their COOL cars. Joe's car was from his Pinewood Derby four years ago

but he got to race it again tonight.

He didn't win, but he still thinks he is King of the World------and he sorta is!

My Baby is not a Baby Anymore

Like I may have mentioned before, when Joe was born, my life really changed.

Before his birth, it seemed to me that nothing could be better.

My girls were happy---truly happy for the first time in a long time and

I was totally, truly, madly, deeply in love with Shane.

But on May 9, 1996 at 7:47 in the morning,

this precious creature stared up at me with those deep blue eyes

and

I was totally changed.

Joe has been such a wonderful gift to our family. He has a smile that can just melt your heart. He is tender-hearted and cries just a little too easy sometimes, but that only endears him to me a little more.

He is thirteen now and he is changing.

He is a Life Scout, working on his Eagle.

He plays Center Forward on an Arsenal Club Triple A soccer team out of Lehi.

He made the Honor Roll all through 7th grade and is looking forward to 8th grade next year.

He has memorized the 13 Articles of Faith.

He surrounds himself with greatness.

He has wonderful friends.

He loves Real Salt Lake's Soccer.

He is Jake's best friend and a great example to him--(most of the time!)

He loves to play games.

He loves to go fishing.

He loves to go hiking in the Uintas with his dad and hopes K.C. will go this year.
He tries very hard to avoid any kind of confrontation.

He's still a little smaller than most of his friends but he is starting to grow a little taller.

He is FAST!

He is competitive, sometimes to a fault, but he is good at sports and really hates to lose.

He loves to golf and wants to get a job at the Cedar Hills Golf Course.

He is frugal and is able to budget his money really well so a job may suit him just fine.

He loves to go hunting.

Most importantly, Joe honors his Priesthood. He is the first counselor in his Deacon's Quorum.

Continue to cherish it, Son.

It will help you become the kind of man you have always wanted to be.

Joe's just a really neat kid.

******************

His birthday wish, this year, was to get an I-Pod Touch.

I wrapped it in 10 boxes--from extra large to I-Pod Touch size.

Needless to say, when he finally got to it,
he was thrilled!!

He got to have a friend party this year and wanted to go to a place in Provo called PPT.

It is this huge gymnasium filled with trampolines, foam, and other great things to keep 12 boys occupied for a couple of hours.

We love you, Son!