Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Crazy kids!
Courtney sent me this link to photos she has taken on her iPod. They are such fun and crazy kids!!
ZYSO performance
Bryan took Courtney to her ZYSO performance and it turned out that they were the opening number for the real concert. They played while people were coming in so we were glad we had free tickets. Courtney and Bryan stayed until midway through the concert then they came home. It would have been a really long night had they stayed the entire time.
But Courtney's name was in the playbill!
Coyote Cup
Courtney's soccer team was invited to play in the Coyote Cup in Mesquite, NV. We got a text Thursday asking if we wanted the team to participate and the first game was Friday. It was crazy but the girls did wonderfully!
On Friday, I checked Courtney and Sammie out of school an hour early, dropped Sammie off to change, brought Courtney home to change, picked Sammie up, and drove to Mesquite.
They weren't happy but I wanted a picture.
The game was one they were hoping to win because the team they were playing had already lost a game that day 5-1. It was cold and windy so the ball didn't land where they were aiming and the last 5 minutes were stressful, but they ended up winning with a score of 4-1. Courtney had some good plays and the girls were feeling great because they haven't won in A LONG TIME!
Watch for Courtney's bright pink cleats.
Saturday morning we got up, sent Ethan on his way to a teacher/priests activity, and then loaded in the van to drive to Mesquite. It was, again, cold and windy, but today the wind wasn't kicking up the dust and the sand so it wasn't as bad.
They were playing the team that beat their opponents Friday by 5-1 so they were nervous. But they came out and played really well. They beat the other team to go into the championship game! Yes, it was a small tournament so there were only 3 in their bracket so they were to play the winner of the other bracket for the championship.
Courtney had a ZYSO concert that evening so she missed the championship game. They ended up losing but they got 2nd in the tournament, which is really great for a team that hasn't won in A LONG TIME! This should really boost their confidence for the new season!
They got medals too, which made Courtney really happy. She got hers at practice.
On Friday, I checked Courtney and Sammie out of school an hour early, dropped Sammie off to change, brought Courtney home to change, picked Sammie up, and drove to Mesquite.
They weren't happy but I wanted a picture.
The game was one they were hoping to win because the team they were playing had already lost a game that day 5-1. It was cold and windy so the ball didn't land where they were aiming and the last 5 minutes were stressful, but they ended up winning with a score of 4-1. Courtney had some good plays and the girls were feeling great because they haven't won in A LONG TIME!
Watch for Courtney's bright pink cleats.
Saturday morning we got up, sent Ethan on his way to a teacher/priests activity, and then loaded in the van to drive to Mesquite. It was, again, cold and windy, but today the wind wasn't kicking up the dust and the sand so it wasn't as bad.
They were playing the team that beat their opponents Friday by 5-1 so they were nervous. But they came out and played really well. They beat the other team to go into the championship game! Yes, it was a small tournament so there were only 3 in their bracket so they were to play the winner of the other bracket for the championship.
Courtney had a ZYSO concert that evening so she missed the championship game. They ended up losing but they got 2nd in the tournament, which is really great for a team that hasn't won in A LONG TIME! This should really boost their confidence for the new season!
They got medals too, which made Courtney really happy. She got hers at practice.
Aeration time
The scouts always do a fundraiser to aerate lawns. Since it snowed on Friday, I wasn't sure if they would be doing aeration on Saturday morning but it was a beautiful, clear day for them to work in. The priests/teachers worked the machines while the deacons went ahead and collected money.
We were lucky enough to have Ethan do the neighbor's lawn so I got pictures. I'm sure he is thrilled! ;)
We were lucky enough to have Ethan do the neighbor's lawn so I got pictures. I'm sure he is thrilled! ;)
It's snowing again
The crazy weather continues on. It's hard to see the Red Mountain because of the snow and cloud cover. It's so crazy but we love the novelty of it and it isn't hard to drive in!
