This and That...

December has been full of basketball and the start of Christmas parties so far.  Blake is doing really well and enjoys it. He seems to be on fire every other game.  Kinda ho hum the next then fire and just goes the next.  Not sure how to get that hustle in him for every game.  His goal is to touch the rim by the end of the season.  If he does he wrangled a bet out of Leah that he will get pizza.  His coach is giving him tips and help.  He is pretty close. 

He had a tournament first week of December and ended up getting the tournament all-star award.  We thought that was really neat andwere proud of him.  A little extra cool was the fact that Cora had won All-Star her Grade 9 year at the same tournament and then Leah won it Grade 9 same tournament as well.  Cora said she wants them all to take a picture in their shirts when she gets home. 

The High School boys team is small this year and they asked Blake if he would be willing to come 'ride the pine' in one of their tournaments. Just in case someone got hurt or needed a short break from running.  He was reluctant.  He was pleased to have been chosen, but very nervous.  He went to a practice with the HS team and after said it was so much fun. On the way to the tournament he was hoping he would not play all weekend.  They put him in for a few minutes each game.  One game he did quite well and again said it was so fun. Leah was very excited that he was asked because her boys were in the same tournament and usually played right after.  So she got to watch all their games as well. :) But oh yes... support her brother as well.  She has been busy coaching the JR high girls.  One game they turned over to her and they won.  One girl told her it was the first game in 3 years that they had won. 

 They really like her the head coach is always asking for help and info.  Thanking her and telling her how much her knowledge and skill is useful.  The other assistant coach, not so much.  She does not like this 17 year old girl being there and undermines Leah a lot.  But Leah is so happy to be involved somehow.  She got her jersey for SR pictures this week and called crying.  She said it just hit her that she never gets to wear the jersey on the court again.  Tough moment for her.

She sent me this picture the next day, after tears were dried and ready for sr pictures. Leah enjoys reffing as well and gets paid for it so bonus, and does the scorekeeping for HS games.

Leah started having some stomach problems about 5/6 weeks ago.  At first she thought they were really bad cramps.  She gets cramps 3 out of the 4 weeks a month anyways and just thought they were worse than usual.  But as the week progressed they got almost unbearable.  So we started looking into it.  I thought maybe it was appendix and we ended up taking her to a dr.  He immediately scheduled a full ultrasound.  A few days later we went to get results and he declared that she was 'unremarkable'.  I totally started laughing.  He looked at me a little odd and and when I said, "Leah, you are unremarkable how does that make you feel?" He laughed as well.  As he talked to us more about how once in a while they let up and then really come back strong, we discussed ulcer and other things.  There seemed to be a pattern of increased pain right before a test or big assignment due.  In the end he said he thought it was stress.  Apparently it is rare but that some people will have a very tight contracting of the stomach muscles when they are under a lot of stress.  Which she certainly has been.  He offered stomach relaxers and she declined and said we would try to work through it. We could come back if we felt she needed them.  It is always so much easier to put up with pain when you know what it is. We were able to find an, almost affordable (but sometimes you just got to bite the bullet and do it) tutor for her. Leah has had a few sessions and it is helping immensely. She has two weeks of no early morning seminary, so she can actually get some sleep and she cantries to talk her way through the pain. When the Dr. was saying he could right her a RX he was saying he could do this med or that med or he could just write a note for her to drop English and Math.  Hahaha

We went out to my parents for the Smith Christmas party.  Bailey came and hung out with us as well. We had a good meal, white elephant gifts, games, puzzles, chats and then snacks as we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. I swear that gets better and better every year.  We then rushed home for Dave to feed cows. 

Blake had his Christmas concert this week.  He does so well with his trumpet. It is his last Christmas concert. They had some fun songs.  The last two years they have had an advanced band option were they have extra band classes.  He has enjoyed this.  I don't know if he want to keep it up next year or not.  He loves it but has other options he likes just as much.  So we will see.

