...meanwhile

The boys were at our house swimming.  Except Ethan and Noah, they were at soccer practice.  (the tournament team not the travel team or the AYSO team...soccer never ends)

 This is Tyler Higa and I love working with him.  He is an awesome YM president.  Sadly they are moving to Simi Valley next month.  His will leave big shoes to fill.  The boys love him a lot and really relate to him.

So back to soccer.  Last weekend was the big game(s) with the club team.  Super fun to watch and to play in.  Then we were so excited because they wanted Ethan to join.  This has never happened because we honor the Sabbath and give that day to the Lord.  We believe this means the whole day...not just an hour for services.  The coaches were so impressed with Ethan and said they really wanted him to play.

Fast forward to Monday night practice.  I take him out to the field and wait to talk to the coach and say "hey you want him here right?  Knowing we will not play on Sundays?" and he's like yes, yes we want him.

Then after practice Rob picks him up and the coach says, "Ethan's great! we love how he plays, we want him on the team...BUT we need you to compromise a little and play on Sundays sometimes and we need you to sign the contract that says you will put soccer first, above family activities, other sports, church activities or he can't play".   So Rob called me and we were heartbroken for our good boy who has so many talents.  Rob doesn't want to tell him about it alone and when they get home we talk to him together and tell him the bad news.  Which he takes really well. He says "I can't chose soccer over Sunday" and we move on.

The next day he tells me he is sad about it..of course.  This is really hard.  It has been hard for many years.  I feel like I run around wearing an "honor the Sabbath day cape" and keep running into obstacles over it.  I did not intend to be that cape wearer, it just happened as I am a raising and athlete and a man of God, those two things clash from time to time.

That said, I know this is what God wants.  I know that my boy will be blessed, I don't know how or when but I know it'll come.  Worshipping at the church of soccer is akin to worshipping false idols.  We can not do it and stand blameless before God at the last day.  So is it hard? Yes.  Is it right? Yes.  What other people choose to do is their business and I have no judgment about that but to quote Joshua "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".   The thing that is sad for me is the great joy that they are missing out on.  "They" being people who chose the "world" over God.  They may have more fun from time to time, and in the short run, but they do not have peace and joy that comes with living the gospel. I'm so grateful that Ethan is not bitter or mad, that he obeys and does what is asked of him.  I worry about him, and all the children~ are we teaching them well?, do our short comings and mistakes blind them to the truth?, are they gaining a strong and firm testimony? but I also have great hope that they are doing what is right and are being blessed and will continue on in the paths of righteousness.
Amen.....stepping off the soapbox :)

Fiesta Farewell

Shelby, Madi, Hannah and Katie

 For YW tonight we had a farewell fiesta for our seniors.  It was a really fun.

 I asked each of the moms to make a poster about their daughter (we invited the moms). Each mom got to get up and talk about her daughter, which I really enjoyed and I think the girls did too.

 We had a nacho bar that was delicious and cake and brownies and lemonade.  Yumm!

me and my beautiful friend Ramona

 I brought supplies so that everyone could make a headpiece to wear.  It was harder than it looked but the girls liked it.

 We had a pinata and ate and the girls gave advice to the younger girls.  We also gave each of the graduating girls a framed picture of the temple to take with them as they embark in life.  It was a good night.

the whole gang...even Rachel who was taking the picture but managed to get a fingertip in too :)

pool's open

 With temps in the 90's it is swim season.  The water isn't really too warm yet because it takes a while to catch up but the kids don't seem to mind.

Sarah, Madi and Hannah hopped in right after school and when Grace saw them she joined in the fun.

Also I would just like to say that our animals are confused.  Steve fetches like no one's business and Ziva sometimes uses the litter box for her business.  Very role reversal behaviors...yet Ziva is still a dog, and Steve a cat.  Just saying.

monday

 Grace had her choir concert last night.  It was at the exact same time as Hannah's graduation from seminary.  I was SUPER sad to miss it.  Luckily I had heard them sing before but not the full show :(

Rob and Ethan went and they said she did great.  The music was fun and complex and sounded amazing!

Next year I'll be there!

 She had a cute part in a video introducing the music too :)

 Hannah wanted to make dinner tonight, which is so awesome.  This always requires a grocery trip for her.  Don't these ingredients look inviting?!

