St. George Trip

Ashton's Sparta team signed up to play in Utah's Presidents Cup.  It was held in St. George over President's Day weekend.  All the kids were excited to go.  In the past we've only stopped for gas in St. George on our way to Disneyland, never stayed.  

We left Thursday right after school.  Ashton had two games on Friday, one on Saturday.  If they won then we would play on Monday also. We knew about the tournament for months, so I had plenty of time to book a hotel room.  But in typical Jerusha fashion I left it until a month before.  I searched for hours online for hotels, condos or homes for rent - nothing was available.  I was starting to look in Cedar City, Mesquite, etc., although the idea of having to drive so far for the games was not appealing.  Jamie had told me that her parents would probably let us stay in their St. George home (they don't usually "share it", as LuAnn put it), but Jared said at the time that he wouldn't feel comfortable imposing on them like that, and Jason described the house as "a museum", which also made Jared nervous.  But I was getting pretty desperate.  So I asked Jamie and she asked LuAnn and she said, "For Jerush, anything!"  Sweeeeet! It was such a relief! I convinced Jamie to come down, and our good friends Seth & Monica.  Monica's grandma lives there, so they had somewhere to stay also.  We all drove down together, stopped in Cedar City for dinner, and got to St. George around 8:00. 

The courtyard of Spier's home, and the door there in the middle of the screen is to the "casita", where Jared, Ashton, Conner, Sophie and I slept.  It had a bedroom and bathroom, which was so nice!

The kids were all glad to be out of the car & running around

In the morning we were able to enjoy the beautiful view they have from their home.  

I couldn't use my flash for this picture, but it is Whitney & Mallory asleep.  They were little mirror images of each other and it was SO cute.  They slept together every night. 

There was an indoor & outdoor pool that was part of the shared community clubhouse.  We took advantage of that on the ONE day that Ashton was allowed to swim (coach's orders).

Then we had lots and lots of soccer.  The kids played pretty well, and our friends were so supportive to come to all the games.  Ashton had quite the cheering section.

Whit & Mal

Emma & Rylee

Sophie loves Seth, and wanted to play with him all by herself.  Conner tried to join in & she told him 'No!', and pushed him away.  

Monica on the left, Jared on the right - both on their phones. But not with each other.....I think.

On Sunday we drove to Zion's. We've never taken the kids there, and Jared was really looking forward to getting some great pictures.  It snowed a little the night before, so it was cold, but there was plenty of sun!  The kids favorite part was the mile long tunnel.  

Saturday morning we took the kids to Brigham Young's winter home in St. George.  Sophie was not a fan of the tour of the home, so I took her back to the car.  She kept trying to get into the areas where visitors weren't allowed.....little stinker.

Saturday night we went out as adults, Jared, me, Jamie, Seth & Monica (Jason had to stay home for this trip).  Ken and LuAnn arrived on Friday afternoon, so between them & Kelsey the little ones had plenty of eyes watching them.  Sunday, after Zion's, Jared cooked dinner for everyone (except Bergman's - they had to head back to SLC). Then we all watched a movie LuAnn had recorded on her DVR called, "Head of the Class", a true story about a teacher with Tourette's.  It was a perfect Sunday movie.  

Ashton's team won their two games Friday, then tied on Saturday.  This put them in 1st place in their bracket, which means we were going to play on Monday! They had an early game Monday morning, and won that one, so we had another game that afternoon.  Between games we packed up our stuff (we had to head straight home after this last game),  grabbed some lunch at The Pizza Factory, and headed back to the fields for the last game.  

 I have more pictures of the games than I know what to do with!

Ashton just kicked that ball into that net.  Where the heck is the goalie?  Ashton probably scared him off. =]

Head Coach Jay on the left, Assistant Coach Brent on the right, then from L-R: Daxton, Max, Kessler, Kaelan, Will, Brandon, Niklas, Mason, Ashton & Christian.  

ALL DONE!  The last game went into overtime, we should have won! In the last couple minutes of "regulation" time, Ashton kicked the ball in making the score 4-3.  Everyone on our team was jumping up and down screaming.  We were so excited, we didn't hear the ref's whistle, calling a foul on one of our other players, saying he pushed someone on the other team.  None of us saw it, and of course I think it was a crap call.  In my mind, my son scored the winning goal.  ;]

School Projects

For the most part I HATE school projects.  Especially ones I like to call "Momwork" instead of "homework".  Science fair projects are one of those, but Emma & I found an idea that interested her and was fairly easy for her to do on her own.  It was a simple project showing how gravity affects seeds.  We put radish seeds inside a CD case with a paper towel to act as "dirt".  Emma watered the paper towels & seeds everyday with a spray bottle.  We placed the CD cases differently.  One laying flat, one at a 45 degree angle, one upright and one upright but rotated every two days.  I dread the science fair, so I was glad when it was over.  =]

Emma with her completed science fair poster 

 Just last week Ashton had a great "Momwork" assignment.  They had a book report on a famous person, and part of the assignment is that you have to make a puppet of said famous person.  He read a book about Dr. Seuss.  Kelsey & Emma both had this project also.  Kelsey did Amelia Earhart and Amy was very nice and helped us make that one.  Emma had Walt Disney.  Her puppet I did by myself and it was kinda pathetic.  I thought it looked like a gray-haired Hitler.  Isn't that awful!? You shoot for Walt Disney and get THAT? I worked all day on Ashton's puppet and I thought it turned out pretty good! I was amazed I even remembered how to thread a bobbin and the machine.  We'll be saving this one and reusing it.  Maybe Conner can do Albert Einstein? ;]

Jazz Game

Jared & I were invited to a dinner by XO Communications at Energy Solutions Arena.  At the dinner they raffled off prizes, and Jared won 3rd row tickets for the game that night.  We were pretty excited! It was a close game, but the Jazz lost to the Clippers 105-107.  We didn't get home until 11:00 - pretty late for a school night.

