Seth & his girls

Seth somehow always manages to end up in the minority - where do all the girls come from???

(Jade, Shelby, Shay, Emma, Seth, Katie, Mara, & Megan)

Somehow I think he only cares if the brunette on his right is there.  This is a great shot Blake took after the basketball game at Snake River.  I'm so far behind on my post - I will just keep plugging away to catch up. We headed to Seth's game in A.F. on Wednesday night - let's just say the team didn't have a very good night.  The final score was 70 - 54.  Soda just seemed slow and couldn't get their shots to fall.  Way too many turnovers - hopefully they will be back in the swing of things by Saturday night when Bear Lake comes to Soda.

Mom's raisin cookies

Mom has been promising to make me some raisin filled cookies for a while - Yummy - I haven't ever tried to make these ones on my own.  She mixed up a batch for the Christmas party.  I've been craving one for quite a while.

Grandma at work

They tasted just as good as I remember - Mom gave us a book of Grandma Hansen's recipies with some histories for Christmas.  That was a great present ~ now I quess I'll have to try making them myself.

Rowdy Red

~This is the real baby of the family ~

~Look at that face~

~Rowdy got a new red ball for Christmas~

~The packaging claims it will not pop~

~I give him a week or less to pop the silly thing, but he sure is having fun with it!~

New Post

Finally

It took forever, but we finally managed to finish the Christmas tree.  Mara decided we needed to update - it is quite a change.  It turned out to be a pretty tree and we can build on the new theme next year:

Merry Christmas

I'm sitting here waiting for the kids to go to sleep ~wanting to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  With all the fun and hectic things of Christmas day, I have to remind myself of why we celebrate this day:

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!

Cardinals vs. Cowboys

Cowboys came to play in Soda last night.  Mara got some good pix that tell the story of this game:

Seth got one 3 point shot in the first half

6th grade girls players did a little scrimmage at half-time. Shelby got to be one of them.

Shelby defending one of her best friends - Sierra Woods

Seth got a second 3 point shot!

Going in for shot - check out Taylor's hand coming for the ball - Taylor is a nephew of John & Michele's on her side of the family.  It was fun to watch them play again.

He was fouled on the drive (see above) - but Seth, 0-2 at the foul line will just not do!

Maybe this was the other 3 pointer - not sure, but Mara got some amazing pictures of this game - you can see the ball mid-air in a bunch of them.

Final Score 68-40
Next game not until the 30th at Snake River!!

Christmas Concert

Megan was a part of the school''s Christmas Concert on Monday night.  It was a great program put on by the kids.  Her music teacher "Miss Kim" was a classmate of mine at SSHS.  We graduated from school the same year and were both involved in "Soda Pops" ~ It has been great to have her back and getting the music program going again.  Just in time too ~ Megan loves music and it will be fun to watch her at the high school productions.  She has a beautiful voice and sings all day ~ just ask her brother and sisters.

I have a video of the kids singing, but can't quite figure out how to get it to load - sorry but I'm an amateur.

Shelby was involved in the reading part of the program with the 6th grade music class.

Joseph Smith

I've had him on my mind a lot lately.  As we went into Seth's ballgame Saturday night the relief society teacher wondered if I thought a friend of mine could teach her lesson the next day.  I'm not sure where the words came from, but I said I would do it.  I'm so glad I did.  It was the last lesson from the manual of the teachings of the prophets Joseph Smith.  I'm sad that I was not in Relief Society more during the last 2 years.  These lessons are awesome.  I don't want to preach too much on the blog, but felt like it was an appropriate day to honor this gentleman on his 204th birthday:

Joseph Smith, the Prophet, Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fullness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!

Saturday's game

Another update on Seth's games - if you aren't tired of them yet - if you are just ignore the  posts with the Cardinal.  Soda hosted American Falls this past Saturday night.  Jim & I got in town just in time to hear Megi sing the national anthem again and watch Seth play.  Soda won again - Wahoo!!  Score was 55-48.  Soda was up by 17 and one point and let the lead dwindle until it was getting a little nerve racking.  They ended up pulling it out and got the second win over A.F. this year.  Seth took 4 three pointers and made 3 of them for 9 points. He only had one foul in the first half so I thought he had it made, but just couldn't help himself and fouled out with 3.3 second on the clock ~ silly kid.  I thought he had a good night - he had several great passes into the posts.  Next game is at home with North Gem on the 22nd.

The STAR

I sent one of the guys up on top of the elevator to see how many bulbs needed to be replaced this year.  It was quite a few and the electric cord was in bad shape, so we decided to re-do a little.  I went to buy a new light string and had a vision ~ bought rope light.  Josh agreed to take over the project - a little by default since it was always his Grandpa's job.  He twisted the rope lights around the star and here is the result:

I think it turned out awesome ~ nice job Josh ~ the updated version looks pretty good!

