SENIOR BROWN BELT

Asher's spent over 18 months studying at the World Tae Kwon Do Center.
He's punched and kicked this bag countless times! He trained with 3 different instructors, 2 Masters and 1 Grand Master. Lately he's enjoyed kicking this bag to the ground with a flying side kick.

And here he is after earning his senior brown belt - his 8th belt!

We are so proud of Asher and all that he accomplishes. He's set a goal to become a black belt and he's 2/3 of the way there! Aside from this goal, he's an "A" student and earned his Arrow of Light in Cub Scouts. He's now starting in Boy Scouts and plans to have his Eagle Scout award by the age of 14. I know he'll continue to accomplish anything he sets his mind to.

ASHER'S ELEVEN!

No, that's not two candles in that donut....it's an eleven! Asher turned eleven this month and we celebrated with donuts and....

Pizza! He called a few friends to come celebrate on the big day. They had lots of fun together eating lots of pizza, crazy bread and donuts.
Here's the happy bunch - Kyler, Connor, Asher, Alex & Simon (yes, Colton's in the back)

Asher always poses so nice for his pictures!

This was the most wanted gift for our birthday boy!

It was also the bulk of the entertainment for the party.

The only problem.....four boys, three controllers.

They all took turns sharing....except the birthday boy.

(can you blame him?!)

Happy 11th Birthday, Asher!!!

FALL BREAK 2009

This is a sight I haven't seen for years....Asher playing with his friends in the sand! We were invited by his friend Simon to their ward park day (the day before going back to school). We had a great time and loved our wonderful weather. After the park we went to Olive Garden for lunch....YUM-O! Next was our annual flu shot (not the H1N1 shot, just seasonal flu) - Kyler screamed and screamed and screamed. He said things like "don't let them do this" - "save me!"...and apparently the scene was talked about throughout the day at Tony's cubicle! (flu shots were given at his work) To try and smooth things out we went for dessert.....See's Candies! The boys picked their own and we left with a pound of delicious chocolate. The night was topped off with football practice, Tae Kwon do and I had a baby shower to attend.

Kyler loved the sand too!

Colton (our resident teenager) didn't want to pose for a photo....so I got these two lovely shots!

This is what happened for most of fall break.....VIDEO GAMES!

We did make it to Polar Ice one day to go ice skating. Kyler didn't do so well.....he decided (after 2 min. on the ice) that he was done and wanted to go. I kept making him go out there though. He was rewarded with some cookies for his effort. When all was said and done with the skating and his skate were off & shoes back on, he suddenly disappeared. I started frantically looking for my boy when I saw him back on the ice....IN HIS TENNIS SHOES!!!!!!! He would run in one direction and then slide on his feet and then turn around and do it the other way. He was breaking one of the major rules there, but was finally having the best time on the ice! I quickly summoned his brothers to get him off the ice and walk NO WHERE NEAR ME - you know, just in case someone thought he was with me!

This is what you get when you ask three boys to pose for a photo! I'm soooooooo glad I took lots of photos of them when they were younger!!! This was the BEST photo of the three of them. (yes, this is pathetic.....but so real!)

Did I mention how happy I am that they're back in school?!

FALL BAKING KICKED OFF!

Asher enjoying Spiced Pear Bread. You can find the recipe at: http://nicolecreates4fun.blogspot.com/2009/10/spiced-pear-bread.html Cute bread in a super mini bundt.

Kyler shows the tiny loaf from my micro mini loaf pan.

Fall baking has begun! I have many recipes I want to try. Fall Break (kids are out of school now and go back Oct. 21st) and Conference Weekend provide just the opportunity I need. Now back to Conference!

WEEKEND FUN!

This weekend was full of Family, Food, and Fun! We hosted a family breakfast Saturday morning - Belgian waffles with sour cream syrup, Sausage breakfast casserole, Green chili frittata, Bacon, Fresh fruit, Juices, Milk....YUM-O! Our home was FULL of family....20 adults and 19 kids!!! FULL HOUSE FOR SURE! This summer two of my cousins moved back to Arizona with their families and it's so great to see them at our family get-togethers. My Aunt, cousin and her son flew into town for the weekend to visit Mita. They even brought Mita out to the breakfast - having that many kids around was a little too crazy for Mita, but we're so glad she was there! Here's the man of the hour: GUNNAR!

Gunnar in the MAN CHAIR! He didn't want his shoes on this morning!

With General Conference this weekend, we'll be sure to see all the "local" family next Sunday. Today we had to say goodbye to Candice and Gunnar! We miss you already!!!

MY SON - THE LADIES MAN!

You may be wondering what this innocent looking piece of paper is. It came from my son's pocket. It has a number on it. A girl's number! She wrote it on this piece of paper and gave it to him. I know what you must be thinking...."Nicole, Colton IS a teenager. This was bound to happen sooner or later." I agree. I think I would have been happy for Colton. Except it wasn't Colton. On to Asher, now in today's world, getting a girl's phone number at age 10 (almost 11) isn't that big of a deal. To me, it is! Asher will be 11 in less than a month, but I don't like the thought of a girl already giving him her number. Don't worry - it wasn't him either! Yes, in case I haven't already talked to you or you haven't seen my facebook post, IT WAS KYLER!!!!!! He came home on Thursday and pulled this piece of paper from his pocket. He told me a girl gave him her phone number. I asked him why, his reply: "so I can call her". I asked if he was going to call her, his reply: "NO!!!!" What a relief I thought, until he said "Her mom might answer the phone!" REALLY!?! So let me get this straight, if this girl had her own phone line......KYLER WOULD SOOOOOOOO CALL HER! I guess we're safe until this girl gets her own cell phone.....by today's standards that will be next year! Heaven help me!

side note: Kyler even memorized the first three numbers...I'm in trouble!

IT'S A GIRL......thing

I have a new blog and

IT'S A GIRL

...............thing!

I started a new blog http://nicolecreates4fun.blogspot.com/ to post any projects I do.....scrapbooking, mini books, cards, even decorating the house for the holidays. It's just for fun and just for me. So, if you're interested.....just come on over and see what's coming out of my scrap room! I have two posts ready to go.