 Had to get a couple shots of my favorite player - #11 Earl Watson

Valentine's Day

I wanted to do something different for Valentine's day this year, and I got the idea to "heart-attack" everyones wall.  I started cutting out hearts a couple weeks before (I needed a lot of hearts!) and then decided to write down on the hearts things I loved about each person of my family.  While everyone was gone and Sophie was napping (12:00-2:30 everyday - it's awesome!) I quickly taped all the hearts up and put the kids' bags together with their valentine candy from Jared & I (not that they needed more) and we got them a small toy.  Kels and Emma got shoes.  They had no idea and it was fun to hear their reactions as they went into their bedrooms after school.  

Jared's wall

Kelsey's wall

Emma's wall

Conner's wall

Ashton's wall

Kels & Emma after school.  They each got a flower from their YW leaders (delivered to them at school!), and Kels got another one from a boy.  The same boy also decorated her locker with hearts.  Not sure I'm ready for that stuff!!

 Mallory and Sophie checking out their loot.  Guess I forgot to post a picture of Sophie's wall - but all she cared about was the Minnie Mouse toy she got.  

That night we got a heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's and sat together around the table. 

It was a fun Valentine's Day!

Great mail day

The other day our mail consisted of 3 things: 

1 - an invite to a baby shower for a lady in our ward.

2 - a thank you note from a family friend who recently got married.  Jared, Denise & I made the food for her wedding luncheon and reception.  It was a lot of work, but they are a great family and we were happy to help.

3 - an envelope that wasn't mailed, but placed in the box, labeled only with "Jared & Jerusha Smart" on the outside.  Jared and I were practically fighting over who got to open it (he won).  It was a very sweet note from an even sweeter neighbor who felt compelled to write it after hearing Ashton bear his testimony during January's Fast & Testimony meeting.  This is what it said:

"Dear Jared & Jerusha, I just want to let you know how impressed I am with your sweet family.  You have done an amazing job as parents and I just hope Greg & I are doing what we need to in order to raise great kids like you have.  Each one of your children are so sweet and respectful....they are such a joy to be around.  Kelsey is the absolute greatest babysitter - she is our favorite! Emma was so fun to have in Activity Days - she was always so nice to everyone. Ashton is such a good kid with a huge heart - I'll never forget how he donated his own money to "Penny's by the Inch".  He did a great job bearing his testimony this month.  Mallory is such a cutie and Easton has loved going to church and school with her.  Conner is such a great friend to Easton.  He is such a fun & well-behaved kid.  He is welcome to play at our house anytime (including anyone else in your family!).  My mom taught elementary school for over 40 years & at Easton's birthday party last year, she was MOST impressed with Conner of all the kids at the party.  We can't wait to get to know Sophie better as she & Talan grow up! Thank you so much for your wonderful friendship & the great influence your kids are on ours!" 

It was SO nice to get something like this, out of the blue, in the mail.  Maybe if Susan saw how rude Conner & Mallory can be to each other she'd think twice! ;]  We really do have great kids, and I know that while they are little and growing up they will fight, but I also know that one day they will all be best friends!  And before I know it this house will be quiet far too often and we'll be having our kids over with their kids running around.  I try everyday to enjoy the little things they do and say. Mal wanting me to sit and cuddle with her on the couch, or color a paper.  Sophie looking straight into my eyes talking gibberish, like I know exactly what she's saying. Doing homework with Conner and watching his face as he reads a book, or playing math games and secretly letting him win every time.  Sharing the love of soccer with Ashton - watching him play is one of the greatest things.  And he is so good! Watching Kelsey & Emma interact with their younger siblings melts my heart.  To see Kelsey pick up Mal or Soph and give them a big squeeze is awesome.  And Sophie loves to cuddle with Emma more than anyone I think.  I love that Kels & Emma want to talk to me about "girl" stuff, their friends, make-up, annoying teachers. Being a Mom is the best thing in the world. =]

Sophie's Owie

We don't know how she did it, but Sophie broke her leg.  Wasn't a bad break, when they pointed it out on the X-ray I couldn't even see what they were seeing.  She never cried, never fell off anything that I know of. She just stopped walking around and started crawling.  It's a pretty pathetic thing to see.  I gave it a day to see if she would start walking again, but she didn't.  So I took her into our pediatrician's office, went to the Primary's hospital in South Jordan, then back to the pediatricians for a brace.  That was a Wednesday and they didn't cast it until the next Tuesday.  

Waiting for X-rays at Primary's.  She H-A-T-E-D it.

They put her in a brace with pink wrap.  All she cared about was the sucker.  She was pretty tired by now.

Like I said, tired. She never falls asleep in the high-chair.

For another day she crawled around, then she started walking on her leg again.

Waiting for a hard cast.  Luckily Santa brought slipper socks - which have tread on the bottom so she doesn't slip and they are stretchy, so they fit over her cast.  She wears them all the time.  Gotta keep those toes warm! 

We went with purple, to help hide any dirt it would collect.  

Had to include a picture of her with her new bangs! Jared was so sick of her always pushing her hair out of her face, I wasn't sure I wanted her to have bangs.  But we all think it's pretty cute!