You win some you loose some

We're well into basketball season now with no end in sight for a few months. Casey's had three games the past couple of weeks. They were all losses, but there is potential if the girls can get their skills in gear. Kendal had two tough games the past two Saturday's. She played the same team both times. The first time they had a good lead, but lost it in the end. (Kenny and Cheryl came to see Kendal and Becca play last weekend. They gifted Kendal a cute purple dress for her birthday! ) This past Saturday they were neck and neck the whole time and ended up in a tie after an overtime. Kendal continues to have four practices a week, she's growing in confidence and skill. Fingers crossed she doesn't have major conflicts in a couple of weeks when her league Vipers team starts games.

The kids got to sing in a Veterans day assembly this past week. They've been singing the song at home and were happy to see the veterans in the area and honor their papa's that have served with write ups about them on their hero wall at school. I was able to go and have parent teacher conferences with Peter's teacher. She had good things to say about him and is happy with his progress this fall. Both kids are doing good in school this year, and have both met their AR (reading) goal early! Being in fourth grade Kendal is learning about Idaho history. She made a Salt dough map of Idaho this past week. I've gotten to help out at the school a couple of times in the last couple of weeks. Peter's class is one of the classes I get to help with. Alice loves to sit with Peter and read, or find girls with princess, or animal books to read to her.

After a month of refusing to pull his tooth out Peter finally lost his tooth on Friday (when he bit into his sandwich at school). It's about time bud! We have a feeling this trend is just going to continue with all his permanent teeth coming in from behind till the baby teeth give up and let go. Peter's reading is improving and he's all the way to Dragon Masters #10! He loves the books and we're happy he's found books he enjoys. ( Aside from Desmond Cole ; )

Crossing our fingers, but it seems Alice is finally potty trained!!!! (cue the fireworks, trumpets, "we are the champions"! etc. Seriously I feel like an Olympic athletes mom. I'm behind all that hard work these ridiculously long past few months, and am so thrilled she's won the race!) Little lady just decided this past week to sit and poop instead of go when she wanted, near the potty, or on her way to it. I've got to say this has been our longest and hardest "battle" and my are we happy were on the other side. She may out do Peter in the strong willed category (Heaven help us). She is a hoot though. She's at the funnest stage where she does and says so many random things that crack us up and make us smile every day.

Kendal had a good birthday. We got to extend the celebration yesterday when we went to see Frozen 2. Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma we were treated with the opportunity to see the new movie and we went yesterday afternoon. It was very funny and had a good story line. All of the kids were enthralled (even Peter who says it was ok ; ). We gave it our approval and loved going (THANKS MOM and DAD!). Afterwards we went to Costa Vita for Dinner and picked up Kendal's birthday cupcake at Barnes and Noble.

Kendal is 10!!

Dear Kendal,
My Sweet Pea Kendal Happy Birthday! We are so blessed and lucky to have you in our family. You hold so much love and goodness inside of you. We love watching you share that special heart you have with those around you. You are a good friend. You have a love of learning and a strong desire to know things. Your love of reading has grown even more this past year (if that's even possible). We love your testimony. It's wonderful to see your knowledge and faith in the gospel grow. We know you will do great things as you get older and we're blessed to be on this journey with you. We love you beyond words Kendal!

Kendal's 10 yr old interview.
Favorite color: pink, purple, blue
Favorite Activity: sports (basketball, volleyball, track) and Reading!!
Favorite Food: chicken tacos
Favorite Animal: duck, alicorn
Favorite song: The Miracle
Favorite Holiday: Christmas - "because it's about Jesus"
Favorite Book: Keepers of the List Cities, and Lemonchello Library
When I grow up: Teacher and a coach like Dad
Nicknames: Sweet Pea,
Favorite part of birthday: Spending time with family and presents!