Boys hosted Marsh Valley last night.  It was kind of a rough night for Cardinal basketball, we ended up losing to them again 38-48.  We have only lost twice and both times to M.V. so far this year.  They do have a good team and our boys worked hard, but just couldn't get the shots to go.  Seth had 3 points, 4 fouls, and a took the brunt of an offensive foul.  He was frustrated and not real happy after the game, but they worked hard.  Mara was at the game and got a few good shots. So here goes:

Cooper & Seth before the game

Megan warming up before singing the national anthem ~ she did a fantastic job ~ I look as tired as I feel!

Offensive foul - nice job Seth!

Going for the 3

Seth had 4 fouls and Coach Bergholm put him back in with 2 minutes to play - I got quite a kick out of the M.V. coach as he was yelling at the team to watch Seth.  He yelled "watch that one, he is their 3 point shooter" ~ they are catching on!!  My world revolves around the gym this time of year - Cardinals back at home with American Falls on Saturday night - good thing I love watching that kid play.

6th Grade B-ball

Shelby had her last 2 games of the season on Saturday.  She & I went to Bancroft for the 9:00 game and it was kind of a fun one to watch.  Shelby's team won 18-12 and she scored 12 of her teams points.  She also fouled out with 2 minutes to go.

Then we headed back to Soda for her last game there with Bear Lake.  While I watched the warmups, I was thinking we were in trouble.  They looked pretty good ~ Soda's team did great when the game started and managed to win by a long way.  Shelby scored 10 points in the first half, didn't play the 3rd quarter and only got 2 points in the 4th quarter.  Two games in one day and 12 points in each ~ not too shabby I would say.

It was tough watching them play at the beginning of the season, but amazing to see how much improvement they made over just a few weeks.  It sounds like there is talk of a tournament on the 22nd when school gets out early, so maybe we aren't finished yet.  Then we will see if there is an all-star team?? Oh one last thing - Shelby has a personal coach if that's what you want to call Mike.  Our neighbor and 1st counselor in the bishopric has sort of taken Shelby under his wing and been giving Shelby some private coaching.  I hear he was a pretty good player back in the day and the kids just think he is awesome.  After the game, there was a little playing still going on on the court:

Thanks Mike - you are a fantastic friend!!

1st Home Game

The Cardinal boys had their 1st home game last night and what a game!  Snake River came to play in Soda ~ S.R is picked to win 5th district for 3A.  It was quite a nail bitter and even went to overtime.  Soda came out the winner - WAHOO!!  Score was 69 - 65.  Seth had a great game again - he hit 3 three point shots and was 2 for 2 at the free throw line.  The newspaper messed up the stats again and only had him at 8 points, but Emma & I both agreed at the 11.  They can't seem to get the stats right - that is twice they have messed up on his points.  Oh well, the important people know the truth.  I was very impressed with how the boys held up to the pressure - it was an intense game, and the officiating left something to be desired.  Now I sound like a whiny mom, but on nights like Friday night I worry the kids are going to get hurt if the refs don't call all the fouling.  It was an awesome game to watch and the gym was full of people cheering them on.  Home games next week on Thursday & Saturday ~ Go Soda!!!

Puttin up the tree

We went to get the tree on Thanksgiving day and put it up that coming Sunday.  Just a hint when you are putting up your tree:  Look up and see if there is a ceiling fan i the room that is on.  Yup - I forgot I had a ceiling fan in the dining room.  I put the tree right into it - no damage to the tree, but the fan was hanging by the electrical cords.  Duh!! Seth & Mara helped hold the fan up so I could get it screwed back onto the drop bar.  We cleaned it all up and finally got the tree in the stand.

cleaning up after mom

Sucess!!

The lights are finally on 2 weeks later and the decoration have been waiting for Mara to come home and help - this weekend it will finally be done.  I'm not sure it has ever taken 3 weeks to get the tree up - Oh Well, it looks good.  Now if I had some presents bought to put under it!

Cardinals @ N.G.

Took a little trip to Bancroft last night - it was fun. Soda & North Gem have not played for quite some time and due to budget we are playing teams closer to home. I think Soda was a little surprised and how good the Cowboys played - they were one of the best teams we have played so far. Soda was up by only one at half time, and made a surge in the 3rd quarter. It was a kick - Seth finally had a fantastic game - He hit 4 three point shots and really gave them a boost - Wahoooo!!! I'm not quite sure of the final ~ last score I remember seeing was 65-55. First home game tonight with Snake River.

Mara's coming!!!

Mara Mae is coming home from USU for Christmas break today ~ I get to keep her for a whole month ~ YIPEEEE!!!!