ELI'S WEEK AT SCHOOL

Eli had a great week at school so I thought I would blog it so we can remember...

He was picked to be Star Student

Each day of the week he got to bring in a different something, a letter from a family member, his star poster all about himself, we put together a video of Eli's sports highlights to show his class for his talent, etc. One of the days it suggested that a parent eat lunch with him that day so I decided to take him out to lunch to the place of his choosing, "I want McDonalds and a vanilla milkshake and I want to eat it there!" His easy wish was my command...

Then they had to sum up the story they read in class, something about a bus and space pup...He was most pleased with himself and his drawings that he wanted me to make sure that daddy saw them...

"this is space p up and all the people"

"this is my bestest bus I ever drawed!"

"this is the people screaming, Help! And Space Pup saying, coming!"

This was Eli's spelling test for the week. He was so proud of himself on Friday when he got in the car, he had the biggest smile on his face! Way to go buddy!

TWINS FIRST TIME PLAYING BASEBALL!

Yes, baseball not t-ball. The coach wanted to start them off with coach pitch - we thought he was crazy. Turns out he might actually know what he is talking about! We stressed about the twins playing...

We were actually betting that Tyler might get nervous and want to get out there and bat in front of all the people. He completely surprised me...He got up there and batted during each inning. He connected with the ball 3 times, I don't even care that he fouled out and struck out...I was just so pleased he hit it! Then every time when he would strike out and have to walk back to the dug out - he never had a pouty face on, he came back with a smile. I couldn't have been more proud of him (I am not telling you how he would take breaks in left field and sit down and rest, ha ha).

Tyson was a great little team player. He was right field and saw zero action....BUT he was always in ready position and hustled to and from the dug out. He struck out the first two innings and then his last inning he actually hit the ball AND made it to first base! What the what?! Super proud. There was only one batter after him and he struck out so he never made it past first base, but I don't care. Very proud!

Eli got to play this one game on their team as well. They had two players gone so we dressed him up in someone else's uniform and he played catcher for the first time. He hated it. Never done it before and I am pretty sure he doesn't want to do it again either. He might have enjoyed it if he didn't have to wear all that gear at 2pm on a sunny afternoon when its 107 degrees outside. Bless his heart.

We didn't expect much from the twins at this game...after all, Eli used to go out into the outfield and put rocks in his pockets so anything more than that and we hit the jack pot! The boys loved it and can't wait for their next game! Go Dodgers!

Eli at catcher

 Tyler at bat

 Tyson at bat

 Tyler and Tyson in their uniforms!

 "raise your hand if you hit the ball!"

 The 3 amigos!

 Coach pep talk right before the start of the game

FOOTPRINTS!

I am not even sure if you can see these footprints very well, but I saw them and smiled to myself and I wanted to take a picture of them. Today when I opened my fridge I noticed two little footprints at the bottom of my fridge. That meant, that one of the little twins wasn't quite tall enough to reach something he wanted inside so he took it upon himself to stand on the fridge to help him reach it. I will miss these dirty little feet some day when they are taller than me and no longer need to stand on my fridge to reach them. In the meantime, I will just smile sweetly as I see them.

ELI'S SWEET LITTLE SPIRIT!

Eli had a substitute teacher on Sunday in his church class and she just told me today about how much she enjoyed having Eli in there. She said how tender and sweet he was. They were talking about praying by yourself in the morning and at night and then she told a story about a boy riding his bike in England for 2 miles in the dark all by himself. Eli listened very intently and wanted to know every little detail of the story. Then afterwards he got up from his seat and went and sat in the corner and cried because he didn't want people to make fun of him if he says his prayers. The teacher sat down with him and explained that people won't make fun of you and if they do its ok because even big strong men say prayers. Then at the end of class he raised his hand to say the closing prayer and she said it was the most beautiful prayer. She went home and told her husband what a tender moment she had with Eli and how much she enjoyed him.

About a month ago we were driving in the car and Eli started asking me about other countries in the world. Somehow I was able to tie that into daddy serving a mission in Brazil. He then proceeded to ask me some questions about a mission and I told him it would probably be better if he just called daddy and asked him. He declined. A few minutes later he changed his mind. We called up Jared and luckily he was getting ready to head to lunch so he was able to spend the next 15-20 minutes on the phone with Eli talking about his mission and answering all of Eli's very inquisitive questions. When they hung up the phone, Eli handed it back to me and was very excited that when dad gets back from Oregon he was going to show Eli all of the stuff in his missionary trunk.

Two weeks ago when we were in Oregon we went to the visitor center after Sacrament meeting. It did not exist the last 3 times we were in Oregon so we were excited to check something new out. The twins just wanted to play the coloring the Temple game and Emma kinda wandered around for a few minutes and enjoyed watching the "I Am A Mormon" videos. Eli on the other hand just wanted to spend the day watching videos about prophets. He would have stayed even longer, but I was done and ready to go. We loved how interested he was in all of it.

I am writing these little stories only for the purpose of one day letting Eli know what a sweet spirit he has and how he touches so many people and how just before he turned 7 he really seemed to be interested in different things in the church and was really taking them seriously. He is so sweet and we hope he keeps that with him forever.

BEST.SURPRISE.EVER!

BEST.SURPRISE.EVER!! Jared hopped on an Intel shuttle last minute and surprised us at Eli's baseball game! He came without a toothbrush, clothes or anything else but, we are excited for the next 10 hours he is home!

Look at these completely happy faces!! Melts my heart! 

WEEKEND UPDATE!

