The Parade

Courtney's dance group was in the Lion's Rodeo Kids Parade again this year. Ethan didn't want to go alone so we took Brennon with us. We dropped Courtney and Bryan off and they went to the beginning of the parade to find Courtney's dance group. Bryan stayed with her until they loaded everyone into the truck (the older girls rode their bikes) then he came and found us.

Ethan and Brennon had a blast catching/grabbing candy and waving at everyone. They had tons of comments about every entry that went by. Last Thursday, Ethan had gone with Brennon and his mom to the Lion's Rodeo and they had a blast. So a lot of what they were talking about was the rodeo.

When Courtney was finished Bryan went to get her and then she got to catch candy with the boys. The parade seemed to last forever but it was fun for the kids.

Soccer Game!

Courtney had her first soccer game of the season on Saturday. We drove out to the Little Valley Field, which is so far away, so she could play. It wasn't too hot of an afternoon.

Bryan warmed them up and got them ready to play. They did a pretty good job and made some goals. They need to learn to space out and not steal the ball from their own player, but that will come with more time and practice.

First Grade Dad Rodeo

You know your dad loves you when he shows up at your elementary school, gets on his hands and knees, and acts like a bucking bronco for your first grade Dad Rodeo.

Courtney was pretty excited about the rodeo and so she and Bryan had to practice the night before so he would be "trained." It was hilarious! Bryan hadn't known when it was Ethan's 1st grade Dad Rodeo what he was getting into but this time he did and he still went!

Courtney got to learn how to rope and then ran barrels with the horse she made. It was a lot of fun for her. And Bryan was such a good sport!!

Saying Goodbye

Bryan had to say goodbye to his Toyota Corolla today. It's been a great car but it's time had come. The A/C, trunk and the driver's side door lock all didn't work; it had a huge dent in the front passenger's side where Bryan was hit one day; it didn't have any hubcaps; and the paint was fading. It's wasn't much to look at but it ran and had personality.

Bryan bought this car when he first came home off his mission. Last month my aunt and uncle left for a mission to New Zealand and asked if we would take care of one of their cars for them while they are gone. We asked Bryan's brother if he wanted to use Bryan's car, but he had another option (lucky for him!). We decided that Bryan would use the Honda (my uncle's car) and we would donate Bryan's car to charity. We would save money for a new car and then buy one when my aunt and uncle get home from their mission and need their car back.

After a few days with the Honda, it was too hard to give up the Toyota so we decided that Bryan would rotate using both cars. The idea was to keep the Toyota for Ethan to drive eventually (7 years down the road). But then the starter on the Toyota died and it was going to be more money than it was worth to get it fixed.

I called the Make-a-Wish foundation and they picked it up today from Bryan's work. Bryan said he isn't sad but I am a little. It was a good car while it lasted.

Flag Football Season

Last night was Ethan's first flag football game of the season. He has games every Tuesday and Thursday for the next 5 weeks. His number is 3. Thanks to some fancy shoes and cool arch support insoles, his feet didn't hurt at all and he could run really well. He did jam his thumb during a play so that may have taken his mind off his heels, if they did hurt.

They didn't win but Ethan said he had a lot of fun. It started to sprinkle rain near the end but they finished the game just fine.

Bowling Party

Courtney wanted me to post these pictures. She was invited last week to a birthday party for a little boy in our neighborhood. He has a Transformers party and they went bowling. With their party invitation they were each given a bowling shirt that his mom had made. Courtney loved hers and wanted it preserved so all could see it.

The Clothes Dryer

Monday morning I tried to do laundry but...the clothes dryer wasn't working right. I turned it and it made a horrible noise. I thought something may just be loose so I tried to take the back off to look at it. That is nearly impossible!!

After what felt like an hour trying to get the back off I decided to check the internet to see how much it would be to have a repairman come and look at it. (Note: We have had this dryer for a long time and it is old but it worked fine before.) I found out that it would be $65 to have someone look at it and then about $100 for parts (assuming it was a belt that needed to be fixed).

I went to craigslist.com and found a dryer for $65. That night after work we borrowed my parents trailer and went to LaVerkin to pick up our new-to-us dryer for $65. It is the same model as the dryer we had before this one (we swap laundry machines around in my family so I think my sister ended up with it but I'm not sure). After getting it all hooked up (thanks to Bryan!!) it works great and I only had to go without a dryer for the day.

I will be sad to see them haul this old one away but I am happy to have one that works.

The old dryer as I am attempting to open it up: