Soccer Mania

I cannot believe that I didn't blog about soccer. In my mind I did but when I was going back and reading through I realized that I never did. And I have to document it because it was my little man's first season. One of the things I look forward to the most is seeing how their ginormous uniforms drown them. I'm sure there will be a day when they will fit perfectly and I might feel sad because they're just so darn cute this way.

Jayla chose to be #5 and Blake chose #6. Blake was so excited to play but of course was hesitant once we got there on the field. Jayla felt like such a pro showing little brother how it's done.

After standing with Blake for a couple minutes during warm up/practice time he was good to go. During warm up he would take his shot at the goal and score and he had to come over to me to tell me just in case I wasn't watching. Jayla was adorable and every time she made it in would yell, "Yes! Yes!," and jump up and down.

When the game started Blake did surprisingly well and would get in there with all the other kids even though he was for sure the littlest one out there (Jayla was the 2nd to the littlest). After that first game something must have happened because Blake then started playing like I kind of thought he was going to all along. He wasn't even paying attention half the time. Sometimes when they would have the kick-off he would be standing with the other team on the wrong side. This was all fine because it's what you expect from 3-4 year old soccer. He gave all of us parents a good laugh. When he would pay attention and saw the ball heading down the field he would go run after it but not without looking at me to make sure I was watching and then that would result into running into other players.

Jayla is starting to understand more of the game and she doesn't just follow the ball in the cluster like most of the kids. She can see where the ball is heading and she'll go there and wait. Since she knows she's little and the other kids can beat her running to the ball she's figured out to predict where the ball will be going. She is a very good defensive player because of this. She did almost score a goal...for the other team but I still was proud of her for coming close.

With the teams you never know what you're going to get but they were a good bunch and all wanted to be out there and play (with maybe one exception). We nicknamed ourselves the sibling team because 6 out of 10 of the kids were siblings with another teammate. It was a fun team and the coaches were great and worked really well with them. We can't wait for next season!

Halloween Cuties

Yay for Halloween...I guess. I'm not a huge Halloween lover. I don't mind the holiday but I never go out all out for it. We do the pumpkins, I dress up the kids and take them to get some candy but that's it. Maybe I should become more of a fun mom and make this event more special. But does it really need to be more special for a kid? Getting a bucketful of candy seems special enough to me. I guess everything is all worth it to see these little cuties get even cuter. Jayla has wanted to be Ariel ever since I first asked her (back in the summer) and I think Blake wanted to be Spiderman for Halloween last year but they were all out of costumes. This year I got them a month early to be on the safe side. My little lady bug's costume was a hand-me-down from a neighbor and is actually a newborn size but I squeezed it on her because it was too darn cute not to.

Here the kiddos are at the Trunk or Treat. It was raining pretty good when we got there and by the time we got half way through it had stopped. We made out, weather-wise, a lot better than some people, so I hear.

After our ward's Trunk or Treat we have a dinner and then game for the kids. This was Blake waiting for dinner. I let them have one piece before they ate or else I wouldn't have heard the end of it...

...And I still didn't hear the end of it because here's Jayla begging for ONE more piece. Look at all that loot!

Now here is the cutest picture ever! It was so hilarious to watch her crawl around the floor in this thing. I couldn't stop laughing and she just thought I was crazy and was wondering what was so funny. I've got to say it again that I have THE cutest kids in the world. Of course there are a lot that come in a close second but still..

ABC's, 123's, and a Whole Lot More

Jayla started Preschool last month and she L O V E S it! She attends at a local elementary school and there's about 15 kids in her class. At first I was putting her in preschool for more of the social aspect because she already knows how to recognize and draw letters, numbers, and shapes but it is so much more than that. I had no idea the things that they teach in preschool these days. They're learning syllables! I don't think that was in my curriculum. These pictures were on her very first official day of school. She was so excited that she struck a pose.

My favorite.

She's also very proud of her backpack.

Blake had to get in on the action of the picture taking. At first I felt very guilty for not putting Blake in preschool as well. We just can't afford to put both of them in at the same time. He cried on Jayla's first day because he wanted to stay at the school and not leave. So I try to make it a point everyday that he's going to be with me to help me do something. Like if we go to the store I let him get the items and put them in cart or one day we went and washed the car and he "helped" me work the hose. He seems to be okay about this. He actually behaves a lot better when Jayla isn't around.

I get to volunteer in Jayla's classroom and I'm just so proud of her. I can't believe how much she absorbs and learns. She talks so much like a grown up when she wants to. One time when I was there they were asking the students what they want to be when they grow up and Jayla said a mom. I got teary eyed right then and there. That is a wonderful, fabulous thing to want to be. When did this growing-up business start happening? It is so bitter sweet.

Fun at the Fair (and Carnival)

Here we are at the Box Elder Fair, the best fair in the whole state. The kids were so excited to go on the rides. This was the first year that I forked out the money to do it. The first picture is just priceless. I love the look of utter happiness on their faces. It makes me a proud mama.

Jayla was so brave and went on the dragon roller coaster. It was pretty loud so I think that's why Blake opted out of this one. When the ride was going it looked like Jayla was getting a little scared at certain parts but afterwards I asked her about it and she said she wasn't scared at all. Okay *wink wink*.

This ride was more of Blake's style.

The next day our Stake held a neighborhood carnival with booths of games, a dunk tank, face painting, food, and this giant slide. I was poised for the perfect picture of Jayla coming down then WAM this lady gets right in front of me. Sadly this was the last time I was going to stand in that long line so this is what we got.

This one of Blake turned out much better. Blake is always surprising me. He acts like this timid, shy boy and then he climbs up a huge ladder and slides down this steep slide like it's nothing. This was our last big event of the summer. I am very sad to see summer go. It's such a fun time for our family and this summer was definitely full of a lot of great times.

Blog Prolbems

The three posts below this are not posted in order so I'm sorry if it's confusing or seems a mess. I thought about fixing it but I'm just proud of myself for getting this far so there you have it.

Lovely Melia and Aunt Diane just chilling.

As one of the games we played we had a photo scavanger hunt. We had to take pictures of us doing different things. The one above is four monkeys in a tree. Others were two people drinking out of the same cup, two people doing handstands, a person in the port o potty, and a three person pyramid. Scott truly did an awesome job in planning everything and we had so much fun.

I absolutely adore this picture! Jayla and her Papi.

The traditional group picture. I stole all of these pictures from Scott because I didn't take any. So thanks Scott. We spent the whole reunion laughing and again I don't know how I got so lucky with these weird wonderful people as my family. My brother Wade found this quote and I think it fits us perfectly. ‎"I think laughter is more important than a family vacation because it’s always available and it’s free. Vacations are not. Big family events and vacations are wonderful, but these will not replace the daily humor and laughter in a home. Laughter is like getting away without going away. It gives you a break." - Gary K. Palmer

For the past couple of years we started having our own family reunion with my siblings and our parents. The plan was to go to Sunrise again but it was full so we settle on our second favorite campsite in Logan canyon which is Woodcamp. It's a cute little campground and so peaceful because the river runs right by it and you get to fall asleep to the flow of the river. Scott was in charge of it this year and he put us into teams for games and competitions. In the picture above we are making a poster for our team.

This picture is the final product...well, actually Diane and Daniel added something to it when they came up later. And about the lady drawing on it, it has to do with Wade's nickname that I gave him which was Boobers. Let me give you some background, when he was a baby he cried..a lot. And so I called him a big boob which then turned into Boobers. Needless to say, the drawing gave us a good laugh.

Grandma sure does love her grandkids. We had a pretty chilly morning despite it being early August.

Wade is such a great uncle.

We of course had to go to Bear Lake again. Blake was so funny! He would get into the water and do a little dance shaking his hips. He can be such a ham when he wants to be.

I love this picture! It is the cutest! All the nieces and nephews love Scott and was so happy to have him here. They miss him when he's in Hawaii.

This is such a sweet picture. I see it as one that they will love as they get older. I think of the great relationships I had with my cousins and I'm so happy that my kids also get to have the same thing with theirs.

Every time we got to Bear Lake we have to stop at the Quick N' Tasty and get a milkshake. Some favorite flavors are raspberry lime, cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, almond, and peach. We're sitting in a covered wagon that they have outside.

Big Hirschi Reunion

So I know this post is like 2 months late but at least I'm getting it in. We had our annual Hirschi Family Reunion at beautiful Sunrise at the top of Logan Canyon. It is one of our favorite places to camp and it has so many memories from now to the time when we were little kids. The picture above is us at the trailhead of Limber Pine Trail.

Here we are at Bear Lake. This is also one of our favorite places. The beach is great for building sand castles and the water is so blue and clear. (Sorry the pictures are blurry but I had a smudge on my lense)

Okay, so I'm annoyed that this picture isn't right-side up but this is hiking on the Limber Pine Trail.