SUPAF
The Lava Ridge Intermediate orchestra participated in SUPAF (Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival. I was asked to go as a chaperone and it was a wild ride!
I got to the intermediate school at 8:45 and went inside. The teacher was waiting for the buses to arrive and I told her that I had followed one in so there was at least one there already. She said that was great and that they would have to wait for the second bus before loading. We waited and waited until the vice principal went outside to talk to the bus driver to find out when the other bus would be there. That's when they found out that they were only getting one bus. The max on a bus for intermediate kids is 85 and there were 78 kids so they said there would be plenty of room. But they didn't take into account their instruments! You can't put a bass on your lap and have it work out too well.
The vice principal scrambled to get another bus while the teacher and the beginning orchestra went on the one that was there. I was left in charge of the intermediate orchestra. WHOA! I was to wait with them, load them on the bus, take roll, and then get them to the festival. It was crazy but we made it.
The festival was behind so we didn't have to rush. They were able to warm up and practice a bit before their performance before the judges. They did a great job.
They played 3 songs and then one of the judges did a critique of them. He got on stage and taught them a lot about how to play as an orchestra, i.e., make sure your bow strokes are the same as your neighbor so they look uniform. It was fun to watch but took forever!
The kids didn't get back to school until about 2 hours after they were scheduled to get back but it all worked out. They received an Excellent on their rating.
I got to the intermediate school at 8:45 and went inside. The teacher was waiting for the buses to arrive and I told her that I had followed one in so there was at least one there already. She said that was great and that they would have to wait for the second bus before loading. We waited and waited until the vice principal went outside to talk to the bus driver to find out when the other bus would be there. That's when they found out that they were only getting one bus. The max on a bus for intermediate kids is 85 and there were 78 kids so they said there would be plenty of room. But they didn't take into account their instruments! You can't put a bass on your lap and have it work out too well.
The vice principal scrambled to get another bus while the teacher and the beginning orchestra went on the one that was there. I was left in charge of the intermediate orchestra. WHOA! I was to wait with them, load them on the bus, take roll, and then get them to the festival. It was crazy but we made it.
The festival was behind so we didn't have to rush. They were able to warm up and practice a bit before their performance before the judges. They did a great job.
They played 3 songs and then one of the judges did a critique of them. He got on stage and taught them a lot about how to play as an orchestra, i.e., make sure your bow strokes are the same as your neighbor so they look uniform. It was fun to watch but took forever!
The kids didn't get back to school until about 2 hours after they were scheduled to get back but it all worked out. They received an Excellent on their rating.
President's Day
Ah, President's Day. It's a time when St. George is overrun with tourists attending the Parade of Homes, baseball tournaments, basketball tournaments, soccer tournaments, softball tournaments, and generally trying to get out of the snow. Well, this year THEY BROUGHT THE SNOW WITH THEM! Yes, it snowed on President's Day in St. George. We didn't get too much in Ivins, but it really came down in the mountains and in other parts of the valley. It was cold and the traffic was still horrible in town. Oh well, they all bring their tourist dollars which pay for road construction and other things to make this place even better. And it was warmer than other places in Utah, so that's still a plus for the snowbirds.
You can't see the mountain the background because of the clouds and snow but it's there!
You can't see the mountain the background because of the clouds and snow but it's there!
Family Council
If you have ever wondered what Family Council looks like in our home, it's like this...
Yes, they both hide and cringe until we are done. We used to call it FOOD (Family Organizational something Discussion). I can't remember what the other "O" stood for, but it was fun to yell "FOOD" and watch them come only to have them realize it was for family council. hahaha! It's great being a parent!
Yes, they both hide and cringe until we are done. We used to call it FOOD (Family Organizational something Discussion). I can't remember what the other "O" stood for, but it was fun to yell "FOOD" and watch them come only to have them realize it was for family council. hahaha! It's great being a parent!
