Christmas Piano Recital

It's recital time again!

They do such a great job.

At the rehabilitation center.

Cookies for Sammy

Today we decided to decorate cookies for our missionary brother.  I loved how Jackson wrote Bro on every cookie he made.  They all did a great job and we hope Elder Pollock likes his homemade cookies.

We were glad Randon was there to help out as well.  

Thanks kids!

Girls Basketball

It was fun watching these girls play basketball this season.  

This was Maren's first year playing.  It took her a game or two before she knew exactly how to play, but once she got it.  She got it.

8th Grade basketball was fun to watch as well.  Aliza was a lot more confident out there this year.  

She shot way more this year.

They had a great year this year.  Hope she continues in high school.

Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk

I got to walk with Maren and her friends around Laurel, about three miles, for awareness about being strong with no drugs.  I bumped into Aliza and her friend Megan, and Karissa and Randon.  It was a good morning. 

The Number 2 is Cool!

Jackson, Aliza, Callin, and Maddie all were  #2 for football and volleyball.  We thought that was pretty cool.  We were glad they had their shirts with them when they came to visit for the day.

Cousins Camp- Day 5

Our last day together, we went up Little Cottonwood Canyon past Alta Ski Resort and hiked up to Crescent Lake.  We were told it is an easy one because we have mom and little kids.

It was OK, until the end when we were scaling over rocks and going up an incline pretty fast.  We were ready to see the water.  We got some good pictures of the kids/families that would stick around long enough to get photos.

Kass, Cal, Bree, and Maren on the trail/ Jackson and Max/ Abby and Aliza/ Maren and Grandma (they were the first to start heading down, glad they got a photo)

Love my children

So glad these girls all get along, most of the time :)

Bree, Abby, Brooklyn, Brynn, Aliza, Maren

It was hard to get these boys to look at the camera.  They were sick of getting pictures taken.

At least most of them are looking now. 

Cade, Blake, Cameron, Jackson, Cal, Max

The Franckowiaks

Cute, Cute, family.... well at least this is half the family.

After the hike, we headed down to Draper Park to play while foil dinners were cooking in the oven at home. (we didn't get a pit at the park)

What a fun day and week of Cousins Camp.  I'm so glad we are keeping the tradition as long as we can.  We didn't get a Montana Cousins Camp this year because of Kass teaching until July, then moving to Las Vegas for Mick's new job in the OR.  So Sad.  Hopefully next year!

Cousins Camp-Day 3

We, of course, couldn't not have cousins camp without the Cottonwood Heights Pool.

It always seems to be a hot spot, especially on the hot days.

London, Maren, Bree, Abby, Brooklyn, Brynn, Aliza

And of course, each year the kids get braver and braver.  Maren went off the high spring board this year.  Aliza the 1st platform, and Jackson I believe went off the highest one.

It's amazing how each year the kids seem to look older and older.  :(

Last Day of School!

It has finally arrived!  The girls had it planned for a week now.  They found some OLD sparkling cider in my pantry and decided to open it up to celebrate the end of school.  Aliza put it in the van with some cups and opened it when I came to pick them up, I don't think it tasted very good because they kept spraying it out after they would take a drink.  What a fun day.

Karissa, Aliza, Kyla, Paige Brooke Anderson

Last Band Concert of the School Year

From what I understand, this is Jackson's last year in band.  He doesn't want to continue on in high school.  He has done such a great job playing the trumpet.  Aliza will play the flute in 8th grade and then who knows.  They did pretty well this time.  It was fun to listen to.

What a great looking group of kids.  Next year it will be just Karissa and Aliza.  :(  I've already told Maren she will be in choir....... :-)

Club Volleyball

Being in 7th grade starts a lot of fun activities.  Club volleyball is one of them here in Laurel.  Aliza decided to join not only because she loves volleyball, but her cousin Kyla was playing as well.  Kyla, however, is in the 8th grade so they wouldn't play on the same team.  However, with the 8th grade team needing a couple of more players, they asked if anyone would be willing to move up.   Aliza, or I said she would be happy to.  Now she can play with Kyla and I would have Amy to sit with.  It was so nice.  Plus, when I had to be at one of Jackson's lacrosse tournaments, Amy could take her to the game.

The games (tournaments) were every Saturday for about 6 weeks from 8 in the morning till sometimes 5 or 6 at night. It was a long day.  But, fun to watch.  Aliza has a mean serve.

She got to play with some great girls and learned a lot.  Even though they didn't win every time, they were still good sports and had a great attitude.

These two girls have played a few sports together.  Basketball in 5th and 6th grade, and now volleyball.  Hope they get to play together in 9th and 10th, 10th and 11th, and 11th and 12th grades.....  Such beautiful girls.  Love them.

7th & 8th Grade Track

It was such a fun year to watch my two kids running and jumping.  Maren made it to one of the meets.  She wanted to miss school and watch what Jackson and Aliza did in track.  Of course it was a cold day the day she came.

Aliza ran the meters, hurdles, and relays.

 Jackson ran the mile, some meters, hurdles, and poll vaulted.