Both kids had their Christmas dinners at school and got to dress up for that.  Got pictures with friends and exchanged gifts.  Leah went to Emily's last night to make cookies and watch Christmas movies.  There was about 5 of them.  Leah and Emily had been invited to a big party but Leah was not feeling like she could be on anymore and needed to destress and just chill.  Emily had other plans, but they got changed and they decided to just do something low key instead.  It was just what Leah needed.  Cookie making, singing, laughing, comfy clothes, blankets and good shows.

Tonight is our Ward Christmas party.  Always good food there.  We are looking forward to it.  Leah was asked to be in charge of the program this year.  She came up with an idea that she wanted to do more of the Hidden Talents.  In our ward how we do the Christmas program usually is each organization is responsible for finding one number.  E.I. Either the whole RS sings or the pres asks someone to play the piano etc. This year Leah wanted each organization to find someone that doesn't' usually perform.  Find a hidden talent in their groups.  She also wrote a funny skit for the youth bases on the short video of how RS sees EQ and vice versa.  So how YW and YM see each other.  The youth are pretty excited about it and I can't wait to see it.  Leah found out last Sunday that the bishop was turning the whole night over to her.  She is MCing  the entire thing, dinner, Santa, getting prayers etc.  She was like oh....ok :)  Here she is busy texting presidents and making lists.

Lastly a cute gift Blake made for the lady he works for.  He had wanted to make her something small and was looking at wood options when we came across this on pinterest.  I think it turned out great.

What's Happening

Blake: Blake is growing so fast.  I am constantly marvelling at how he is a young man now. He is tall and lean and loves working hard.  Still loves working side by side with his dad, but is taking on more and more of the big job and doing them by himself. The other day Dave was trying to get his garage cleaned when he got called away.  Blake went down and checked the cows for him and did an excellent job of surprising Dave with a very clean garage when he returned.  We are going through the whole voice cracks and armpit hair stage. As volleyball wrapped up he was thinking he didn't really want to play basketball this year.  I was a little sad, but wasn't going to force him into anything.  He wanted to go to one practice and see how it went.  He was fired up coming home and could not wait to get back on that court.  With his added height and strength I think he is going to be really fun to watch this year.  He has improved leaps.  He wants to go to the church every night and play.  A couple of times ago we scrimmaged, parents against kids, after Dave sat beside me as Blake and Leah were still shooting and commented that we do not need to go easy on them anymore. Dave was barely keeping up to Blake.  (They surpassed me a few years ago.) It was fun to see. He had also wanted to try curling this year but they didn't have a coach. Blake is very kind and compassionate to most adults, jokes and plays around with his friends, and I swear nothing brings him more joy than to be a little pill to his sister.  He got asked to play Taps for the community Remembrance Day program again.  He was not as nervous and had had a lot more time to prepare this year.

Leah: Leah also laid the wreath for our church for the program this year.  

Grade 12 classes have not been a walk in the park.  She is making it through and really trying to figure out what she needs to do after high school.  Since about Grade 7 she had dreamed about being a lab and xray tech.  Over the last few weeks as she has prayed about it she said she is not sure it feels right.  Which is so sad to her, but not sure if it is worry because her grades aren't high enough for the program or if she really is needed elsewhere??? It is stressing her out a lot.  In the meantime she is going to every football and getting together with friends as much as possible.   

