Ashton's Baseball Season

Ashton was on the Yankees again this year. Jeff was his coach again too. Ashton really enjoys having his dad there! This was Ashton's last season of coach pitch.



He had a lot of good hits, runs, and plays at short stop. Way to go Ashton!!

Football

March and April 2010. The boys decided to play flag football. They loved it! They had GREAT coaches and teamates.

Don't forget the fans, of course! Aryk was at EVERY game, cold, sunny, or naptime! It was fun to hang out at the park every Saturday.



AJ played for The Raiders. His coach is a friend of Jeff's and did a wonderful job keeping AJ excited and moving.



Ashton played on The Panthers. They had good season, good coach, and good kids!



These are a series of pictures, where Ashton has the ball and is making a play. He even got a couple of touchdowns!!

HONESTY

Honesty- "refraining from lying, cheating, or stealing; being truthful, trustworthy, or upright."

At the boys school, February was the Character Trait of Honesty. Ashton was selected, by his teacher, as a student who was a good example of Honesty, throughout the month. At the end of the month, they did the character breakfast and awards.

Ashton is VERY honest, even at home. GREAT job dude. We LOVE You are so thankful for you and your honesty.

SiLLy BoyZ

I scream, You scream

We are mean parents! We don't let our kids have a lot of treats- except for Aryk, 'cause he's our favorite. ;) We made a deal with our kids a LONG time ago, that IF they eat their dinner they can have ONE treat. For example: ONE scoop of Ice Cream.

Ashton and AJ, occasionally ask if they can have an extra scoop of Ice Cream, we tell them if they eat an extra dinner. They both ate a good dinner one night in February, and Ashton asked if he could just eat all the ice cream left in the carton. It was about 2 or 3 scoops, and honestly, we didn't need to keep it in the freezer any longer. Mom thought it was too cold for Ice Cream, so she told him he could eat as much as he wanted, outside on the patio furniture (this was on Feb. 2, mind you.) Mom did tell him to put a coat on. So... AJ got excited, 'cause there was a second carton of ice cream (with A LOT of ice cream still in it), that he wanted to eat! So... same thing- Eat it outside, until you are too cold to eat any more, or finish it off.

Dad warned Mom that these boys would take a challenge like that and stay out, until the Ice Cream was gone. Mom was a little surprised at how long they were willing to stay out. Aryk didn't want to be left out, of course, so he got one scoop in a bowl, his coat, and out he went too. Ashton finished off his carton, Aryk didn't make it through the whole bowl, and AJ made a dent of at least 2 or 3 scoops out of his carton, before they all came in. Way to go boys!

I Scream, You Scream, We ALL scream for Ice Cream!

Sledding with the Youth

In January, one of our Youth Activities was sledding. So I figured it was a good activity to invite the family to join in on. Jeff helped load everything we need for the Youth and the Boys. He's GREAT!! I never could be Young Women's Pres. without him. We head up toward Pearl, Idaho (about 20 minutes north), and found a great snowy hill to have some fun.

Aryk stayed by the fire most of the time. I did take him on a sled for a minute, but we didn't get any pictures of that. He was pretty tired and cold by the end of the three hours.

AJ was a little more brave. He stayed toward the bottom of the hill and the fire. But he had fun building snow mounds and doing a little sledding.

Ashton thinks he is one of the youth. And the youth are so good to my boys. He was at the top of the hill going fast as can be. I couldn't believe he was so brave. He had so much fun!

Here are pictures of the youth and some of the leaders cruising the hill. It was a VERY fun day!

Christmas 2009

I know... I'm way behind. I'm getting lazy and busy all at the same time.

Ashton's School Christmas Concert

Family Home Evening- Building a Gingerbread House!

Family Christmas Concert

Ashton learned how to play Jingle Bells on his guitar

AJ learned Jolly Old St. Nicholas on the piano

We invited Grandma and Grandpa Likes and Aunt Nicole over for Christmas Music and Dessert. It was fun to show off the boy's talents, and Aunt Nicole even played some songs for us to sing along to. We enjoyed the evening.

Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma and Grandpa Likes'. We read stories, ate food, watch movies, laughed A LOT, and opened PJs. Ashton read The Polar Express this year. It was noted that it wasn't the same as Uncle Cam, but he did a GREAT job.

Christmas Morning

Smiles all around. Star Wars, Trains, Dinosaurs, Fishing Poles, Movies, Hunting equipment and Jewelry. Everyone got EXACTLY what they wanted for Christmas!

Busy Time of Year

Somethings always got to give when things get busy. Unfortunately it was our blog. Here's an update, then more updates to come.

Jeff is still working for BRS Architects, unfortunately they have decided to close on Fridays, cutting back everyone's hours. But we are still doing well. Jeff enjoys BRS and is studying hard to re-take his final exam.

Alyson was recently called as the YW President in the ward. This calling is a new adventure in so many ways. She is enjoying it, so far, and knows that it will just keep getting better. Alyson volunteers at the Boy's school every Friday while Jeff is home. There is a small blessing. Alyson really enjoys couponing and her cooking blog. She is now expanding into vinyl lettering and cake decorating. All the while, still doing Pampered Chef as a VERY limited hobby.

Ashton has been playing basketball and is gearing up for football and then baseball. He is enjoying Cub Scouts, school, and friends as well. AJ also played basketball and will be playing football and baseball, too.Aryk is a very curious and adventurous little guy. He gets into EVERYTHING, doesn't sit still for anything, loves trains, cars, balls, books, and dinosaurs.

Ashton's Baptism

Ashton was so excited for his baptism. We had been talking a lot about it in our Family Home Evenings over the past year. He learned a lot about it in Primary. We've been going to the other baptisms for his friends in the ward. He was ready! And we got to have the Holbrook side of the Family come to visit and play! It was GREAT!!!

Grandma and Grandpa Holbrook bought Ashton a new suit for his baptism. He looks like a missionary! He really likes it! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa! (He got other gifts, but we didn't take any pictures of those.) He also received a new set of scriptures and a scripture case from Mom and Dad. And Grandma and Grandpa Likes gave him Scripture Stickers to help mark the stories in his new scriptures. It has been fun to put these in his scriptures as we do Family Scripture Study. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma! And a CTR Baseball tie tack from Aunt Nicole. That is so COOL! He wears every Sunday! Thanks!

Here are the handsome guys in their suits. Ashton could not have a bigger smile!!

The guys in their white! YEAH!!!

After the baptism and confirmation we had Ice Cream outside. It was fun! I was a little distracted before/ during/ and after the baptism. So, unfortunately, our pictures don't include everyone. Great Grandma and Grandpa Miller and Darlene were there. Grandma and Grandpa Holbrook, Uncles and Aunts Kenny & Erika and Casey & Erika, cousins Zach, Tyler, Emma, Addilyn, Leah, and Karlin, and Great Grandma Ashton came too. Also, Grandpa and Grandma Likes and Aunt Nicole. Ashton also invited his best friend Jacob Wills and his mom. There were many members of our ward, Bishop and Sister Olson, Sis. Mickelson (Primary President), and The Gurney Family (our Home teacher). Ashton was able to be baptised on the same day as one of his best friends, Nate Richens. Ashton was so happy to have so many people come to support him. Thanks to all! And Sorry I didn't take more pictures! We did get A LOT of Holbrook Family Pictures!

Here are Grandma and Grandpa Holbrook with all NINE of their Grand kids! What cuties!


The Rose Family! This was the best shot we got!



The Likes Family. There's got to be a better shot than this! Please share!

On Sunday Evening we had a Family swim and BBQ at The Likes'. Thanks for sharing your pool, BBQ, and backyard! We had a GREAT weekend with so much family, spirit, and laughs! Thanks to EVERYONE who traveled, helped, and participated. It means A LOT to our WHOLE family!

1st Day of School

Ashton and AJ started school on August 31.

Ashton is in Mrs. Telleria's second grade class. This is his second year with her. We love the looping program. It has made the first of the year an easy transition. Ashton is so excited for all the new things he will learn in second grade!

