“MVP”

This past weekend was the competition we work for all year, Nationals at Lagoon. Teams and dancers from the west come to compete. Most of you know that a big part of our family is clogging. Casey, Tanner and Brayden have all clogged for several years. This year Brayden was able to win an award that is very difficult. They take the top dancers from the dance off on Friday night (around 300 champion and pro level dancers) that participate in the individual event "freestyle". It is basically a solo event done along side other dancers. For the past couple of years Brayden has been chosen to dance off on the Saturday show for the title MVP…the top Male dancer. Last year he came close and won Rookie MVP, which is awarded to the top dancer not chosen, that has also not ever been MVP in previous years. There is an MVP Female, Male, Duet, Short Duet, and A Cappella. This year Brayden was able to take the next step and win it all. He was awarded MVP male dancer this year. He has worked hard and we are very proud of him. Tanner also did very well making the All American team for the 8^th year in a row. They both are great boys and I love them so very much. They both are very busy in school now and only do individual events. We are already working on a team dance with the three of us and my niece and nephew Michael and Jessica. Casey has even said he might want to join in when he gets home???? We'll see. It should be great fun. All of my teams did great and it was a fun event. Glad it's over J Now all I have are my 2 recitals in about 3 weeks and things will be slowing down a bit. I want to send a big THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU to Shane for his continuing support with my job. At times it is crazy and I know drives him crazy, but he's always willing to help.

Brayden


Tanner

“Lady bugs and Grass?”

We had a fantastic "Mothers Day" week-end. It started with Brayden's soccer game. They played in the Semi Finals match against the #1 team at Jordan High. They lost a heart breaker 4-2, with the last two scores being in the last 5 min. of the game. The majority of the game was a tie. They gave them a good game and should be proud. It is nice to have the soccer season over. J After the game our family and 2 of Brayden's friends that are also on the soccer team, went to dinner at one of our family's favorite restaurants, "Texas Roadhouse". YUUUMMMY! Well, to say that Brayden has a friend on the large size is an understatement. He is about 6' 2", and about 220 pounds of pure muscle. Not only is he large, he already is sporting a nice little beard, well the kids call it a "chin strap". He just turned 16 last Sunday. So, as he is scarfing down his salad, (we all are watching him in amazement to how fast his salad is disappearing) imagine his surprise to see something moving …., A LADYBUG was in his salad. Of course we all thought it was hilarious, he just shrugged his shoulders and kept plugging away at his salad. The rest of us simply moved our salads aside not quite sure we wanted to finish ours. Had a great time Friday!

Brayden and his friends at Tanner's Jr. Prom…Levi is the one in the back crouched down. Does not show how massive this kid REALLY is.

Saturday we went to Shane's parents house out in Stansbury for a Mothers Day visit. It is always nice to see them and its been far too long. The boys helped their grandpa with a few things around the house while we played with the newest grand baby of the family. Fun stuff! I'm going to share something that happened and I hope it's ok with Shane's dad….it's just way too funny!!! Sorry dad. Carsen always loves going to grandpa's house and is always excited to see them. As we are leaving, the kids are doing the traditional hug and "I love you's". Carsen gets to grandpa, gives him a hug and then gets the puzzled look of "what is that" on his face. Then the finger comes out and is pointing to grandpa's nose. "What's that Grandpa"….looking closer he deciphers what's in grandpa's nose…"Grandpa, you have GRASS in your nose". Silly Carsen, does he not know that we ALL have grass in our noses, it's called hair! Turning 40 this year has made "GRASS" appear more apparent than ever and in places that never needed a lawn mower before. My next lip and eyebrow wax will need to include my chin, sideburns, and now I think about it, can you have your whole face waxed???? Really, the things a 4 year old says!!!!!

Carsen with Grandpa and Grandma on his 4^th Birthday party this past January.

Sunday we enjoyed a call from Casey in Honduras. To hear his voice is exciting, but at the same time, makes me miss him even more. The fact that he is doing so well is comforting. He is staying busy as a Branch President in his area trying to build it up and get people coming back to church. I can tell he is happy and loving his mission. He has been blessed to be able to pick up the language quickly. He mentioned Sunday how grateful he is for this. It really is a gift that has helped him tremendously in the mission field. As all missionary's do, he has had struggles in other areas that has made him become a bit more patient and understanding. Our family has been blessed for his decision to serve the Lord and we all miss him. Just 8 ½ months left!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
to all of the moms out there. Motherhood is the greatest calling we have been given and sometimes our greatest challenge. Isn't it great being a MOM!

Soccer, Soccer and More Soccer!

After 2 years of kids playing on the High School team, and countless County rec. teams when they were younger, (including Logan being on one right now) I can honestly say I STILL DON'T KNOW THE RULES. OK, I do know that the main goal is to get the ball in the net, but I can't ever see the "off sides" that everyone yells countless times during a game. Why some penalty kicks are from mid field and some right in front of the goal, and why a team does a corner kick instead of the goalie kicking it down field. But after the past two High School seasons, I must admit that I'm becoming a soccer fan. It really can be fun to watch even though you know NOTHING about the game. To say that I'm a fan is saying something due to the fact that we have watched many games in the SNOW, COLD, RAIN, and did I mention SNOW!!! Soccer up here is more a Winter sport than Spring….in Kamas Spring is absent, it goes from Winter right into Summer!

Last year our High School soccer team made it to the State Semi Finals. We were up 3-0 with 30 min. left….we could all taste victory and a chance to play in the finals… and we LOST....the other team came back and before we knew it our team had been defeated. This year they want to prove themselves again. On Friday we are going to the State Semi Finals again, but now play the #1 team in the State Rolland Hall, a private school that actually recruits for soccer and won State last year. Just want to send a good luck out the Brayden and the team. They have worked hard all year and we're proud of them. "GO GREEN…GO BRAYDEN…GO WILDCATS"