It was a busy weekend full of fun stuff and boring stuff like yard work and weeds!

Friday night Eli had his opening game for the Heat 2013 Fall Season - we won!



After the game Denise and I went to a stake 80's party - it was totally rad to hang out with her and get dressed up, buuuuuut, the party sucked - low attendance despite having a live band playing 80 cover songs - kind of a bummer. We left after 30 minutes and went to Frost instead.


(I only put this picture on here because I liked how my arm muscle looked! Vain?!)

When I came home, Emma and Bella had dressed up themselves in their own 80s attire. They did a totally tubular job! I was so proud of them that I took them to McDonalds all dressed up so they could run inside and order ice cream cones. They required gum for the task so they could smack it like teenagers - they are funny!

Next morning was Eli's first San Tan Legacy Red U7 game! They lost 4-3 to Awhatukee, dang it. Oh well - Eli played well so that's all we could ask of him.

Then today, Eli came home from school and showed me his papers for the day. He showed me this drawing and said, "dad says not to be weak so I drew myself with muscles!" I thought that was awesome!

ELI'S DRAWING!

Eli comes home from school and says, "here's my drawing...dad says not to be weak so I drew myself with muscles!'

80's STAKE PARTY!

Denise and I got dressed up and hit up the Stake 80s dance and then went out and grabbed some Frost - fun night! 

OREGON WITH DADDY!

(Shhhhh - I am typing this blog October 28, 2014, but I am pretending it's just after Labor Day weekend in 2013 - but sadly because it is over a year ago - I don't remember all the cute and funny stories - so it's pretty much just going to be pictures)

With Jared living up in Oregon again - we got the opportunity to fly up there and visit him. It's not like the good old days where we could live up there with him the whole time so we are lucky with the kids busy sports and school schedules just to sneak away for a couple of days and go up there. Me and the boys flew up on a Wednesday afternoon and Emma didn't get to fly in until Friday at night - she couldn't miss school. She was bummed out, but got to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Rodgers and they spoiled her and then she got to fly by herself for the first time - 11 years old - I flew to Sacramento by myself when I was 8 - so she was older AND had her own cell phone - I had nothing - but I do remember my mom making me fly over in a dress - ugh!) See how lucky my boys are - we went straight from school - don't they look comfy :)

The next morning after me and the boys arrived - Jared had to go to work - so I slept in and got caught up on sleep that I miss out on while Jared is gone because I stay up way to late doing stupid stuff because I cant sleep - but when I finally woke up - it was sprinkly and overcast - just like I like it! I am pretty sure we were lazy bums that whole first day :)
 
 The next morning, I did what I do best and me the crazies went and handled the zoo ourselves!  I LOVE the Portland Zoo - best zoo ever!

 Petting zoo section...touching a snake -

 

Posing on statues for the camera...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The twins favorite part was the penguins - they were pretty much awesome. The boys would take their finger and move it all around the glass and the penguins would follow it like it was a fish...they did that for a good 30 minutes -

 

 

 

 
The next day Jared had work off and we took the boys to Rood Bridge Park - a park we love every time we are in Oregon. We had a picnic and played soccer and then played on the park equipment!
 

 Emma flew in that night and we picked her up at the airport and then headed straight over to Voo-Doo Donuts! A very well-known popular place in Oregon for donuts - they had the craziest combinations every there - very cool if I was high on drugs - as a person who doesn't do drugs - it was cool to see what all the hub-bub was about - but I have no desire to go back :)

 Saturday we did another favorite past time - Farmers Market!!! We end up spending so much money there - everything looks, smells and tastes so good! It's always an expensive, delicious time!
 

 There was this cool old looking barn along the street by our car so we stopped and posed for some pictures!

 

 

 

Later that afternoon we headed to downtown Portland to hit up the Nike outlet - it is always so big with so many crazy deals of things you haven't seen anywhere else yet - gotta love it - and as always - we spent a lot of money on lots of goodies for ourselves :) 

Again, sticking with Oregon trip tradition - Sunday was Portland Temple trip. We did go to Sacrament in Jared's ward though - he always likes people to see he really does have a family in another state. After Sacrament we took a tour of his church building - it was the largest church building built in Oregon if not ever built. It had a full service kitchen upstairs and in the basement. It had a full size ballroom, 2 basketball courts, full size stage, etc.

Then we made our way over to the Portland Temple. Since we had been there last, they now have a really nice Visitor Center so we toured that for a bit - the kids loved how interactive it was.

 

 That night after dinner we went on our walk in "The Sacred Grove". That's what we named it back in 2004 when we went there the first time - it just reminds us of pictures that we see of the Sacred Grove.

 We found snakes on our walk - we never find snakes - we never look either - but the boys were obsessed with finding some - it was a good day in deed!

 
 

 Can we take a normal picture with all of us looking at the camera at one time?! Nope - I guess not!

 

 

Monday was Multnomah Falls baby!! It was beautiful as usual and the kids loved it! We hiked farther up the mountain than we ever have - it was making me so nervous - we were freaked out the boys would slip and fall down the moutain - so finally we had to turn around - I am not one to get nervous but this sure did it for me - I did feel better though when Jared told me he was feeling the same way!

 
 

 

 The top before we turned around...

 

 

Next stop was the Fish Hatchery -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was finally time for the trip to end. It's always so sad to say goodbye to daddy. The kids did great on the plane and then patiently waited for Stephanie to pick us up from the airport at 11pm!

 

Needless to say - the kiddos were pooped the next day after school - ha ha!