scout olympics

William was recently able to participate in the Cub Scout Olympics.  There were a number of different events which included the softball throw,

broom stick toss (aka javelin)

football kick,

both running and standing long jumps,

push-ups and sit-ups,

and the 50-yard dash.

{I love how William got down in the starting position!  Perhaps we have a future track star.}

The race was so close!  All of the adults there couldn't believe how close it was.  (William came in second but I think it was only because he didn't know if he should run through the ribbon or not!  He kind of ducked under it at the end.  Pretty funny!)

In the end, after all the points were totaled, William came in first place (by a hair) for the Wolf Den.  He was so surprised and happy!  It also meant that he got to move on to the district level Olympics.

I was a little worried about how he'd fare up against all these other athletic kids.  I really just wanted him to have fun.  He is super competitive (no idea where he got that from) and I didn't want him to be sad if he came in toward the end.  Earlier that day we went bowling and William was so upset that James beat him--this is pretty typical for William.  He had fun going from one event to the next.

For the 50 yard dash they just ran against themselves... so Rich ran alongside of William to push him a little harder.  I love that William is smiling while he's running his hardest!

While we waited for the rest of the scouts to finish all of the events William took his turn up on the awards stand.  Go William!

The other boys wanted a turn too.

William had a fantastic time and enjoyed doing all the events. The awards ceremony was cut short because it started pouring rain but in the end he came in 2nd for the Wolves!  They later gave us the ribbons for the individual events.  He placed 3rd in both the running long jump and javelin throw, second in standing long jump, and first place in the push-ups!

He was pretty excited and surprised.  We are so proud of our little athlete.

Alexander at 4

 Happy birthday little Alexander!  You are such a fun boy and we are so glad you are in our family!

What is your favorite...
color? gold
food?  chips
game? Yahtzee
toy?  Legos
show? Batman
animal?  cows
comic book? Superman
song? If the Savior Stood Beside Me
What do you like to do?  play with Lord of the Rings Legos
Who is your best friend?  Robby
What do you want to be when you grow up? lego artist
Do you have a girlfriend?  no

I am - four

I am afraid of - haunted houses

I like -playing with daddy

I like to eat - apples

I don't like - to eat trash

I know - that I'm going to turn 4 on my birthday

I want to be - a lego artist when I'm a kid

I like to watch - Batman

My hero is- Superman

I cry when - something hurts

Mom gets mad when - I do something wrong

Mom is happy when - I do something right

What I want to be when I grow up - a lego artist

I can't wait for - me to grow up

Something Mom says to me - "Go to the bathroom!"

Something Dad says to me - "Go potty!"

My favorite place to go is - the park!

My Mom and Dad make me laugh by - telling jokes to me

I know my mom loves me because - she gives me food

I know my dad loves me because - he gives me food too

10 Great Years

Happy Anniversary Rich!  I can't imagine these last 10 years without you by my side!

Mothers

{clockwise: Jeanine Fisher Crane, Marie Goff Allred, Sharon Kaye Allred Fisher, Sarah Scholes Goff}

I have always loved this photo of me, my mom, my grandma, and great-grandma.  Those three women who came before me were amazing examples of strong, righteous women.  I love knowing that I am eternally connected to them and many more wonderful women on both sides of my family.  I can think of a number of other women who have mothered me and taught me more than they could ever know.

When I was younger my mom had us memorize this poem (which I shared several years ago).  It has been passed along from one generation to another and I plan on teaching it to my boys someday. 

My mother says she doesn't care

About the color of my hair

Or if my eyes are blue or brown

Or if my nose turns up or down.

It really doesn't matter.

My mother says she doesn't care

If I am dark or I am fair

Or if I'm thin or if I'm fat,

She doesn't fret over things like that.

It really doesn't matter.

But if I cheat or tell a lie

Or do mean things to make folks cry

Or if I'm rude or impolite

And do not try to do what's right,

Then that really matters.

It isn't looks that makes one great,

It's character that seals your fate.

It's what's within your heart you see

That makes or mars your destiny.

And that does really matter.

 

 

Happy Mother's Day!!

 

 

 

 

 

I've also posted thoughts about my mother in the past here and here.

Fun at school

The boys have been involved in so many fun things in school lately!  About a month ago the second graders had a dance performance.  Each class performed a different dance from around the world (although I think they learned all of them).  William even had a speaking part to help introduce his class.

 {William is the last boy}

 After each class had performed their dance they did some fun dances as a whole group.

 When they did the ChaCha Slide they invited everyone to join in.

It was so much fun to watch William and see him really enjoy himself!


A few weeks later there was an art show for the entire school.  Each student was able to choose a piece of artwork to display that they had done during Art.  It was fun to find their works of art among the many on display.

It was funny to discover that each of the boys had titled their works with "Hobbit" in the name.


A few weeks after that James' kindergarten class put on a circus.  James chose to be a clown because you could be silly and fall around--just up his alley.

We threw together a little clown costume with stuff we had around the house... and he was the cutest little clown around!

The class had spent a lot of time making decorations for the room and practicing their parts.  They even had a ticket taker and a popcorn vendor (which Alex and Henry were really happy about!)

All of the kids did such a great job!  There were clowns, lions, tigers, strong men, tightrope walkers--you name it, they had it.

 I'm pretty sure that Alexander and Henry loved this more than the real circus that we took them to a few months ago!

 We loved our time at "the circus"!

I am so grateful for a wonderful school for my boys to attend and the teachers who work so hard to make school fun!

Daily Sunshine

Just the other night we had been over at a friend's house for dinner.  Since they live in our neighborhood we decided it would be nice to walk over.  William and James rode their bikes.  Since they knew their way home we allowed them to ride ahead of us while Rich and I walked with the little boys.  Upon our arrival at home James came running down to meet us--already dressed in his jammies, having gone to the bathroom and brushed his teeth.  Completely ready for bed.  Just as I was about to ask about William I saw him coming down the stairs pajama clad as well.  I could hardly believe my eyes!  When I asked the boys why they had gotten ready for bed (and so quickly!!) William replied, "I knew you were going to tell us to do it--so I just did it."

Best. Surprise. Ever.