Look at her go....

Cora had a home game last night.  They won by 42 points.  Kinda a runaway.  Cora made 8 points, had awesome steals, great blocks, fabulous assists, and had a blast.

Waiting during the JV game for hers to start.

Warm-ups

She made this basket.  Drove right down the middle

I think this is hilarious.  Reminds me of Pippy-Longstockings.

That is her in the center.  She made that shot also.  Dave said she has excellent court awareness.  She can see the whole area and moves to were she is needed.  Last year she had a couple of players that wouldn't give her the time of day, this year they are consistently passing to her and she catches everything.

I took all these pictures with Cora's new camera.  Such a dream.  Maybe if I save all my extra pennies (while building and paying for braces:)) in 20 years I can buy myself one.  Loved it.  And I barely delved into what it can do.

Braces Update

Don't worry I am not going to give you and update on Cora's braces everyday for the next 18 months:)  She is doing well.  The inside of her mouth where it rubs is sore, but not to bad.  We have been having soft potatoes and things that she can chew easy.  I bought a ton of yogurt for her.  I figure it's got calcium, protein, good bacteria, and it is soft.  Win win.  She is eating mandarin oranges, cucumber, and croissants.  So she is getting enough to eat and stuff from every food group.  Leah has said her teeth hurt quite a bit.  I think that Cora inherited my high pain tolerance and Leah certainly did not.  Leah is still talking with a lisp and sounds funny but she will get used to it. Now they have to brush their teeth at school, so I made them these little carrying cases and got travel toothbrushes and toothpaste.  I figured that nobody wanted to see the toothbrushes and a plastic sac doesn't breathe.  The girls were very happy with their little surprise.

Banded

All my kids now have some type of dental band.  Blake got his a couple months ago.  He had two teeth that needed to be pulled and because the adult teeth were not coming in for a while they put a spacer in his mouth.  You can't really see it but it attaches to his back teeth like braces would then the band goes around the inside to keep the teeth from falling in til his teeth grow in.

Leah got her retainer yesterday.  It has a little key (like Ashton's) that we will turn once a week.  This is to move her front teeth in.  I was told she will most likely still need braces but this will cut down on later work significantly.

 Here is the design she chose.  She wanted something that would blend in but still have a little fun

And Cora got here braces.  They aren't to bad so far.  She is finding it a little difficult to eat but her gums are OK right now.  I am sure the next couple of days will get worse before it gets better.  She has lots of games and a couple of tournaments in the next few weeks, so for her elastics she asked for school colors, red and yellow.  I thought that was awesome.  I guess you are looking at every night out or movie or fun extra that may have happened in my life over the next year and a half.  And think my insurance is paying almost half.  I have no idea how my parents did it with no insurance at all.

Happy 41

As promised here is pictures of Dave's birthday.  It was fun to see him open his presents.  And of course we enjoyed the cupcakes immensely.  This is the conversation I had with Dave when I went to take a picture of him opening his presents.

Dave:  You aren't going to take a picture of me opening them are you?

Me: Yeah

Dave: It is the same picture every year

Me: You don't get the same things, I want pictures

Dave:  A 41 year old man does not need his picture taken when he is opening presents.  It zaps the fun right out of it.

I didn't take pictures.:)

Saturday we went skiing.  It was a beautiful warm day and lots of great snow.  Dave has deemed that the bunny hill is beneath us now.  So except for the first 2 runs and the last 5 (where I went to the bunny hill) runs of the day I pretty much spent the day in fear.  Two hills he even apologized saying he didn't know they were that steep.  Probably because they aren't to him.  Blake is a trooper and wants to try everything.  He even when over a few of the jumps and moguls with Dave.  We forgot the camera in the car, so here is my only picture of the day.

