Packard Date

Last week, while Matt and Jen were in town, we went out on an adult only date with the Packards. We went to dinner at Fugi Habachi Grill and then axe throwing afterward. It was so nice to spend time with Scotts parents and siblings without having to worry about our kids. 

Axe throwing turned out to be really fun. I wasn't very good, but once Cheryl showed me the right way to do it, I was at least hitting the board. I even got a bullseye or two. She was my lucky charm for the night.

Scott was pretty good too. Good enough to stick the axe in handle first. 

Progression on a bullseye.

I love these people and feel so blessed to have married into a great family. I love that I belong and claim the Packards as my own. 

  

Big Boy Birthdays

Its that time of year again. The double whammy birthday.

Becketts birthday was wonderful. It fell on Sunday, so it was really relaxed. It was our off week at church (COVID problems) although Tayden and I had Young Mens/Womens. After Tayden and I got back we opened gifts and then headed to Grandma and Grandpa Packards where we celebrated both birthdays with everyone.  

Beckett is the best 10 year old. He is silly, funny, confident, smart, athletic and incredibly loving. True  to his nature, his passion runs hot. He gets upset easy, but apologizes every single time without fail. He knows who he is an walks to his own beat. I say this every year, but I hope that never changes. I hope he always has the self love that he does now. 

Beckett is doing great in school and is turning out to be quite athletic. He is big for his age, but learning how to use his size. His speech has started slipping a bit, but we have started home speech and I'm hoping that will help. He loves to help cook, especially pancakes and eggs or anything that involves a knife. He hates taking out the garbage and loading the dishwasher. He is one of my favorites!

The only downside of Becketts birthday was Scott slicing his finger on the mandolin slicer. He ended up going home and getting stitches from our good friend, Chad. Good thing Sharlee was there to bandage him up in the mean time. 

Tayden lucked out and his birthday fell on an off Monday, so no school for him. We hung out for the day and got to meet JoDells son, Brayden. Scott finally got home for work so we could open gifts and Tayden has never been more excited. He got his first phone. I have really been dragging my feet when it comes to buying him a phone, but after we lost him between sports practice a couple of weeks ago, I knew it was time. He got a Gabb phone. It doesn't have internet, social media, or any apps of any kind. It is a phone to call and text, it has an alarm and calculator along with a camera. I love the freedom it gives him and the piece of mind it gives me. 

Tayden is the best 12 year old. He is a prankster, super athletic, confident and brave. He teases his brothers to no end, but loves them just as much. School doesn't come super easy to him, but he works hard at it and it shows. Sports continue to rule his heart. He eats, sleeps and lives sports. All day every day. Tayden still hates spaghetti and bananas, but is finding the joy of semi spicy food. He is growing up faster than I'd like, but I can do nothing to stop it. He is one of my favorites. 

I love these boys without end. They are a major part of my world and I am so proud to call them mine!

Caches Rough Day

Cache was having a day the other day. He was having a rough, mean, awful to everyone kind of day. I couldn't take it any longer and forced him to put on his coat and shoes and go for a walk with me and Luna. Fresh air works miracles for my kids and this was no different. Within a few minutes Cache was telling me all about his bad day and we talked about how we can can change our attitude. Before you know it, he was all smiles. He was so intrigued with the ice and how it had frozen to look like coral. He walked on the ice the whole way home looking for hidden treasures. It was slow and I kept trying to hurry him along and then it hit me, we are out here to spend time together. So, I slowed down to a painstaking snails pace and soaked up my sweet boy. He needed time together and it turns out, so did I. 

 

 

Basketball

Basketball season is here again. This year, with four players. Yep, all the boys are playing. Its been fun and ridiculously busy. We have four players, 5 1/2 teams (Beckett is on two, and Tayden is subbing on another) 8 weekly practices for a total of 11 hours and 4-5 weekly games. It has been busy. However, weekends like this past one make it worth it. 

