Friday, October 12, 2012

until next year....

WE'RE FROM BOX ELDER
COULDN'T BE PROUDER
IF YA CAN'T HEAR US
WE'LL YELL A LITTLE
LOUDER!!!!
 
Wed. was Briars last freshman football game.
It comes bitter sweet.
It has been so much fun watching this group of boys who are such great friends play together for the first time.
They have played their butts off.
And.. In return they are sore and tired.
ready for what for some is a very small break before their next sport starts.
For us it is wrestling season in 2 weeks.
Now... Briars 2 week break consists of:
UEA at his friends cabin
Football Banquet
{which they have to have a skit ready for}
and...
staying conditioned and building his air up for wrestling
along with any other things that come his direction.
.
Briar Is very lucky to have such amazing support that follows him to his games.
Taylor has been wonderful about taking pictures at all the games.
I am so grateful.... 
Yes Tay....  I LOVE YA even though I ruffed ya up a little at times. (;
so..... here are some of the shots Tay got of Briar and his team.
 #37
 Layin the blocks...

 Nice tackle B...

 1 of his runs...

 another nice run...

 And... His TOUCH DOWN!!!!!

 another nice run...

 the boys
{Kort, Bryant and Briar}
 
   The Team!!!!

Monday, October 8, 2012

Conference weekend...

Mormon 

WOW!

This was a wonderful conference!
The Prophets announcement about the new age requirement to serve a mission {18 for young men & 19 for young women} has brought new change and excitement all around.
It is so wonderful to hear the talk and change of heart for so many of our youth. 
I am so proud to be a Mormon!
This Quote above says so much!
It has been such a wonderful and needed weekend around here.
Aaron and Briar attended the Priesthood session with both Grandfathers, along with Aarons brother and Nephew.
I love the spirit they bring home after and enjoy listening to the messages they share with us.
We were so excited to be able to have Aaron home 2 morning in a row.
We have enjoyed breakfast as a family...
 listened to conference...
visited with family... 
took a drive...
played games...
 and just enjoyed being together.
.
.
 I found a video on you tube today...
It was 2 missionaries singing A Childs Prayer in their car.
it just happens to be one of my favorite primary songs.
It made me laugh... smile... and cry
For so many different reasons.
It was a great start to my morning.

Friday, October 5, 2012

these are the moments....

Where to begin? 
I'm not really sure anymore....
I am so far behind on recording all our moments.
We have been so busy living and making so many, that I am finding that there's little down time.
And... I'm not using what little down time there is to keep up.
So.... Here are a few of our moments.
.
.
We are still in football mode around here.
Briar is doing amazing....
We are so proud of him... He is getting a lot more offense time right now and is getting great runs. He is really wanting a touch down.
He has been close a few times and is stopped just short of one.
We played Sky View this last week. 
Our boys played a great game, but didn't pull off the win.
The game was played a bit rough and mean on the other side resulting in injuries for our team.
Briar is one of a handful that is suffering.
We are wondering if he has a concussion....
We are praying that he doesn't but don't wanna risk it.
It has been a long couple of days but today will be the decision day....
If his headache hasn't eased by practice time we are gonna have him tested. It has been a roller coaster of thoughts and emotions.
Next week is our last game. He really wants to play and we already have at least 2 if not more boys unable to play because of our last game.
But... It is not worth him risking his well being for the game. 
Praying for yet another miracle.
Feels like we've been doing a lot of that for him lately.
I'm so grateful for the power of  priesthood.
Football aside Briar is trying to keep his grades up, Keep his mowing jobs done,have fun with his pals and get his standing back flip on the ground.
*
Taylor is gearing up for her first school dance.
While trying to keep up with her school work.
She has a huge load this trimester and she is burning out fast and wants to give up most of the time but we keep reminding her that her hard work will pay off.
Her powder puff game was a couple weeks ago and she had lots of fun and came home with lots of bruises. Girls are tough and kinda mean. (;
Taylor mastered her back flip and is now working on her back handspring. She has it nailed on the tramp, now were trying to get it on the ground. She has only landed on her head once. 
In the middle of all this school stuff and being one of Briars biggest fans, Taylor participated in the Temple Cultural Celebration Dance.
Lots of long hours went into practicing for a couple of months.
But it was such an amazing once in a life time experience for her.
She is such a strong determined young lady and I am so proud of her.
*
Cloe is loving first grade and doing very well.
She just received an award for 100% work completion.
She is doing very well with her spelling and has gotten 100% on all her spelling tests so far.
She is doing really good in her gymnastics class as well.
This week she attempted her back handspring by herself.
She didn't quite get it, but she got up and finished class.
I was so proud of her.
 We cuddled the rest of the night because she was pretty sore.
*
Aaron is still Aaron.... Amazing!
He works many long hours trying to keep me home to take care of the kids.
He still makes it to support all the kids in their activities, and help others as much as he can.
I'm not sure how he does it, or how much longer he can.
But I am grateful for such an amazing husband and father.
He just took some family pictures for his brothers family and also a few Senior pictures for Tate. They turned out really good.
Hopefully we can find a little time to work on them this weekend.
*
I have been sick for over a month now. It started with Pneumonia and an ear infection and tweaking my back, to now having a sinus infection. 
I'm so over being sick and tired.
But I refuse to let it hold me down, which is probably why I am still sick.
will I ever learn?!
 I've made it to all the kids activities, and managed to pull off activity days for the ward.
*
I love it when we get family down time at home...
Ok Ok....
Maybe its not always DOWN time, but its our time.
Where we can be US.
Crazy, silly, LOUD, weird even.
We have FUN.... and laugh a lot. Usually resulting in tears and snorts.
Times when nothing is takin serious or personal.
For example:

Home work with my girls....
 this is how we roll..... nothing personal or BAD.... 
just fun!

