Basketball

Some action shots of our ball players! Remi and Broden got to play on the same team because they are so close in age. The team was fun it was them, Hartvigsen's daughter, Ingersolls kids Aver and Drew and Hatch's girls, Shaylee and Rilyn! Then there were a few other boys on the team. Not a real experienced team, but them made huge improvements during the season. At their age they don't keep score and we have noticed the kids aren't really that interested in watching or even playing. Especially last year, we had to force them to go in and play. They just wanted to play on or under the bleachers with their friends. This year Blake had them all sit together on the bench and they would keep track of the score, or make it a goal to score so many points. This made all the difference in the world! There was an actual point to making the ball go in the hoop and the kids would cheer for eachother and actually wanted to play and score points. It was really fun to watch! I don't think kids should feel bad for losing or be bad sports about winning, but keeping score is such a huge part of the game and the whole reason you play. The point of a hoop is to get points, not just to see the ball go in the basket. I'm glad Blake was willing to sit with them on the bench and help them keep track of the points and get them excited about the game. It was so fun to see their eyes light up and cheering eachother on!

London Eye Trip

At the beginning of the year we help each of the kids set a goal to work on for the year. If they finish they get a big reward. So, one of Remi and Broden's goals was to read the picture scriptures, all 4, The Book of Mormon, Old Testament, New Testament and Doctrine and Covenants within the year. I guess it was too easy, because 3 weeks later they were all done! So, for their reward we went to London and rode the London Eye! It was probably our last London trip as a family. We dressed all the kids in their matching neon green sweatshirts and it was so nice for keeping track of them.

waiting outside the tube station

Riding the tube into London.

Remi trying out some the space gloves in the Science Museum.

 We realized that museums still aren't are thing! We keep trying them and every time we leave feeling like it was craziness chasing our kids and not really how we wanted to spend a morning. There were a couple things that were interesting and Remi and Broden liked a few exhibits, but not worth the craziness! Even the museum employees were shocked with how many people were there that day. We should have gone a different day! I think those places will be really fun as a one on one thing with each of the kids as they get a little older, or about Remi and Broden's age.

Across from the museums is a church visitor's center. We went there to regroup and make a plan. We watched a couple mormon messages and fed and changed Kelsi, used the toilet, then headed to the big toy store, or so we thought. We remembered hearing of Harrods, so we asked where that was and headed there. When we got there we realized it wasn't what we thought! Yes it is a very famous store, way out of our league, but we were looking for Hamley's:) But Harrods had their own toy department, so we went there and it was kinda fun walking through. They demonstrated lots of the toys, so we saw cool toys in action. I think after each one Broden would say,"Can we buy that? That was really cool."

Then after another demonstration, "Wow! I want that one, can we buy that one?" He always said the one he just saw was so much cooler than the last one. And amazingly after we left, he never mentioned any of them again. I guess they weren't cool enough to work for and save money for, or even remember. Some of them were pretty tempting though.

After Harrods we decided to try finding some american food. First we looked for a 5 Guy's in Blake's phone, but it said it was 15 miles away. Then we decided to try Chipotle. So we started walking to Chipotle and ran into a TGI Friday's. We decided to go there instead,  until we heard the wait was at least an hour. So we continued towards Chipotle and saw a 5 Guy's(the phone was wrong). We went there to eat and they were closed for maintenance. Who closes a restaurant for maintenance, especially when it has only been open less than a year? They gave us directions to Chipotle though, so we went there to eat. Blake grabbed the kids some McDonalds while I waited at Chipotle with Parker and Kelsi. It was so funny, while we were waiting we were sitting at a little bar on bar stools. Parker was pretty much standing with his bum resting on his stool. I watched him and he started slipping sideways. I realized he had fallen asleep standing up. Poor boy! He was exhausted.

Parker sleeping standing up.

Getting ready to go on the London Eye. I guess it was windy, I don't remember that part, but I didn't do my hair like that!

After we rode the "Eye" we walked around and said our "Good bye's" to a few of the sites and bought souvenirs for everyone. We thought it was fun to see these busses with "I love the Book of Mormon" on the side. It is advertising for the broadway musical, but free advertising for the church too!

Riding the tube home! It was a fun day as a family. Crazy in the museum, but good memories.

Random...

These are just random pictures from January and February

Kelsi all ready for church

Broden's FHE snack Ice cream filled cookies, rolled in sprinkles. It was delicious!

Us relaxing together!

Parker came home from school one day dressed as a pirate. Too cute.

Sad day... I knew I couldn't take this with us when we left, so I listed it on the website here that is like Craigslist. Someone wanted to buy it, so I sold it. It is gone and our living room isn't the same. I miss it, but I did make about $120 on it. I like making or redoing furniture and selling it. I don't have much time to do it, but when I can it is really fun!

 Remi took this picture of Kelsi sleeping. Remi is always so sweet with Kesli and loves taking care of her.

In school Remi was studying the Tudors and had a tudor day at school where they dressed up in costumes. Luckily Kim Hatch had made one last year for Shaylee, so we just borrowed theirs. She was so excited! She loves learning about all the subjects and is good at teaching them to us too. I have learned more through her schooling than I remember from my own:)

Parker got these for Christmas, but Remi built this. It was awesome. You could crank a handle and all the gears spun. They are really fun toys and all the kids love them.

In January we didn't really have much going on besides basketball. The only traveling we did was to the temple for a night with the Ingersolls. Other than that we stuck close to home to save money. We started adding up expenses we are going to have this summer with moving and adding up how much we would need to live on if things don't work out with getting a job right when we need it. We realized we should try saving more for that. But, there are still things we want to do here before we leave, so we are cutting back in areas like groceries, eating out, spending on random things and entertainment that isn't really what we want to do but just to pass the time. We actually had a lot of fun together watching movies, playing games together, and playing sports. We saved lots of money too!!! Then February came...