The 40 Club
At Lava Ridge Intermediate they have a program called the 40 Club. If kids read 40 books during the school year (and they have to be in certain genres and classifications) then they are able to get into the 40 Club. Ethan did this when he was at Lava Ridge and Courtney was excited to do it too.
Right after Valentine's Day she was able to finish her last book and earn her shirt (which is much cooler looking than Ethan's, if you ask Courtney). Yeah for all her hard work!
Right after Valentine's Day she was able to finish her last book and earn her shirt (which is much cooler looking than Ethan's, if you ask Courtney). Yeah for all her hard work!
The Ellen Show!
Courtney's orchestra teacher is a huge fan of the Ellen Show. In December there was a contest by Scotch Tape where you had to do a creative wrapping job. Mrs. Nielsen decided she wanted her kids to enter the contest, but she didn't tell them what contest it was or what they would get if they won.
She brought wrapping paper to orchestra class and had the intermediate orchestra kids wrap their presents. Then for Ellen's birthday, they played her Happy Birthday and made a sign to send to her. It was cute.
Over the Christmas break, they didn't hear any word about the contest. But the week after they got back in January, the teacher received a call from one of the producers of the Ellen Show asking her questions and telling her they were a finalist for the contest. The next day, the producer called the principal of the school and talked to her. A few days later, the producer called Mrs. Nielsen and told her they would be flying her and her husband to LA to be on the Ellen Show.
This is where things got crazy. Mrs. Nielsen flew to LA on Wednesday, that afternoon I got a call from the school saying that the intermediate orchestra kids were going to be on Ellen the next day and that I had to come into the school to sign a non-disclosure agreement. And the kids were not to be told ANYTHING about what was going on. I signed the form and kept my mouth shut.
Thursday afternoon, with about 10 minutes left in school, the intermediate orchestra students were called out of class and taken to a classroom where it was set up to film the show. The kids were in shock! They were able to watch the show and when Mrs. Nielsen was called up....well, you can watch what happened below.
It was crazy!! The kids were so excited. They haven't figured out what they are going to do with the money yet but something needs to happen soon because many of the kids are moving on to another school after May. AWESOME!!
She brought wrapping paper to orchestra class and had the intermediate orchestra kids wrap their presents. Then for Ellen's birthday, they played her Happy Birthday and made a sign to send to her. It was cute.
Over the Christmas break, they didn't hear any word about the contest. But the week after they got back in January, the teacher received a call from one of the producers of the Ellen Show asking her questions and telling her they were a finalist for the contest. The next day, the producer called the principal of the school and talked to her. A few days later, the producer called Mrs. Nielsen and told her they would be flying her and her husband to LA to be on the Ellen Show.
This is where things got crazy. Mrs. Nielsen flew to LA on Wednesday, that afternoon I got a call from the school saying that the intermediate orchestra kids were going to be on Ellen the next day and that I had to come into the school to sign a non-disclosure agreement. And the kids were not to be told ANYTHING about what was going on. I signed the form and kept my mouth shut.
Thursday afternoon, with about 10 minutes left in school, the intermediate orchestra students were called out of class and taken to a classroom where it was set up to film the show. The kids were in shock! They were able to watch the show and when Mrs. Nielsen was called up....well, you can watch what happened below.
It was crazy!! The kids were so excited. They haven't figured out what they are going to do with the money yet but something needs to happen soon because many of the kids are moving on to another school after May. AWESOME!!
Waiting....
We have 30 minutes between the time we pick Ethan up from tutoring until Courtney needs to be at dance. I have been trying to get Ethan to drive to practice but there are some days when he just doesn't want to drive. On one of those days, the kids decided to play soccer on the lawn before dance. I sat back and watched. Courtney made a goal out of her shoes and Ethan had to kick the ball between the shoes. It was fun to watch them go!
Shopping with Courtney
On Thursdays, we drop Ethan off at tutoring and then Courtney and I have an hour to play around before we have to pick him up. We usually go to stores and window shop. One day we went to Target and Pier One Imports and Courtney decided to try on some hats and masks. It was so much fun.
