Chubbuck Fast Pitch Challenge

I promise this will be my last post today!

We had a home town tournament this last weekend. I almost think that it is easier to go out of town for tournaments than to be at home and get to the games on time. I would throw a load of laundry in between games, then mop the floor during the next break, then try to figure out lunch for the family in the next break. Wow, by the end of the day, I was tired and I wasn't even the one playing softball! Crazy! (My house never really got clean either because it wasn't like I had a lot of time to get things done but I got my laundry done!)

I thought that maybe I should post a few pictures of Kali doing something other than pitching so that you can see that she is an all around player! Head first slide back into third base and calling for time!

Back to the dugout after scoring a run!

Picture perfect bunt!

Way to go Flash! They took 2nd place in this tournament! Their trophies are in the boxes! They were really cool too but you only get to see the box!

Kali threw a perfect game earlier this week! She did not allow any walks, hits, or runs! She had 8 strike outs too! She only pitched three innings but did an amazing job!

It's been how long?

On the 24th, we celebrated our 15th anniversary! I really cannot believe that it has been that long. I feel very fortunate to have found such a wonderful guy to share my forever with. He is the best dad, husband, friend, and the best part of me! He makes me want to be a better person just by being around him! I love that guy! We promised each other that we wouldn't do anything special for the other person this year but as usual, he made me look bad! (But he did it in a really beautiful way! Notice the flowers!) We spent the evening at the ball park since Kali is in Chubbuck League tournament and Rob is the coach! Her team took first place - way to go Rage! Kali has been at girl's camp all week so we have been shuttling her back and forth twice a day for softball! Oh, the things we do as parents!! Camp is near Bone, Idaho so we are in the car almost 6 hours a day! 3 to pick her and 3 more to take her back! The kids have been able to watch many movies this week!

If you look really closely, you will see Kali's creativity shine through. She told Rob that he needed 15 red roses for the years and 4 white roses for the kids! How cool is that! I tell you what, I have an awesome family!!

These are my two favorite guys in the whole world!!

This week was also Father's Day! Like I mentioned before we have an amazing dad at our house! He is always there for his kids and they love him to pieces! I use to get really jealous of the grand entrance when he would come home from work and all of the little ones would go running and yell, "Daddy, daddy, daddy's home!" I never get that kind of grand entrance when I come home but now more than anything it makes me happy to hear that the kids love their dad so much! He is their biggest fan, their greatest coach, the biggest support system they will ever have and they know it! That is why they love him!

(Kali will be embarrassed by this - but if you look close on this you will also see her creative sense shine through once again or how well the Idaho school system has helped her out! Oops - spelled Father wrong! We still love you, Kali!)

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there! We love you!

More rain and more softball

Two weeks ago, Kali had a softball tournament in Bear Lake. Friday was beautiful which meant that we wouldn't play very many games that day. (We seem to only play when it is raining!?!That is how our season has been going anyway!) But Saturday the rain poured on us! The girls had fun even in the rain.

Kali pitched a great tournament! One game she was throwing harder than we have ever seen her throw! Absolutely amazing! It is fun to see her love the game so much!

This picture is the most candid picture of Taryn. Everything about her smiles! Look at those beautiful eyes. You just have to love this girl!

Brooke had a great time at Bear Lake. We actually made it to the lake this year. Only for about a half an hour which was not nearly long enough for the kids liking but maybe when we go back in July we will be able to spend a little more time playing in the water!
We took Camry and Emily Erickson to the lake with us! Camry and Kali had a great time digging to center of the earth. If we would have been there just a little longer, I think Camry may have found it! We have such a great time hanging out with the Erickson family! If they can put up with our craziness at the tournaments then we must be doing all right!

A little dirt won't hurt! Until you throw it at your sister! Kyle was in heaven playing in all of the sand! He would much rather play at the beach than sit and watch his sister play ANOTHER softball game. He really is a good sport. He helps Rob in the dugout with whatever needs to be done!

We were really lucky that Grandpa and Grandma Howard made the long journey to watch Kali play in this tournament. Unfortunately, they brought the rain from Logan to Bear Lake and it never let up but we were so glad they could share the afternoon with us. Kali was disappointed that she didn't get to visit with them longer! (Many tears were shed but I promised her a trip later this summer and I think she is going to hold me to it! So see you soon!:) Thanks again for coming to watch her play - it meant the world to her!!

