Pee Wee Football Champs!

***Please be patient with the author of this blog who has been enjoying life instead of blogging about it...She is trying to get caught up.There may be gaps of time between posts because I believe in post-dating and will continue to get caught up by post-dating.***

Cameron had the greatest experience as a first-year football player.  His coaches were upbeat and positive most of the time.  They really taught him to love the game!  Because they won their division, they got huge trophies and had a fabulous end of the year banquet. The coaches were brothers and the one on the right does Christian Rap...so he wrote the team a rap that said each of the players names.  Cam's part said, "You know I'm not a liar, he'll run you over big, he's BIG DOG CAMERON STYER!"

Coach Quinton Jefferson, Cameron, Coach Adrienne Jefferson

Championship game played in the snow!

Cam, Offensive Line, with white hip pads.

We are the Champions!


Trying to keep warm before the championship game.

Trophies and gift bags for each player.

Cameron with Coach Hughes.
(Greg Hughes, State Representative, who promised the team that he would take them to meet the Governor and to the opening session of Congress!)

After the big game with some of #92's biggest fans.

Cam had a great support system...in fact, both sets of grandparents, many friends, and every single Uncle & Aunt (except one) came to at least one game.  We are already looking forward to next season!

End of the Bucket List

At the beginning of the summer, we sat together and made a bucket list (SBL = Summer Bucket List) of  40+ things we wanted to do so that when the kids looked back on their summer, they couldn't say "we never do anything."  It was also great because as we did something, we could take the sticky note off the board and the next time we were looking for something to do, we could look at the things we had left.  We crossed all but 4 off the list...I may not have documented them all with pictures so here's a recap:

- Summer Reading Program through the Library---did it!
- Bear Lake---did it!
- Swim at Emily's pool---did it!
- Go to a 3D movie---Gavin & Owen did it in Idaho!
- Play at a lot of new Splash Pads---did it!
- Go to a ReAL game---did it!
- Jump on the Trampoline---of course!
- Swim at Draper Pool---Cam did!
- Memorize the Articles of Faith---unfortunately, no.
- Scout Camp (Cam)---Yup!
- Wheeler Farm---with the Paughs!
- Eat a Snow Cone---at the ReAL game!
- Swimming Lessons---Owen & Gavin did!
- Hollywood Connection---with Granny & Grandpa!
- Have a weiner roast---a few times!
- Go to a Drive In Movie---with Callie & Mike (no pics)!
- Piano Lessons---I taught a lot, but I only taught the boys one lesson each :(
- Lagoon with the Tew's---this got canceled due to two pregnancies (Callie & Emily, yippee!)
- Have a water balloon fight---Yes!
- Roast Doughnuts---at least twice!
- Potty Train the babies?---nope, I'm just not brave enough yet!
- Do Sidewalk Chalk Art---Owen & Gavin got to do sidewalk chalk in Idaho!
- Outdoor Movie at the Amphitheater---Cam went with his friend, Jake!
- Teach Owen to Read---we tried and he did well!
- Granny Camp---The three big boys spent a great time in Idaho!
- Play with Friends---all the time!
- Go Fishing---Cam went with Grandpa Rick!
- Visit Kami & Girls in Wyoming---Absolutely!
- Sleepover at Grandma Tisa's---Cam got to, Gavin and Owen did not.
- Buy a Book---um, I can't remember.
- Fly Kites---weather didn't cooperate.
- Happy Hour at Sonic---Oh ya!
- Play in our Pool---Too many times to count!
- See Beaver & Amelia & kids---Went to a BBQ at Beaver's parents' house to celebrate Beaver's birthday, saw other friends there too!
- Swim at Callie's Pool---nope :(
- Go Camping---Bear Lake, baby!
- Have Family Pictures taken---um, nope :(
- Watch Fireworks---4th of July!
- Picnic at a Park---Yep!
- Go See City Creek---with Granny Jane!
- Walk/Bike Ride on trails---Yep!