The two older boys got to play in their first traveling tournament.  It was only an hour away in Pocatello, but still, that's traveling. Beckett had a great time. He is playing on a new team with a bit more skilled players. He has had to learn their plays, keep up a new pace and work hard for his rebounds. He did fabulous at the tournament. He didn't score any points, but he made dozens of rebounds and plenty of assists. They walked away undefeated and their coach even bought them all a shirt. I love watching Beckett on the court!!

Tayden played late into the night. Ridiculously late. His first game started at 9:35pm and the second at 10:55pm. It was nearly midnight by the time they finished! Although he was exhausted, it will be a lifetime memory. 

Tayden took a break from basketball in 3rd and 4th grade. Our neighborhood team (The Knights) always asked him to play, but we kindly declined. Fast forward to now and that team is quite talented. When Tayden picked up basketball again last year, he ended up on a mismatched team with a couple of friends. He did well enough, but he really wanted to be better. And he has put in the work to get there. The Knights coach, Jake Denning- who is also his football coach, invited Tayden to their practices. Jake has taught him core fundamentals that he missed. He has worked with him on plays, reading the court and all and all being a better player. On Thursdays, Tayden goes to four hours of practice between the two teams. And it has paid off. He played great in the tournamnet. He didn't get a ton of playing time, but enough to score 6 points and defend like a boss. I am proud of his work ethic! 

Between games, Scott and I took the boys out to dinner. Grandma and Grandpa Packard had the little boys and we got to hang out with our big boys. That rarely happens so it was a treat. I don't know who enjoyed it more, me or the kids. 

I love my active boys. I am happy that we have found a balance between sports and family life. I'm glad they have the opportunities that they do!

Deacon

 Yesterday, I had the privilege of watching Scott ordain Tayden to the office of a Deacon. It was a great experience. First, let me give you a backstory. The past couple of weeks, I've been struggling with the adventure that lies ahead for Tayden. Middle School. In Ammon, middle school starts later than elementary and they get home an hour and half later. And it will be even later on days he has practice. He'll be on a completely different schedule than his brothers. The school is further, which doesn't seem like a big deal, but it feels like a big deal. The class schedules, being around punk kids, making harder choices, all of it....scares me. Makes me sick. I feel like he is branching out to this whole new world and will be independent as ever. I am not ready. The only consolation is knowing I don't have to face it for nine more months.

So, amid my reservations on letting him grow up, came a beautiful blessing from his father. Scott blessed him with a knowledge and courage to choose right from wrong. He blessed him to stay true to his faith and let his priesthood help guide him. He told him about the love of his earthly and heavenly parents and told him to be an example of good for his brothers. It put my heart to ease and assured me that Tayden is ready for this next step. And gave me the courage the face it too. 

We feel lucky that we were able to have Grandparents with us during this special day. 

Black and Whites

Boys black and whites for the year......

Man, they are handsome!

New Years

2020 was the year of the COVID pandemic. Everyone, world wide, faced challenges. City and state wide shutdowns, remote learning and working, mask wearing, quarantining, loss of jobs, lack of family, food shortages, limited medical help, home church and so on. However difficult the year, we were plenty blessed and had a fairly good years. We were blessed that even though Scott worked at home for a short time, he still had a job. Because I stay home, I was able to help with the kids online learning. Our family is close enough we never felt super disconnected. We stayed healthy. The sacrament  was authorized to be administered at home.  And my favorite part was the amount of time we spent together, Looking back, that was worth all the heartache. Having everyone close and safely gathered in our home was the greatest blessing of all. We were able to spend the summer together camping at our property in Ashton. We had weekends at home full of movie marathons and video game competitions. Looking back, even through this weird time, I feel so blessed. 

We welcomed in the new year with a low key evening. We watched a movie and ate finger foods. Then, the next morning the boys and I went sledding while Scott stayed home and worked on the Yeti. It was fun having all the boys old enough to go down  and up the hill by themselves. Even though Kyle was skeptical at first, he ended up loving it. I love these boys of mine. 

Tayden found my keyboard and typed this after I was done blogging. I thought it was too cute to delete. 
This is Tayden and he is so awesome and  so good at football and best on the basketball team and bye. Don’t tell my mom she will get mad so pls. Don’t tell her so TPACK OUT.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PEACE  Hahahahaha Hahahahaha