Soccer Wrap-Up 2017

Cat's team had a harder spring season than fall.  The team has been steadily advancing through the competitive levels of club soccer and this season they were finally really challenged.  They had a losing season overall, but we saw noticeable improvement in their playing from the beginning of the spring season to the end.  I haven't kept track of all of Cat's goals but I think her total is around 6 or 7 for the season, most of which were in the last couple of games.  She scored three times in the next-to-last game, and twice in the last game.  I thought this was particularly cool considering she was also goalie for a significant portion of both games.  Cat has really loved playing for this team and working with this coach.  We've felt so blessed that they found each other!

(I also included a few pictures of the extra-curricular activities that go on during soccer games: playing with teammates' dogs, playing soccer or other games, and - not pictured - playing with Cat's teammates' siblings.)

Payson Grotto Hike 2.0

The last weekend before school got out, we took the kids to the Nebo Loop to do the Grotto Hike.  The kids and I had actually done this hike last fall but wanted to do it again with Ben, and planned a time when the water would be higher.  Boy, was the water higher.  In fact, there were warnings posted that the water was very high and hikers should take extra care on the foot bridges.

Consequently, we avoided several of the foot bridges and proceeded with caution on the ones we used.  The water was very cold, so we stayed out of it.  But we enjoyed the short hike and the sunny, slightly chilly weather.  The waterfall was very cool (literally and figuratively) and everyone else in the family ventured higher so they could enjoy the waterfall from the top as well as the bottom.

Luke found this stick at the beginning of the hike and acted
as if he would lug it the entire time, but thankfully he changed his mind.

Can you spot all 4 kids (and Ben)?

If you see a pinkish dot in the middle of the picture... that's me.
Ben took this picture from the top of the waterfall.

Junior Jags Spring Concert

Cat and Eliza finished their year in Junior Jags (see the Christmas concert here).  Eliza attended her class after school on Mondays and Cat attended her class (just for older kids) after school on Tuesdays.  They both had a blast with their teacher and enjoyed learning a variety of songs, warm-ups, and music games.

The younger group didn't perform but the older group participated in the Jr. High choir concert at the end of the year.  They had a set by themselves at the beginning, singing "I Won't Grow Up" from Peter Pan, and "Think on Me," which was written by Mary Queen of Scots during her imprisonment.

The remainder of the concert was mostly new rock/pop music and included many Coldplay songs.  Cat's choir group sang "Paradise" by Coldplay along with the rest of the choirs in the Jr. High.  In keeping with the rock/pop theme, the teacher coordinated cool lighting (including having the lights go out at one point and the performers used their cell phone lights), videos, and even had students help on drums, guitar, saxophone, and dancing.  It was the biggest production of a Jr. High choir concert I've ever heard of, and very fun to watch.  Ben was out of town on this day and I was nervous about how it would go trying to film from the audience and keep track of the younger three kids but they were all pretty well entertained, so I didn't need to worry.

See if you can spot Cat in the videos below - in all of them there is something obstructing the view of her, but you can see her if you look closely.

Mother's Day Eve

My grandmother happened to be in town Mother's Day weekend and we had a fun visit with her the day before.  (I stayed home with my little family on Mother's Day because Ben was traveling the week before Mother's Day, arriving home that Saturday night, and he went out of town again the following Monday.)  We drove up to my cousin's house, where Oma was staying, and had a great time.  The kids had with their second cousins (I think?) - playing with toys, playing soccer outside, playing games - while the adults talked.  It was really nice.  We all enjoyed a yummy pizza dinner with more varieties of pizzas than I thought possible, then I brought the kids home to go to bed.

Eliza brought some press-on nails she'd recently acquired at the specialty boutique Magasin à un Dollar and shared them with Mary.  Oma had just gotten her nails done so she declined Eliza's offer to let her try them.
Oma is also wearing the necklace Eliza made her and brought as a Mother's Day gift.

Oma watching the soccer game in the back yard.

Mustache Smash was a fun game to observe.

I love this lady!  I'm so glad she's my Oma!

Mother's Day 2017

I spent Mother's Day morning in Salt Lake with the choir then met Ben and the kids at church.  I was really excited to be able to hear the kids' special musical number performance of "I Often Go Walking," during which Cat sang a beautiful descant part with some of the other older girls in Primary.

After church we had a short family photo session, during which Luke insisted I wear a rose he snagged from our neighbor's bush.  First he gave me one almost as big as my head, then he swapped it for a smaller one.  They kids also gave me the gifts they'd found for me when a neighbor took them to the Dollar Store earlier in the week.  Cat got me some blue flowers, Jack chose a small candle, Eliza got a festive Patriotic headband, and Luke gave me a cute little teddy bear.  I loved that the kids had specific reasons for choosing the gifts they got for me and were so excited about them.

After that I enjoyed a nap and woke up to find Cat cooking and Jack and Eliza cleaning.  Then Cat set the table with a tablecloth, fresh flowers, folded napkins, and place cards.  Ben grilled steak and vegetables and made mashed potatoes.  I enjoyed some time on the couch hanging out, and Eliza kept me company showing me some of her drawings.  Cat also made dough for Peanut Butter Blossoms and the kids and I helped her assemble the cookies (and eat them).

Dinner and dessert were delicious and a great way to end a great day.