last day of 4th grade

Max was supposed to be graduating from elementary school, but the district moved 5th grade down to elementary school, which means out to the portable for 5th grade.  It also means, Max and Vivian will get to ride the bus together next year and he can take care of his cute little sister:)

Max has a solid group of friends in the dual immersion program.  He is getting better at Spanish, but this summer he needed to get a little extra help, so I made a deal with him.  He takes Spanish tutoring and he can have a Jedi braid.  It was a solid trade.  He is now planning to be a Jedi for Halloween and actually is enjoying his tutor.  

*traditional end of the year finish line

Look at all these cute kids in our neighborhood.  Party at the bus stop.

Summer begins!

varsity

Abe enjoyed being on the school soccer team and he even played for his first time in a varsity game.

"Can i get a woot woot?"

basketball

growing up a Haws, I learned to LOVE watching basketball.

I love watching my kids play.  Abe decided to not try out for his school team, which at first was a lot to swallow since he is pretty good.  But I also know it gets to be a lot, with soccer and school and traveling to games.  We decided to pull back, follow their lead, and it was AWESOME!

I absolutely LOVED watching Abe play county ball.  He had so much fun, played hard, and was competitive.  It's great exercise and I really loved not dragging my kids around the whole state for games every night.  Kai decided to play basketball but stop before March league which is when soccer picks up.  Since soccer is what my boys want to focus on, basketball became a hobby this year.  I think these days you have to have courage to say, I want this to be a hobby and not my focus.  It is more important for us to have some family time and not be crazy over scheduled.  

Best decision.  

"Good, better, best" like Elder Oaks described is sometimes not the easiest thing to actually do.

Gpa would be proud because he always says, "shoot first, shoot second, shoot third."

Kai added a lot to his team and his coach depended on him to control the ball and Abe definitely didn't hesitate to shoot.  Good times!

home preschool

rainbows and elephants:)

MORP

Abe got asked to MORP.  Good times:)

He and his date were supposed to dress up like a disney couple.

Sadie and I helped him dress up like Hercules-  Abe thought he looked like 5th Nephi:)

\

I think he nailed it!

He had a blast.  

...and he said he would come into primary for me and pretend to be Nephi:)

80th birthday

My wonderful mom celebrated her 80th birthday this March.

We celebrated by having a birthday dinner at my brother Marty's house.  Eighty roses decorated the tables and after the dinner, Kelly and Marty gave tributes to her.  The little grand kids sang and then some of the older grand kids shared a favorite memory or something they loved about their grandma.  It was a beautiful evening for my mom.  She deserved every nice thing said about her.  She is dedicated to family and continues to work every day to make sure we are strengthened and headed in the right direction.  I really am blessed because of my mom.

She's a good one.

mental toughness

Kai's soccer season was not what he was hoping for.  It was rough.

Every game he had was a challenge weather wise.  We would be at Abe's game the day before and it would be beautiful, sunny, and warm.  The next day would bring snow, rain, and cold.  This picture looks like its a beautiful day for a soccer game, and it was during warm ups.  But as soon as they started playing, a HUGE wind and sand storm appeared quickly.  I took Vivian and sat in the car because it actually was a little scary.  

It was frustrating.  Kai's team played so competitively, but the score was always not quite there for a win.  I kept telling Kai, Heavenly Father was building his character and prepping him.  If you can play in wind and snow and sand storms, think what you can do in beautiful weather.  

I had to laugh, because one day, it was actually really nice, but then the huge sprinkers came on and it happen to be right where Kai was playing.  He would run straight through and get pelted by the stream of water...but he kept playing.  

I was so proud of him this season.

Kai showed serious mental toughness- 

and he finished the season with an amazing bicycle kick!!!  

It was incredible.  

Made the whole season worth it.

Can't help but think of the scripture we memorized as a family:

HELEMAN 5:12

  And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty stormshall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.