July 15, 2008

This is the first time for our family blog. I am hoping to be able to add to this and keep in touch with family and friends a little better. If you don't have the time or desire to read up on what's going on in our family, that's fine. We just want you to know if we send you this that means we are thinking about you.

We have had a very busy summer so far with the girls both playing softball. Morgan played on the Crapo Custom Applicators team and they took 2nd in the Upper Valley Youth Association tournament. She played first base and was a great hitter! She had fun and made some new friends.

Chad played on a knothole (coach pitch) team that our business sponsored. He had a blast. There were not enough games for his liking! Now he's gearing up for NFL Flag Football that will be starting in about a month. Chad is ready for a ball to get hit to him on 3rd base.

Mataia also played softball on the Capital Ventures team that her dad coached. She played 3rd base on this team. They did very well and won the end of year tournament. She is now playing on an All Star team and we have been traveling to some tournaments on the weekends. They haven't done so well at these tournaments, but they are getting better each weekend. She plays 3rd base, or catcher usually on this team. It's always exciting when she gets up to bat because she is known for her great hits - even several home runs! I'll have to post this picture later - I can't find it right now.

As you can imagine, we have been very busy following these kids around this summer. In between all of this we have squeezed in some volleyball and basketball camps for the girls. We got a big inflatable water slide and the kids have been having a ball in their spare time playing on that and jumping off the bridge at the canal behind our house.

We took the girls to the American Idols Live concert in Salt Lake City last night and they had a blast! We had awesome seats and they got to touch hands with almost every one of the "idols." David Archuleta was the definite favorite of both the girls. Even Jeff and I had a great time!This is the girls reaching up for David Archuleta at the concert.

Kace is just having fun being a little boy.

We went camping with my parents last weekend. Grandpa and Grandma got everybody up in the morning and we went on a really pretty hike along a river. When we started seeing signs of bear activity, the kids were done and decided it was time to turn back.

While we were camping, Chad decided that he needed to become a fisherman. He pestered us until we went and got fishing licenses and took him fishing. Luckily, he caught a little one, but he's having a hard time understanding that you don't catch a fish everytime you throw your line in. It hasn't discouraged him, though. He wants to go every day and he's even begging to get up early and go at sun-up. He hasn't got his dad convinced of that yet.

Jeff is still busy at the office, which is a great thing. He is still the ring leader of the early morning men's running group. Many of the runners come and go, but he is always constant. He has even inspired me. I am training to do an overnight relay race with a group of other moms. It is 217 miles from Crystal Lake, Oregon to Bend, Oregon. We will each run 3 legs in a 24 hour period. It should be a challenge and an adventure. Hopefully I will survive.


Other things that have been happening:
-We helped my parents get moved into their new home. (They had to totally rebuild after their home was destroyed in a fire in November.)
-Mataia is finishing up the last few requirements for her "Faith in God" award before she turns 12 soon.
-Mataia is also preparing to attend Girls Camp for the first time at the end of July.
-Jeff is serving in the Bishopric of the Parker 1st Ward.
-We're trying to keep up with the weeds in our garden and crossing our fingers for some big "Super Pumpkins" that we have planted.
-Working on potty-training Kace so he can go to preschool in the fall.
-Working on potty-training our Toy Poodle, Maggie so she doesn't get given away.