Memorial Day Tournament

This weekend our boys played in a baseball tournament in Utah County. Brayden's team didn't go to the tournament but he was asked to play for a team from Lone Peak, Utah. At first he was not very excited to play on a team whom he didn't know, but he actually had a good time. The kids were fun and the coaches were very nice. I only got to see one of his games because I was with Tyler's team for most of the weekend.

Brayden actually had to miss the last day of school because his ball games started at 10am on Friday. Bryce went down with him and took Ellie also. So after school was out I hurried home and Tyler and I rode down with another teammate of Tyler's.

Brayden got a few hits and got to play several positions. He played catcher, 3rd base, out field, and even pitched a bit. They won 3 out of the 4 games. Way to go!!

Tyler's team won 2 out of 4 games, but the most exciting thing is they beat Team Rock!! Tyler used to play for Team Rock 2 years ago and they are a very good team. They basically intimidate Shock and our boys just have no confidence when it comes to playing them. Tyler started out pitching against them and he did awesome. He had a few strike outs and only one walk in 4 innings. He did okay at the bat too. He walked, had 2 base hits, and 1 strike out. All of our players performed at their best and we ended up winning 8-5. It was so awesome for the boys, the coaches, and the parents. Way to go, SHOCK!!

Alaska Trip

Bryce and Tyler returned from Alaska about a week ago. Bryce was there doing garage doors and wanted Tyler to go with him. I wasn't too excited about Tyler missing 10 days of school but Bryce went in and talked to his teacher and got all of his core testing scheduled before his trip. Tyler was very excited to go. Tyler's uncle Ryan also went. He is an avid fisherman and also very handy and could help Bryce with the garage doors.

The plan was to get to Alaska and bang the doors out in 3-4 days, and then go fishing the other 6-7 days. Well, plans didn't go as hoped for. The weather was awful. Rain, wind, cold and the job wasn't too great either. There was no roof on the building that they were doing doors on, so they basically got soaked and froze as they worked.

They stayed in a trailer on the jobsite, so Tyler basically sat inside the trailer and played DS, watched videos, and read "Harry Potter" most of the day for about 5 days while his dad and uncle got the job done.

To make matters worse, the fishing was awful too. It was a bit too early in the season for salmon and halibut and they didn't catch any. :( I was really looking forward to some yummy fish. Tyler did catch this cool starfish though!!

The mighty fisherman Ryan posing for a photo after his monstrous catch.

He did catch some rock fish which they actually cooked up later in the trailer.

Tyler driving the boat for the halibut fishing, but no luck on catching any.

They finally got the job done and did end up seeing some beautiful Alaskan wildlife.

This is a black bear (from a distance luckily). Bryce was a bit nervous about the bears and so he bought some $40 bear spray from Smith & Edwards before he left for Tyler to carry. He didn't have to use it, thank goodness.

There is a moose hiding in the trees.

They saw a ton of bald eagles too. So cool!!

This is the one and only picture of
Bryce and Tyler. They needed a woman there to take the photos, I guess.

Yes, my son is peeing off of the bridge. Boys will be boys!!
He begged his dad and he finally gave in.

Tyler on top of a HUGE snow bank (15-20 ft.) that goes right down the middle of the road.

Overall, they had a good time. It was a bummer that the weather and fishing didn't cooperate, but Tyler and his dad had some great bonding time together. I am sure that Tyler will remember this trip his whole life.

They did end up coming home about 3 days early and surprising me. It was very nice to see them and I think Tyler even missed me. ;)

Happy Easter

Easter Sunday was nice and relaxing. It was nice to have Bryce all to ourselves with no church meetings. We slept in, enjoyed a yummy breakfast together, went Easter egg hunting, watched Conference, and colored Easter eggs. The kids got plenty of candy, a new outfit, and a DVD. The boys each got a new game and Ellie got a My Little Pony family convertible.

After conference we went to my aunt Janet's for dinner. It was yummy! She barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs. We had layered jello (about 15 layers), mac salad, chinese chicken salad, chips and dips and chocolate eclair cake for dessert. I am sure I need to run about 10 miles today. :(

Look at all my eggs

Brayden showing off his new outfit from the Easter Bunny.

Ellie with her new dress. She loves dressing up!!

Tyler and Bryce playing battleship. Tyler got that from the Easter bunny.

Coloring Easter eggs!!

Ellie used a whisk for her eggs and it turned out perfect. Only one spill.

The finished products. They did great.

Easter Weekend

Saturday we decided to head to SLC for the day. We went to the Gateway to see how the Discovery Children's Museum was. Tyler had brought home a pass from school for the whole family to get in free, so we figured with baseball starting soon on Saturdays, we better go soon.

Well, lets just say Bryce wasn't real excited about going to the museum and as you can see in one of the pictures he didn't really enjoy it. However, Brayden and Ellie had a good time. And sometimes you have to do things for your kids. Let's just say we are glad we got in free!! (The treehouse museum in Ogden is better.)

