New Things

Well there are lots of new things going on here. First of all we put a link to a new photo site down below the kids pictures. I will try to put more pictures on that site, rather than here in the text.
The girls have all started softball. It is a new sport for all of them and they are finding out what it is like to play catch-up. Most of the teams have played at least one year. Especially Chey's team. She is 1 of 4 who are new to the team. K&K have a few more new players than that. Technically K&K were suppose to be in the younger age group, but after seeing them play, their size and age, we asked if they could move up and the league said that was fine. The younger girls were all learning to throw, which base to run to, the basics. Since our girls got bored just at evaluations, we knew there was no way they would make it through a whole season. Some of the little girls were barely 5. And it will be nice to have them all in the same age group. This way Chey's team and K&K team will play each other several times. So far they are all enjoying it. It is much harder than they had planned on, but they are learning alot. Chey is figuring out what it is like to have to put in a lot of effort. She has always been one of the best, at whatever she's done, without much effort. She is really working hard at catching up with the other girls on the team. It is nice to see her challenged, she is stepping up and putting in the work. K&K are still young on their team, so they are taking it pretty easy on them, but still expecting them to learn and listen. It will be an interesting 2 1/2 months.
Broc is back into swimming. We took 2 months off, but decided to hit it hard again before we get into summer. He is so close to being a great swimmer. He is working hard on raising his head to breathe while still doing his strokes. He is also working on his back stroke. He has a hard time keeping he's head above water. He likes to tilt it back to see where he is going and dips it under water. It is pretty funny to watch. It helps that one of his best friends, Avery, is there with him. We have to keep a close watch on them. These 2 boys like to have holding breathe contests, and get playing around too much, forgetting to listen to the teacher. Luckily, their teacher, JJ, likes both of them alot.
Another new item in our life is the addition of my brother, David's family to our area. David & Laura, Alexandria-12, Haydn-10, Victoria-8, Nathaniel-6, Amelia-4, and William-18 mon. moved to Dayton a few weeks ago. It has been so much fun. The kids are loving having cousins close. Nathaniel and Broc have spent many hours playing Star Wars or some other imaginative game only the two of them can play. They both keep asking, and having to be reassured that they are not moving away anytime soon. This last weekend all the boys spent Friday night at their house and all the girls stayed here. It was fun. Neither of our families have ever had anyone close enough to go to church with or drop in easily. So to see them in church, or at scouts, or achievement night has taken some getting used to. The kids aren't in the same schools, which was a great disappointment for some. We've shared kid watching and Laura and I have enjoyed several days just hanging out watching TV or something while the kids are at school.
Last weekend I was able to go to a event called Time Out For Women up in Reno. There were great LDS speakers talking about women's issues and concerns. My mom, sisters Kristi and Breanne, Laura, grandma Nadean and aunt Donna all came too. It was a fun day with the girls. They all came and spent Friday night at our house. We heard some good talks on the importance of being with other women, the value of women and wives and being good wives and mothers. Michael McLean was the host. He is a great LDS songwriter and singer. It actually could of been a terrible conference and I would have enjoyed it anyway just spending the time with my family. It is so rare all the girls get together, so that time was invaluable. It's always good for dad's to have a day with the kids also!!
Thomas' job is going great. He is really happy with the company. They put him in a lead position on a prevaling wage job in Carson. He does a great job running a crew and they found that out fast too. The owner told him he was really impressed with his knowledge and his ability to manage a site and keep everyone working and somehow stay a few steps ahead. He has spent several evenings going over plans for the next day. He is such a happier person now that he is working for someone who appreciates him and rewards him. We feel very blessed to have come across this company when we did. He has been able to finish up the many side jobs he had going without worring about finding more. So that means he is home, or with the family a lot more. Also, this new company is so big, and the jobs they bid on are big jobs, there is no conflict of interest in us starting our own small company. So hopefully we will get started on that in the near future. We are very proud of him!!
Well I will say bye for now. I will try to figure out how to keep the new picture site updated. Let me know if it works for you. Bye now!!