slow sunday

Today was another relaxing Sunday afternoon...

Our tired dad. This is what happens when you are at meetings at 5:oo a.m. You can't stay awake long enough to finish your book!

(Taylor was having loads of fun with my camera today - I will post those later)

When we got home from church today I was starting to prepare lunch and Sophie asked me if today was "SLOW SUNDAY?" She was wondering if the lunch was for just her and Cannon or if we were ALL able to partake. I replied, "no, we are all eating - it's not fast Sunday!" She was happy for us.

Hope you all had a Happy Sabbath!

Grandpa McCleve visits Highland Park

These kiddo's lucked out this year for Grandparents Day!  Grandpa McCleve happened to be in town for business and was able to break away from a business mtg early and come spend the afternoon with these guys.  After lunch he was able to go into their classrooms and meet their teachers. Cannon even persuaded Grandpa into the library where the book fair was going on and managed to come home with a book that Grandpa bought (thanks Dad)! 

It is a bummer to have parents that live away but, I will have to say that my Dad comes to town every other week and is here for 3 days.  So we probably see him more than we did when he lived here.

Sophie loves her Grandpa and was so happy to show him off!

They were really excited about their Panda Express (this is a definite treat)!

After school I asked Cannon why he was acting shy in the pictures.  His response was, " I don't like you taking pictures of me @ the school in front of my friends!" 

Our newest addition

MEET MUSTANG....

After several days of begging, pleading, making promises, the "i'll do anything's".... we made a deal and went down to petco and came home with this creature that belongs with the "RAT" family!  We have been owners of a teddy bear hamster before, so I am very aware of how quickly they become very stinky!  Cooper has agreed to changing bedding, wiping down his cage (with lysol wipes) and making sure "mustangs" cage door is ALWAYS shut!  Speedy our last hamster, seemed to escape quite often and he would go on 3 week vacations in my house and SCARE me very bad in the middle of the night!  So, Cooper saved his money and he is the proud new owner of

"MUSTANG!"  

 

On our way home from petco, Cooper saw a mustang on the road and that is where his name came from and of course Scott encouraged it, so it stuck!

(nice....scott)

 

Would you say by these pictures that Mustang is a little or a lot freaked out?

The whole family is sure enjoying our new addition

So far Mustang likes his ball better than Cooper's lap - kids don't get the less is more  mentality!  I keep trying to stress to leave him in his cage for a few days and then slowly bring him out for short periods and let him warm up slowly.

(their not gettin it)

The Olympians

Cannon's 1st soccer game

   Cannon has been practicing twice a week, getting ready for last Saturday's game.  It is so fun to watch what an intense little soccer player he is...

I don't know who is more entertaining to watch.... COACH DADDY (cannon's personal coach)

or Cannon?

This dad is pretty competitive - where is my hole?

My favorite is the TONGUE hanging out when he is concentrating!

Cooper was our photographer & he did a pretty good job

The gang trying to stay cool & Cannon taking his water break

Notice: Sophie going thru my wallet..... buuug!

and last but not least, Sophie and Mama Seeta

Great job Cannon - your amazing!

Bishop's office

This little girl had a ROUGH HOUR after church today, here is why....

Back in January, our family was in the Bishop's office taking part in Austin being set apart as the deacon's quorum president.  Well, during the blessing (keep in mind we are in a very small room with a few other families and the whole Bishopric) Sophie passed GAS, twice on my lap!   After the blessing I could barely open my eyes, I wanted to DIE!!  One of Austin's leaders, Jimmy Pickett looked at me and said, "was that you, Tracey?"  He of course made matters even worse for me!  A few other people said a few comments and that was the end of that.

