Choir

 One of the great things about Xander switching high schools is that he can be in choir.  Chandler High School's choir teacher is awesome!  I love that Xander has found something that he loves and is good at!

 I went to his first concert in September and I was blown away!  They were awesome!  I could've stayed and listened for hours. 

I'm so proud of these boys and so glad they get to experience choir together!

Injured

 This year has been a crazy injury-filled one for the boys.  Xander broke his wrist, Max lost 1/2 of his tooth, Ben broke his arm, Xander broke out in a crazy rash, Xander got stung by a scorpion and Evan got a black eye.  Above is Ben getting his cast off - I don't know who was more relieved - me or him.  That thing SMELLED!  After he got the cast on he still continued to go to every football practice and game - his coach gave him an award at the end of the season for his endurance and perseverance.  That kid is awesome!

 Poor Xander - he woke up one morning with this rash.  We are thinking he is allergic to penicillin since he was on antibiotics at the time.  The poor kid had to get a shot in the butt :(

 I am amazed that Evan's black eye was the first trampoline injury this year - he took it in stride.  I think he was glad that his glasses covered up more of the injury.

All these injuries have made me grateful that we have wonderful health insurance.  I'm so thankful for Ian's job and benefits!

Soccer

 Once again Evan is playing soccer with Rowan this season and he loves it.  I love that it is teaching him to be confident and he's getting exercise!  He's favorite position is goalie - and I have to admit he rocks at it.  It's rare a ball gets past him.  He loves to have all of his brothers come watch him.  Above Max and Ben are showing their "brotherly" love. 

 While I LOVE watching Evan play, I also love spending time with this girl.  She is awesome. 

 Max loves her to - he keeps her entertained. 

Soccer playing boys - they love being on a team together.  I love that they are best friends.

Robo

Saturday morning was crazy for me - I got up early, ran and then had a baby shower to go to.  While I was gone Evan woke Ian up and told him all about "Robo".  Here is how Evan explained it to me:  Robo is a business where Evan will build robots and computers and sell things. He wants to make money to help our family to live. 

Well I guess the thought of making robots and computers was overwhelming to Evan so he settled for selling stickers and lemonade.  Ian cleaned up an old stand we had in the garage and took Evan to the store to buy lemonade.  He then helped Evan make signs and set up chairs and an umbrella for him so he'd be comfortable. 

I was at the baby shower when Ian sent me this picture.  He told me to hurry on over to buy some lemonade. 

I love my little entrepreneur.  He made quite a bit of money for only having about 5 customers.  Thanks to aunt Laura and Cathi who stopped by. 

Fall Break Lodge

 Fall Break has flown by and I am so thankful I got the chance to sneak away to the Lodge with the boys for a few days.  Wednesday morning we helped my mom and dad pack up some stuff from their house (they sold it) and then we headed up to the high country.  In Show Low we stopped at Safeway for groceries and Michael had fun prancing around the parking lot with a skeleton head and arms.  It was hilarious watching him wave and try to pick up stuff with the arms - like the Saturday Night Live skit with the small hands.  Ben could not stop laughing. 

 Thursday we woke up to gray skies, wind, thunder and rain/sleet/snow.  The weather up there is a fickle thing.  We drove into town to make our requisite Wal Mart trip and by the time we got back the sky looked blue.  However, it continued to rain the rest of the day.  Some highlights from Thursday:  watching The Pioneer Woman on the Foodnetwork - she's making homemade pizza and ice cream pie.  Evan says, "Don't erase this grandma!  We need this food."  Later I told the boys that I used to make pizza from scratch when they were little.  Max quips, "And now all she makes is Digiorino :/

 Kim and Brian came up late Thursday night (yay!).  Brian kept Evan entertained most of the day Friday.  Evan built a robot out of Jenga blocks and then he built the word "Robo" out of the blocks in honor of a business he wants to start (more on that later)

 We also discovered just how double jointed Max is.  Freaky.  He then showed us how he can bend his legs in a weird way and walk on his feet.  That boy constantly surprises me. 

 I love when the boys are together makin' music.  For a long time on Friday Joe played guitar and him and Michael sang while we played 5 Crowns. 

I decided to travel home late Friday night - Ben and Max stayed at the Lodge with the folks and Kim and Brian, which left me with these crazies.  Michael stayed awake the whole way home to make sure I didn't fall asleep.

I love spending time with my parents and sister.  It is wonderful to go to a place where I can be me and feel unconditional love.  I can't begin to say how much I needed that.  Plus they all like me!  I can't ask for more than that :)

Fun.