Her friend group went through a bit of a odd period this summer, she meet some new ones and stayed with some old ones.  Just the usual last year shift. She has been going out on a some fun dates and loves to be social.  But has also started staying home with us sometimes.  The first Friday she stayed home was a little strange for all of us.  Hahaha!! It is basketball season.  Leah has been dreading and anticipating this month since last February.  Basketball is in her blood and she could not imagine not playing, but after last year she knew is was going to be a difficult year. As it turned out only 6 girls signed up.  All Grade 10 which made her decision even harder.  If she played, they all had to play SR league, if she didn't they could play JR.  Which after watching most of them still would have been very tough. But could she really walk away.  She decided to give it two practices.  She also talked to the Athletics Director at the school and asked if she could help coach Jr High Girls and if she would be able to do a lot of scorekeeping for High School boys and reffing for Jr High teams.  She got it all set up and went to the first practice.  Then waited and waited for them to let her know when second one would be.  Almost two weeks later they announced no team.  The decision was made for her.  She is partly devastated and partly relieved. And glad that she still gets to be involved somehow.  It has been a rough week :/

Cora: Cora loved Lichfield.  She has been incredibly blessed with companions that she really gets along with so far.  After serving about 5 months in Lichfield she said she began to feel like everyone she contacted she was meeting for someone else.  That she was just a step.  Sure enough last transfer she got notice she was going to Gloucester.  She has had two weeks there and absolutely LOVES it.  To be honest she has loved every single part of England.  There is no doubt that the Lord knows her and loves her.  He knew exactly where she needed to serve her mission.  Her new companion is Sister Smedley from Idaho.  Almost 11 months in and she still has not had a companion from Utah.  She is starting to think it will be cool if she can go her whole mission and not have one from Utah. Cora said Sister Smedley is awesome.  She felt like they had decided to be shot out of a cannon together and are on fire.  She loves street contacting and has become bold and confident.  Dave and I love to watch her as she becomes what we have always seen in her, but she doubted so much in herself.  The only problem ,for me, is Gloucester has to many places to visit. :)  Over the last couple weeks I have gotten some pictures, a request for a recipe and one letter.  Cora said there is so much to see and do on pday in this town we may never hear from her again.  Already the have visited Gloucester Cathedral where apparently Harry Potter was filmed.  I wouldn't know or care about that but she was excited. 

A Beatrix Potter house because she knew I would love that one. Gloucester castle, a victorian market and have plans for the Forest of Dean next week. They meet up with the other set of Gloucester sister sometimes and they have a blast together.

I am so glad her mission is going so well for her.  When I see pictures she sends I am truly amazed at the woman she has become. A few weeks ago we celebrated her 20th birthday.  She is getting all around England and meeting people and adulting with flair. It is going to fast.  She has looked forward to this mission her whole life and I think she would be happy if it never ended. 

Pictures 2019

This year we just quickly picked a Saturday before it snowed and went out to the field in front of our house.  Natalie Toone took some beautiful pictures of Leah a few weeks before. She is very talented.

So I just took a few of Blake then lot of them together.

They had fun.  We were trying to beat the sun going down and not freeze.

Blake loves that he is taller than Leah and will tower over her all the time.  She was trying to be as tall as him.

Leah trying to get Blake to keep a straight face for the power stance.

Every night Blake will show Leah his muscles, only because it drives her crazy.  Brothers! :) She is showing him her's as well.

I had asked Cora to send me a few for my wall and surprisingly she complied.

I am not sure I can still call them school pictures since Cora is not in school, but it was fun and easy and I have updated pictures for this year.  That was all I needed. Fall pictures??

Halloween 2019

No Trick or Treating for us this year.  We convinced Blake to have a party and Leah went to the annual Halloween Party at Emily's house.  But they did dress up.  Leah and her friend Megan have planned for a year to be Scott's Tots for Halloween their grade 12 year.  It went well and everyone that has seen The Office thought it was hilarious. 

Blake and his group of friends all went as superheroes.  Blake was a lowkey Tony Stark so he didn't have to do much.  I love this group photo of them all.

Today at the high school is Monster Smash.  The home volleyball tournament.  Since it is around Halloween, all the schools always dress up on Friday.  This year they added that each grade in the school needed to pick a theme and dress up as well. Grade 12 decided on Hawk it Out and wear all their Hawks stuff, but one guy thought it was jerseys and spread the word. :0 ;)  It was fun anyways.

