Unsupervised Fun!

Ok...so everyone is busy...not a lot of supervision! Well, I didn't really think that 11 year olds needed so much supervision but I guess I was wrong. Steve and I have been running around all day. Working down in the basement, doing some Christmas shopping, cleaning and other things. Well, we had gotten home from a short errand and Gracie and Brin had been in the paint and instead of painting a nice picture, they decided to paint their faces. Then I guess they went over to Kim's house and had fun with the camera for hours it looks like. Later, I took them to WalMart with me and they decided to wipe off a little bit of it...but these two know how to entertain themselves. They are not new to "getting into trouble"...not these two! Kim and I have plenty of stories.

Birthday Party!

We had a fun time at Sam's party...We went on a scavenger hunt, ate pizza, and then watched a football movie. Everyone was able to come and celebrate with Sam except Taevey, she was sick with the flu! The Scavenger Hunt was the funnest...We divided them into 2 teams and went out and about Syracuse doing different things. Here is the list...

1. Go to Stokers Nursery and buy your favorite pop. (to enjoy with their pizza)

2. Go to the Larsens and make a snow angel in the snow.

3. Go to All A Dollar and buy your favorite candy. (for the movie later on)

4. Go to the school and do the monkey bars.

5. Go to the church parking lot and do 5 jumping jacks.

The boys loved this part and the race was on...

Winners of the Scavenger Hunt...

Dinner...Delicious!

It's Great to be EIGHT!

Today Sam and Landon officially became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Sam and Landon's baptism was so great! The day turned out to be snowy and slippery and thankfully everyone made it safely there. We had a big gathering of friends and family to come and support Sam. We love them all and we are so thankful and happy that they came to witness such a wonderful thing. Another great thing about today was that Sam was baptized with Landon...one of his best buds. I remember walking through the back fence with my little bundle of Sam to visit Donna and her doing the same with her little bundle of Landon to come and visit me. Sam and Landon have been good friends since as long as I can remember and they are so funny together. After the baptism, we had family and friends come over for soup and salads and rolls and desserts. It was fantastic.

Sam, you are now part of God's royal army, a soldier fighting for truth and righteousness! Put on the armor of God, as taught in the scriptures, and fight with valiance against evil for what you know is right and good.

Sam is the Star Student of the Week!

Sam's Day

I tried to talk Sam into just telling everyone that he is turning 7 instead of 8. I don't think that there is anything wrong with being in denial! I can't hardly stand it that he is getting so old. I loved it when everyone was little and life was not so hectic and I want him to stay little. But that's not going to happen:(! Sam had a long day...opening presents in the Hotel was different, Sam woke everyone up early to open them and Lyndsie and Sydnie were not too happy about it. They played along though because they knew how excited he was. He wanted everyone to stay up until 12:00 the night before and open them then. I talked him into waiting till morning. So he was up bright and early. After that, we all started to pack up to head home to Syracuse. It was a long drive and when we got home, we hurried and unpacked and made a birthday cake so everyone could come over and wish Sam a "Happy Birthday!" We had cousins, aunts and uncles, and Grandmas and Grandpas over. It was a house full, but Sam loved it and that is what I wanted. We love you Sam...you are the best 8 year old ever!

8 things about Sam...

1. Sam is so kind...he is always telling me thank you whenever I do something for him. It is not just a thank you either, he will say it with the most genuine voice ever, "Thanks Mom!"

2. He is funny...he has the most innocent thoughts and at times, the things that he will say will just catch you so off guard. The other night while driving down to St. George, he was in the very back just going down on some tootsie rolls and I asked him, "Bud, what are you doing with all of those wrappers?" He was obviously throwing them on the floor because his response was classic..."Mom, I can't answer that question right now."

3. He is a hard worker...If we are doing projects, he is right by our side until our work is finished and he never complains. Love that!

4. He is athletic...He loves all sports and is constantly outside doing something fun.

5. He loves his dog...Roxy has a best friend and doesn't even know it. Sam loves that dog and would do anything for her.

6. His favorite thing to wear lately is underarmer...He thinks it is so cool!

7. He is obedient...Sam usually will do anything you ask him too, even if it is his sisters who are asking. If Lyndsie asks him to get her something, he usually will say "sure."

8. He loves his family! He is seriously the best little boy ever...I love him so much!

Happy Birthday Bud!

Roxy was exhausted after all of the celebrating was over!

St. George...Here we come!

Our trip was so much fun! Our LaRoca girls did great. It was a shut out tournament for LaRoca. Not one shot was made on them and they won every single game. It was an easier tournament, but it was so fun to go to St. George with everyone and it also made it so everyone could play extra long and not worry too much about getting too tired or getting enough sleep. We had a blast...

Brinley and Sam played in the water in the morning and at night. Really whenever they could fit it in. We went shopping, ate yummy food and we even went to a late night movie. Lyndsie and Sydnie hung out with Octavia and Hadley Barlow and they also had a fun time. The entire team was in the same hotel so you can see why the "Off Time" was so much fun for everyone. Sunday was Sam's birthday, so on Saturday night we went out to dinner with the Barlow's (I love these guys) and celebrated Sam.

Brinley's facial expression is just a joke...she is trying to discourage me from taking pictures. But it isn't going to work Brinley...I will just put your funny picture on the blog anyways!