Senior Moments

I don't know why, but I have been having a lot of senior moments lately. I'm blaming it on the kids. The other day, I spent the morning making yummy bread, only to realize after it was all cooked that I had forgot to put the salt in. I never do things like that.


That was bad enough, but today, I got ready and went to the store and then to lunch with Jared. As I was getting ready to head to SEP's with kids, I looked down and this is what I saw...





WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?!!!!! HELP!!!!

Our Baby Is 9

Kyla turned 9 today! I was asked to do the birthday party blog, because Lynette has a sore back and is enjoying (hopefully) a nice tub soak right now. In case you were confused by this photo, please note that Kyla actually has a normal 9 year old skin complexion and that this is a "costume" with "makeup."

Oh yes, and she has glasses now, in case we forgot to blog about that.

I wanted to point out for our readers my wife's awesomeness in the field of birthday cake construction. One of her best efforts to date, this Halloween/ Birthday Haunted House Cake may have fetched four figures at the Cub Scout bake sale. Unfortunately, this work of art was cut up and consumed by a ravenous horde of party guests before I could properly preserve it and put it up for auction.

This, that, and the other thing!

Time flies when your busy! And we have been busy this fall. Here are a few of the things we have been doing.

1. Volleyball. Games every Tuesday and Thursday, practice every day. They have been playing great and have won the majority of their games!

2. Flag Football. Jayson just finished up a winning season. The championship games were Thursday night and they won both games 26-0.


3. Gymnastics. Kyla had an intersquad meet in September and will start competing in December. She practices 3 times a week for almost 3 hours each time. She also practices her routines just about everywhere we go. She can be seen dancing down the mall, at Target, Sam's Club, etc.

4. Scouts. Bryce and Jayson have been working on several meritbadges and finished several up for the court of honor we had a couple of weeks ago. Seventeen merit badges between the two of them. Jayson received is 2nd class scout. Bryce might have decided on a eagle project (if he can get it approved). Keep it up boys!

5. ETC...What can I say?! There has been canning, religion classes, photoshop classes, my calling, and all the normal everyday things for me. Jared has been busy with work, his calling and an occasional fishing trip. Life is just busy. I'm sure it is no different at your house. Anyway, that is a little of what we have been doing this fall.

And they're off!

Hard to believe, but summer break is officially over! The kids all headed back to school on Wednesday. Luckily, so far, they like their classes and teachers. Already we are full swing into homework and activities. Busy, busy, busy! Here are the traditional first day of school photos.

Amaya, 10th grade

Bryce, 8th grade

Amaya trying to pose and show off her whole outfit.

Jayson, 6th grade

Kyla, 3rd grade

Jayson and Kyla

And now a word from our sponsor...

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Socks:  $10

Game day t-shirt:  $15

Practice t-shirt:   $15

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The look on Amaya's face when she found out she made the Sophomore volleyball team:   PRICELESS!!!!

(This was not the priceless look, it is just a tired reenactment)

CONGRATULATIONS AMAYA!  We love you and are so proud of you!

Oh the shame!

Oh, the shame of it all! Jack was forced to wear the CONE OF SHAME this week, and it was hilarious and sad at the same time.

Back up to about 1 week ago. I was going to bed one night at about midnight. Jared was downstairs doing whatever he does down there until the wee hours of the morning, so I couldn't use him as back up when my non-surround sound hearing heard a cat fight. Usually Jack is in the backyard, so I checked there first. Nothing. Then I check the front. Nothing. Then I went to bed. About 2 days later, we noticed that Jack had a big scab on his nose and a smaller one above his eye. A day later, his nose was swollen some, but we decided to just watch it. Sunday after church, Kyla noticed something purplish dried up by the scab on his nose. I decided it needed to be cleaned with a little hydrogen peroxide, which led to a whole lot of pus draining out. Thus, a trip to the vet for antibiotics... so I thought. I took him in Monday afternoon, thinking we would be able to get the drugs and leave. No such luck. Anesthesia, surgery to drain the abscesses, 2 penrose drains, and a night in the hospital later... THE CONE OF SHAME!!!!
Poor Jack has looked so sad.  We feel bad for him, but we just can't help laughing as he walks around bumping his cone into everything.  The chairs, table, doors, walls...  The funniest thing, however, was when he decided to get a drink... from the toilet.  He got stuck.  He kept trying to pull his head out, but he was too close to the seat, so he would lift up... bonk... try again... bonk... again... bonk... over and over again until we quit laughing long enough to help him out.  We only wish we could have been thinking enough to grab the camera.  Here is one more picture of the poor kitty with the drains.

Don't worry. Jack is on the mend. He got his drains out today and no longer has to wear the CONE OF SHAME.

Jayson Hits A Walk-Off

Jayson had the baseball highlight of his life tonight with a walk-off game winning hit in the city tournament championship game. Here's the pressure situation he found himself in:

Jayson's team, the Marlins, was playing their nemesis the Dodgers (both teams undefeated except against each other) for the championship of the Salem tournament. It was a close game with good pitching and defense, with the Marlins leading 2-1 going into the last inning. The Dodgers, the visiting team, scored one on an error in the top half of the inning to tie the game.

The Marlins were playing one player short and had to take an automatic out each time their 9th slot came up in the order. Jayson, batting in the 8th slot, came up with runners on second and third with two out.

Because of the automatic out, Jayson would be the last Marlins batter of the inning and so it was up to him to get the winning run in. If Jayson got out OR walked, the inning would be over because the spot after him was the automatic third out. (The other team could have intentionally walked him and ended the inning, but decided to be good sports and pitch to him straight up).

The count went to full, so the intensity level was high in the bleachers. Jayson's coach told him he COULD NOT walk, he had to hit the next pitch no matter how good or bad. Under this kind of pressure, Jayson got a difficult low outside pitch and smacked a sharp grounder that made it through between first and second, scoring the winning run.

Jayson got a big cheer from his teammates and everyone said "JAYSON" instead of "CHEESE" as they posed for the photo op with their medals. It was a pretty proud parent moment. We're saving the game ball.