There is a little hiking path that starts in the campground and leads to this view over Bear Lake.

Melia's first time at the lake. She got a little sunburn but never seemed to complain about it. Isn't she so cute!?

I know I've said this before but MY FAMILY IS THE BEST! We laugh so much when we are together and I don't know how I got so lucky to grow up with the greatest grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Anniversary in Vegas

One of Daniel's favorite places on earth is Las Vegas. I too like Vegas but he's been about 10 times in the 9 years that he's lived in the States. For our honeymoon five years ago we went to Las Vegas and since had returned for our 3rd anniversary. For our fifth anniversary that was on July 21st I wanted to do something special. I wasn't planning on going on a vacation but my wonderful husband took time off of work and we did just that. And to make it even better it was with NO KIDS. We hadn't been alone since before Melia was born. We did have a first on this trip. It was our first time flying to Vegas and it definitely won't be our last. We were planning on renting a car but after the cost of everything including food and gas it wasn't much more to fly. It made the trip so much more relaxing.

We also stayed at the Monte Carlo for the first time. We like to stay somewhere different each time we go. This hotel is probably the best one that we've stayed at so far. We got a strip view room and it was nicer than your average hotel room and we got it at a great rate. Since we've been to Vegas many times we know what we like to do and we don't waste time walking around on the strip in the heat finding something to do. We love the nickel and penny slots. Many times for $10 you can play for over 30 minutes. I'm not a big gambler so this is just perfect for me. Daniel loves the roulette and he played for almost an hour on $20 and what makes it even better is when the people you're playing with get into it. We were lucky to have such a table.

Our second day there we spent most of it at the pool. When we were there the temperatures were in the 110's with a low of 100. So 95% of the time at the pool was spent in the water. It became unbearable to be out lounging in the sun for too long.

One other thing that Daniel loves about Vegas is all the buffets. In the hotel we were staying at they had a deal, all you could eat all day for $30. Daniel thought he died and went to heaven. With this great deal we went to the breakfast buffet, which we normally don't do, and I thought I died and went to heaven. I could eat breakfast for every meal of the day so this was right up my alley and it's also every carb lover's dream. So with all the eating and swimming we were pretty tired at the end of the day. But not to worry we took a little cat nap and were ready to hit the town later that night. We're old married people with 3 kids so this consisted of...

going to see the Bellagio Fountains. This is one of my absolute favorite things to do in this city. It is a must see every time. It is so beautiful, breathtaking, and magical. I can never get enough of it. We also checked out the new hotel Aria in the new City Center. It was awesome made even more awesome because Daniel won $70 on the slots there. This time it was a pretty low key trip. One day I would love to go see a show. On our previous trip we went and saw an old fashioned Vegas show with the dancers and the huge head dresses. I would like to go to one of the newer shows next time.

All in all it was a very relaxing trip with incredible comapny. I love my husband and am so happy we have made it five years and I look forward to many. many more anniversaries with him. We definitely have our hard times but we definitely have even better times. I love my man and I'm so lucky to have him as my husband and a father to our children. He works so hard for us and is so dedicated in providing us with a good life. I love you baby!

P.S. If you couldn't tell I didn't take any pictures on our trip. Is that bad?

Day at the Pool

Last month when Scott got here we had a welcome home celebration and went to the Brigham pool. Isn't this picture of my mom and my kids so cute?! They love their grandma and she's so fun. They're so lucky to have such a cool grandma.

I was so happy to find a swimsuit for Melia that matched Jayla's. They both look adorable in them. Melia loves being outside and she was so content on just sitting in the shade on the blanket.

Jayla relaxing in the sun trying to get warm and dried off. She loves swimming and her favorite part was going down the slides.

Fun with the Cousins

My brother Jason bought a new house with a big backyard. In this backyard they have slides that they make into waterslides. He threw a bbq while our kids had fun slipin' and a slidin'.

Jayla is so lucky to have Makayla as her cousin.

The first time that Blake went on the blue slide, which they have water running down it, he went down so fast and flew off the slide almost missing the wading pool completely. We laughed our heads off!! It was the funniest thing! I think it scared him so he only went down the blue slide one more time and the rest was on the green one with no water.

My cutsie Blake.

Jayla and Blake had so much fun and so did I. I enjoy watching my kids having such a great time and it's even better knowing that they love their cousins so much and have loads of fun with them.