Last Meet of the Season

Friday night was the final Red Rocks gymnastics meet and this time it was Abe, Faith, George and Peter that got to go.  They rode TRAX up and back and that was probably the most exciting part for the boys.
In what might sound like neglectful parenting on our part, this was the first time Peter has left the house in over a week.  Our van has been in the shop (sadness) and in a decision made in eternal optimism, we didn't get the car seats out of the van before it got towed away (sadness).  We hoped it wouldn't be that long without the van (sadness).  Our hope was not to be.  Instead, we are still without said car and the littlest kids have been trapped at home for over a week.  It was probably good for Peter to get out and about.
It was also the first time he'd ever ridden on TRAX.  That part isn't neglectful.  That part was good parenting on our part. 

The meets are so fun and exciting.

And the boys got light sabers (of sorts) which is obviously way fun for little boys.  Perhaps not so fun for the surrounding fans getting light sabers waved around their faces all night.

I requested a bad selfie on the train.  Peter, Abe, George--- well done.  You got the message.
Faith-- no.  Just no.  You still look way too cute.

Faith's eye is starting to heal.

Oh, the horror.  This from the children of two BYU graduates.
Curse you, amazing Red Rocks!  How can we keep from loving U?

Prototype Jr.

Going to the FIRST Robotics Competition Utah Regional inspired the robot builder and programmers in this house in a serious way.

Faith, Cannon, and a little bit of George spent hours and days building and programming the EV3 and NXT and then building the field for the game.

It was messy, but oh so lovely to have them so anxiously engaged a project that occupied their full mental strength.  No time for teasing.  There was serious work to be done.

Their design was a mini version of the big Prototype X robot for this years FRC competition.

Lots of tweaking...

Their robot could suck in the blocks and then feed them into the goal.  I was muy impressed.

Here's their video of the action.

When Cannon had had enough of the robots, he taught himself to program Scratch.  With the help of online tutorials he programmed a video game.  This was a couple more days of blissful focus.  It was a good week for technology in our house. 
Next week, we'll probably just play with sticks and rocks.  You know, ebb and flow and all that.

Elinor Drives and Swims

And we've got another driver. 
Well, we have another driver to teach how to drive.
Elinor passed her test on the first try and got her learner's permit.  Hooray!  Actually, we are really happy for her to have her permit and learn how to drive because she goes to 5 AM water polo practices every morning and THE DAY she turns 16 she will get her license and drive herself.  Seriously.  So we want her to get all the practice she can for the whole year so we can sleep in a little come next February. 

Abe said she was... how shall we say... less cautious than Clark and Bethany.

 I wouldn't go straight to "bat out of hell", but you know.  Truthfully, I haven't seen her drive yet so I really can't say that.  And Abe never would use that phrase, but I will.  So, you know.

Els is digging the water polo thing.  She had a tournament this weekend that included two games today.  It did take a good portion of the day, but the games are so much fun to watch and the girls are so impressive.  Water polo isn't for sissies. 

Here's a pic where Elinor has the ball. 

According to the measuring stick at the DMV she looks like she's hit the 6 ft. mark.  Very well suited for swimming and water polo.

And well suited as a mattress for a Greta.

...There Were Never Such Devoted Sisters

I don't have much to say about this picture that wouldn't sound bragging or obnoxious.  But I will say I can hardly believe it is real.  I love, love, love, love, love having daughters.  I think they are all so good and beautiful and talented and amazing and ... yep, there I go...

With it being the girls' birthday season at our house, Faith is finally almost old enough to join Bethany and Elinor at Young Women's activities on Wednesday night.  Last week she got to go a week early.  I snapped this picture just before they went. 
Freeze... right there!  Can we press pause right here, right now? 
I know we can't.  And I know there are even better things to come, but this picture is one I never want to forget. 

I'm sort of so happy for Greta that she will have so many women in her life to be there for her and guide and advise her.  And I'm sort of sad that she won't have the close sisters like the older three had.  It is what it is and I'm sure she'll make the best of it.  But lucky for little Greta, she is loved and adored by so many.

Ha ha ha ha!

Life Happens Fast

I blinked and two weeks have passed.  It is truly frightening how quickly time seems to be passing these days. Partly because I am pretty sure I'm missing many things I should  could be doing.  Nevertheless, life is so much better and exciting and fun and exhausting than I ever imagined it could be.  Tonight's blogging festivities will be my attempt to capture the memories that make it so. 

 Someone mentioned to Abe that with his beard he looked a little like Commander William Ryker from Star Trek.  I had recently mentioned that maybe the reason he liked Billy Joel so much was because he had pokey-out eyes kind of like Billy Joel.  These two "compliments" combined to inspire this lovely montage. 

 I can see it.  

Basically, to be compared to a fictional character from his favorite show and his favorite musical artist made his whole month.

Oh, OUCH!  Abe was playing catch with Faith last weekend and it hit her face.  So sad.  So painful.

A pretty good shiner.  I like to call her my "Little Black-Eyed Pea".  

And just in time for St. Patty's Day, we're going to see all the colors of the rainbow.

I came home from running errands the other day to find someone (Elinor) had created Senor Railroad Conductor.  I thought it was hilarious.  I was somewhat irritated they had used my good eyeliner, but such was the price of humor.  

And then this one woke up from her nap and I was in hysterics.

She's been compared to a little Italian dictator.  I can see it.  

Now there is a final chapter to this little story.  A couple days later Elinor fell asleep on the couch and Cannon saw his opportunity.  He took a marker and drew an "L" on her forehead, a mustache and a little soul patch.  