Leah had a wonderful time at the Halloween party as always.  This year the boys finally got her back and scared the crap out of her in the barn.  She has got them 3 years in a row and this time they got her good.  Lots of fun games, treats and ended the night with a movie.  Blake's party also went well.  We too had games and tons of food.  I had made a few healthy snacks and had them all bring treats.  Well they really brought the treats!

 It was even warm enough to play a few games outside.

Poison Stump is always a hit.

Leah had made me a great playlist.  We hooked up my phone to the amp and played and ate.  Wrapped up the evening with Hotel Transylvania. It was a fun Halloween. When I asked Cora if she did anything as a missionary for Halloween she said yes, they did weekly planning.  They had to be in by 6 so that was it. :)

And a few pictures from Blake's last volleyball game this season.

West Ed

We headed to Edmonton last weekend.  NAIT was having an open house.  Even tho Leah know that is where she wants to go and has talked to people from the program and has been researching it for a few years now, she wanted to go walk through the school and meet more people.  She was pretty nervous in the morning.  We met some very helpful girls that gave us a lot of great advice.  Leah loves the school and is very excited for the combined lab and x-ray tech degree.  She has done one job shadow and is hoping for another this year.  It is the only thing she has ever wanted to do.

After the tour we grab a quick bit at the West Ed food court and went to the waterpark.  We had to much fun to take pictures.  We stayed until we got kicked out and made the most of it. That night we had dinner on Bourbon Street in the mall at Boston Pizza.  We were not to hungry so we shared some meals and went back to the hotel to watch a movie.  Saturday morning we had planned to go to the U of A open house and look at some courses for Cora, but then found they didn't really offer them anymore or were not what we had thought.  So instead we just went back to the mall.  Blake really needed some new jeans, Leah found a few things she had been looking for, and we looked at grad dresses.  Blake and Dave were very patient with Leah's shopping. :)  I had packed a lot of veggies, apples and some cookies before we left.  We had a really great breakfast at the hotel and so we just made pb&j from the hotel and then ate our other stuff from home for lunch.  Nobody wanted a full meal or anything greasy before the rides.  Galaxyland is my family's favorite part of West Ed.  They were very anxious to get riding as soon as it opened.  The waterpark had hardly anyone in it the entire day.  We never waited for a ride.  But Galaxyland each ride was 30-45 mins.  Still lots of fun.  They went from ride to ride to ride.  I slipped out for an hour or so and got some Christmas shopping done.

When they announced it was almost time to close Leah and Blake wanted one more ride on the Space Shot. (Mindbender was closed most of the day.  They would open it for 45 mins then close for and hour for maintenance, then open for 45 mins and close for maintenance.  All day long.  They only got to ride 4 times) Anyways the kids raced to Space Shot.  They got 5 rides in before they shut us down.  They would get right off and run around back to the line.  The last ride only had them and two others on.  I guess others are more obedient than us when they announced it is time to leave. After much deliberation we decided we just wanted to go back to Boston Pizza for dinner, they have a really great variety.  When we got back to the hotel that night, we got some complementary hot chocolate and watched a short program and fell fast asleep.  Sunday we had a lovely breakfast and headed home.  We had wanted to attend a ward in Edmonton, Leah wanted to go to a YSA ward (hahahha) but we didn't think the rest of us would be quite so welcome. :) But the kids ended up having a fireside that they needed to be back for.  We made sure we did our CFM and read the new parents handout for the youth program and read our scriptures on the way home.  We also had some good gospel discussions on the way. Leah has had a friend at school ask her some in depth questions lately.  Usually they are just curious questions, but these were more and so we had some great discussions on those and how Leah had answered. It was a good trip.  Nice to be together and have some fun.  We could not have asked for better weather in October and the clothes we found that the kids needed were all on sale.  We felt very blessed our whole trip. It was lovely to arrive back at our home safe and sound.