Blake is a little ticked because Dave pulled his hat down for the picture.  He likes to wear it really high on his head.  One run we were going up the lift and there was the hugest bang.  We looked all over to see if we could see the avalanche but it was on the other side.  Dave said it was a cannon.  We could see the big smoke afterwards.  Another lift my leg fell asleep on the way up.  Never had that happen before.  Think of how are it is to walk when you leg is asleep.  Now think of getting off a ski lift and going down a mountain.  That was interesting!!  On the way home we were both disappointed that we hadn't called Jared to let him know we were going.  I told Dave I was going to facebook Amber and just let her know and he said that he was going to text Jared.  It was a last minute decision but still would have been fun to have them there.  Next time we will have to call.  It was a fun day and I am proud of my little skiers, they have soooo much fun.

This and That

We have the most beautiful snow again.  Driving the kids to school today I just count myself lucky to live in this wonderful part of the world.  I am free to drive my kids to school and make my own choices.  So far they are all making good choices and have good friends.  My house is cozy and warm.  I need to not be so selfish and wish for a bigger house and more room.  Really I am very blessed.  I need to enjoy what I have while it is here.
 Dave has been getting up at 4:30 or 5 in the morning to get done everything he needs to.  I don't know how he keeps the hours he does.  We have made cupcakes for his birthday today.  His favorite, chocolate with whipped cream in the middle and chocolate icing.  Sunday we are having Panko chicken for dinner as he requested and next Friday we are going to Firestone (we got a certificate for Christmas) to celebrate birthdays.  The kids and I got him just a few little presents to open tonight.  I guess at 41 birthdays just aren't big blow out parties anymore. :(
Cora has got her donuts in her teeth and they are moving nicely.  She is not in pain anymore so hopefully she will get used to the braces quickly.  We get them on next Monday.  Because of the snow her last basketball game was cancelled.  Cora was very sad.  She is loving basketball now.  Which of course makes Dave and I  ecstatic.
Dave and I also started coaching Leah's basketball team this week.  I have missed coaching and it is really fun to do with Dave.  He is so great with kids.
Blake has made a new friend in school.  I am really happy with this choice.  A guy in our ward got remarried and his new wife has a son Blake's age.  They really get along and he lives right around the corner from us.
That is just some of the updates from our family this week.  I will have birthday pictures for you soon.

Aaaand We're Back

Back to getting up early, making lunches, and school.  Back to YW, piano, and basketball.  Back to dental appointments, homework, and choir.  Back to running around, band, early bedtimes, and (sadly we didn't do to well over the holiday) scripture reading.  At least I try right???  I wish I could pick and choose the days that I had things on.  Like if the kids are fighting and need to get out then they can have a couple hours of school, or send them to basketball.  But if we are tired and feeling lazy it could be a stay at home day.  Wouldn't that be nice.  I thought it would be hard this morning to get them all ready, but we were early and even read 4 chapters this morning (3 where short).  All lunches made,showered and beds made.  It went way smoother then I had anticipated.

New Year's Day

I have been trying to sit down and write this for a couple of days but haven't had the time yet.  So here we go.  New Years Day was fabulous.  We slept in a little and then Dave worked on more building permit stuff as Cora, Blake, and I did a little spruce up of the house.  We then got ready and went to Champion. It was a really nice time there.  Rachel was not able to make it and we missed her.  When we first arrived we chatted with Jason and Lalainia and Myrna for a while.  The kids where outside playing and it was nice to have some quite time.  Jared then took all the kids but Leah hooding.  They really enjoyed that.  Jared always comes up with fun thing to do with the kids and seem to enjoy being with them.  Leah was not feeling well.  I thought for a while that she might have the flu again but it turned out she was just VERY tired and VERY hungry.  Dave and I finished the catwalk around the crowding pen.  We then had a great dinner.  Dave loves sour cream enchiladas and I rarely make them since he is the only one that eats them.  It was nice for him to have that treat.  We then stayed at Amber and Jared long past the time we were welcome I'm sure:)  Dave had taken the telescope out and it was a perfect clear night.  But we enjoy being with the Puzey's and spent to much time chatting.  By the time we went home it was too late and we were too tired.  We do that every time.  It was a lovely day and a great start to a new year.