They had a Life Flight helicopter up on the top floor. The boys enjoyed this, but Ellie wasn't so sure. I think she thought it was going to take off on her.

Bryce enjoying the museum. NOT!!


After the museum, we went to Barnes & Noble and Famous Footwear. Then we headed off to lunch/dinner. We were all starving. We went to Benihana's in dowtown SLC and had a great time. The best part was that my meal was FREE because I had a certificate for my birthday this month. We saved $30. I love to save money!!

I love this picture!!

Me, Brayden and Ellie


Ellie enjoying her chicken. The food was fantastic!!

Tyler and Bryce

Coupon Class!!

Lately I have become involved in saving money with coupons. I have always been a 'couponer' but now I am an addict. So come and learn the best ways to save money on your household/grocery expenses and stock your pantry at the same time. It is a free no-obligation class, so come and bring a friend. I will have yummy treats to enjoy also!!

Are You GROCERY SMART?
THE COUPON GAL is on a MISSION: to
EMPOWER couples to take the REINS of their families FINANCES and
SLASH their grocery bill by 50-70%!
IT’S TIME to throw your old SHOPPING HABITS out the
WINDOW and come learn the LATEST CRAZE on how to
SPEND LESS while GETTING MORE!

Hosted by: Bonnie Clark

When: March 31 at 7pm

Where: my house

Taught by:
Alison Andersen
Call or sign up for your discounted
newspapers at the class!
435-720-2103

Sleepless Nights

Well, last night was one of those nights where you know you are going to have a headache the next day. Ellie was up about 4 times. I am not sure why she didn't sleep well, but hopefully this isn't going to become a habit. The first time was around 11pm and she wanted more milk. Yes, she is 3 now and shouldn't take a sippy cup to bed, but sometimes she does. I definitely need to work on getting her off the milk at night.

Then she woke up around 2am and needed more milk. And yes, I got it for her. Stupid me!! Well she was up just a bit after that to go potty. Imagine that, I wonder why?? Then she woke up AGAIN around 5am and needed to go potty again. Each time she wakes up she isn't real happy. She whines and fusses. I have a hard time getting back to sleep. Anyways, I took her potty and tucked her back in and she started whining for more 'milky'. This time I was going to put my foot down and I told her no. I went back to bed and in the next few seconds she was in my room on the floor kicking and screaming. She still wanted 'milky'. I let her fuss for a bit and then got up and she took off running and screaming down the hall. She quickly came back to my room and I picked her up and started to tell her that she was too old to wake up in the night and need milk. Her reply was, "I don't want to be old." My reply was, "You want to be a baby again?" And her reply to that was "Yes!!"

Well I held her for a while and then put her back down in bed. I asked her if she wanted one of her favorite blankets from her closet. She said yes. So I grabbed it down and then she started crying and saying she didn't want it. So I left it by her and put her other one over her. She then said to put it back in the closet which I did. This brought on more tears and she went on to tell me between her sniffles that she wanted me to throw it in the garbage. So I chucked the blanket into her garbage can and went back to bed. Don't you just love three year olds. :)

Baseball has begun

Last weekend we went to St. George for the first baseball tournament of the year. We were all excited to get a dose of warm spring weather in sunny St. George, but the weather had another agenda. Our first game on Thursday was pretty nice. I even got a little sunburn on my nose and forehead from the sunshine, but it was all down hill from there.

That first game was a nail biter. It went into 3 or 4 extra innings. We played for 3 1/2 hours, which is basically two games. We gave up several runs on errors but then would rally back to tie it up again. It ended up that we lost, but really the other team deserved the win more than us. Tyler did awesome, though. He had 5 hits out of 11 from the whole team in the games on Thursday. Way to go Tyler!!

That night we played our second game and Brayden, Ellie, and I enjoyed it from the car. It was so windy and cold. I felt so bad for the boys and the coaches. Bryce had a ton of dirt in his eyes and ears. OUCH!! They ended up losing the game that night also. :(

The second day was a little better (weatherwise,) but still chilly. I sat in Stacy's car for the first game. We did have a pretty good view. I didn't get many pictures because I was too cold to stand out and take them. I didn't even get any of Brayden and Ellie. Here are a few from the last game of the tournament.

Stealing 2nd base

Overall, Tyler's team ( Team SHOCK) went 1-4. At least we won the last one and could end on a good note. I was very pleased with Tyler's performance. He batted around .500 and did great on defense. He plays 3rd base most of the time.

Tyler's team is playing in two leagues this year. They decided to play in the Sandlot League that plays during the week and then the regular league that has double headers on Saturdays and tournaments. Last night was their first two games. They did great! They won the first one against the Syracuse Titans and lost by one against the Roy Royals. They put up a great fight.

Tyler pitched the 1st inning against Roy. I love to watch him pitch and he really enjoys it.

On third base, ready to score. He had some great hits.

SAFE at home plate. This tied it up in the last inning, but then Roy was home team and scored to win by one.

This is how Ellie enjoys the games.

Here she is lovin' Angie's baby Cam. Sorry Angie!