October Misc

Crazy enough that the weather was still warm enough for swimming.  The water was a little chilly and the kids didn't last as long but they swam every day they could after school.

 A lovely note sent down the laundry chute.  It was nice getting thanked for a job that I'm constantly doing!

 I love, love, love conference weekend!  I love that we can slow down and just be together as a family for the weekend.  The kids love building a "tent" every time so they can be like the people in King Benjamin's time.  I was impressed with the notes they took and what messages they took to heart.

 My parents are still serving their mission in Germany.  I love modern technology that allows us to call whenever and facetime.  This is the only way they have seen Devin so far.  Devin does get really excited to see Grandma and Grandpa.  Can't wait for them to finally meet in person!

 At school the kindergarten had dress up as a community helper.  Olivia ended up being a vet - third daughter to wear that outfit!  It got some great use!  Alec, Devin and I went to watch the parade.  At the end, Alec had these plastic bugs he was sticking underneath the cafeteria door that we were standing by.  As we were getting ready to leave he reached down to get his bugs and there was a little lizard head sticking out in the row too.  Alec didn't realize that the lizard was real, thinking it was his plastic lizard, and Alec touched it and the lizard ran out into the hallway.  The scream that came from Alec was hilarious!  

 Preschool pictures - not one to smile.  

 During Devin's afternoon naps Alec and I love to play out back while it's warm.  One of Alec's favorite past times this month was "fishing" in the hot tub with our pool noodles.  We even caught a shark! Love the imagination!

 One of our neighbors coming up in the evening.  The most we have seen at one time is 10.  The novelty of seeing the deer hasn't worn off yet.

 Alec playing hide and seek from us.  Can you see him?!

 At the end of a great sports season!  Treats at Braums!  One of our favorite places to go for ice-cream!

 I was called to be the Primary Secretary in our new ward.  I just laughed when they asked, it was my first calling when we first moved to Texas.  I love it though because it's a great way to meet the kids and get to know families.  This year's Primary theme was Families Are Forever.  For the program we had the primary children design the covers.  Here are the girls covers.

Abby

 Olivia

Kaitlyn 

 Field Day - I made the trip to the school 3 times to support the girls.  It was hot and the boys weren't having much fun so we didn't stay long on any of the visits.  I do love seeing the girls with their classmates and just observe.  We came at the right time for Kaitlyn's rotation because they were just about to get popsicles and her teacher gave Alec one.  So nice!

 Abby's friends all loved oohing and ahhing over her brothers.  They were really cute about it.

 Everyone kept asking Abby what was wrong with Devin's head (he just got a helmet) so we told the kids he was growing an extra mouth in the back and we were trying to hide it.  We got some funny reactions and then told them the truth.  Abby was also really sweet with Alec and ran off and played with him on the playground instead of being with her friends.

 We stuck around a little longer with Olivia.  Fun to watch her grow up!

Fall Soccer and Volleyball - Abby

The rule we had about the kids picking and playing one sport obviously didn't happen here.  Because our Saturdays weren't crazy enough with three soccer games on three different fields, we thought we'd throw volleyball into the mix to make things interesting.  The problem with sports here is that they over lap.  How are my kids going to know what they like to play or what they're good at if they don't get the chance to try it out?  With that in mind we let Abby try a volleyball camp this summer and she loved it.  Since she liked the camp we went ahead and put her into a fall league through the YMCA.  She knew she was up for extra practices and busy Saturdays but she said that's what she wanted to do.  I don't know how we managed it but we did and she only missed a game of each because of overlapping games.  And I hate hearing from parents everywhere that if our kids want to play in middle school they need to start early to get on the team!  Ugh!

#30 our first time volleyball player, along with most her team.  It was a rough season.  The coach put them in a competitive league instead of a recreational league.  We were creamed every game.  

 There she is back in the corner up for a serve!  The official was so nice and would always give pointers and tips to the players to help them improve their game.

 Next up is learning to get her overhand serve over the net.  

Half of the team

 Volleyball and soccer practices were on the same night.  We'd go to soccer for an hour and then run over to volleyball and drop Abby off since that practice was 2 hours long.

This is what I did enjoy about soccer practice.  No electronics, the girls read, did homework, whatever, and Alec entertained himself with sticks and rocks.

