SoCoER tIMe!

Our lives have officially become crazy and hectic now that soccer has started. I don't know if I'm looking forward to it or not. We decided to let all three kids play this year. I know......WE ARE CRAZY!! So bye-bye to our Saturdays for the next two months. And bye-bye to Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights for practices. I think it's a little ridiculous. What were we thinking! I guess we were thinking that we wanted our kids to have fun and get some good exercise. It's only two months right? It'll go by fast and I know the kids are going to have a blast!

Logan had his first game on the 8th of September. He's playing in the same age group that Dax played in last year. It's the 3 & 4 year tot division. So he's one of the younger ones. We found out that Max, Misty's little boy, was also playing so they're both on the same team. They had a little practice before the game and Logan did great. But.....(yes there is a but) when the game started that was a whole different story. Jason started walking off the court so the teams could play and Logan ran after him, grabbed onto his leg and started crying. He wanted his daddy to stay out there while he played. We tried to make deals with him and tell him we'd get him ice cream if he went out and played but nothing worked so Jason ended up on the court/field with him the whole game. He just kind of pulled Logan around where ever the ball went. At least he stopped crying. Totally night and day compared to Dax last year. I guess he was a whole year older. Dax couldn't wait to get out there and kick the ball and Logan would barely even go by the ball. Hopefully before his next game we can get him to come out of his shell.

Logan and Max before the game and very excited about their blue shirts!

Showing off his new blue soccer shirt

I love this picture. It totally shows how Logan was during the game. Logan is hanging on to Jason's leg for dear life.

Practicing making goals before the game.

Afton and Dax hanging out with Dylen

Doing a cheer before the game. Go Blue Team!

I had to post these pictures too. Logan is really into guns and swords right now and he tries to shove as many as he can fit into his pants. It's hilarious! This picture is so funny because you can see the pointed end of the sword poking through his pants.

Boys are so funny! He loves his weapons.

Updates

Sorry that it's been so long since I've posted anything. I actually have a legitimate excuse this time. The hardrive on our computer crashed so for the last week it was getting repaired. We were computerless for a week! It was crazy! Now we have it back and it's working great. I thought I'd give a few updates with some stuff we've been doing:

On Saturday, the 28th of August, we had our Ward Temple day. It was a great day! I had to help with the primary kids and I recruited my husband to help too so we were able to be with our kids for the day. We started off the day with a nice lunch, then the parents dropped off their kids and the primary did some fun little activities and we also did a tour of the visitor's center. The kids really enjoyed it and it was nice for us because we only had about 20 kids so it was perfect. I love our ward Temple day, especially when I'm not in charge of it.

Our family in front of the Oakland Temple.

Logan, Afton and Dax. I love these Temple grounds. They are so beautiful!

Seriously, I don't know what to do with Daxon's smile. I need to put him into some smile lessons or something.

On Wednesday, August 25th, we went swimming at the Fallentine's. It was over 100 that day and I knew we wouldn't have too many more hot days to do some swimming so we took advantage of the heat. Logan and I picked up the kids from school and headed over to the Fallentine's for some fun in the sun.

Logan and Afton with their new little friend, Mr. Frog! The Fallentine's always have these little toads in their filter and every time we go swimming the kids have to check the filter for toads. We found one this day.

Saturday, August 21st was the day of birthday parties for our family. We had two different parties to go to. We started the day off at Ruby and Nathaniel's party. They are both in our ward and Ruby is in Logan's nursery class. The invite was for him but they said our whole family could come. They were all so excited for the party because they had this huge blowup water slide to play on. It was gigantic! Afton and Dax had a blast going down the slides and shooting each other with water. Logan, on the other hand, wouldn't go near the thing. I think he attempted to climb up the slide one time but decided that was enough for him. So he was content jumping on the little trampoline.

The huge water/play structure.

Logan smashing the pinata.

All the kids waiting patiently to have their turn at whacking the pinata.

Look how happy they are with their cups full of candy from the pinata. The kids were using this little plastic bat to hit the pinata and it really wasn't doing anything, so Afton thought she'd help in the process and make the hole bigger where the candy was put into the pinata.......by ripping it open with her hands! She must get her patience from her dad.

Later that night, we went to our 2nd party. This was also a combined party for two brothers, Steven and Caleb. This party was at a park that had water spouts so the kids were even more excited to get wet again.

Dax, Brenden, Steven, Finn, and Logan

Dax on the big rocks. the boys loved playing on these rocks.

I love this kid! He has the best smile.

He got a blue ring pop at the party. Need I say more?