First Football Game

After a full week of tryouts and a few hard weeks of practice, it was finally time for the first game of the season!  Although it was considered a Pre-Season Scrimmage, Granny, Grandpa and Uncle Ryan drove from Idaho to watch.  Emily & Miley, Callie & Mike, Tom and Dave, Grandma Tisa & Grandpa Dave also came.  It was held at Cottonwood High School and they played on a really nice turf field and there were bleachers.  We didn't realize this would be the ONLY time we wouldn't have to bring our own seating! 

Cam's team played great and they won easily.

SBL #24 - Weiner Roast

Although it's much easier to just throw hot dogs on our grill, the kids look forward to the few times each year that we start a fire and roast weiners, marshmallows, and doughnuts.  As the days of summer came to an end, we spent a lovely evening outside doing just that...

SBL #23 - Go to Cabela's

One lazy afternoon when there was nothing else to do, we took a quick trip to Cabela's to see the fish.  This is always a highlight for the kids.  And the babies loved it too!

Sick

Sick kids make me sad...luckily, these pictures were taken across a 4 month period so we really don't get sick too often.  We're so grateful for healthy bodies!

Madi

Owen had a sty in his eye...

Han

After church, two babies and one momma got a touch of the flu...

SBL #21 & 22 - Happy Hour & Swimming

After Emily got home from Virginia, we only had a few days to play before school started.  We took advantage of swimming in her swimming pool one afternoon.  Then we dropped her back at her apartment and decided to go get a slush from Sonic...after all, it was Happy Hour!  YUM!

Jemiley Come Home!

Jeff + Emily + Miley = Jemiley

Jemiley spent a couple of months in Virginia for Jeff to complete another summer internship in his dad's law office.  Our toddlers missed each other and we were very grateful for our iPhones and the ability to video-chat with them often.  They returned late on August 15 and Spencer and I picked them up from the airport.  How excited we were to see them! 

Blurry picture, tired Miley, happy Emily!
 

SBL #20 - Play with Friends

It's funny to me that my kids insisted that "play with friends" be on our Summer Bucket List because they get to play with friends ALL THE TIME.  But, whatever.  I chose to take pictures of a couple of times we went to the park with our friends, the Fleck Family.  The Fleck's moved to our neighborhood over the summer and have two boys, ages 9 and 10.  Cameron & Zach have become best of friends.  Gavin & Josh want to play every single day.  Zach and Josh both play football so one evening we went to the park and invited them to meet us.  Cameron had it in his mind that he wanted to be the team kicker and so Spencer was showing him how to kick the football...

Meanwhile, Josh and Gavin were playing in the sand...

And a few days later they buried Owen in the rocks at football practice...

SBL #19 - Wheeler Farm

Cameron went to Wheeler Farm with his scout troop and really wanted his brothers to see it too.  Wheeler Farm is a dairy farm that you can tour for FREE.  There are all kinds of farm animals, antique farm equiment, and demonstrations to see and when you live in the city...it's kind of a big deal.  They even have an old-fashioned candy store!

We met our good friends, the Paugh family, for a picnic and to spend a little time with Cameron as our tour guide.  The tour was complete only after a photo shoot and a stop at the candy store for Lemonheads, Sucker Sticks, and Popsicles!

12th Anniversary

Spencer & I celebrated our 12th anniversary by going to the Draper Temple for a ward temple trip.  I can think of no better place to be on your anniversary.

Sweet Owen

Owen (5 years old) woke up this morning (Friday) , got himself in the bathtub, got dressed and came downstairs for breakfast. Spencer had taken a few days off and since he didn't have to work yesterday or today, it threw Owen off his schedule. Poor kid was completely dressed & ready for church, thinking today was Sunday!

He was super glad when Sunday finally rolled around a couple days later!