 Sometimes I wonder if I would have any fun if it wasn't for Kim and Brian? (pun intended).  I've seen FUN. three times and Kim and Brian have paid for two of those times.  I am so lucky that they like me enough to invite me to concerts :)  When Kim texted me that she had 2 extra tickets I wanted to give the tickets to Ben and Max.  To Ben because he is awesome.  He helps me out, never complains and always obeys.  Ok, maybe not always but 90% of the time.  And Max because he LOVES Fun. and have never seen them.  Well, after talking it over with Ian and then with Kim I decided that Max is too young to go to a concert without me and I felt that Ben was the most deserving of the ticket. 

 As per usual Kim and Brian style - the seats were amazing.  The concert was amazing.  The whole night was a blast.  The best is how much Ben, Joe and Michael loved being there.  I love how much they all love music. 

My favorite songs they played were "Walking the Dog" (I had yet to hear that one live) and Bar Lights.  They always put on a great show.  I'm so glad I got to enjoy it with my son :)

Star Student

Last Friday Evan announced that he would be Star Student the following week.  Since Evan hasn't been too keen on school lately I thought this would be a fun change for him to be spotlighted each day.  WRONG.

On Monday he had to fill out a poster-sized newspaper that asked all sorts of questions about him.  With Max's help he filled most of it out.  But he couldn't think of what he wanted to be when he grows up (a scientist??  a cowboy???  a builder?  and acrobat?) every answer sounded bad to him.  And then he couldn't commit to what his favorite movie is.  Every movie suggested what shot down.  I had to send some pictures with him to school and Evan agonized over which ones to send and what to say about each one. 

On Tuesday he had to bring his favorite book.  According to Evan his favorite book is Frog and Toad.  Well we don't have that book.  I don't know if he was in denial or what...but Tuesday morning was rough.  I finally sent Stellaluna with him.  When he came home that day he announced, "Huh..that book was pretty good...but it was no Frog and Toad."

On Wednesday he had to talk about a family tradition.  Luckily he thought of one and made me write it down in case he forgot.  On the ride to school he kept asking, "What's the tradition again?"  I'd say, "Remember...you had me write it down.." and then he'd question me over and over again about it.

On Thursday he had to bring in the Estimation Jar with something in it.  Everyone in the class then gets to "estimate" what's in the jar.  He was so nervous that he'd forgot how much was in the jar that he wrote it on a piece of paper and taped it to the inside of the lid of the jar.  And then he worried that some kids might cheat and try to look at the lid.  By this point I think both he and I had an ulcer from this Star Student crap.

Today (Friday) was the worst.  Evan was supposed to bring 5 things from home to show his class.  He found 2 things fairly quickly (his favorite rock and his 3 DS).  Then he found a ceramic animal he made and a Mario Brothers mushroom eraser.  That took about an hour.  He couldn't decide on the last thing.  I was going to be late for work so I made him get in the car and stopped by Circle K on the way and got him his favorite candy.  Starburst.  For some reason that made him cry which made his glasses fog up.  It's seriously the saddest thing ever when that happens.  By that point I'd had it and when we pulled up to the school I made him get out of the car.

Being Star Student is way to much pressure.

Loved

Last weekend we spent time at the Lodge with my parents and sister and her family.  It was divine.  When we were leaving Monday I felt an overwhelming sadness and depression settle over me.  I hate being so far away from my mom and dad.  Later that day my mom sent me the following text:

"I know you are busy but I just had to share with you how I really felt when you left because I have never felt like that before.  This incredible feeling of loneliness came over me and I began to cry.  I just couldn't help myself because I knew how much I was going to miss you.  I love you!"

I am so grateful for the bond I have with my parents.  The older I get the more I realize how lucky I am.  I long to have that same bond with my children.  Last weekend I was able to open up and confide to my mom about some things and I am so grateful for her love, support and endless wisdom.  She never judges me.  She just pushes me forward and inspires me to do my best.

A wise man once advised me to tell my children I love them all of the time.  To hug them and let them know how much they mean to me.  It was hard at first, but the more I do it the easier it becomes. 

As I think back on the feeling I had as I left the Lodge I can't help but think of my Heavenly Father and how he must have felt when we left his presence to go to earth.  His heart must have ached for us as he thought of the trials and tribulations we would have to go through.  But he sent his spirit to comfort us when we need it and to help us feel his overwhelming love for us.

It's hard for me to hold onto that thought and feeling.  It's hard not get down and be depressed by things I cannot change.  It's hard to have faith in the bigger picture and not to get caught up in the daily drama.  As I move forward and try to do my best I'm so thankful for parents who love me and most of all for a Heavenly Father who is always there for me.