Christmas and Football

I have so much to catch up on

I feel like I haven't gone on here in a while so 

We put up our Christmas decorations and 

We had Logan's football banquet and then....

I got sick

Blah!

It was over a week until I finally started to feel better and I lost my voice

so my family is happy about that

I was excited about the football banquet this year because 

#1 it was his last so it was more meaningful to us

#2 I was able to make the centerpieces and also I made the senior boys a memory box to keep

In a previous post I wrote about Christmas being a hard time because a lot of my special decorations were donated by accident. Well a sweet friend that was moving gave me something so special. 

I didn't realize what I was given until I opened everything. I have a Christmas village now! I'm so excited  and so blessed to be given such treasures. Isabelle and I had fun setting it all up. It almost didn't fit on my big table. We squeezed it all in.

How cool is all this fun stuff. It lights up and things move

I love it!

Logan's banquet was awesome and wonderful

Logan received the best lineman award

I had 24 centerpieces to make

I wanted to make a wooden box with fresh flowers

Here's the mess I created 

I didn't get a pic of a finished one

I found some gold and purple craft string and wrapped it around twice on the box to give it something extra. Then stuck in some football and helmet picks. 

This is the only pic I got of the centerpieces complete

This holiday season I'm so thankful for so many things

I'm so grateful for my kids and their courage and strength to get thru hard times. I'm grateful they will stand up for what they believe in and that they are understanding this Christmas season. It always seems December is a hard month for our family. But we are strong and we pull thru anything with the Lord on our side. 

Merry Christmas everyone

Our Fall Break

This year I think our fall break was really enjoyable. 

we got a lot done

we played a lot

we ate a lot 

and Mikey and I even got a whole day to ourselves 

Success!

We started our week off with 

Lowell hanging with his longtime friend

then cousins coming over to shoot and Duke made a best friend

I love it when the kids play outside instead of asking me if they can go on electronics. 

The good ol' days

 My cute nephew Josh and his sidekick Duke

Duke wouldn't leave Josh's side, he was his shadow the whole time. 

Uncle Jeff shooting with the boys

 Someone sent us some cute pictures of our missionary 

That seriously brightens my day when my text message goes off and I see a picture of my daughter

Oh how I started missing her this week. I was doing really really good then I realized how much I just wanted to give her a hug. 

It has to be because of the holidays. 

UGH!

 Logan worked on making some armor

It's turning out great and I'm impressed

I can't wait to see the rest

This stuff is heavy

 I always want a family pic on Thanksgiving day and after asking and asking I got one

I'm so grateful they cooperated for me

 My handsome men

 Our feast

YUM!

 Isabelle wanted to make Rice Krispie turkey legs

they turned out so  cute

except I forgot the white chocolate to dip the pretzels in 

she forgave me

Then Mikey and I were able to go to the Los Angeles Temple

I love going there and it really helps me feel focused again. 

I'm so thankful we are  able to attend. 

 to end our wonderful break

we got to spend our Saturday with more cousins

 we made cookie ornaments 

and played and played and played

This was such a great week

I love my family 

The middle is how old?

It seems to me that every year that goes by 

it goes by faster and faster.

I hear that a lot from my friends 

My older three kids are now over 18

Now that's just crazy

 When Logan turned 8 

I made him this frame with all the things he loved placed around his picture

I noticed there is no stickers of footballs

This is before his love of football was discovered 

He use to play soccer and basketball

Logans birthday was Friday and we celebrated all weekend

Since there was no school on his actual birthday 

I took him and his friends pizza and root beer for lunch on Thursday 

I also bought him a happy birthday balloon but he wouldn't take it

I almost tied it to his wrist but he's stronger than me

his friends look excited

I think Logan just wanted the pizza and for me to stop taking pics

I had this plan to go to Costco and get him the combo pizza that he loves but it was a hour wait at 11:00 already so scratch that 

Little casers was faster

Friday my boys had a opportunity to go camping in the desert and watch car speed up to 220 miles per hour. So Logan again not to happy with me because I asked him to go instead of having a party.   I told him that he wouldn't  get too many more chances to camp with his little brother so thankfully he understood and went. Honestly he would rather of hung out with his friends and celebrated his birthday differently. I was very grateful he understood what I was trying to tell him. 

 of course they had to build a bonfire taller than themselves

 Logan took all these pics of different vehicles going very very fast

 Lowell would tell me over and over how loud it was

 I had to send cupcakes and candles 

I found out that a cake was brought for Logan also

So awesome they thought of him

 Sunday we fed the missionaries in our area and we celebrated Logans birthday that day as well. 