OR...

 Briars outfit of choice....
haha!
We don't take our selves serious.....
So why on earth would we take each other serious.
These are my favorite times with my kids.
Yes.. I am proud of their accomplishments and love to watch them succeed,
but... these are far more memorable and important to me!

Friday, September 14, 2012

High Creek....

It has been busy and crazy this summer.
Now... I am way behind and have tons of things to catch up on.
like Our MANY fishing trips together.
Man they were fun and I'm pretty sure Cloe is completely hooked.
We did most of our fishing in Mantua.
 Cloe was usually the first one to catch a fish, and usually caught the biggest.
 You always knew when she caught one because she would start screaming with complete excitement every time!!
It usually had everyone
 {and by everyone I mean the grown men up and down the shore line}
Staring in frustration and envy. 
After Cloe would catch a handful in the same spot,
Briar, Bransen & Caleb would go take her spot and she would move on.
For them to get skunked and her to keep catching.
Many giggles from all us parents watching.
It was so fun to watch them all fish.
It seemed to be funnest for them to just dip the line in the rocks on the shore line to catch tons of little ones.
Never a dull moment.
Every trip was fun and had lots of laughs and memories, but I think my favorite was when the 5 of us headed up to High Creek.
Aaron helped us all to fly fish, and we all caught. 
It was so much fun.
Since we were all taking turns with the rods it meant the others played with cameras.
lots of fun captured, but I think Cloes video of me catching my first fish was the best. 
She likes to narrate her videos, and it usually turns into great entertainment.
Briar is just getting into the photography and he is really enjoying it, While Tay has loved taking pictures since she was younger.
I love seeing things through my kids eyes.
They are pretty amazing if I do say so myself.
Sooo...... Let me share what my kids see.
 {Tay took the first 2}

 {Briar took the next 2}

 {Iz took this last one..... She was having so much fun and couldn't wait to get to the next thing so... most of hers are a tad blurry}
Now... for the fish.
Aaron's showing me where the fishies are probably hiding,
and.... he was right!
 Now....
it's the kids turn, & dad is always close by.





He has taught them well.... We think he is the BEST!!!!


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

FOOTBALL..

Bring on FOOTBALL  {2012-2013}
Briar is playing Freshman football this year,
 and they have had 3 games so far.
And he has also had the opportunity to play J.V. 
Sooo AWESOME!!!
He plays Defense Middle Line Backer,
and...
Running Back,
and...
Kick off.
# 36 Purple, #37 White.

The season started with a 7 on 7 Tournament that Briar got to Participate in. 

Then it was on to camps, Practices and GAMES!!

\\\\\\\\\\ #36 //////////
Their first games was against Mound Fort.
 WIN!!
 {?36-0}


Hayden #69 Blocking for Briar



And.... he's through...

\\\\\\\\\\ #37 ////////// 

 Second game was against Br. River
WIN!!!
{41-40}


I forgot my camera, but.... One of the other mommas got B in this shot.
{yes... he seems to be getting blocked or something from his own team....?} 

\\\\\\\\\\ #36 //////////

Third game was against Mt. Crest.
Got our butts kicked ):
{?36-0}


This was a good one.... the video footage is awesome. 
they about went the rounds.
The kid took a late hit in the back on Briar.
 

Briar & Hayden..... I love this shot... LOVE these Boys!!
They are so in sync its cool.
 

Briar had some really great carries in this game.
lots of happy dances from momma (; 

So the day after this game B and 4 other team mates were called over and told they were gonna be playing J.V. that night.
SWEET!!!

So... Here  they are playing their butts off with the J.V. boys.

 Bryant #28, Briar #36, Taylor Ashcroft #88 and Jacoby Hunsaker #54
 
 Briar and Matt Williams chatting it up on the side lines.
{telling B he's doin good}
 


Hard work pays off!!!
Keep it up B we are so PROUD of you!!
xo
 

Team Cloe....

We've been cheering for Cloe while she shimmies and shakes.
That's right Mini Cheer Camp and Future Rockettes.
Cloe was so excited that she could do both this year since they weren't at the same time.
And.... I think shes got something. 
Now the question is which way does she wanna go?!




Yes.......
She found us in the crowd.
 and.... like the camera loving, well taught, sweet heart she is, she gave us a show.
Love HER!!!
 

Thursday, September 6, 2012

trek


LOVE this pic.

So glad they are home.
Tay and B made lots of new friends on trek, and memories that will stay with them forever.
Tay may not have had the best experience, but she did have some fun along with some great spiritual moments. Tay is one tough cookie and pushed to the end and has some great memories with her brother.
Briar had a completely different experience than Tay. Briar learned a lot and changed a lot.
His testimony really grew and strengthened him.
So much happened and I am so glad they got this experience.
I'm even happier that they got to do this together.
This is my Tay and Bug.
Always and Forever  FRIENDS!!!