End of Soccer Season

What a great soccer season! Toby's team came out with only one loss for the season. They had a fun end of season pizza party at the school where about 80 classmates stayed after school to party with and congratulate the undefeated team. That same week they went out for their last game of the season hoping to seal the undefeated status and got annihilated! Keeps 'em humble I guess! He had a great time playing and learned alot. The season ended just as it started to get really cold around here, good timing.

How Jim Spends His Time

Yah, see that big pile of books on the floor?! Our friend Melissa (who's husband is a senior in CRNA school) warned me that my bedroom would become over run with books- she was right! When Jim is home this is where you will usually find him, surrounded by piles of books on the floor and bed

I'm so glad Jaime is picture crazy like me! She started a blog www.crnassomeday.blogspot.com that chronicles this great adventure. I've stolen the next couple pics from that blog- here Jim is in class

during the first week of school they spent the day at the park doing team building exercises

Here he is looking somewhat official (and thrilled :) He will start clinicals next week and I hope to steal some more fun photos from Jaime's blog

Kicking Myself

Shoot! It was one of those "forget the camera" days. For Family Night this week we ventured to the Dixie Classic Fair. Usually state fairs aren't really Jim or my "thing" but it was really built up around here on the radio and people we talked to and the kids were totally brainwashed- so we went for it. It was actually a really good time. We mostly walked around and took in some great people watching. Jim was determined to try fried butter and Arielle had a fried snickers. I took a bite of both, snickers won hands down! Toby picked cotton candy of course- always straight sugar for him. I chose island style noodles with lots of huge chunks of fresh veggies- weird, I know. The kids were each allowed one ride (we are on a budget and you could easily drop hundreds of dollars at the fair if you don't watch it). They decided to ride one that goes in a circle really fast forward & back and blasts music. They had smiles plastered on their faces and Arielle could barely stay in her seat due to the force. Next we went to the petting farm which had a camel, south american rats, kangaroo and some other non-traditional petting farm animals- Arielle loved that. Lastly, we caught a couple shows- a magic show and hypnotist show. The magic show was Jim & my fav and the kids loved the hypnotist show (first one of its kind that they'd been to). I think the shows made the entrance fee to the fair actually worth it. But alas...no camera- dang! Here's a link to check out the fair http://www.dcfair.com/index.php/about-us

Welcome October!

OK- first off, I'm cheating. This picture is from last October. Seems I've been taking lots of pics lately, but no family pics. So I'll try to get on that and get some current family pics soon. ANYWAY... I'm stoked that October is here. I LOVE this time of year and I'm generally in a very good mood from Oct 1st- Jan 2nd :). As far as I'm concerned October ushers in the holiday season. We kicked off this weekend by renting a wonderful classic scary movie WATCHER IN THE WOODS. It was the kids first time seeing it and it was a hit. Jim & I remember this movie scaring the wits out of us as kids. Then we went to a local church's pumpkin "patch" and picked out our pumpkins. We will finish off the decor with a giant spider & web plastered on the front of the house. This time of year is also wonderful running weather! Went out this morning for a peaceful 8 miler in a delightful light fog with my new running partner Stacie. We ran along quiet streets lined with pastures and farm style houses in the sleepy little town of Lewisville. It was one of those runs that is so good, it almost makes me consider running another marathon. Lastly, this weekend is also great because its general conference weekend! Besides listening to meaningful talks from church leaders, we get to sleep in, eat lots of good food and stay in PJs all day. Oh happy day!

Arielle's Activities

Arielle & Teddy

Arielle's Activity Day Crafts

Activity Day Baby Shower

Arielle bathing Beauty after riding

Arielle and her new instructor Michelle

Arielle cantering

Getting Beauty ready to ride ("tacking up")

Arielle's Activities

Arielle has jumped into some fun activities here in Winston-Salem. There is a great Activity Days group of at least 10 girls. They have real quality activities 2x a month. The first activity she went to they made baby gifts (pictured above) for a mom in the ward. Then they threw her a baby shower. At her last activity they reviewed the Articles of Faith. She always has a great time and learns a lot. I'm thankful for great volunteer leaders who take time out of their busy lives to bless my children!!

Every Friday Arielle and I spend the afternoon at Hidden K Stables where she is taking lessons. Beauty is her favorite horse there and she tries to ride her every week.

Toby gets the Priesthood

Can you believe my kid is old enough to pass the sacrament?! Wild stuff. Toby happened to turn 12 on a Wednesday which is Young Men's activity day here. We took him and he had to walk in a couple minutes late to opening exercises with a room full of teenage guys & girls. He was so brave! His leaders so are on top of it. Somehow they knew it was his birthday and all the kids broke out in song to wish him a happy birthday. He had a great time at the combined activity that night and has had a month full of fun Wed. nights since then. Toby was ordained by Jim on Aug. 16th- Jim did a wonderful job. It took me awhile to get a pic of Toby in his suit to get this posted! Its custom for the boys in this ward to wear jackets every Sunday. An expensive, but good looking and reverent practice.

Go Mustangs!

Toby- going for it
This cracks me up...Toby's soccer coach also coaches the 8th grade girls' soccer. He has a couple of the better girl players help asst. coach and aid the boys in practice and games. Toby has commented on the flirting that goes on. Check out this girl and guy flirting and the look on the Coach's face. Priceless.


One of the "cool" parts of being on the team is being bussed to the games after school. Toby called me from the bus and he was SO excited.

Toby and the Meadowlark Mustangs

Warning! *Bragging mom spoiler alert* Toby had his first soccer game with his new team yesterday which they won 5-0! We are so proud of Toby for being brave and trying out against a bunch of experienced 8th graders. As most of you know, Toby has an Aug. BD and is one of the youngest 7th graders. When Toby was 5 I really debated whether I should hold him back a month and let him be an older kid in school - or should I just send him. He had already gone to two years of preschool and academically he was ready. Besides...Jim & I never were into team sports, Toby probably wouldn't be either. Yay- right!! Toby has a jock streak in him. In St. George Toby had some good sports opportunities. But now in Winston-Salem he wanted to try out against 8th graders in a school of 1200 kids. I didn't want to discourage him, but I was not optimistic! Toby came home from try-outs the first day and looked glum..."Mom, I'm trying out against kids with moustaches that are as big as Dad". Thankfully he made it and actually got to play half of the first game. He brought his A game and was really aggressive. Go Mustangs!