2nd Place in Districts!

Preston took 2nd place yesterday at the Middle School District tournament! He barely lost his final match. It was a heart-breaker, but he looked great!

Preston is UN-DE-FEATED!

Preston just finished his final dual of the middle school year and won...AGAIN! He finished 6-0 in the duals. This Saturday is his District tournament and he'll be seeded #1! Great job Preston!

Lunch date with my handsome little Valentine

Reid is 9 today! Love this boy!!!

The Preston and the Hare...

So, earlier this week Alyson made an off-the-cuff remark about all the "darn bunnies running around our yard." She said, "I wish someone would just shoot those darn things!" Well, Preston got out his Christmas present (his pellet gun), went out, and with one shot got the biggest bunny of them all right between the eyes. It wasn't the elation he thought he'd have. In fact, it down-right devastated the boy. He ran out, wrapped the bunny in his arms and brought the poor thing inside (crying hysterically the whole time). Alyson couldn't believe her eyes and made Preston take the dead bunny out to the trash immediately. She then tried to console poor Preston who still feels as if he's committed a very huge sin. To top it all off, the poor kid can't get away from that dead bunny. He hasn't been able to sleep at all, he had to finish reading "Call of the Wild" (when I asked him how he liked it he said, "It was good except it just kept reminding me of that bunny!", and then today he just texted Alyson while he was up snowboarding and said, "We're eating at this Chinese restaurant and there is a calendar that tells you what animal you are and guess which one I am...You guessed it A RABBIT!" The poor kid will never shoot a living thing again in his life.

Reid's birthday celebration

It makes me smile that we decided to keep Reid's party small (and simple!) so he invited four friends, which still translated to 19 people in our house Friday night (since we invited families).

It was perfect-- pizza, cake & ice cream, Just Dance 3 on the Wii (thanks Grandma Nancy!) and adult conversation around the kitchen table.

Ya gotta love the two little girls in the back ground bickering about whether it not the cartoon figure on Just Dance 3 is beautiful. (Ella's comment to Jane cracks me up-- "That's your style, not mine.") All the while the boys are dancing to "California Gurls."

Elder Luke

Last night Luke stayed up late writing these instructions for prayer to give to his first grade teacher. (I love his appropriate use of parentheses!) The pictures at the end depict "Don't open eyes/ Do close eyes; don't cross legs/ do kneel; don't wave your arms/ do fold them." He came and snuggled me in bed after he finished, on the verge of tears because he "felt so happy." I was so touched by his faith that he exhibited by his works! Such an amazing little boy!!!