The State Championship Football Game

Community Pep Assembly

My Declo Hornet (Toddler) Cheerleader

Erica at the Pep Assembly

The football season was yet again AMAZING this year. The student body theme for Declo High School this year is "WHERE AMAZING HAPPENS". As a coach I have LOVED this theme and used it many times to pick my girls up during a hard time at a volleyball game. But this year for the football team it has been amazing. Everything about it. I never wanted to miss a game but because of being 8 months prego I had to. The football proved themselves to be unstoppable this football season and made it to the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Game again! The afternoon before the game the school had a pep assembly for the entire community. It truly was a lift me up kind of pep assembly. All the students had the option of making a good luck airplane to throw for the boys. It just so happened that two of the lucky kids got to sit on the side lines with the team for the first half of the game. And then the kids did the Hauka. Which is a dance/chant that they have been doing all year. I love to watch them do it and get a little teary every time. They invited all the kids from the elementary to learn it and do it with them at the pep assembly.

Although the game didn't turn out as planned and we lost 36-20. I am so proud of our boys and the leaps and bounds that they have made through out football and school. I love community support and am so grateful to live a community that defiantly supports their athletes!

Erica's Sweet 16 Surprise

We have been bugging and teasing Erica for 6 months now about her birthday. She could not wait to turn 16 so she could drive at night and date. She is such a fun and beautiful girl that we knew it wouldn't take long for her to get her first date and big brother Layne to get after the boys, but she finally made it to her birthday. Teresa had been planning a surprise 16 birthday party for her but it wasn't until that Saturday so she really had no idea that it was going on. but we had been teasing her about a "surprise" so we had Ellie and Maylee go into her seminary class and sing her "happy birthday"and give her a gift basket. She loved it and was surprised but I don't think it's the "party" surprise that she was expecting. Back at the school Layne and I had also sent her flowers and 16 baloons that Ellie got to help her carry out. I know that she had a great birthday and don't worry she did get the "SURPRISE" party she was hoping for just not on her birthday! (Pictures to come Later)

BUCK HUNTER

This last weekend Layne, Brad, and Ace headed up to Orofino to take my brother his pickup back. And since Brad is leaving he wanted to get a little hunting in before he left. Well, it just so happens that my husband got the first Buck on the hunt and is PRETTY PROUD!! Which I do not blame him. It's his first buck and for his first set of horns they turned out quite alright. I'm so proud of you Darlin!

LOOKIN PRETTY FINE!!!

Layne, Jacob, and Brad

And of course, my brother left this beauty for Brad to get, but he missed it. And Jacob couldn't let it go, so he shot it. PRETTY NICE!!!

Turkey KILL DAY!

Last Tuesday we did slaugter the turkey day. I of course got lucky this year and didn't have to do anything but take a few pictures and run to get pizza. We even had plenty of men there this year that mostly the women got to sit back. I do think Teresa gutted 6 or 7 turkey's but for the most part we got to watch. Ellie was NOT intrested in it at all this year she decided to sit inside and watch Nick Jr. I'm greatful that Val LOVES to raise chickens, turkeys, pigs, and cows so that we always have meat to eat.

Ellie's Third Year Pictures

Last weekend I asked Kenna if she wouldn't mind doing Ellie's Third Year pictures. Which I cannot wait to see but these are just a few I snapped with my camera. Her in all her typical faces, she never really knows what she is. HAPPY, SAD, MAD, or just Normal. I do have to say the older she gets the more she is looking like my sisters... with a little bit of Layne's sisters mixed in. I cannot wait to see who "BOOTs" is going to look like. Only a few more "days" or "weeks" which ever she prefers!

Tags

For the past couple months Ellie has been sticking her hand down her pants. I could never figure out what she was doing and personally it really bugged me so I would always tell her "get your hands out of your pants" and she would reply "I can't". I never understood till the other day when she was standing next to the pile of clean cloths on the couch and just stood rubbing the tag. I then realized that she is reaching in the back with one hand for the TAG. Apparently it's a comfort thing now cause she DOES IT ALL THE TIME. So if you ever see her like this she isn't itching her bum, she is rubbing her TAG!

Just playing around. I sure love this girly and am afraid here in the next couple weeks she is in for a RUDE awakening. I hope I'm just planning for the worst and it isn't as bad as I think it's going to be.

Brad's Endowment Day

Last Saturday we went through the temple with Brad. It was such a neat day because all of Layne's siblings went through the temple in one way or another. The younger girls did baptism's for the Dead and then the rest of us went through later for an endowment session. I pray for the day when all of my children are worthy to go through the temple and do work for those that have past on
before us. It was a very special day and we ended it with a trip to Cafe Rio' for lunch.
WE LOVE OUR BRADDY! And are so proud of him and the decision he made to go on a mission. He will be an amazing missionary and we are looking forward to hearing all about it through each letter that we receive.

Ellie's Actual Birthday Party!

On Ellie's Birthday we had Nana and Papa, and Ellie's Aunts and Uncles from Laynes side over along with Chip and Kenna and their family. It was so fun to watch Rigdon with Ellie and how excited he was for her. He could NOT wait for her to open their present along with helping her blow out the candles. I just love watching these two together. Once upon a time it was a nightmare to let them play but now they get along great and Ellie always wants to call and talk to her "bes fren Rigon".

McKendrie was the first to find the books of intrest at all!!!

Even Jaylee Bug got in on the excitement of watching Ellie open her presents!!!

Celebrating Ellie's Birthday with Grandma

Every year for Ellie's birthday my mom and sisters usually come down and spend the weeked. But it just so happens that we were up north this year around her birthday so we did a little celebrating at my mom's. And it didn't make any since for my family to come down here for Ellie's birthday when most of them are coming for Thanksgiving. And then after they leave to go back home I'm due with the baby with in a few days and my mom will be back down for a week. So it just worked out that we were up north and I was glad to spend a few days with my family. They all go Ellie dress up things which she is really into right now. She LOVES it and stays in them most of the time. I cannot believe how big she is getting either. It just seems like yesterday when she was a baby and we were lugging her around everywhere. I've decided I've got to quit calling her baby since I'm about to have one and accept that she is growing up. That is so hard for me to do but when I watch her I know there is nothing little about this girls personality! We love Ellie so much and cannot wait for the years have to bring for her!

Snake Wrestling

Ellie and her dad DO NOT like snakes. So while we were at my Mom's Ellie could not stop beating up on Uncle Derek's poor snake. And of course everyone thought it was so funny that she was trying to beat up a 10 ft snake that they kept taunting her with it and she kept going after him. Eventually she got tired and lost intrest but at the time it was halarious!

Today Ellie Bug is THREE!!!!

Where has the time gone?!