Kendal got a surprise outing last week with her friend Adi to go paint ceramics and have dinner. Her gift from us this year was a Wii Harry Potter game. She and Peter played it and love it. She got some cool sun creation things from my mom that turn colors in the sun (shirt, clips, rings) and Grandpa sent money to go see Frozen 2 when it comes out! She had a full day of school and Basketball and wouldn't want it any other way. Alice and I took her lunch at school which was fun. We ended the day with coconut cake; yum!

 

 

When your plate is full it must be Fall

We were getting close to Halloween and Kendal and Peter had not picked costumes. While we were out on errands a week and a half before Halloween we found the perfect costume at Once Upon a Child. They had a Ninjago Jay costume that Peter loved at first sight. There was also a Frozen bike that we couldn't pass up for Alice. She's ridden it a few times on warmer days and loved it!

For story time on the 23rd Alice got to paint a couple of pumpkins. When we went to pick pumpkins as a family she fell in love with a tiny white pumpkin that fit in the palm of her hand and she treated like a baby for a few days.

Casey took Peter to part of the football game that Friday. So us girls watched a show and hung out at home.
The Saturday before Halloween Kendal and Peter carved their pumpkins. Peter chose Mickey Mouse and Kendal chose Minnie Mouse. (A very fitting way to cap off our Disney month ;) That evening was our ward trunk or treat. It was super windy and cold so we made it around the cars quickly, ate a doughnut, and split. We ended at McAllisters for dinner because the kids ate free in their costumes.

 

The day before Halloween Alice made sucker ghosts at story time. She called them ballerinas and danced around with them till she gave in and tore into them to enjoy!

I spent a couple of days last week helping prep for the book fair. I looked up near 100 books info and wrote it down. That Saturday Kendal, Peter, and I went and helped haul and set up books for the book fair. The kids were very helpful till we got to the end of organizing then they started playing hide and go seek with the other kids that came.
I got to help with Kendal's harvest party on Halloween. I decided to be the bad mom and make slime with the kids. I looked up the science behind making slime and made a couple of test batches before the party. Amy Welch was my hero and helped me with the station and Alice wanted to see it all happen. It was a bit stressful, but so fun to watch the kids. I truly believe if you want your kid to like science and the more intimidating subjects you've got to make them fun and interesting.

 After we had a chili dinner to warm us up we went trick or treating. Thankfully it wasn't windy, just chilly for our night out. Alice was a bit timid at first but quickly got the hang of it and was a constant commentator on everything. "Ooo a pincess!" (To any girl in a dress of any kind) " Dat's a dinosaur, rarrr! " etc. She casually went along and hit every other house while our butterfly and ninja were quickly on the move!

Kendal has had four basketball practices a week for a few weeks (and that won't be stopping for awhile). She had her first game last Saturday. Her team won the game. When she was focused she got in there and played very well! Her second game was this past Saturday. Her team won by roughly 30 points. Casey said she when she scored she cheered all the way back down the court. Her coach called her ferocious in her last practice. She's loving this basketball season, we'll keep that love going as the chaos ramps up! (Kendal is #3 in the first picture, and the one in the pink shorts in the second.)

We decided to surprise Kendal with a pre-birthday outing. Casey took Kendal and her good friend Addi along with Peter out Saturday afternoon. They went to Hands On to paint ceramics. Kendal picked a narwhal, Addi a seahorse, and Peter the Statue of Liberty. Afterwards they went to Culver's for dinner. Kendal had a wonderful day and was happily surprised!

After having a stint procedure at the end of October my Dad developed a series of problems that landed him in the hospital for nine days and stuck with a pick line and lots of meds for 6 weeks. I shifted and scheduled things so I could come help with recovery the past few days. I brought my side kick and little sunshine medicine Alice with me since Casey already had a week full of try outs, parents teachers, school, and Kendal and Peter to deal with. Cheryl was an angel and came to help! I'm grateful I could be here for my Dad and Mom. He's got it rough, but I know he'll get through.
(Sorry Mom and Dad, these are the only pictures {besides your pic line for the kids} I took this past week.)