Luke's Basketball 2010

Luke has been begging to play basketball, so we enrolled him in Junior Jazz. This was a learning season for him. He learned, he had fun and he got some exercise. It was a successful season because he enjoyed himself and wanted to do it again the next year.

Here are some pictures of a game that Luke played in during the basketball season.

NDPA Halloween Carnival

Each year the boy's school has a Halloween Carnival. It is one of those events that the kids think is SUPER awesome and the parents dread but grin and go because they want to create fabulous memories for their kids. But just to give you a picture of what it is like: Imagine hundreds of people both old and young wandering through the narrow schools hallways in costumes trying to get to each classroom to play little games, win prizes and dealing with their impatient kids who want to do everything in 5 minutes and get upset when they can't. Even though you want to scream and pull your hair out after an hour, you stay and take a couple of Tylenol when it is all over.

One of the classroom at the carnival had face painting. The line was about a half hour long but the boys really wanted to have it done. The volunteer at the face painting station did a pretty good job of painting a picture on their cheeks of what they dressed up as for Halloween.  Here is what they ended up with:

Watch out Batman! Here comes Mason! He dressed up as Batman his favorite Superhero for Halloween.

Dylan dressed up as a piece of pizza for Halloween and this is the face painting from the Carnival. He was embarrassed about his costume because people kept making comments about how they wanted to eat him. He didn't like that!!!

Luke was Superman! He was also embarrassed to dressed up like Superman and didn't want to go because he thought people would make fun of him but just the opposite happened. People kept commenting on how cool his costume was.

Storm Reunion 2010

Once every 3 to 4 years, my family gets together and has a reunion. This year it was in Southern California. It was nice to get together with my entire family. I just love spending time with them and get to know my nieces and nephews better and for my kids to play with their cousins.

Unfortunately, the weather didn't really cooperate and we had rainy and cold weather which didn't make for a really fun beach vacation. So, we made the best of things and tried to make do with what we were given. We did go to Disneyland for a day, (it rained and we couldn't do everything we wanted to do in one day)we went to the beach, (it was cold and overcast and we stayed for a couple of hours and left) we went to a children's museum (an indoor activity) Lego land (Kids liked it but parents didn't) and then hung out at the pool.

The week went by fast and right when the weather started to get warm, we had to go home. Oh well! It was good to see family and we look forward to our next reunion.

Here are some pictures of the different families....

The Smith Family: Sean, Kim, Elijah, Julianna and Lyla

The Storm Family: Justin, Jannah, Callie, Mariah, Nora and Emerson

The Koelling Family: Pat and Lindsay

Two cousins hanging out: Dylan and Elijah

Mason

Jordan and Luke some acrobatic during picture taking time

Lucas

Jordan and Jodi

The love of a brother-in-law is really strong in our family!!

Football of 2010

Lucas is playing football again. I really wasn't sure he wanted to play again after his first experience with football last year. All year he said he wanted to play again. I was surprised because he was terrified the whole football season about getting hit and getting hurt. His emotions were really messed up from the beginning of the football season because his first game he got his trash kicked by an "X" man on the other team. The boy weighed over a hundred pounds while Luke weighed about 70 pounds. Each play the "X" man would slam Luke down to the ground. Luke was crying after the first play and had a miserable experience.

After that game, he just couldn't play football very well because he was terrified. So, I was hesitant about signing him up again, but he said he really wanted to play. He did asked if that "X" man is still playing with the 7 and 8 year old teams. I told him "No" and Luke was instantly relieved.

So, here we are a year later and this time Luke is a completely different player. He is bigger and more confident. We weren't sure how he would be but we are amazed at practices how aggressive he is.

I don't know who is more excited about Luke playing football, Luke or Jordan. I think it is probably Jordan. He wants Luke to play well that he is willing to do anything to get him motivated. So, Jordan made a deal with Luke (obviously I wasn't there) that if he tackled the guy with ball 4 times during his first game that Jordan would buy him a cell phone. Why a cell phone? Because for the past year Luke has been begging to get a phone. I basically told him when hell freezes over (O.K. maybe not in those words) that an 8 year old in this household would not have a cell phone. But, he consistently asked again and again. Jordan thought that this was a safe bet but we learned real quickly not to underestimate Luke when it comes to material rewards.

So when Jordan said he would get a cell phone, he had a fire in his eyes that I haven't seen him before. The game begins and within the first quarter he tackles the guy with the ball 4 times. We were both in shock. That punk has been holding out on us the whole time.

I was mad at Jordan. Why did he make this bet anyways? We are just teaching him that he only works hard when he gets something. But, we kept our word and today Luke has a cell phone. It is a go phone. So, it is a pay as you go. We paid $18.00 and now Luke has to earn minutes. The only semi-good thing that came out of this is that Luke has to earn minutes on his phone. The phone came with $5.00 of minutes (which equals about 2 days of calling and texting). He hasn't earned anymore yet, but I am sure he will.

Also, we told him if he played hard during practice we would shave his head into a mohawk. This is another thing he has been asking for. So, the night before his first game, we shaved his head. He has perfect thick hair for this haircut. He look pretty cool. He only had it for one day because he can't have that kind of haircut for school. But we did get a few pictures.

Here they are....

Well, Luke has played three games and they still haven't won a game. They did score a touchdown last week. Even though they didn't win, Luke has played really well. He got a taste of what it is like to do well and I hope he will continue to work his hardest.

Here are some more pictures of Luke playing football.