Twin Falls Softball

Another weekend spent at the ball park! Kali had a tournament in Twin Falls this past weekend. During the day on Friday, the weather cooperated and we actually saw sunshine for most of it. But by Friday night, we were once again playing in the rain. I can't believe this weather but the girls are troopers and play through whatever weather is thrown at them. The girls played well but we were done by noon on Saturday.

Our star pitcher!! Yes we are very proud and very biased but we can be because we are her parents, right!?!

So we took the kids to Shoshone Falls. Kali has a fear of heights but she managed to stand out there long enough for me to snap the picture and run back to the car. We got to the falls in the middle of a serious down pour. It didn't bother the kids at all but I was ready to get into some dry clothes and head home after only a few minutes. (I know, I am a poor sport!)


The Twin Falls Bridge
Shoshone Falls
Our cute, wet kids!
I am starting to wonder if we moved to Seattle with all of this rainfall. I think a little sunshine would be a much needed treat. I don't think that I am asking for much! It is June!!

Temple Trip

Rob and Kali went to the Idaho Falls Temple last week to do baptisms. Since I am not in Young Women's anymore and I didn't have to go, I decided that I would tag along and take the younger kids to the visitor's center. We hadn't been there before so I thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to show the kids around the temple. Unfortunately, it rained the whole time we were there so they didn't get to walk around but we had a great time in the visitor's center watching a movie, working on the family search web site, watching classic commercials, and the kids personal favorite was finding the temples around the world on the computer. We played with that for at least a half an hour. (I learned a few things too!) We aren't really getting to use to the rain but we made the best of it by staying inside until it stopped for about 5 minutes and we made a mad dash over to see the falls. Even though the skies were gray, it was all still very beautiful!

I love the peace the temple brings!

This is our 5 minutes with no rain! The kids are pretending that they are falling into the water. Silly kids!

Lots and lots of water going over the falls and even more falling because of the gray skies. We had a great night. Next time we will try to go when the sun is shining!

Soccer star!

Kyle just finished another season of spring soccer. He had a great time. He wasn't on a winning team but he really enjoyed playing defender. He got quite a bit of playing time since everyone else wanted to play forward so that they could score some goals. He is okay with just hanging out in the back field helping out the goalie. He even got his share of time in the goalie box. He really likes to play goalie but I think that he is better as a defender. He is too quick to be stuck in the box!

( I am not the greatest about remembering to bring my camera so you get a backyard shot instead.)


This week he has been practicing his basketball skills at the high school camp. He also has golf lessons staring tomorrow. He took lessons last year and loved it so we thought we would try it again. In fact, he loved it so much that we decided to sign all of the kids up for lessons this year. I think I need a lesson or two but there isn't enough hours in the day for that!


Good job, Kyle!

Brooke's Big Week

School's out for the summer! The kids are so excited but now it is time to figure out what to do with them!

My baby graduated from kindergarten - what will I do with myself? I guess I will figure that out after I see if we survive the summer.

Brooke's last week of school was filled with lots of adventures. It was like a party everyday and of course I couldn't miss a single one of those moments. My camera only made it to a few but she loved every minute of it.

First she had a Hawaiian luau. This is one party that I wish I had the camera for. They made their own leis, fruit kabobs, grass skirts and hats, and even learned how to dance the hula. It turned out really cute!

Then she had a field trip to the zoo. I don't know if she was more excited about actually getting to ride a REAL school bus or going to the zoo! Either way it was a lot of fun. If you have ever been to the Pocatello Zoo, you should know that the field trip didn't last very long but the kids had a great time because they got to take their own lunches, see lots of animals, and play at the park!

This was the highlight of the zoo, Charlie the Bear.

The kindergartners got to eat lunch in the cafeteria, have a summer celebration, and participate in field day but the best part of the week was Kindergarten graduation! Our baby isn't much of a baby anymore. She is growing up everyday! She loves to dance, read, write, dance, sing, play with friends, play the piano (mostly by ear - any song that someone else is practicing) and did I mention that she loves to dance ALL OF THE TIME! Her feet never stop moving!

Yeah, we made it!! Way to go! We love you, Brooke!!!