Sadly, his artwork was not well-received and there was threatened and attempted violence in retaliation.  Cannon is nine and while I find him charming and adorable, some might say he is at an "annoying, pesky little brother" stage of life.  I told him he probably ought to sleep with one eye open for a while and if he didn't cool his jets I couldn't offer him protection from older siblings.  He apologized, but some were left in doubt as to his sincerity. 

 A a recent trip to the D.I. (local thrift store) Bethany took up one of her favorite childhood past times--  scouring the stuffed animal section for Webkinz.  The pickings were good, but she was able to resist the temptation to buy.  

Robotics Lives On

The majority of Friday and Saturday were spent at the FRC Utah regional.  Yeah, we don't have any actual family members on the team, but the truth is, this team is like family to us.  They are our people and we couldn't wait to go watch this year's robot, cheer for the team, and hang with our people.

In Clark's absence, Zach is Abe's adopted son on the team.  We adore Zach and love that he is the new safety captain-- one of Clark's old jobs!  

I was a bit of an emotional wreck at times throughout the weekend-- missing Clark.  This FIRST robotics team and group of friends was such a HUGE part of his life.  Shortly after the kids and I arrived on Friday and got situated in the stands I thought, "Hey, let's hurry down to the pits to say hi to Clark."  Only to quickly realize, of course, that he wasn't there.  The emotions came fast and furious.  Thankfully I was surrounded by beloved friends who smiled and understood my mom tears.  Despite my overactive emotions, it was weekend that did my soul good! 

The team had new shirts this year!  I guess once you're part of PrototypeX, you're always a part of the team.  Or so we like to think!

Greta was a little trooper all weekend and Peter was happy to pass down his homemade PrototypeX shirt to Greta because "... he is big boy now!"

By Saturday afternoon she finally succumbed to a nap on Daddy.

There are no words to say how much I love and enjoy these two.  I am grateful for them every single day.  

And the same goes for this lovely lady too.  She doesn't currently have a child on the team either, so that makes us the team's biggest groupies.  It's looking like we're headed up to Boise later this month watch them compete up there.  We can't help ourselves, the competition is so exciting, but it is just so much fun to hang out in the stands together. 

Best picture of the day... Bethany inadvertently gives Andrea elf ears!!! Ha ha ha!

Selfie entertainment.  If I may take a moment to say that Peter was exceptionally well-behaved for both days.  Dare I ask, "Have we turned a corner?"

I cannot go into all the details of why the ladies of the Fox are posing in our "She-Fox-Den" pose.  But let it be known we've got each other's backs... And loud singing in the car together heals most of whatever might ail us.   

A special shout-out to Clark for leaving us his Amazon music playlists that have just the right songs with just the right amount of edge at just the right time.  

There... was that vague enough for you?

Aww... Greta's first Prototype "X"!

This year's drive team.  Oh, I should say that our team did earn a ticket to Worlds today- they ranked 3rd in the qualification matches (out of 52 teams) and made it all the way to the finals.  They didn't win the finals, but the captain of the 2nd place team gets the wild card ticket to worlds.  Also, our coach, and our very good friend, Keith (second from left) won a major award!  The Woodie Flowers Award goes one excellent mentor at each regional competition.  Keith has had such an impact on so many kids, including Clark, that we are thrilled for him.

The kids still LOVE wandering the pits and collecting pins and swag from all the teams.

So while we did miss Clark dreadfully this weekend, we thoroughly enjoyed reliving wonderful memories of the great times we've had with him and FIRST.   Good heavens, I make it sound like he has died.  He hasn't.  He's just on a mission!  Get a grip, Betsy!

I suspect George might be our next big robotics guy!  

Elinor May Someday Rule the World

The other day I came upon is picture of Elinor and I had to capture it because I wanted to remember her exactly like this.  Exactly as she is right now.  She just turned 15 and she works so hard practicing the piano and there upon the piano is the water polo ball she got for her birthday.  She goes to bed early and gets herself up for 5 am water polo practices every week day.  I don't think she has idea how awesome she really is.  And I am so proud of her and I love her so much.  

Abe and Cannon and I enjoyed watching her first game last night.  Her JV team lost, but no matter, she got quite a bit of playing time and she was great!  Wow, what a brutal sport!  I would get dunked and I think I would just drown.  I'm excited for her next game.

Oh, and one more thing about Elinor... the girl likes to keep a seriously neat and tidy bedroom.  Where has she learned this?  I wish I could say it was from me, but it is not.  

Greta Can Hear!!

A couple of weeks ago little Greta got tubes put in her ears.  Similarly to Peter, she had fluid in her ears for several months at least and has had recurring ear infections.  She hasn't been hearing properly for quite some time.

She was such a little sweetheart at the hospital-- smiling and playing with all the nurses.  I am so impressed with Primary Children's Hospital.  

They really know how to keep a hungry toddler happy in the morning while waiting for surgery.

When she woke up she was little out of it, but I held her and she drank her sippy cup of water and  she came to and it was not a big deal.  Comparing children is not a good idea.  But Peter had this same surgery a couple of years back, and no exaggerating, the boy screamed hysterically and inconsolably for and hour and a half straight.  So, yeah... what a difference a kid makes.

And now Greta has Megan (Peter's former speech therapist) coming a couple of times a month to work on her speech.  She can already say the "Go!" in "Ready, set, go!"  Clearly, she is gifted!