Bad dad jokes
I don't know how this started but Ethan decided to see if he could hold water in his mouth while Bryan told bad dad jokes to him. Ethan was able to withstand the bad dad jokes but they had a lot of fun doing it.
He did crack a smile though.
He did crack a smile though.
Old men vs Young men
These are a couple of pics I took of the old men vs young men basketball game. It was so much fun to watch them play. I love the action shot of Bryan.
It is such a fun way to spend a Saturday morning and their games didn't get too chippy. There are some wards that take basketball too seriously but our boys usually just like to have fun.
Ethan is in the black shorts and Flying Monkey t-shirt and Bryan is in the gray shirt.
It is such a fun way to spend a Saturday morning and their games didn't get too chippy. There are some wards that take basketball too seriously but our boys usually just like to have fun.
Ethan is in the black shorts and Flying Monkey t-shirt and Bryan is in the gray shirt.
Dog duty
There is a couple in our ward who always ask Courtney to dog-sit for them. It's great money for Courtney because they pay well but she is a little nervous when she does it. She still isn't too fond of dogs and these are little energetic ones that jump on you. She tries to teach them not to but they don't listen to her. Bryan or I usually end up going over to help her with them. This last time, I figured out that they are just lonely and when you show up they are very excited to see you. The one little dog pees because he is so excited to see someone. haha!
Anyway, Courtney likes to take them on walks, so I help her get them in their harnesses and then she takes off with them while I go home. I'm not sure how many more times she will dog-sit because she gets nervous but she likes the money.
Anyway, Courtney likes to take them on walks, so I help her get them in their harnesses and then she takes off with them while I go home. I'm not sure how many more times she will dog-sit because she gets nervous but she likes the money.
Girl's bathroom
We have been putting a toilet room next to the laundry room for a while now. We need to have the plumbers come and put in the toilet. But to get things ready, Courtney and I have been putting finishing touches on the bathroom so she can have her own bathroom...minus the shower.
We went to DI and found a mirror that we painted black and hung over the sink. Courtney found a bathroom sign that she hung on the door. I switched the door lock so she could lock people out instead of being locked in. It's coming along nicely and will be nice for her.
The only funny part is that the light is controlled in the hallway, so if she is using the toilet and someone turns the hallway light off....it will go dark where she is. But she has a switch right next to where the toilet will be, so it will all work out.
We went to DI and found a mirror that we painted black and hung over the sink. Courtney found a bathroom sign that she hung on the door. I switched the door lock so she could lock people out instead of being locked in. It's coming along nicely and will be nice for her.
The only funny part is that the light is controlled in the hallway, so if she is using the toilet and someone turns the hallway light off....it will go dark where she is. But she has a switch right next to where the toilet will be, so it will all work out.
Un-Sorry game
We play a family game on Sunday. This has become a struggle because Ethan doesn't want to play and there are limited games that Courtney wants to play. Bryan wants to play a game with a map and I don't want to play Life. ;)
Bryan decided to change an old favorite and give it a twist. So he invented the un-Sorry game. It didn't go over too well. It started out fun but didn't end up that way. It was supposed to be a nicer way to play the game, I think.
So when you got a Sorry, instead of taking one of your pieces out and changing it with an opponent, you would take an opponent's piece out and change it with yours. Basically, all the rules were opposite. There were other things but I can't remember them.
The game lasted FOREVER, it was vicious, and everyone was frustrated by the end. But it was a good experiment. I think we will stick to regular Sorry from now on.
Bryan decided to change an old favorite and give it a twist. So he invented the un-Sorry game. It didn't go over too well. It started out fun but didn't end up that way. It was supposed to be a nicer way to play the game, I think.
So when you got a Sorry, instead of taking one of your pieces out and changing it with an opponent, you would take an opponent's piece out and change it with yours. Basically, all the rules were opposite. There were other things but I can't remember them.