So today after church, Scott and I were in the Bishop's office and our kids were in the hallway waiting for us.  As we were leaving and saying our goodbyes, the Bishop was in the doorway and Sophie walks up to him and says (as serious as can be and with a straight face), " Bishop, do you remember when I  F A R T E D in your office?"  Bishop totally laughing says, " I try to forget about those things, Sophie!" Meanwhile, I am walking as fast as I can down the hall trying to disappear into thin air.  Everybody who was waiting to see the Bishop, all my kids, the clerk, his assistant, you name it they were there.... were laughing hysterically out loud.  Well the result of that, was this picture up above.  She came running down the hall to me and just clung to me and buried her head into my neck and cried and cried and cried!  All the way home.  She laid in her bed for 30 minutes crying of humiliation.  I don't think she realized what she was saying until it was to late, she has the same personality as Cooper, she says exactly what comes to her mind and today when she walked into the Bishop's office, that is what was on her 5 year old mind!

Luckily.... we consider our Bishop a great friend!

pooped out

Somebody was so exhausted that they fell asleep on the toilet last night....

Sleep tight!

i couldn't believe that he stayed a sleep thru the few pictures i took

𝄞 Mary had a little lamb

Sandy our piano teacher came back yesterday and I have 2 spots for Austin & Taylor.  Last school year I had been trying to get an extra spot for Cannon but, she is so full that I have had NO luck (Sandy is a wanted women)!  Since Austin is busy with football for the next 8 weeks I was planning on keeping my spot reserved and thought I could try and convince Cooper or Cannon to take his spot for the time being.... NO such luck!  So yesterday afternoon Sandy is here @ my house and I am going thru each of the kids with my one last try,  again.... NO such luck!  Not thinking to much about it, I thought heck maybe Soph will take some of the time.  Sure enough she was so enthusiastic about it and was trying so hard not to smile.  She LOVED it and is so excited to show everyone that she can play "Mary had a little lamb!"

Sandy was amazed @ how quick she picked it up.  Maybe we have a little natural?

I think we might stick with it and see what happens!

Way to go.....Sophie!

Freshman Football

AUSTIN & COACH CHECK

Last night was Austin's 1st football game for the season.  He has been working quite hard everyday, he leaves in the morning @ 7:00 a.m. and doesn't return back home until 6:00 or 6:30 p.m.  Games seem to make it all worth the hard work, it was a bit of a bummer that they lost 20 - 41.... but oh well, better luck next time guys.  The part that makes it that much better is that his uncle Jason - COACH CHECK is helping coach the freshman team.  13 years ago Jason started as the quarterback for Highland.   Needless to say, the coaches that coached him are still coaching and he has stayed in contact with them.  So when Austin made the decision to play football Jason decided to volunteer.  Scott and I are so grateful for the time Jason has taken away from his own family to be with Austin on the football field!  Austin is very lucky to have an uncle that would take this much interest in him, it actually totally amazes me.

Coach Check's football #10.....  13 years ago!

(Austin was so excited the day he scored Jason's #)

Coach Check must be watching an intense play

The highlight for me was watching the cheerleaders

camping at west fork of the black river

Labor day weekend was a great time in the mountains of Eastern Arizona.  Up in the area around Greer is by far the prettiest part of the state, too bad it is so far away!  We arrived Saturday afternoon to a lot of rain and mud.  It stopped just long enough to get camp set up, and then it started to rain and continued to rain all through the night.  Sunday morning was more of the same, but by noon the rain went away and we started to see the sun.  We took a motorcycle ride, did some fishing, and built a dam in the creek next to our camp.  The kids were so excited to be in our traditional spot with their cousins.  The quote of the trip was when Sophie (remember this is the first time she was invited on a camping trip) walked out of the outhouse at the campground and said, "k dad i want to go home it stinks in there and there are a lot of flies."  She braved a couple more trips to the outhouse and overall I think she enjoyed her experience.

The crew in camp

Notice the designer rain poncho made from a trash bag

Coop Dog

Sophie enjoyed her first camping trip

young conservatives at work building a dam

The camp kitchen

More dam building with cousin Sam

More rain ponchos and dam building

Chopping wood for the dam.  This could have been bad!

Posted by : Scott

Of course I uploaded the pictures and he documented the trip ☺