 Alec laying down on the top bleacher at Abby's game playing on my phone.  Saturday's were divide and conquer with the kids.  They were all champs through the busy season!

And sadly I don't have a good picture of Abby playing soccer because the field is so big and she always playing the opposite side I was usually sitting.  Abby was moved to a new team with her teammates that didn't go to Select soccer.  We joined a team named the Fireflies.  It was also a rough season in soccer.  New team, new players and the jelling didn't quite happen.  We are going to go play both again this Spring and hopefully things will go better the second time around.

Abby in the middle of the field - can't even make her out

Fall Soccer- Kaitlyn

UNDEFEATED!!!!

Kaitlyn's team had one amazing season this year!  Undefeated and they really jelled together.  There was some great playing out there on the field and her games were so fun to watch.  Kaitlyn is a great utility player and did great in whatever position she played from goalie, defense to offense.  Kaitlyn loves soccer!

 Go Dragonflies!

 One hot game and trying to keep Devin shaded behind the stroller.

 We got new uniforms this season because her coach wanted us to look serious and like a real team - I liked the new look.  

 Another trophy for a great season! Thank you coach Ryan and Justin!

Fall Soccer - Olivia and Todd

Fall soccer came and went.  It ends up being a crazy couple months while the girls play and Todd also coaching Olivia's team, the Pixies!

We had a great season. We think they put us in the wrong bracket because too many of the teams were brand new and we crushed them.  Todd would try new things every game like shooting with your least dominate foot or passing three times before shooting.  It's hard to teach the girls how to play hard and go all out.  When game time comes, we see the new teams and try to tell the girls to go easy.  Five year olds have a hard time understanding that.  Todd handles the team well and all the girls will be returning in the Spring.  I also love that we were able to move practices to our backyard this year!  

 Go #4!  Go Olivia!

I was able to come to one of Olivia's evening games and captured a nice goal for her.  She made me keep score throughout the game.

September Misc.

Alec - Always wanting to be playing on electronics.  He was taking pictures of Devin and then switched to games.

 Petting farm at school.  Alec was a little unsure of the animals and it took him awhile to get confidence and try and touch the animals.

 Shortly after we finished all our renovations there was a water leak in our kitchen.  Come to find out, the plumber did attach Kaitlyn's shower head correctly and the water was shooting over the curtain rod,  down the back of the toilet and to our kitchen.  We ended up having a big hole cut out of the ceiling. The ceiling and hallway had to be repainted since we couldn't find any previous paint that matched from the previous owners.  Luckily Todd's parents were here and helped with the chaos so I didn't go too crazy.

 Olivia had her first school performance.  She's in the back row.  Her class sang about the color blue.  It's the PTA'a ploy to get you to their meetings, have a grade level perform at every meeting.  30 minute meeting for a 5 minute performance.

 Olivia made her morning check list - and it's not in order (her words)

brush teeth, go potty, get dressed, eat, backpack and lunch box ready

 Alec gets home from school, we go outside to play.  He loves being outdoors and I love that he can bike in our driveway and in our cul-da-sac.

 We took the girls to see the Piano Guys in concert.  So much fun and so funny!  We are all big fans and I remember seeing Jon Schmidt perform at endless EFY concerts.  It was a fun evening but we got back around midnight on a school night.  The girls were so tired!

Eight is Great! Kaitlyn's Baptism

This beautiful girl chose to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!  

(I bought cute shrug that went with the dress, when I opened it, it was so sheer there was no point to having it.  It was also too delicate so I had to send it back but didn't open the box until the day of the photo shoot.)

Kaitlyn was baptized this past September and it was such a special day.  We were lucky to have Grandma and Grandpa Yost here for the occasion.  We are proud of Kaitlyn and the decision she has made to follow Jesus and strive to do what is right.

Dressed in white

 All of the family!

 The crazy Yosts

We took so many pictures trying to get everyone to look at the camera.  We'd get Devin to finally look but then Alec decided to keep his finger near his nose the whole time.

 After the baptism, we had family over for a BBQ and cake.

 Benson and Kaitlyn are a month apart but Benson was baptized in Utah during the summer.  

Our two newly baptized family members.