The game lasted FOREVER, it was vicious, and everyone was frustrated by the end. But it was a good experiment. I think we will stick to regular Sorry from now on.
Courtney's find
Courtney has the best luck at DI finding Converse shoes. She doesn't like buying new Converse shoes because she likes them to be broken in. But she will always find a pair at the DI for $5. One day I took her there because she said she knew there was a pair of Converse just waiting for her. I laughed but we were already on that side of town so I thought I would humor her.
She went right to the shoe section, looked around, and found some Converse...in her size...for $5! Amazing!!
The black Converse was the one she found the last time we went to DI.
The taupe Converse are the ones she found on this trip to DI.
She went right to the shoe section, looked around, and found some Converse...in her size...for $5! Amazing!!
The black Converse was the one she found the last time we went to DI.
The taupe Converse are the ones she found on this trip to DI.
Church basketball
Our Stake started basketball this year for the youth and the adults. The YW and YM play on Saturday from noon-2:00 (depending on when their games are) and the adults play on Thursday night. The YW play in the Heritage Building, which has a small court and the YM play at the Stake Center on the full court.
The YW basketball was a flop. Our ward was the only one that ever showed up so they would end up playing 3 on 3 just to have fun. So, in reality, our ward won because every other ward would forfeit. It was sad because we had to be there to set up and get things ready but then no one would show up except for the hour that was for the 9th ward.
Courtney isn't a basketball player but she is a tough cookie because of soccer. She was rowdy and blocked with the best of them. She even made quite a few shots. But she would turn into a dancer and the ball would go straight up and then straight down. It was hilarious. The girls had so much fun!
The YM basketball was kind of a flop. There were 3 wards that had consistent teams toward the end. I think our ward won because we always had a team but the others would forfeit. The best game they played was when no one showed up but there were enough leaders/dads to play a "young guys vs old guys" game. It was a buzzer beater where the old guys ended up winning (I think). It was so fun to watch them play and Ethan is a good little basketball player. He had one block that was crazy! The kid went up, Ethan put out his hand, and you heard a loud "SMACK" as Ethan made contact. Everyone went "WHOA!". It was awesome!
You can see how much fun they had....
The YW basketball was a flop. Our ward was the only one that ever showed up so they would end up playing 3 on 3 just to have fun. So, in reality, our ward won because every other ward would forfeit. It was sad because we had to be there to set up and get things ready but then no one would show up except for the hour that was for the 9th ward.
Courtney isn't a basketball player but she is a tough cookie because of soccer. She was rowdy and blocked with the best of them. She even made quite a few shots. But she would turn into a dancer and the ball would go straight up and then straight down. It was hilarious. The girls had so much fun!
The YM basketball was kind of a flop. There were 3 wards that had consistent teams toward the end. I think our ward won because we always had a team but the others would forfeit. The best game they played was when no one showed up but there were enough leaders/dads to play a "young guys vs old guys" game. It was a buzzer beater where the old guys ended up winning (I think). It was so fun to watch them play and Ethan is a good little basketball player. He had one block that was crazy! The kid went up, Ethan put out his hand, and you heard a loud "SMACK" as Ethan made contact. Everyone went "WHOA!". It was awesome!
You can see how much fun they had....
Ethan
Again, this is Ethan's favorite position to be in....
Reading a book with Cheez-its nearby. That's Ethan heaven!
Reading a book with Cheez-its nearby. That's Ethan heaven!
Bryan's bite
Bryan got bit by something while he was working in the yard and his ankle puffed up! I think it was a fire ant that got him but he isn't sure because he didn't realize it until later. His right ankle (the one on the left in the picture) is a lot bigger than his other ankle. It's crazy what a little bite can do.
PDT performances
The start of the new performance season has come. Courtney had a performance at Dixie State University during the half-time of a woman's game. They did a great job!
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