The Christmas Tree

Since Christmas of 2000, we've always purchased our tree at Baums in Provo.  It's a long drive, but we love that we can get a really tall tree for not very much.  This year's tree is a little shorter, but it's beautiful!  The boys decorated the tree once the branches had a chance to warm up and fall out a little.

Winter Preference 2013

Breanna & Noah

Halloween

Isaac, the Ninja!

Sadies 2013

Marissa and Noah - Sadies 2013

The theme was Disney couples.  They are supposed to be Elder Groberg and Anne Hathaway.

The group:  Shaylee, Chirsten, Marissa, Breanna, Brianna, Emily, Jessica

Spencer, Conner, Noah, Aaron, David, Bryce, Nathan

More Jonah Cross Country Photos

Jonah just finished running at regionals.

AF swept all four races.

Homecoming 2013

Brianna and Noah out on their Homecoming 2013 date. 

Fall Soccer

The Minecraft Dragon Warriors!  (Bridger, Isaac, Caden, Owen, Josh, Bryce, Walker and Kyson with coach Heidi Sorensen in the back)

Isaac is a little more brave this season.  He's gotten into the fray a little more.  Yesterday he played goalie for the whole first half and didn't let a single ball in - falling on it fearlessly even though "they were kicking my arms."  We'll have to work on the drop kick.  He was so enthusiastic that he would run up and throw the ball as if to kick it, but it would go well beyond any possibility of kicking - so his goal kick actually ended up as a "throw" each time.

First Day of School 2013

 Isaac - Headed to 2nd Grade!

 

 Noah - First day of his Senior Year!

Where is Jonah, you may wonder?  Well he runs with the AFXC team (ranked #1 in the nation by the way).  That means he is out the door at 6:00 a.m., runs, showers at school, finishes his school day, runs again and finally gets home between 5:30 and 6:30.  In other words, there wasn't a time and situation to take a picture.  He just started his first year at AFHS as a Sophomore.

Jonah XC 2013

PreFootlocker Invite - 18:20 (5k)
Varsity & JV - 101 overall

Westlake Regionals - 17.01 (3 miles)
JV - 27th overall

Westlake Invitational - 16.59.7 (3 miles) 
JV - 25th Overall

Nebo - 17.11.7 (3 miles)
13th overall 

Wasatch - 
7th place - Frosh/Soph

Westlake Invitational - 17.11 (3 miles)
65th overall

Grass Relays - 11.27 (2 miles)
JV - 19th place

Summer Mileage -  662 miles

Noah

Noah finished his junior year at AFHS.  The top picture is from Prom.  He and Rachel had a great time.  The bottom picture is at Cavestock.  Noah kept his grades up this year, got a 31 on the ACT, made Chamber Choir and made a lot of new friends.  I can't believe that he is just 8 months away from sending in his missionary papers.  He is just a great kid and I'm so grateful to be his mom! 

Isaac's 7th Birthday

He invited his friend, Josh, to spend the afternoon at Chuck-E-Cheese and then shared this ice-cream cake afterwards. 

Isaac loved his 1st grade class this year.  He made friends with a boy named Jack.  He has become quite a reader.  He loves playing minecraft and is so so creative with his world creations.  He enjoys riding his bike and helping in the yard.  He plays well by himself, but also enjoys it when the other boys from the neighborhood congregate at our house.  Isaac has a happy disposition and is usually involved with some project that he has cooked up.  And holidays are a particularly favorite for him.  While on vacation in Nauvoo recently, he kept saying, "this is the best day ever!"  I honestly think he lives every day as if it is the best-day-ever!

More on Jonah Running!

A very muddy Jared, Tony and Jonah after running the half-marathon Timp Trail.

2013 AF Caveman Ragnar Wasatch Back Team.  

Jonah ran legs 8, 20 and 32.  Their overall time was 20 hours and 56 minutes.  They took first in the high school category and 2nd overall.  Jonah is third from the left.

Jonah - 2013 Track Season

I need a spot for Jonah's track season stats so I'll start this page and update it with pictures and stats as the season progresses. 

AFHS - First Meet (against Mountain Ridge)
1 mile: 5:17 (personal record) 5th place
800 meters:  3rd place
2 mile: cancelled

Mustache Day

Jonah's 15th Birthday

 

We celebrated Jonah's birthday yesterday with Jimmy John's subs, Slurpees and a kit-kat cake (idea courtesy of pinterest).  Jonah is looking forward to getting his driver's permit soon. We love Jonah.  He is a good boy, is great at staying on top of his many activities, and is kind to others.  He always keeps us laughing.

December Catch Up

My Dad returned home from the hospital on the Saturday before Christmas.  He is doing amazingly well and currently has plans to soon return to working at the Brigham City Temple.  As I said before, we are so grateful for all the prayers offered on his behalf.  His recovery has been miraculous!

Here are a few things we missed from December while we were in the midst of caring for Dad and then subsequently all getting sick just in time for Christmas:

 Noah and Brianna heading off to Winter Preference.

We usually get tickets to ride the Heber Polar Express.  Thankfully, we hadn't purchased any when my Dad got sick.  But I promised Isaac that he could have a Polar Express party instead.  Josh, Vickie, Elyse and Austin came.  They watched the movie in their PJs and drank Hot Chocolate.

 Christmas Eve

 Jonah - Christmas Eve

 Christmas Morning

Lots of guitars.  Jonah got a Fender acoustic and Noah got an Ibanez bass.

Trent slicing his own smoked turkey!