Funny Hannah quote, while cooking this evening she got hot, it is hot outside (mid 90's) and so she asked R to turn on the AC. She said "I'm sweating like a sinner in church!".  Which made us both laugh.  We're going to miss that girl

So there is nothing for me to do but watch the iron chef battle :) (while vacuuming and sorting and taking out the trash and folding a load of clothes).

Also in a surprising turn of events Ethan and his friend Brody swam today.  Usually it's Grace that's the first swimmer of the season.

And speaking of Grace I subbed at her school today and sat in the lunch room with two of her teachers, which was fun because it's always nice to hear how smart your kid is :)

Jenna and Clayton completed their annual back county backpacking trip.  They didn't see a live bear again. Maybe next year.  But they had a great time.

And in not so great news she has a node on her thyroid that needs to be biopsied. Alarming with our family history.  So ick.  Of course we're hoping for the best but it will be a tense couple of days while we wait to find out what it is and why it's there.

Seminary graduation

 Tonight Hannah graduated from seminary!! Whoo Hooo! This is a big accomplishment.  It means she has read all the standard works: the Old Testament, the New Testament, The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.  Passed the tests each year and attended at least 80% of the time.  (that was the first three years, this year they made it 75% to match institute).  This is a big commitment of time and effort.  Especially the 6am start time.  Yay!!!

Now I only have 6 years left to get Bub and Grace through!

Simi Valley

 It turned out that I did get to go.  We were getting ready this morning to get everyone out the door and Hannah volunteered to go pick up Grace and hang out with her in the afternoon.  So I quickly grabbed my stuff and went with the boys.

It ended up being a really fun day.  The team was good, Cal Elite, and Ethan played the whole time for both games. 

 They actually didn't win either game.  They lost one and tied one.

 After the second game, which was a nail biter, a fight broke out.  The other team got a penalty kick at the last minute, literally.  The kicker had a clear shot at the goal, the goalie prepared.  He shot.  The goalie dove and he deflected the ball.  It was an amazing save.  (After I was talking to Logan and he said it was his second best goalie moment ever.)
Then the teams went for the ball.
Then the whistle blew and the game was over.
Then out of nowhere one of their guys came unglued and fists went flying.  It took a second before everyone was joining in the melee. Some of the more ghetto moms hopped in shouting and screaming.  Refs and boys held other boys back.  Coaches ran to the field as well as several officers.

Then things settled down.

It was crazy.  Ethan grabbed Carlos in a bear hold and wrestled him away from the dog pile.

So it was a long, hot day, with a lot of drama, and a lot of good soccer.  Ethan got blisters on both heels and pounded in the chest with the ball which resulted in a hurting breathing for game 2 but he didn't complain or stop.

Then at the end, to Ethan's delight, they told him they'd like him to play with them.  It's a travel team but they are willing to have him only on Saturday's and practice days.  It's not a done deal but we are hoping it will work out.

Soccer is very serious business, probably everywhere, but really in SoCal.  Those latino boys are really good.  I was laughing (to myself) because there was a team waiting to play after us and they were warming up near where we were sitting so I was reading the names on the backs of their jerseys: Lopez, Ramirez, Santos, Perez, Sanchez, Torres, Flores....etc. 

Anyway, not playing travel has been a real sacrifice for our boy and I hope this works out. He is a good athlete and a good leader on and off the field...and his Spanish is pretty good too :)

dump day

Hannah and Ethan Oct. 2003

 I 💗💗💗to throw stuff away.  Seriously love it! Today was garage day.  We went thru both garages and got stuff that was broken or ripped, expired or faded or not needed and took it to the dump.  It was awesome.

We found some "work" boxes of Rob's and he sorted through some after to see what he wanted to take to the office.  In it was a file folder of pictures! How fun!!

Hannah taking pictures with her "camera"

 Ethan got invited to be a guest player on a travel team for the weekend.  He went to practice with them this week.  So that's pretty fun.  His games are tomorrow in Simi.  Unfortunately it's also Grace's mandatory choir practice. We will have to divide and conquer.  That will be the theme of the weekend I am afraid.  I hate that.  I like to be everywhere.  I really love to watch him play so that's disappointing for both of us.

Jenna at Grandma Betty's house.  I think she's about 5 or 6 here.

 After school today we went to the mall.  We needed socks, shoes and shorts for the boy.  He's a quick shopper.

Sierra going to the temple for the first time.  She was 12.

2 1/2 weeks of school yet! Yay!!! We love summer time.

this boy was all about balls, lightsabers and "his guys"

Hannah age 5

me and Dani Dec 98