Football Tryouts

When we decided to sign Cameron up for Alta Football, we had NO idea what we were getting ourselves into.  (I say "ourselves" because this really ended up being something the entire family was dedicated to.) It started off with a week of football tryouts.  Spencer took Cam to the first day and they immediately divided the boys into groups, according to their size.  Cameron was over the weight limit of 95 pounds so he was grouped with other "X-men".  There were 10 or 12.  The first two days of tryouts were without pads.  The coaches evaluated the boys in running drills, throwing/catching drills, lineman drills, etc.  Cam knew nothing!  He gave his all but the coaches didn't give any encouragement or coaching during tryouts.  Except two coaches...the Jefferson brothers. 

On the third day of tryouts, the boys showed up in all their pads, helmets, and gear.  I was amazed that they let them start hitting each other without even showing them any techniques.  Not very safe, in my opinion.  After the last day of tryouts, the coaches met to have a draft.  They had enough boys to fill 8 teams of 10-year-old boys!  Just before the announcement of teams, Spencer asked Cameron which coaches he hoped for.  He said, "I really want those brothers.  They are cool."  How happy we were when his name was called to be on the Jefferson team...Alta White!

SBL #17 & 18 - Swimming Lessons/Swim at Draper Pool

Gavin & Owen took swimming lessons this summer at Draper Pool.  They are like little fish and improved a lot this season.  On the first day of lessons, the instructors gathered all the kids together to explain the rules and divide into classes.  One of the teachers stood up to announce her class and said "Owen Styer".  He was the ONLY one in his class so he got complete undivided attention!  Gavin had 5 in his class but still had a lot of fun and did very well. 

Cameron chose to NOT do swimming lessons this year but went to the pool a few times with friends (so, no pics of Cam in the water.)

SBL #16 - Hollywood Connection

We bought a Groupon for Hollywood Connection which included 5 wristbands for unlimited rides, miniature golf, and roller skating.  Since the babies are free, it was perfect.  We chose to use the Groupon one weekend when Granny & Grandpa Tew were visiting.  It worked out well to have them with us because the babies weren't tall enough to ride certain rides so they got to hang out with G & G while the rest of us did.  Madi & Han loved the merry-go-round and went on it numerous times.  The entire family attempted a round of miniature golf but ended up kicking the ball into the hole more often than not.  We decided to save Roller Skating for next time. 

MoTab Concert

Our home teacher sings in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and has gotten us tickets to most of their concerts in the last 2 years.  Such was the case for the Pioneer Concert.  Spencer and I enjoyed time together...see how happy Spence is???

SBL #15 - Play at Splash Pads

One of the neat things that we discovered recently is a Splash Pad.  A lot of the cities in Utah have them, kind of hidden.  The best ones that we have found have the rubber playground floor, lots of big sprinklers, showers, water guns, etc...and the fewer people that are there, the better.  I took these pictures at our first Splash Pad of the season.  We didn't get to as many as we wanted to this summer but there's always next year...

SBL #14 - Wyoming

We had the opportunity to go to Wyoming to visit our friends, Kami, Grace, and Scarlett over a long weekend.  The drive to their house was around 5 hours, but, due to our DVD player, went pretty smoothly. 

We arrived in Riverton Friday evening and went to Kami's gym.  It is bittersweet being in the gym as many of the sayings, artwork, etc remind us of Kami's late husband, Nate.  But it was so good to see the gym and the girls.  We went to their house and had dinner and caught up. 

 

 

The next day we went to an event in their city park that featured a dunking machine, lots of handmade crafts, and tasty food.  It was fun to walk around and see the variety.  We let the kids each buy something...the babies chose wands with long streamers and the boys chose polished rocks to add to their collections. 

  

That evening we went to see the "Sinks and the Rise". This included feeding trout, a fun nature walk/hike, and lots of photo ops. The babies insisted on walking most of the nature walk...which gave the rest of us time to smell the flowers and really enjoy the scenery.

The next day was Sunday and our last day in Wyoming.  After Sacrament meeting, we went to see some of the Church History sites, including the site of the Second Rescue.  We were the only tourists and the missionaries were so great to show us around and let us go on the walking tour where we learned about the pioneers.  We were so grateful to spend time with the Jordan Family and always look forward to next time.