On Friday, August 20th, Afton and I went with our friends, Krissy and Emma, to the play "Annie". The community theater was putting on the production at our local high school and there were a lot of people from our ward who were in the play. So the girls were really excited to see their friends perform. The lead role of Annie went to a girl in our ward. Her name is Chloe and she did such an awesome job! She's a great little actress and has a beautiful little voice. We were so proud of her. I wish I would've snapped a picture of her with the girls after the play. She was so adorable in her "Annie" attire.

Getting ready to watch the show. Krissy, Emma, Afton and me.

Emma & Afton

the BIG day

Well, we had another big day in our household. In addition to the first day of school for the kids, Jason had his first day of Seminary today. As most of you probably already know, Jason was called as a seminary teacher in our ward. There are three seminary teachers for both of the wards in Oakdale and he is one of those lucky three. He got up bright and early this morning and was off to the church for seminary at 6:15 a.m. Yes, that's 6:15 in the morning! And he has to do that every weekday morning. Thank goodness he's a morning person and he's also really lucky that we live so close to the church......I think that's why they called him to be a seminary teacher. Good luck Brother Daley!

Jason doing his cheesy seminary teacher smile. Those kids are so lucky to have such an awesome teacher.

1st Day of School

I can't believe that school has started already. The summer went by way too fast. I guess that happens when it's only 2 months long! The kids were really excited to start school.....I, on the other hand, wasn't ready for them to start just yet. I felt like we needed a couple more weeks of summer. Oh well...at least they were ready to go. Afton couldn't wait to be in 2nd grade and meet her teacher and classmates. Well, we actually met her teacher yesterday when Dax had kindergarten orientation. Dax actually surprised me and was really excited to go today. After the orientation yesterday, I think he got more excited for kindergarten. He even told me today that he could walk to his class himself. But that didn't happen....maybe tomorrow. Logan also started school. He started preschool yesterday. He took Daxon's place at the preschool that he went to.

Afton ready to start 2nd grade. I've never seen a kid so excited for school.

At her desk, which is right up front.

Afton with her teacher, Mr. Trowbridge. She really wanted him for her teacher so she was so excited to be in his class. He's served in the military and makes the kids do a lot of running and marching...which she couldn't wait to do.

Afton and Dax

Dax is ready for school. The pic on the left is at our house this morning and the pic on the right is at school this afternoon. He has afternoon kindergarten. When Jason first saw the pictures he thought Dax was wearing a vest and asked why would I make our son wear a vest and then he looked closer and realized it was his backpack. So just to let you know, it's not a vest. It's his backpack that's just a tad too big for him.

Logan and Dax in front of Cloverland, Dax and Afton's school.

His name tag for class. I love his forced smile that he makes for all of his pictures. It's like it hurts him to smile.

Dax and Mrs. Nightengale, his kindergarten teacher. Afton had her for kindergarten and Dax was really happy to be in her class too.

Logan took Daxon's spot at preschool and he started yesterday. I love that face! He makes the goofiest faces sometimes. He couldn't wait to get to Gayle's to play with all of her toys. I think she may be up there with my mom in the toy department.

Dax made this candy bar poster for his preschool teacher, Gayle, to tell her thanks for being such an awesome teacher.

Logan's Birthday Party

Yesterday we had a little celebration for Logan's 3rd Birthday. His actual birthday is on the 26th and we celebrated early because Jason's sister and mom were in town. It's been quite hot here in Cali so we thought it would be lots of fun to have a swim party. Logan loves the water and he loves the Fallentine's so they let us use their swimming pool for his little party. It was perfect! Our family came, we swam, ate some food, opened presents, ate some dirt cake, and swam some more. It was a great day and we all had so much fun! Thanks to all who came and especially thanks to our great friends the Fallentine's for letting us use their pool. Happy Birthday Logan!!

Swimming with his daddy

The party crew

The Dump Truck cake. The kids were really excited to eat the dirt cake with worms.

All of the crazy kids! Michael, Dax, Max, Afton, Emma, Kya and Logan. (not pictured Dylen, Brisa, and Eli)

and one with silly faces.

Opening his presents and getting lots of help. He's really into trucks right now....well not just any truck.....he loves construction type trucks. He loves dump trucks, cranes, cement mixers, tow trucks, loaders, etc. He points them out all the time when we see any. So he got lots of trucks at his party and loved them all.

Getting ready to blow out the candles on his dump truck cake.

Afton doing a somersault in the pool. She was so proud of herself.

This is my little nephew, Eli. He's so adorable!

Some more swimming at the end of the day. I don't know how kids can just swim for hours and hours. They're like little fish!