AJ is in Ms. Murphy's All-Day Kindergarten Class. Ashton loved her class, and we are so excited for AJ to be in her class. She is so good with these kids, and does so much with them. We are looking forward to a GREAT year!

When it was time to take the boys to school, I said "Grab your back packs and go buckle up!" The boys grabbed their packs, I grabbed the camera, and when I turned around, Aryk had found his back pack and was headed out the door too! He is growing up so fast, and understanding so much too! He has enjoyed mommy time while the boys are gone,
but boy does he get excited when they get off the bus!

Discovery Center

For the last week of summer we decided we wanted to hit The Discovery Center and then a picnic in the park.

Here are the boys trying out some experiments with how things move. Aryk enjoyed the bouncy balls on a string. I couldn't get him to let go.

Aryk loves to go to the store and he and the big boys had fun pretending at the mini-store. Aryk LOVED pushing his own cart around and putting things in it! He also enjoyed taking them out and putting them away. We have to get him his own little grocery cart.

The boys have always been to scared to try the nail bed, until this year... As you can tell, I had never tried it either. I don't think any of us care to lay down on that again! It's not that comfortable, go figure.

We enjoyed the bike with the skeleton. The boys thought it was pretty to cool to see how our bones and joints work while doing activities.

Ashton and AJ were able to pull themselves up using the pulley system hooked to this hammock chair. They are pretty strong! I pulled Aryk, of course. And Ashton was able to sign off a scout activity by learning about and using a pulley!

After we finished at The Discovery Center, we crossed over the river to the park. There were a lot of geese over in a clearing, so we went and sat under the trees, in the shade. I was amazed at how quickly those geese came over to our table! At first it was fun, geese, that close...

Then we pulled our food out of the lunch cooler, and they came even closer! This one actually tried to take Aryk's sandwich out of his hands! I moved the sandwich and swatted the goose away and it just missed pecking Aryk's leg! So... we scared the geese away and finished our lunch, very quickly.

Then moved on to the playground. Aryk LOVES to swing, and Ashton (sometimes AJ) has a lot of fun pushing him. Look at the smiles! YEAH!! It was a fun day, and a great way to finish summer.

Bobcat

Ashton had another Pack Meeting. At this pack meeting he received his Bobcat and more belt loops. After the awards the kids did a water/ obstacle course outside. Scouts has become a fun thing for the whole family. And we have GREAT leaders. Congratulations Ashton! Keep working hard.

Animal Land

A local party store was going out of business and everything was 70% off. They had a "build-a-bear" type set up there too. The boys picked their own animal, helped fill it with stuffing, made a wish on the star, zipped it inside, dressed it in their desired clothes, and printed a birth certificate. It was quite the process, but a fun experience, and A LOT cheaper than Build-A-Bear!

Ashton chose a "golden retriever" puppy, dressed in black and white baseball clothes, and named him Parry. AJ also chose a "golden retriever" puppy, dressed him in Army fatigues, and named him Ferb. Aryk chose a "grr" or Tiger, dressed him in a Police uniform, and with the help of mom, named him Tobi. They boys really do love these animals.

Build & Grow

Lowe's hosts FREE workshops for kids. We signed the boys up to make putting greens, pirate ships, treasure boxes, power boats, school buses, and drums. WOW!!!

They are neat kits that have all you need. The pieces are pre-cut and nail holes are pre-drilled. The boys got cool aprons and safety goggles too! It has been fun.

Ashton is a Cub Scout!

Ashton went to his first pack meeting and was welcomed into the Wolf Pack. He is really excited to be with friends and learn new stuff.

At this pack meeting they had go-cart races. One boy stood behind the racer and gave them a push at the start line. Another boy was sitting on the cart and steered down the slope of the parking lot, to the finish line.

Ashton crossing the finish line. The Webelos won almost every time. More muscle behind the push? More weight on the cart? More experience? D. all of the above? But it was fun! Ashton even got a few awards from Scout Day Camp. We are all excited about scouts.