An Optimistic Evening

Jarrod was presented with the Optimist International Presidential Citation for his reactivation of the Optimist Golf Club, involving his student classes; and involving the Optimist Club in his Lose the Training Wheels Program this summer.

Jarrod being sworn in as Optimist Club President 2011-2012

(He's looking so optimistic!)

Cub Scout Bicycle Rodeo

This pack meeting had to be one of the most well-attended I've ever seen. There were close to 40 boys there to participate!

Sawyer was Mr. Speed Demon, and had to be reminded often it wasn't a race.

Cooper was Mr. Cruise, barely pedaling, and trying to be cool under pressure.

There were helmet checks, arm signaling checks, brake checks, and bike handling checks built in to the course.

Everyone wanted to go through more than once, so there were lines all night long!

Miller was the only one on a scooter, and knew it. He could feel every set of eyes on him as he zipped around the course. But he loves scouts, and doing what his brothers are doing, so he endured.

Very good times on Tuesday night!



Princess Pastimes

 

S K Y P E Humor

Getting "ready" for Sunday Skype with Tanner might be a new tradition...

This week the theme was 'cotton balls'

 

 

Hunter HUTCHINS Selectman Schenewark

Voting day is over

He wasn't allowed to hand out food.

He didn't want to spend money on bracelets, tee shirts or any other gadget

He wasn't allowed to hang posters

Wearing Uncle Aaron's selectman tee shirt was his voting day outfit AND campaign

And the vote is in...Hunter...for Sophomore Class President!



Tanner Sharing BYU

We look forward to our weekly Skype calls with Tanner.

It's one thing to talk to him and another to see his face.



He was kind enough to share Sawyer's face with us this week.



He also shared with us his chemistry teacher reenacting the hindenburg...

his first time in the Marriott Center for a Sunday devotional...

how listening to the bell towers play everyday is wonderful...

how his favorite place to eat each week has been the art museum cafeteria...

and how busy his schedule can be.

USS North Carolina

"Moored in quiet dignity and majesty the Battleship No!rth Carolina, across the river from downtown Wilmington, beckons visitors to walk her decks. Envision the daily life and fierce combat her crew faced in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. From all across our Nation they came, young men who had grown up in the crucible of the Great Depression and now determined to serve their Country in its time of need."

Reading THAT makes me grateful we stopped by!

Wilmington, NC

Sawyer Sharing Love

Five straws later, and a spoon, and Sawyer shares his after-soccer-shake with Breyer.



Smitten with the Princess

Sharing with Sawyer

Today after school Sawyer told me how his teacher had given the children in his class pennies for reading dates

"I found a 1906 penny Mom. Me, the collector. My teacher said she had better hang on to that. I was mad. Not really mad, but since I'm the collector and not her, just a little mad."

Guess who showed up at our house after school?

Mrs. Sowards, teacher extraordinaire.

She thought it would be better to share it with Sawyer out of the classroom.

One of Sawyer's great life lessons that will shape his character and who he chooses to be.

Thank you!

Warning!

Many of us expect the greatest dangers in life to be preceded by some great announcement or warning. But it is not always so. Some of the dangers you face are so subtle you may have difficulty detecting them. Satan knows this, and he has a plan to degrade human beings and destroy the souls of men. He looks for those who are inexperienced and not prepared, and he deceives them...Just as in nature, where storms are preceded by strong winds and dark rain clouds, there are prior warnings if we look for them...Anything that is contrary to your standards, that goes against correct principles, will trigger a warning...When you feel these warnings, get immediately away from danger. The best help you can have during critical moments will be the Holy Ghost. You have the right to his companionship. He will reveal to you what is right and what is wrong, and help you make correct decisions. But you must live worthily in order to receive his help."

Elder Ayala, 1993

Not every home we've lived in has a red light attached to it.

It's the "Sewer Alarm," warning you something is amiss with the sewer,

which causes the whole neighborhood to be in alarm as well.

1. Friday morning, 2 a.m. "Our light is on, can this wait until the morning?"

2. Saturday morning, 8 a.m. "We called last night, our light is on, call us back!"

3. Saturday evening, 8 p.m. "We called you early this morning, and haven't seen anybody yet. Should we be worried?"

4. Sunday morning, 8 a.m. "The neighbors are beginning to talk!"

5. Sunday afternoon, "I have six kids, and they can't hold it any longer!"

Miller's Bear

It's always sad when your last boy outgrows a family heirloom...especially one that can't be passed on to other loved family or friends.



But Miller found a new home for his vest, and a new nickname: Cowboy Bear, who's just busting at the seams with love.



Good Morning Princess!

Middle School 9/11 Moments

Colorful paper flowers blew in the wind in remembrance in front of a local middle school.

Fairland Middle School had a memorial assembly Tuesday afternoon for 9/11 victims on the front lawn of the school.

The assembly was originally planned for Friday but they did not have enough supplies. They only had 1,500 artifical flowers and needed 3,000.

The students worked all morning attaching the flowers, including roses, daisies and sunflowers to a wooden laundry clip and writing a victim’s name on the clip.

Principal Jim Roberts welcomed the student body to assembly and stressed the importance of remembering the attacks and what impact it had on America.

Even though these students didn’t remember the attacks firsthand, they still had a connection.

“It’s good that parents, the community and teachers have instilled compassion in them,” Roberts, said. “They have been taught to live it even though they haven’t experienced it.”

Hunter "Handicap" Hutchins

This is a boy who loves golf.

I've heard it said that 10,000 hours makes you close to becoming an expert

Hunter put in a lot of hours this summer.
He turned our backyard into a golfing green

 

Hunter scored first for his team, and second overall, with a 52.

His goal was to shoot a 40...

But he'll keep his 52. He moves on to today's match with the other four top scorers