Tanner's First Week

Tanner is in Provo, Utah, beginning his semester at BYU, and doing great.

He has two uncles, nine cousins, and three aunts to visit.

And he's rooming with his best friend.

Here he's teaching Gabe how to play checkers.

We Miss You!

Dad misses you making him laugh, every day.

Mom misses your comments on her cooking.

Hunter is enjoying your room, but misses his big brother.

Porter just plain misses you.

Cooper misses you getting into the car after school.

Sawyer misses playing games with you.

Miller had a good dream about you coming home from Christmas.

His schedule?

Intro to Chemical Engineering

Book of Mormon

Honors Principles of Chemistry

Calculus

Weightlifting

Honors Writing and Rhetoric

Calculus

(He dropped racquetball, too expensive; mechanical engineering seminar, not interested; and organ. He would have loved to keep that class, as he was the only boy with 13 girls, but it was too much work.)

Sizing Up Soccer

It's only the first game, but I can tell she'll be great at the games, as she cheered Miller on with her binky in her mouth!

Sawyer's cheering Miller on while peeking at the competition.

Cooper's cheering Miller on while reading his book!

Miller was definitely worth cheering. He kicked the opening kick, went around sleepy kids, and made a goal.

Go, Miller, Go!

He's a silver blur!

Cooper played goalie for half his game.

Sawyer is also on his team, the under 10.

Cooper throwing the ball in bounds

Sawyer sizing up his competition

Sawyer ended up scoring his team's only goal

Cooper kicking

My favorite - the boys working together

Monday Morning MIller Moment

Miller: "Mom, when will Dad give me flowers?"

Father's Blessings

"What is the significance of a priesthood blessing? Think of a young man preparing to leave home to seek his fortune in the world. If his father gave him a compass, he might use this worldly tool to help him find his way. If his father gave him money, he could use this to give him power over worldy things. A priesthood blessing is a conferral of power over spiritual things. Though it cannot be touched or weighed, it is of great significance in helping us overcome obstacles on the path to eternal life." Elder Dallin Oaks

Some of my memorable thoughts of Jarrod's blessings were:

Miller: To be a big brother to Breyer and succeed in speech.

Sawyer: To show leadership, and grow in spirituality.

Cooper: To use the scouting program to grow in leadership in school and church.

Porter: To have missionary experiences and develop unique math skills.

Hunter: To be an example to adults, and answer questions eloquently.

Tanner: To feel the prayers of your family while you're away.

Bowling with the Optimists

Optimist Night at the bowling alley: The boys are very optimistic they'll be having a great time.

Tanner's all about being the big brother with the big ball and the big score!

Me? Bowled a 41 the first game.

Challenged to a second game by Jarrod.


Switched balls, and bowled a 130.

Won by 1 point!


Miller's unique form finish. His scores were very impressive with the help of those pop-up metal bumper pads, shown above.

He spent the entire night watching the balls pop back up.

And, if you weren't paying attention, going out of turn and rolling a ball down your lane.

Cooper definitely feeling optimistic about bowling!

Optimistic discussion on the economy, politics, and boy talk.

For Breyer to sleep on the wooden floor, with all the bowling sounds going on around her, she must have been tired. In an optimistic way!

The Princess Eats

Sawyer Sweeps Skating

Sawyer came into the house for water, and got stopped for forgetting to do his after-dinner chore, sweep.

I thought it was extremely funny he didn't even blink about his skates but just started sweeping.

He almost landed in his pile, but recovered quickly.

Made me think of one of my favorite books!

Sweet Miller Mail

" Mom, I picked two flowers outside!"

Miller, where's the other flower?

"I gave it to the mail lady."

The Game of Golf

Golf, from a non-golfer's perspective:

Jarrod was given four passes to a golf course in Kentucky, and went with Tanner and Hunter, and Andy Mazon.
Is this the praying mantis swing?

Do golfters have a lot of backaches?
I think Andy was the "more experienced" player, but Hunter gave him a run.

The ball appears to be lost in the sun!

Tanner swinging for the power lines

Hunter and Andy tied: 101!
Apparently this was one of the more difficult courses in the area ;-)

This is really part of the game?

Looks like a lot of fun!

Hunter retrieving one of the many lost balls

I personally enjoyed seeing their spectators

Back to School Titles

Miss Already-had-breakfast, what's the big deal Princess

Mr. Thankful-I-can-stay-in-bed Tanner

Mr. I-didn't-even-know-it's-morning Miller

Mr. I'm-ready-for-school-let's-go Hunter, except for socks and shoes, is ready for 10th grade

Mr. I-have-to-bring-everything-to-school Porter, including two horns and a huge backpack ready for 8th grade

Mr. It's-just-another-day Cooper ready for 5th grade

Mr. Go-get'm-mostly-with-a-smile Sawyer ready for 2nd grade!