A couple weeks ago we made it to the mountains to take some family pictures. Overall they turned out great. Our family photo is okay--this is the only one where my eyes were actually open. I'm cursed and Bryan was amazed at my ability to blink every time the flash went off! Bryan is staying busy at work, church, and home. This last year he moved to the communications department and now does multi-media full time for JetBlue. He makes videos, slide shows, and whatever else they need him to do. It was a wonderful blessing when they offered him this job and he loves it. He was also called as the Elder's Quorum President shortly after I was released as the Relief Society President. He is really trying to bring the Elders together and has had some fun activities so far. He hasn't made as many Furious Monkey highlight videos for BYU football this year (we've only won two games) but has spent lots of time throwing the football to Lucas.
I'm staying busy as well. It seems like there is always something to plan! This month is especially crazy and November and December will be just as busy. I do take time for myself every night to read and play games on the iPod before I go to sleep. I'm having a hard time going to sleep until 12 but I really enjoy that time without interruptions and craziness. I love working with the Activity Day girls and I've been in the nursery on Sundays for about six months as well. I love the little children and being with Ty.
Lucas turns eight next month. He will get baptized in December and I'm soooo excited for him. He is in 2nd grade and loves school, most of the time. His favorite things are Ty and football. He is doing great in flag football this year. Last night was the first game he didn't get a touchdown in. Bryan said one father came up to him and told him how good Lucas was. He then asked Bryan if he played football in high school. Bryan didn't. Then he looked at Bryan and said, 'Is he self motivated? Did you push him?' Bryan replied that, 'No, we don't push him. He practices every day to be a wide receiver.' That may be crazy but it's true. Every day Lucas gets his football and if Bryan can't pass to him he practices by himself. Day after day he does this. He may never be a star athlete but if he is it will be because of his persistence and desire to be a good football player. He is also a typical seven year old who hates to clean, loves to whine, and wants to play with friends all the time. Also, he has started piano lessons recently. His response to being told he was starting piano, 'I'm not a musician.' Our response, 'Tough.'
Ty is two years old and very lovable. Right now he is in the pantry eating spaghetti noodles from the package. That is Ty. If he wants something then he gets it. Last week he wanted a drink but I was busy. I came downstairs to find our water pitcher emptied all over the counter as he tried to fill up his cup. If I put him off he does it himself. He is independent and is doing some things much earlier than Lucas. He is more motivated that way because he sees Lucas doing things and he wants to be just like him. He loves to read books and is learning to sing. I wouldn't call him an early talker but he is getting the hang of it and we love to listen to him. Ty is also a typical two year old. He loves Toy Story and Curious George, he loves to scream when he doesn't get his way, and he still enjoys getting into things he shouldn't. Also, he still loves to cook. If I start cooking he is there with a chair to help me. He is lovable, fun, mischievous, and I can't imagine our lives without him.
A couple of days ago I was on the phone with a friend. I was sitting in the living room because we had been talking for a while. Ty was being very quiet so I went looking for him.
I found him in the kitchen with my camera taking pictures. My first thought, 'I hope he didn't break it.' Then I laughed out loud as I scrolled through the photos. Over 40 pictures of my purse and the house.
Plus this one.
And this one. At least he didn't break my camera!
Lucas is 8 years old! He had a great birthday with lots of fun surprises. Toy guns from friends, a movie mug (free refills at Larry Miller theaters here in Utah), clothes, and some new Iron Man toys he bought with birthday money.
What he has wanted more than anything is an Austin Collie Colt's jersey. We told him they were really hard to fine--which they are in his size--and that maybe Santa could find one. However, I managed to track one down about two months ago and have been waiting for his birthday ever since. These pictures really show his reaction.
He was soooo excited and ran around the room giving me, Bryan, and Ty all big hugs.
He is such a remarkable boy and we are so happy to have him in our home. I always want to remember his zeal for sports. He can't watch a game on TV without playing along. We're lucky we have a family room that lets him. He does so well in school, makes friends easily, and tries to be nice to everyone. He loves Ty--he also teases him mercilessly--but that's part of being a big brother right? He loves telling me that I'm addicted to whatever book I'm reading or game I'm playing on my iPod. And this part is silly but I love that he took after Bryan and I can can read incredibly well. We love you Lucas and can't wait until December 4th for your baptism!
