Ford vs Honda

Jeremy broke down and purchased a new Ford truck a couple of months ago.  It is no secret that the boys LOVE the new truck.  Josh and Kayden were coloring the other day and Josh made this:

He gave it to his dad as a nice gift.  Well, I started to joke complaining that no one loves my Honda anymore.  So my sweet Kayden drew me this:

He isn't familiar with Honda's slogan, so he made up his own.  "Drive a lot"  I like it!  My boys never fail to put a smile on my face.

Looky Here!

McKay made the Jr High basketball team!  Way to go!!

Double Digits for Josh

And just like that Josh is sporting double digits.  That is right.  Josh is 10 years old.  We had a busy day celebrating his birthday, but Josh loved every minute of it!

 Josh had his first Bantum basketball game on his birthday.  The great thing was they won and Josh scored 8 points!  Above Josh is all ready to go to his game.  He wore the Happy Birthday hat from earlier in the week and showing off the fact that he is 10.  That's right, both hands and all 10 fingers!

After Josh's basketball win, we went down to the new local Chuck-a-Rama.  It has been on the wish list for all of the boys for some time now.  They finally talked me into it and we went there for lunch to celebrate both Josh and Kayden's birthdays.  Josh wore his birthday hat all through lunch.

Wearing the birthday hat paid off because our server brought Josh a delightful ice cream sandwich with chocolate chip cookies and a candle to top it off.  The staff sang Happy Birthday and Josh blew out the candle.

After lunch we came home and Josh opened his presents.  His wish list was simple:  a BYU backpack and an art kit.

 Enjoying unwrapping gifts.

All Josh really wanted to do for his birthday was go to the BYU football game.  It was 6 degrees outside so we all put on layers and went to the BYU game.  We must really love Josh!

Wearing the birthday hat to the game.  Lots of strangers wished him a Happy Birthday.  The cougars even pulled out a victory for Josh's birthday!  Josh was just happy we were there.

I have to throw in this picture--Kayden was a good sport sitting in the cold as long as he had hot chocolate or snacks.  He enjoyed a nice tray of nachos at the football game.  His face mask also enjoyed the nachos.

Josh and Kayden blowing out the candles on their birthday cake at Grandma White's house.

10 Things We Love About Joshua:

1. I love that he enjoys staying busy.  Whether he is outside running around with friends or drawing a picture he just loves to be busy.
2. He works hard in school.  His favorite subject at school is math.  He was the one of the first ones in his class to pass off his times tables last year!  He is also quick to do his homework and tries to get most of it done at school.
3. His love for basketball.  Basketball is his favorite sport by far.  He wants his team to succeed and is thinking of them all the time.  Even though his dad (his coach) tells him to drive to the basket, Josh passes the ball so everyone has a turn to shoot.  He just needs to learn that when he is open he needs to take the shot!
4. Josh is a huge help.  He rarely complains when I ask him to do something.  The only job he really complains about is cleaning the bathrooms.  But who doesn't complain about that?!?
5. He likes vegetables.  His brothers can't figure him out.  Josh always points out to them that vegetables are good and good for you.
6. He has a great imagination.  He makes up games that he plays with his friends and brothers and they always have a good time.
7. He is still a Daddy's boy and that is ok.  They still have lots of late night chats.  Josh just loves being with his dad.
8. He is patient with Kayden.  Even though Kayden can be demanding (quit pretended that you're shocked), Josh always shares with him or waits for him after school to walk home or riding their bikes.  He is a good brother to Kayden.
9. He still loves to draw me pictures and write me notes.  He is very thoughtful.
10.  I love that he is so animated.  He is always making funny faces.  He is still one silly kid!  Just check out a few of his animated faces over the years:

Josh, I am so lucky that you are my boy.  We love you to pieces!  Happy birthday!

Happy 7th Birthday Kayden!

They always tell you that time goes fast and to enjoy it while you can. I should listen because in all honesty I have no idea where the last 7 years have gone! Isn't your baby supposed to stay your baby?  Well not this kid.  He insists that he is no longer my baby and that he is growing up.  We had fun celebrating his 7th birthday this year.

Kayden started out the morning with a phone call from Grandma and Grandpa Haacke.  They are visiting Kayden's cousins down in Houston.  After Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Juli sang Happy Birthday to him he sincerely told them, "Thank you!  That was beautiful!"

This 7 year old is all set for school.  He took Krispy Kreme doughnuts to school to share with his class to celebrate his birthday.

Dad brought home this Happy Birthday hat and Kayden wore it the rest of the day.

The hat did come off so he could get bonked on the head.

Making wishes.  "Dad my wish for you is to have good days at work."

His own set of headphones.  He had his eye on these for a while!

After opening presents, Jeremy took Kayden and the boys out for ice cream while I attended a church meeting.  Kayden was proudly wearing his birthday hat while waiting in line for ice cream.

