A whole new look!

Today Austin got his braces off!  And he got a haircut!  Who is this fine young man???  Isn't he handsome? This day has been 3 years and 2 months in the making!  He's pretty excited about today.  Congratulations!!

High School soccer

Austin and Ethan have started their high school soccer season and I was finally able to get to one of their games yesterday.  So many of their games are far away and right after school which is a busy time with the other kids.  But I try to make the home games when I can.  Austin played defense in the game yesterday and did a great job.  He played the entire game with little rest.  And the other team was pushing the whole game, so he was kept very busy.  

 They ended up conceding 3 goals, but defending away a lot more than that!

Ethan got to see some varsity time too!  He was subbed in with 3 minutes left in the game.  But he's only a sophomore and he's behind 4 seniors fighting for his position, so it's great!  He did great with the time he got and is determined to secure his spot on varsity!  I love watching my kids play!  Go SAHS!!

Players Showcase Las Vegas Tournament

Blue Knights took off for another weekend tournament this past weekend.  This time we traveled to Las Vegas and participated in the Players Showcase there.  Only Evan and I made the trip this time, since Dave and the boys had work and McKinley has had enough soccer for now.

 Each game we played on a different field in and around Las Vegas.  We had some fun finding the fields and a little bit of fun driving around and exploring.  Our games were afternoon and evening games, so we had each morning to sleep in and do a little bit of fun before the games.  One morning we stayed at the hotel and swam, the next we went down to the Las Vegas strip to the M&M store and the Addidas store.  We also made a stop at the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop (from the show Pawn Stars).

The team played very well.  Our first game we played very well and ended up with a 1-2 loss.  The second game was an easy 8-0 win and then another game that night was their best game with a 0-2 loss.  The team learned a lot and played very well...so I think it was successful.  We're starting our season now, so no more traveling for a bit.

 All in all it was a great time.  I love these boys and how they are so positive and supportive to each other.  We've been with most of them for 3 years now and they are just great kids!  Go Blue Knights!

Survived the off season...!

I'm a very passionate Real Salt Lake soccer fan and I'm very fortunate the the soccer season here in the US is nearly 9 months long if you count pre and post season, so there are only 3 months...December, January, and February that I have to wait for my team to be back at it.  Unfortunately that coincides with the cold weather that already puts me in a bad mood, so sometimes winters are tough.  But this year time went by pretty quickly.  It helped that we were in the season til the bitter (and so so sad) end and that pre-season was televised via the internet starting mid-February.  BUT...the season officially starts on Saturday and I am ready.  David and I attended the season ticket holder's open house and tour.  We were excited to see the new team lounger and a surprise wall photo that included the son of one of Dave's cousins!  Pretty cool.

So we're all set for the season.  We will be at all the home games and cheering on the away ones!  It's so fun to have a pro soccer team right here 10 minutes away!  Go RSL!

Sweet 16!

My amazing Ethan Charles Patterson Smith turned 16 yesterday!  How that happens I have no idea.  It really does go by so fast.  Ethan was a complete surprise pregnancy to us and we're so glad he came to us!  He has always been a wise, gently soul in a little body.  It does finally feel like he is catching up to his age, but he is such a great kid.  He is a peacemaker in our home and very obedient.  He's smart as a whip and his humor is off the charts, but subtle.  He doesn't have to be the center of attention, but handles pressure well and stands up for himself like a pro.

To celebrate we took him out to TGIF for lunch.  He thought that was weird since it was only Monday, but it was sure quiet there on a Monday after Superbowl Sunday.  He enjoyed a delicious meal with Dave and I and also enjoyed missing the first few periods of school.  I told him he could miss the whole day for his birthday, but Ethan decided that he really shouldn't miss his World Civ class and went to school anyways...remember, responsible Ethan.

It's been so fun to be Ethan's mother.  He's taught me so much and he's strengthened my resolve to be more mild and yet strong at the same time.  I know that he will push himself to go far in this world...I can't wait to see what his path is.  I'm so proud of him preparing to serve a mission and challenging himself with good classes.  Now if we can just keep the girls away and the great circle of friends he has I'm great!

Sledding at Utah State

 After we fed the elk and were all bundled up we decided we would try and find a hill to sled on.  There hasn't been any new snow for a while and the snow was actually melting away, but we were able to find a big hill right on the campus of Utah State that was packed down and ready for some good sledding.  It was very icy and hard, but it made for fast tubing and sledding.  The kids, and even the adults, had a great time going over and over, until we were so cold we had to pack up!

I think we were successful in making sure the Draper's were very cold, but also that they had a great time in the winter wonderland of Utah.  It was SO good to see them and to spend time with them.  The kids had a lot of fun together.  It was so fun to have them together again.  Some friends you don't get to see very often, but when you do, it's like they've been there all the time.  That's what is so fun about good friends.  Thanks for coming out Drapers...next time we'll play in the sun and sand, ok?

Hardware Ranch

 We wanted to find some unique things to do during our "play" day with the Drapers.  So we decided to bundle up and head up the canyon to the DWR Hardware Ranch where the operate a winter feeding program for the elk herds of Cache County National Forrest.  They feed the elk quality hay feed throughout the winter to keep the elk from wandering down the canyon and closer to the population of Logan.  It keeps the elk safe and they also able to observe and monitor the activities of the herd.  It was pretty interesting!

 We were loaded on to a wagon and pulled out by a beautiful team of draft horses to the meadow where the elk are feeding.  The guide was very informative and told us about the herd and some of the things they have learned through the program.  80% of the cows are pregnant and have a baby every year.  The baby's nurse well into the next pregnancy and so the feed program is very helpful in maintaining a healthy herd.   We were able to hear some of the babies whine for their mommas while we were there.  It was the cutest thing!

 The herd is free to come and go as they please, but the program has been running for over 50 years, so they know to come to the meadow each winter to feed.  It's passed on from generation to generation.  You could tell some of the elk were used to the wagons coming right up to them and the younger ones were much more nervous about these human invaders.

I think the kids really enjoyed it and it was pretty informative at the same time.  It was a neat experience!