Staples in the head

As I said previously, Mason is the most accident prone child (except McKay Brinkerhoff) I know. He literally hurts himself several times a day. It really doesn't even phase me anymore. Well, last week we went to back to school night for Lucas and Dylan.

I was walking down the hallway and turned to go into a classroom. At the same time, Mason was running down the hallway after me and as I was turning into the room, he runs into me and then bounces off my hip and hits his head into the classroom doorknob. Immediately, blood started spurting out of his head.

I couldn't believe it. Not again! So, Jordan picked him up and started running down the hallway. Blood is all over Jordan and running down the side of Mason's head. The administration of the school rush to help out and gave him a towel to cover his head.

Jordan needed to get the car so I took Mason outside and waited for him on the curb of the school. A women who worked at the school stayed by my side and was very concerned for Mason. There was blood everywhere and it looked really gruesome. But, I was calm and I wasn't really concerned. I knew head wounds bleed a lot and I was sure it was just a little cut.

I didn't think it needed stitches but Jordan said we needed to take him to Wee Care because he was sure he needed stitches. We went to the doctor and he took a look at it and said immediately "Yeah, it is a deep cut, he is going to need staples in his head". Dang it! Jordan was right.

I was shocked, I didn't think it was that bad. But after he cleaned up all the blood and I took a look at the wound, I realized it was a deep wound.

But, Mason was a trooper and didn't cry as they put staples in his head. Actually, when they took the staples out of his head a week later he laughed the whole time.

I wish I could say that this would be the last time I am going to report about a head wound from Mason but I am going to be honest and tell you that we will probably have another one in a week or so.

Until then here are the pictures of his staples...

Mason's Bump on Head

I have a son who literally hurts himself every single day. It always amazes me how he can be doing normal routine activities and he will somehow get hurt.

In this incident, I have to say that he wasn't doing normal routine activities when he got this bump. He was riding on a scooter with Lucas. Of course, he wasn't wearing his helmet like he should have and he went flying off the scooter and his forehead hit the street.

This is what it looked like moments after the accident. It has been a couple of months since this happened and he still has a mark and a small bump on his forehead.

Stay tuned for another blog entry with another head injury from Mason.....

Triatholon

About 2 years ago, We (the Andersons and ourselves) were sitting around the table playing games and somehow the subject of doing a triathlon came up. Jordan and Mike started talking about how they should do a triathlon. Joy and myself started laughing because we didn't believe they were serious. They didn't exercise very much and to complete a full fledged triathlon, I didn't think they would do it. I think that triggered something inside of them and they made it a goal to do it.

Jordan began training but because of some unfortunate events with Jordan's work schedule he couldn't participate in the triathlon in 2009. But, he wasn't going to let this goal go by the wayside. He was determined to complete the triathlon.

He re-registered in 2010 and he worked really hard to get in shape for it. I was really impressed with his dedication and how hard he worked.

In July 2010, he completed his first triathlon. He participated in the Spudman in Idaho.

Here is Jordan running the last stretch of the race.

He was extremely focused and sprinted the last part of the race.

We were all cheering him on.

Here is Jordan and Mike exhausted after finishing the triathlon.

Nate Anderson giving Jordan a big "I am glad you didn't die" hug.

With sweet on his brow and pride in his heart, Jordan contemplates the goal he just accomplished.

Jordan absolutely loved the entire experience. He was so happy and he felt so good because he overcame something difficult. He loved the experience so much he made it a goal to participate in the Spudman every year.

Stay tuned until summer of 2011, maybe I will join him in the feat.

Treehouse Museum

I have a wonderful family. Justin, my younger brother, was so sweet and at a moment notice decided to come to visit myself and the boys in Utah while Jordan was gone away on a work trip. I thought he was crazy because he was going to travel from California to Utah with his 3 little girls on a Friday and then turn around and go back on Sunday. But, he wanted to come and see me and the boys and was willing to sacrifice the hellish ride both there and back to spend time with us.

Unfortunately, he had car trouble both trips and went through a lot of crap but he never complained. I felt horrible for all the stuff he had to go through but I loved having him here. We rarely get to see them and I completely enjoyed our time together.

We took the kids to the Treehouse Museum on Saturday and they were in heaven. Justin's girls: Callie, Mariah and Nora have incredible imaginations and made the trip so fun. Because they play so well, they were able to show my boys how to play dress up and use their imaginations at the different areas of the museum. We spend hours there and I really enjoyed myself.

Here are some pictures of the kids:

Luke and Callie riding a bull in a rodeo.

Dylan's turn riding with Callie

All the kids were in a little play at the museum. The employees told a story and the kids acted out the parts. Luke was the dad in the story, Callie was a child, Dylan was a child and Mason, Mariah, and Nora were different farm animals. Here is a picture of Callie and Dylan on the stage acting there part.

Mariah and Dylan racing to the next fire!!!

Luke dressing up as the father in the play. I love this pictures. He looks so sweet and innocent.

Mason playing some instruments and playing the part of a pirate.

Nora trying to play the part of a pirate but the hat was a tad bit big on her.

But, she does make an adorable pirate.

My favorite picture of the day. Mariah putting on some more dress up clothes.

Prince Luke giving his suave pose for the camera.

Callie dressing up like royalty. She really fits the part.

Justin getting into the role play with the kids and dressing up like a court jester.

Queen Mariah in her castle.

Overall it was a great day! My kids loved hanging out with their cousins and using their imagination all day.