Kayden and Josh got to celebrate their birthday together at Grandma and Grandpa White's house.

7 Things We Love About Kayden:

1. He is one smart kid!  He is quick to get his homework done and is a fantastic reader.  Math is his favorite subject at school.
2. Kayden loves to play with his friends.  It isn't long after school before our doorbell starts to ring.  Kayden and his friends love playing outside, playing the Wii and in the basement with the giant cushions.
3. His writing assignments at school are always good for a smile and/or chuckle.  Here is a good example:
   
   He also writes letters to his aunts and uncles while at school.  He brings them home and insists on mailing them right away.
4. He loves his brothers.  He just likes being with them.  He loves it when McKay will build Legos with him, when Jaxon will play the Wii with him and when Josh lets him play with him and his friends.
5. He enjoys playing sports.  He hasn't chosen a favorite yet.  He loves what ever sport he is currently playing.  He also lets everyone know how "awesome" he is at sports.
6. He is a good snuggler.  I love to snuggle with him on Saturday mornings or on the couch watching a movie.  I especially like it when he plants a giant kiss on my cheek out of the blue.
7. He always tells me he loves me.  Whenever he leaves the house I always hear, "Bye Mom!  Love ya!"  or he will flash me the sign for I love you when walking by.  He also lets you know he loves you by giving big hugs.

How blessed we are to have Kayden as part of our family.  Happy Birthday Kayden!  We love you!  (Insert giant wet kiss here.) 

Fall Sports

It has been a very busy fall.  McKay played 9th grade Lone Peak football.  He was on the "A" team this year.  He learned that there are a lot of kids that are good at football.  He got some good playing time, but probably not as much as he would have liked.  With practice every day for a couple of hours, he found that he was putting a lot more into it than he was getting out of it.  Nonetheless he had a fun successful season.  It was sad when his team lost in the semi-finals.

McKay was #63 this year.  Above he is blocking on the offensive line.

Getting some half-time instruction from the coaches.

McKay mostly played on special teams.  He is the second from the top of this picture during a kick-off.

We all enjoyed going to McKay's games.  The boys enjoyed playing a little football themselves during the game.

Kayden joined a neighborhood soccer team this year.   He loved playing on the same team as his favorite buddies.

Kayden is in the middle doing some running.  His game improved a lot this fall.

Kayden also played flag football this fall.  It was one of the most entertaining things I have ever witnessed.  His had a whole bunch of boys from our neighborhood on his team.  They would all hug each other after each touchdown and chest bump.  It was hilarious! Kayden would also provide sideline entertainment by stretching when it was his turn to sit out:

Kayden doing some push-ups to stay warmed up.

Here he is stretching out his legs.

Kayden's football team with his coaches.  They had such a good time together!

Kayden would take the wrapper off of his Gatorade drink and put it on his wrist.  He claimed it gave him extra power.  It was his secret weapon.

Once soccer and football were over for the season, Kayden started up playing basketball.  This is his first year playing.  He double dribbles a lot and does some traveling, but he has got a great shot.

Above he had just shot a basket and it went in.  It was his first of 10 points that game.

Taking a breather between quarters.  He is one happy player.

He picked up right where he left of with flag football and started stretching on the sidelines when he wasn't playing.

Not sure what to call this stretch as he is up-side-down with his legs on the wall.  Whatever it was he recruited his brother and his brother's friend to do it with him.

Josh also played soccer and flag football this fall--I just never remembered to take his picture at his football games.  His soccer team played up one year and they are still undefeated!  This is their third year being undefeated.  Go Green Machines!  They are a fun bunch of boys to watch play soccer.

 

 Josh getting ready to give the ball a hard kick.

 The Green Machines

Jeremy was Josh's flag football coach.  Josh loved that.  Josh's team did pretty well and Josh got to play quarterback during most of the games.  Josh is now in the thick of Bantum basketball and Jeremy is coaching this team as well.  It will be a fun season.

Jaxon played fall soccer--forgot to take pictures.  He had a good time with this team, but his best friend was on his team with him and got injured and didn't make it to most of the games.  Jaxon missed playing with him.  They have played on the same team every year since forever!  Jaxon started basketball quite early this year.  He joined up with some members of his team from last year to play in a pre-season league.  They started practices in September and the league wraps up in the next week.  Jaxon tried out for the Lone Peak 7th grade Bantum team and made it.  He is super excited for this season and has high hopes for his team.  We are excited for him!

McKay was sad to see the football season end.  However, he has been attending basketball open court time a couple of days a week at the Jr. High in preparation for the school basketball tryouts.  Tryouts finished up this week and McKay found that he made the team!  This is going to be a very busy basketball season!

I love watching my boys have fun and playing hard!