Simple Math

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her first visit from the tooth fairy!!!

Fall Soccer 2009

Well the weather has finally cooled off here in our part of the desert and we are thrilled. The heat is always welcomed being it is how we make a living but when there is not as much work to be done we are happy to see the heat go and pull out our jeans and boots for a while. With this cooler weather come soccer Saturday's for us. This year Tanner is playing on the Stingers U9 boys team and Madisen is once again a Ruff Ryder. They are both doing well but something lit a fire under Tanner's cute behind and he has really stepped it up this season. Being on of the smallest on the team he has to run faster just to keep up but he is proving week after week to be determined to be good at this. This year they have gone from playing on a small field with only defenders near the goal to a larger field playing with a goalie. It is really fun to watch them learn to stay in their positions as well as try and

determine when to break away from their position and help out a teammate.

I love this picture because Tanner is smiling so big!!!

Madisen, as I stated above, is playing on a U7 girls team the Ruff Ryder's. She is only five but wanted to play with her friend Brinley who is older so we chose to play up a couple of levels so they could be together. She has really good games and then there are games like yesterday where she is more concerned with other things than soccer. When she is on her game she is awesome but she is easily distracted. Yesterday we brought snacks and that is all she could think about. She skipped down the field or danced her way to the kick off line more than she ran. Those games are hard for me to watch. I find myself yelling for her to get her head in the game which leads to her sings the "Get Your Head in the Game" song from the movie High School Musical which leads to more distraction and dancing and less soccer playing. How did I end up raising Erin? She is a delight to have around and her mission in life is very simple SPREAD JOY. Side note...the first game she played this season was against another team who wore purple jersey's and they had matching hair bows. This was a distraction for a few of the girls on the team. They asked why we didn't have matching hair ties. So Brinleys' mom and I decided that we would not be shown up in the accessories department another game. That week at both practices we made these hair bows which our coach gave us grief about. This week two of the girls lost their hair ties during the game and unlike the boys who continue to play if they loose a shoe they both turned around and picked it up causing us to loose possession of the ball. OOPS!! At least they looked cute!!! Next game I will bring bobby pins to secure those tighter.

My Rebel Girl

With Tanner and Justin in New Harmony for the weekend with just the boys, Madisen and I were left behind in the super hot desert to find our own fun. She played in her first soccer game of the season and then we had lunch with Grandma DeMille. I had a special treat planned for her that evening...a UNLV football game. She had a blast!!! She cheered, clapped, and sang. The highlight of her night, however, was taking a picture with "Reb"!!!

A very special day!!!

Last week we scheduled Tanner's baptism interview with the bishop. He asked all the standard questions and Tanner gave all the standard answers until Bishop asked him about the word of wisdom. When asked if her knew what is was he answer no, so the Bishop explained and he then remembered we had talked about it. Their dialog on this subject went like this

Bishop: "So are you suppose to take harmful drugs, or smoke or drink alcohol?"

Tanner: "No"

Bishop: "Why not?"

Tanner: "Because I'm only a child!!"

a few days later...

It is Saturday morning and the kids woke up super early full of excitement. Tanner came into my room and jumped up on the bed, gave me a huge hug, and with a grin as wide as he could get it said, "Mom it's my baptism day." We readied the house for the lunch we were having after the baptism, showered and dressed. Tanner teased his little sister and kicked her in the process to which he had this to say "it's okay that will be washed away in a couple of hours." All I could do was laugh. A few minutes before we left Tanner received the special gift he had been asking about all week...his very own scriptures!!

Off to the church we went to pick out his clothes and get prepared for the big event.
Tanner with Mom before changing into his white clothes.
Here he is all dressed in white and looking angelic. He sat quietly and listened to the talks and the music. He was the first to head to the font where he was at last baptized. While I was helping him straighten his tie I asked how he felt he grinned and said "great, but dad bonked my head on the bottom of the baptism tub." That's right folks we were only doing it once.

We had all our family over for lunch and cake and ice cream. The kids ran around and the grown ups talked. Tanner blew out his candles like a pro with no spit. Thanks to my friend Leslie who made the cake which Tanner loved. And a special thanks to all of you who came near and far to be with us on Tanner's special day!!! He felt so loved and supported.

Where were you 8 years ago today?

It was 6:45am September 11. 2001 and we were in the waiting room of St. Rose Hospital watching the news as we waited to be taken back to the delivery room. Breaking News flashed across the screen at the same time they called "Jenessa we are ready to take you back now." I was scared and shaking as I lay in the hospital bed hooked up to a fetal monitor and IV's in preparation for the c-section that was scheduled for 8:00am. The nurse busied themselves with all the usual stuff while all the time whispering to each other. I asked several times if everything was okay with the baby and was assured that he looked great. The anesthesiologist came in and gave me some meds to calm my nerves and walked me into the delivery room to place my spinal block and a few minutes later Tanner graced us with his presence. He didn't cry and I immediately began to panic and ask if he was all right and my mom responded "He's here and he's perfect!" through her tears.

Here it is 8 years later and I feel so blessed to have this special angel in my home. He brings light to every dark day with his sense of humor and very charming smile. My heart breaks if he is sad and soars when he is happy!!! He will be baptized in a week and we are so excited for him to feel that sweet spirit on his special day. During his baptism interview that bishop asked his about the word of wisdom and specifically asked, Should you drink or smoke or take harmful drugs?" Tanner responded "No." When the bishop asked why he said, " because I'm only a child." I love this kid and he keeps me laughing all the time. I pray as he gets older he will keep his child like faith and grow strong in the gospel with an unwavering testimony of who he is and where he came from. Happy 8th Birthday Tanner!!!

First day of school, first day of school

Well here we go again. Last year Madisen went to the preschool program at the elementry school as a peer mentor in the autism class. She was gone five days a week all day. So this year you would think she wouldn't be all that excited to go to kindergarden since she is only half day. You would be wrong!!! She was so excited this morning to go to her class. She got up and got right into the tub and didn't complain even once about how long her hair was taking. She went outside and was waiting for me in the backyard to take first day of school pictures. We walked Tanner down to his line and she ran to her class from there. It was so fun to see her excitement.

Tanner was super excited this year because he has been waiting for third grade so that he can play on the bigger playground. This year his teacher is Mrs. Bresnaham and he is in class with a couple of kids from our ward which is awesome!!! He is very excited to learn cursive and division. Thanks goodness our friend Joni is also a third grade teacher at a different school and will be around to help me with Tanner's homework.

Lauren

I love my sister in law!!! How my brother got so lucky and gets to keep her for eternity is still beyond me but because he had the sense enough to marry this sweetheart we get her too. Just this past month I have had the opportunity to get to know Lauren better. I love that they are moving back here closer to us even if it is temporary. (I am trying to make it permanent, so brace yourself Matthew) We went to dinner tonight and she went shopping with me and helped to pick out some new stuff for my house. Tomorrow she and I are going to watch Big Brother and she is going to help me hang the stuff I bought tonight so that it is straight because on my own, I a hot mess. Anyway I just think she is great and I love her!!!