Jackson is in the purple with black legs

Aliza and these girls (one is missing) took first every time.  They were seconds from beating the record.

Jackson beat his personal record in poll vaulting and came close to beating the school record.

He was participating in track and lacrosse.  Luckily the track meets were mostly on Thursdays and lacrosse was on the weekends.  Not sure what will happen next year when he is in high school.

I so enjoyed being at the meets and watching my wonderful children doing their best.

One time the track meet was in Laurel.  Maren (left) and her friend Jenna were watching the meet during their recess.  So cute.

YW Glamour Shots

Had fun taking "Glamour Shots" of the Young Women tonight.  Bishop Graves jumped in for a few as well.

Kyla, Mallory, Alexis, Sierra, Karissa, Taryen, Aliza, Bishop Graves, Alexi, Megan, Sarah and Aliza, Shelby, Sarah, Aubrey and Kaona, Shelby and Averi, Paige

Aliza- A True Teenager

Well, Monday, February 4th was the date.  My daughter Aliza became a true teenager.  13 years old! 

Sunday, the 3rd, we had Clint, Amy, and kids over, along with Kenny and Jodi and Kids, and the missionaries.   We had her favorite dinner, spaghetti and a cake that she asked me to make.  A volleyball. I wasn't sure how I was going to do it, but it did end up looking pretty good.

Monday, Maren and I woke up a little early and made Aliza a birthday breakfast.  She went to school and at 2:28 p.m., in 8th period class (English), she announced to everyone that she was born.  It was a busy night with Jackson's basketball game, and Maren having dance class, but we did sneak in her favorite dinner..... Subway.  

I am so thankful to have Aliza in my life and feel very blessed to be her mother.  Aliza is a smart and energetic girl and I love her very much!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Birthday Questions/Answers:

Favorite Color:                     Green

Favorite Food:                      Spaghetti

Favorite Dessert:                   Ice Cream

Favorite Subject in School:   Gym

Favorite sport to play:           Volleyball

Best Friends:                        Megan, Morgan, Britnee, Rylee, Dyllin, Kyla, Karissa, Maddie, Callin,                           

                                              and of course Abby.

Who is your Hero?               President Monson

Favorite Game:                     Sorry

Talents:                                 Volleyball, Flute, Piano, Basketball, Singing......

Christmas Piano Recital

Once again it's that time of year.  I didn't think of it until I was sitting and waiting for this to start, but Sammy wasn't there to play his piece.  It made me sad.  Aliza and Maren did a fabulous job and I could tell they really practiced.  It was kind of funny because most of the students there were members of our ward.  I think there were 5 students not members.  Amy said that would be her fault.  They were the first to be Denise Hammer's students and because of ward referrals, she has a bunch of mormons as students.  Hopefully with all the church songs the kids are learning to play she will be taught something in the process.

Picking out the Christmas Tree

It's that time again.  Crazy how fast the year flies.  The kids and I took our traditional trip across the Yellowstone River to pick out the tree from the tree lot.  I warned them before we got out of the car that I would be taking a photo so get your smiles ready.  We found our tree pretty quick, they cut the bottom off to make it fresh, and before we had the helpers take it to the car, we stopped to get the photo.  A girl in Jackson's grade was there and watching the photo shoot.  I think Jackson cooperated more than usual as to not make a scene. 

What a perfect looking tree.  Thanks kids for helping pick it out.

Aliza Playing Basketball

This is the only picture of Aliza doing anything basketball.  I only took video of her playing.  She did such a great job, stealing the ball, getting up the court, and eventually she felt comfortable shooting the ball.  I loved watching her play.  

Halloween

This year, Halloween was on a Wednesday, so our ward put the youth in charge of carnival type games.  The Beehives were in charge of bowling.  We had cups turned upside down, and if the kids knocked them over, they would get the candy that was underneath them.  They really enjoyed it.  

 Maren, Paige, Kyla, Karissa, Aliza

 It was nice to sit back and watch while the girls were in charge.  Shelby was Batman.

 Karissa and Aliza putting the candy and cups up.

After the carnival, Amy and I took the kids around the Saddleback neighborhood and they got some exercise while they ran down the streets.  At one house, they had to do a trick before they got a treat.  Jackson did a back flip and got a gourd and candy, Aliza did a high five and got some toilet paper and candy, and Maren said she didn't do anything and got a banana and candy.  They liked that house.

   

Carving Pumpkins at the McCrea's

This is a yearly occurrence.  Jolene and Kevin McCrea clean out their garage and invite many of their friends to carve pumpkins with them.  They have an amazing selection of foods and snacks.  She even rents a sink for washing hands.  Clint and Amy, Kenny and Jodi, and Us are usually invited.  Last year we invited the missionaries with us, which she said was fine, and this year we asked if we can bring them again.  They sure have a fun time.  I enjoyed taking pictures and helping gut out the pumpkins, while sam enjoyed the artwork of "helping" the kids carve their pumpkins.   

It was a fun time and appreciate the friendships of the McCrea's