Benji and Kyle Beckerman

Brendan and Benji went to a soccer camp last week in Centerville. They both had a great time. Benji's camp was in the morning and Brendan's camp had two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. On Thursday when I went to pick up Benji he was so excited when he got in the car because Kyle Beckerman was coming to hang out later that day. I wasn't exactly planning on staying an extra 45 minutes until he showed up and after trying to talk him out of staying he was determined to stay and meet him. I made a few phone calls, because I had some things going on later that day that I was going to have to push back and we waited for him to show up.

He showed up aroung 11:15. There were only 4 kids from Benji's group that waited around and so he pretty much got a one on one with him. He is a really nice guy and he was so nice to the kids. He signed Benji's ball, bag, cleats and a Real Salt Lake sticker. He also gave Benji a high five and asked him a bunch of questions about his soccer team and what position he likes to play and about the world cup. Benji was on cloud nine.

Benji getting a high five from Kyle Beckerman.


Kyle Beckerman signing Benji's bag.


Brendan also got to meet him. He didn't quite get the experience that Benji got but it was cool none the less. He talked to Brendan's group about soccer and what it takes to be in the MLS or any other professional soccer club. He signed Real stickers and whatever else the kids wanted. The boys loved soccer camp and told us that they wanted to take it again next year. It was definately well worth the money we spent.

Another school year over

Another school year came and went just like that. The kids had a very successful year and we were so proud of all of their good grades and accomplishments. We attended an end of year program for all of our kids which was wonderful. I do not have pictures of Brendan's program because my camera was not working very well that day.

Taylor had an awards ceremony where they celebrated the students who had been on the honor roll at least 3 of the 4 terms, had a good citizenship grade, had good attendance. The teachers also gave out awards for each individual class. Taylor was recognized for his good grades. He was on the high honor roll every term and his citizenship and attendance were great.
This is Taylor getting ready to receive his award.

Taylor receiving his certificate.

Taylor shaking the hand of the principle and a few of the other school officials.

Mati had a graduation program. You gotta love Kindergarten graduations. They sang a few songs and each child had a little part that they said. Then the teachers handed out their "diplomas". It was a great day!!

Mati and her diploma.

Mati and her class singing.

Mati receiving her diploma.

The teacher had put together a little reception in the classroom after the program. We had some refreshments and then we were able to look at book Mati had made of some of the things they did througout the year. I can't believe the progress. She is growing up.

This is Mati and her teacher Miss Washburn.


Benji's class also had a program. Their program was all about friends. It was very well done.

This is Benji getting ready to start the show.

Benji and his class singing.

Benji and his teacher Mrs. Braby.

Here's looking forward to 9th, 5th, 2nd and 1st grades.

A fight with a frisbee and a messy desk

On Sunday night Brendan and Benji went outside to play frisbee. They had only been outside for about 15 minutes when Benji comes in crying. I ran down stairs to see what had happened and this (after washing off the blood) is what I saw. The frisbee had hit Benji in the eye and cut it. Needless to say it is black and blue now. If you know anything about Benji he thinks that having a black eye is pretty cool.

This is the day after. Still a little swollen.

This morning I hollered downstairs for the kids to get in the van so we could get to school on time. I came down the stairs to this!! I asked Brendan what it was and he said that they cleaned out their desks at school. It is a wonder how all of this stuff even fit in his desk let alone his backpack to bring it all home. I was looking through the pile this afternoon and just had to smile. I found tests and assignments that had been graded, all with pretty good scores, so I don't think he was ashmed to show them to me. But I now know why I he hasn't been bringing anything home. It was all in his desk!!! Love you Bren.

Goblin Valley

So as promised a post about our Goblin Valley trip. We went to Goblin Valley over spring break. We were already in Orangeville and it is only a two hour drive from my parents house so we decided to drive down. My sister and her family were not there but my brother Mike and his family and my brother Tyler and his family were all there and my parents. It was a great time. The only down side to the whole day was how extremely windy it was. I guess if you visit a place that is created by the wind you should expect a little wind, but this was unreal wind.

We had a great time climbing on all of the "goblins"

Taylor

Brendan


Benji


Mati

Taylor and my brother Tyler went to the top of this little guy. This a picture of them coming down. It was one of the tallest goblins.

Brendan, Mati, Benji and my nephew Luke posing for a picture. If you look close at Mati's hair you can see how windy it was.

Brenday, Mati, Kaleb, Korben, Luke, Mikiya, and Mayci. Luke and Mikiya are rubbing all of the sand out of their eyes that has blown in.

Refuge from the wind. The kids found this little crevice and took cover from the wind.

We had a great time and hope to go back when we can take Matt and it is not quite so windy.

Easter

We had a great Easter this year. It happened to be over spring break and Conference weekend, which made for a great trip down to Orangeville to see my parents. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if Matt could have been there. He has been working in Dallas the last couple of months and was out of town.

Easter at our house starts with coloring our eggs. This year it was the Thursday before easter. We did some really cool glitter paint this year.

Here is Benji and Mati taking a time out to pose with some of there eggs. They are patiently waiting for them to dry so they can put the glitter on them.

Taylor (don't ask) and Brendan. They had their own unique technique for coloring eggs.

Friday, we headed to Orangeville. My sister and her family were there and my brother Tyler and his family. Mike came later on Monday when we went to Goblin Valley. I will post about that trip later.

Saturday was the Easter egg hunt that Grandpa and Grandma with help from the Easter Bunny put on. The kids had a great time looking for eggs. This year there was an added bonus, not only was there candy in each egg, but money as well.

Mati

Benji

Brendan

Taylor

All of the kids posing for a picture after they had found all of the eggs.

Mati, Benji, and a few of their cousins, checking out the loot.

After the Easter egg hunt it was off to the desert. We had a great picnic lunch, hiked up and down the hills and climbed on all of the rocks.

My sister in law Megan, my sister Leslee and her husband Richard, and my dad waiting for some excellent food.

Some of the kids took their lunch up on some of the cool rocks.

The littler cousins sat on a blanket.

Mayci, Mati, and Taryn. 10 months seperate the 3 of them and they are pretty much inseperable when they are together. They are waiting at the top of the egg rolling hill. We had an excellent egg trail this year. My dad, Richard and Tyler, after carefully shoveling out the trail, made tunnels and put up rocks to be used as guard rails so the eggs would be sure to stay on the trail. It was fun to watch the kids roll their eggs.

After rolling the eggs the kids decided to throw them off of the rocks and leave them for the birds, snakes, and small animals that live there.

Brendan, Benji, and Taylor, and Jessica throwing their eggs.

We had a great time! Check back later for pictures of Goblin Valley.

When They Think You Aren't Looking

Heard laughing. Went to see what was going on. Found this. I don't even think that I can explain it. Teenage boys and their guitars.

I Can't Believe she is 6

My baby turned 6 on Monday. I can't believe how fast time has flown by.


She is such a sweetheart. You can always count on a hug or a picture that she has drawn especially for you. She is developing quite the personality and I love it!!! She is such a girly girl, but growing up with 3 brothers she definately can hang with them too. I have enjoyed so much spending every morning just she and I and will miss it next year when she goes to school all day.
We love you Matilyn and hope that your birthday was wonderful.

We spent the majority of the day at the Fun Center since the kids were out of school for the Martin Luther King holicay. It was a great time.

She wanted a bike for her birthday.


She designed her own cake, complete with a picture she had drawn with the specific colors and what it should say. I'd say she let us off the hook. It was the easiest cake ever, but I think it turned out very cute.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATI!!!!!!