Sunday Lucas had a traumatic experience. We were watching the Colts play--really watching Austin Collie play. He hadn't done much in the game when he caught a great pass and then sustained a helmet to helmet hit. He didn't get up, didn't move. This may sound silly to many of you because we don't know Collie but Bryan, Lucas, and I were scared. We watched him through his whole career at BYU and we watch him whenever we can now that he's in the NFL. We watched as they carefully put him on a stretcher and took him out. Lucas was sobbing and I had a hard time not sobbing with him! Luckily it was a concussion. Not that a concussion is good but it is way better than being in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. Before we knew he was okay Lucas said, 'I don't think I better play football.' I told him we'd have to wait and see how he felt when the time came. Fast forward to Monday night. We sit down to watch a show and Lucas can't stop throwing up the football and running around the family room. I have to tell him two or three times to sit down and STOP PLAYING FOOTBALL! Now maybe Lucas will get hit once and decide it's not the sport for him but I don't think so. Sometimes we love something so much we take risks just to do it. I don't think Austin Collie will quit after Sunday and I think Lucas is a football maniac and will love to play the game his whole life--even if it's just in the backyard with his dad and brother.
A couple weeks ago we made it to the mountains to take some family pictures. Overall they turned out great. Our family photo is okay--this is the only one where my eyes were actually open. I'm cursed and Bryan was amazed at my ability to blink every time the flash went off! Bryan is staying busy at work, church, and home. This last year he moved to the communications department and now does multi-media full time for JetBlue. He makes videos, slide shows, and whatever else they need him to do. It was a wonderful blessing when they offered him this job and he loves it. He was also called as the Elder's Quorum President shortly after I was released as the Relief Society President. He is really trying to bring the Elders together and has had some fun activities so far. He hasn't made as many Furious Monkey highlight videos for BYU football this year (we've only won two games) but has spent lots of time throwing the football to Lucas.
Lucas turns eight next month. He will get baptized in December and I'm soooo excited for him. He is in 2nd grade and loves school, most of the time. His favorite things are Ty and football. He is doing great in flag football this year. Last night was the first game he didn't get a touchdown in. Bryan said one father came up to him and told him how good Lucas was. He then asked Bryan if he played football in high school. Bryan didn't. Then he looked at Bryan and said, 'Is he self motivated? Did you push him?' Bryan replied that, 'No, we don't push him. He practices every day to be a wide receiver.' That may be crazy but it's true. Every day Lucas gets his football and if Bryan can't pass to him he practices by himself. Day after day he does this. He may never be a star athlete but if he is it will be because of his persistence and desire to be a good football player. He is also a typical seven year old who hates to clean, loves to whine, and wants to play with friends all the time. Also, he has started piano lessons recently. His response to being told he was starting piano, 'I'm not a musician.' Our response, 'Tough.'
Ty is two years old and very lovable. Right now he is in the pantry eating spaghetti noodles from the package. That is Ty. If he wants something then he gets it. Last week he wanted a drink but I was busy. I came downstairs to find our water pitcher emptied all over the counter as he tried to fill up his cup. If I put him off he does it himself. He is independent and is doing some things much earlier than Lucas. He is more motivated that way because he sees Lucas doing things and he wants to be just like him. He loves to read books and is learning to sing. I wouldn't call him an early talker but he is getting the hang of it and we love to listen to him. Ty is also a typical two year old. He loves Toy Story and Curious George, he loves to scream when he doesn't get his way, and he still enjoys getting into things he shouldn't. Also, he still loves to cook. If I start cooking he is there with a chair to help me. He is lovable, fun, mischievous, and I can't imagine our lives without him.
Bryan drove this around for three days last week. He was involved in a rewards program with JetBlue, and no his reward wasn't driving the car but he was helping with the recognition program. They called themselves 'The applaud squad.' They drove all over Salt Lake and Utah counties visiting homes of those receiving recognition.
Bryan loves convertibles and driving a Corvette convertible was truly a dream come true for him. After the week, despite his sunburned face, he told me he now wants a convertible more than ever. Hmmm, I better get busy writing that best selling novel I've been putting off for years.
