It's Soccer Season...again!

I'm pretty sure that I write this post every spring and fall when we play soccer. But it starts to monopolize our lives, and so it is all I think about.

Mark is with his same coach from last year, but half of the team is different. Lots of boys made the decision to move on to competition soccer, instead of recreational soccer. We didn't think Mark needed to live an intense soccer life at the age of 8, so we stayed with our same league. Their team is the Ninja Turtles again which matches their green uniforms well. Mark played really well the first game...he scored 3 goals! He hustled all over the field and he worked really hard.

Warming up

It was the 8:00 AM game this week, so we didn't really get Mark's hair done! :)

Dax is on a new team this year. Randy is coaching and they are the Blue Dragons. Dax really, really wanted blue uniforms, so Randy hurried over to pick them up early. Our team looks to be pretty good. We were up 7-0 at half, but they don't keep score. Dax scored two goals, and he was running all over the field. He is so speedy! He is super excited to have his dad as his coach this year.

Excited for the game to start.

Speedy Dax!

I didn't get a picture of him before the game,
so here he is halfway through all hot and sweaty!

Dax: Lots of Firsts

Dax has had a busy week. He began a lot of new activities. First, he began piano. We were able to start Dax with Mark's old teacher who is amazing. The whole day Dax threw a huge fit about how I was supposed to teach him and he was not going, but once we were there, he had a great time. And he keeps bugging me to practice every day.

First piano lesson

The next day Dax started a reading class at our local literacy center. The class lasts for four months and is geared to helping children learn to read. Dax loved every minute of it and was so happy when he came home. I hope he makes great progress in reading.

First day of literacy class preschool.

The following day, he started preschool again. This will be his final year of preschool. Dax is 5 and could be in kindergarten but we have made the decision to wait to send him to school like we did with Mark. It has been such a great decision for Mark, and we feel it will benefit Dax, too. Dax is going to preschool right here in our neighborhood, so he really wanted to ride his bike. Here's to another great year of school for Dax!

First day of preschool

Riding his bike to school

Seth's Check Up

Seth having an EKG.

Seth went back in to see the cardiologist a few weeks ago. I am still amazed at how well he behaves for all of the tests, and when the doctor listens to his heart for 10 minutes. Seth is so calm and still. It definitely makes the doctor visits easier on us.

Seth passed with flying colors. Everything came up perfect. We have been going in about every 6 months. But the doctor said we can go a whole YEAR before we go back. And then if things continue to look good, he said we might be able to go a few years at a time. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to go that long yet, but I feel so blessed that Seth has recovered so well from his heart surgeries. He is truly a miracle to us!

Eating popcorn at a baseball game---Seth loves popcorn.

Seth wanted to try underwear. He kept them dry for 2 hours,
but while he will sit on the potty, he has yet to actually "go" in the potty.

At Seven Peaks

At the new playroom in the Aquarium!

First Day of 2nd Grade

Mark heading out the door on the first day.

Mark began 2nd grade this year at a brand new elementary school. Our school was very crowded the last few years, and this year Dry Creek Elementary opened. We no longer have a bus (which stinks) so we get to carpool, and Mark definitely misses the bus rides. He loves his new school and new principal, Mr. Rencher, though. It's going to be a great year.

This is the brand new school that opened this year!

Mark thinks his teacher Miss Taylor is really nice and has enjoyed the first week of school a lot. On the first day of school, they had a really fun assembly where a zookeeper brought the eagle owl for an assembly. They are the Dry Creek Owls and Mark was so excited because we see that eagle owl in the bird show all the time, and he found out it's name--BB. There was an article in the paper and everything. Here are some pictures of the owl and blurry Mark in the background.

The principal took these pictures at the assembly.

Mark chatting it up with his buddies!

This is the picture that was in the Deseret News.

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!

We did it! Randy and I were challenged and we answered today. Mark and Dax decided to participate as well. Check out the video.

For more info on this challenge: http://www.alsa.org/fight-als/ice-bucket-challenge.html

Pinewood Derby

Mark heading into the Pinewood Derby.

This year was Mark's first Pinewood Derby. He turned 8 in July and at the end of July was the Pinewood Derby. It was his first pack meeting.

Mark and his dad worked hard on the car. Randy really wanted Mark to do all the work, or at least as much as possible. So Mark drew the design on the car, helped cut it, sanded it, painted it, and add weights, wheels, etc. Randy and I helped along the way, but Mark really did a lot of the work. He wanted an orange car with blue flames. Here's what it looked like.

The car

Mark's car consistently took 3rd of 4th place in all the races, but he didn't car. Mark had a huge smile on his face and laughed with the other Cub Scouts. It was fun to see him so happy. He ended up 10th overall (out of 22 cars) which was better than we expected. We aren't huge pinewood derby nuts...at least not yet!

The track was really cool.

Mark's car is 2nd from the left.

Mark had SO much fun!

Mark accepting his award.

I laughed hysterically at the Most Artistic award because
I struggled so much with those blue flames, but Mark thought they were awesome!
That's what matters.

Great Basin Day 3

On our last day at Great Basin we got up early (seems like the kids do that) and got the campsite cleaned up. We like to be packed and ready to go by 10am if possible, but it must've been 8am when we were on the road. 

We drove back to the top of Wheeler Peak and did a few hikes with Nate. The first was the nature trail that is pretty short. The boys liked it, though, and it is really beautiful up there. We started back down and decided to hike to Osceola Ditch. It was a short, straight downhill hike to what looked very much like a 100 year old ditch. We had to rush back up to the car to get to our cave tour-- note to self: skip that hike next time. 

We went on our second cave tour. Not that there is a second cave, but we did the same tour but a shorter version so Seth and Laurie could go. It was amazing how much different information we got from the second ranger. She only repeated a little of what the ranger from our first tour said, and some of what she told us directly conflicted with what he had told us. That was interesting. Anyway, everyone liked the tour, even though it was shorter. Seth loved carrying his own flashlight and being in the cave. He is a true adventurer!

After the cave, Grandpa bought us ice cream and we headed for home. We didn't even stop for lunch because everyone fell asleep. It was another great adventure.

Seth loved "Glen's Bus"--his name for the motorhome.

Okay, Mark and Dax loved the motorhome too.

Seth is a great hiker.

Nate was a trooper to come hike with us.

We have a family picture from this trip!

Not sure what Seth's face means in this picture....

Seth and Dax are always looking for unique places to pose for pictures.

Seth held Nate's hand the whole hike down to Osceola Ditch.

Dax found some "antlers."

Before the cave tour, they pass around formations for you to look at.

All of us in Lehman Caves

Seth LOVED his flashlight.

The boys got badges after touring the cave.

Mark and Dax became Junior Rangers.

I snapped this picture of a shoe tree in the middle of nowhere while we were going 70 mph.
Pretty impressive huh?