Trying to get pictures is always so much fun

 I wanted a pic of Logan and his cousins that came for dinner and every time Isabelle or Lowell would pop in at just the right time

Stinkers

 Whatever

I'll take it

Dinner menu:

Logan wanted smoked ribs

scallop potatoes 

asparagus

and root beer floats for dessert

I would say it was a very successful birthday weekend

We love you Logan 

The Last One

Last night was Logan's final football game ever. It was exciting and sad all at the same time. I tried to soak it all in thru the night.  I asked him this morning how he was feeling as I was looking at his million bruises. Ouch! 

Even though I complained about the busy schedules, traveling far for games, and driving back and forth for years with all the practices. I will miss it all so much. I know Logan will miss it even more. 

When your child loves something so much its hard to see it come to a end. 

Last night Logan tackled the running back and took him down. 

#62

Go Mustangs!

 At the end of the game the team gave the seniors and each other emotional hugs for the final time.

 #62

 Coach Ivy and Little Ivy

it all started 9 years ago

I respect this coach so much. 

He has been a big inspiration to Logan and he's someone he looks up to. 

Im so excited for what is next for Logan and what his future holds. 

Fall Festival and Football

Logan’s 2nd to last football game was last night. It was also senior night (sadly no pics of that). Logan has enjoyed his last year of football. Thinking about how it’s all coming to an end it’s a little sad. After a lot of begging from Logan when he was 8 years old we signed him up for youth football.  It was the best thing we ever did for him. He has absolutely loved every single year he has been able to play.

I remember Logan taking this picture and thinking this boy is so dang happy that his grin couldn't get any bigger.

9 years later and all grown up. I will absolutely miss going to football games and cheering him on. I will miss the unity and togetherness it brought. These are all good memories that Logan can carry through his life. The cherry on the top is that the same coach that he had in youth football he has his senior year.
 Logan is #62 and was one of the captains this season. This is the beginning of a chilly night

Yesterday was our annual fall festival held at our high school. Our football team had a game  booth and our boys did a great job.  So one of our schools  had a cake contest for different age groups and Isabelle wanted to enter the contest. She has been on a baking kick lately so I thought it was a perfect opportunity for her. She  wanted to make a black cat cake. So I helped very little but she made the ears out of melted chocolate/peanut butter and gold candy sprinkles. Then the whiskers were sucker sticks dipped in candy peanut butter and gold candy glitter and same with the nose.

Making black icing isn't as easy as I thought. We used A LOT of black gel food coloring.  Isabelle kept saying my arm is getting so tired mom. I would tell her keep stirring. It was a fun and very busy day yesterday with all day fall festival and then senior night and football game. Whew!

Since 2

We had the best day today

Lowell had a  appointment with his Orthopedic Dr today in L.A.

The last time he saw Dr. Kessler was 2 1/2 years ago. Before that he was seeing him every 6 months since the age of 2. 

Lowell was diagnosed with Legg Calve Perthes Disease at 2 years old in both hips. Lowell was always in a lot of pain. It was like growing pains and I thought that is all it was but we found out it was something we never heard of. 

Lowell has been in pain most of his life but nothing ever stopped this kid from enjoying life. 

He still enjoyed sports and running and playing. There was no stopping him. 

Since school started back Lowell has been experiencing a lot of pain again. When he would kick a ball or jump or pretty much any activity he was feeling pain. The first thought we had was oh no its back and something is wrong. 

Finally I made him a appointment and that is where we were today to get X-rays and answers.

Lowell knew what was coming
First off to take the billionth Xray then 

He knew Dr. Kessler was going to have him lay on his belly and move his hips all sorts of ways then also while on his back.

Then have him walk the hall then run so he can watch the movement of his hips.

We remember the routine well

then Dr. Kessler breaks the news and we were nervous

The X-rays look beautiful
His hips look great

WHAT!!!!!

He said if someone didn't know you have Perthes they wouldn't notice anything different in these X-rays.

Wow! Thats the best news ever.

He doesn't expect to see Lowell agian and Lowell is probably feeling ligaments that he didn't use very much in summer and he's working them out. 

That we can handle.

I was so increadilby happy because at one time we worried about surgeries and all kinds of what ifs

Then I asked the Dr

Can Lowell play football if he chooses

and he said YES

YAY!!!

Best day ever

We love Dr. Kessler