Pinewood derby

 Remember last year when Ansen took last at the pinewood derby?  It didn't really bother him but it he did want to make up for it this year. He picked out a car shape and Jason put it for him and then he made it look cool.

 Ansen painted it gold, gave it some windows and some extra weight  and then....

 white walled the wheels.  His car looked awesome!

 The Pinewood derby started with my guy participating in the color guard

 and then the racing began. Our new ward is serious about their derby.  It's all digital and fancy and it felt like 1/2 the ward showed up to watch the action. The cars raced and raced and the boy was winning.  No last place this year! 

 (Tucker and Ansen with their cars)

 In the end Ansen took 5th. Very respectable if you ask us.  We heard a rumor that this now sends up to districts so we will wait and see.

 And look at these awards.  Clever, don't you think? 

Here's to redeeming yourself and to having fun!

Cuff links

All I'm gonna say is Jason looks good in these:

And, Go Seasiders!

Regional Chess tournament

As if this boy needed more to do, Ansen had a regional chess tournament this last weekend.  Thankfully it was held here in town at Kahau's school so it was easy to get to.

The girls chose to sit this one out. At first I was a little bummed that they didn't want to go, but after still in a library type atmosphere all (and I mean all) day long I was glad they weren't there.  Don't get me wrong, it was fun. It was just very, very quiet and slow and quiet and----didn't mention slow?

 Each player played 5 games. Parents were instructed to stay out of kids line of sight and stay quiet.  Ansen's team wears these fun hats so you can pick them out of a crowd.

 Ansen's team took 1st place at the tournament!  Look at that happy bunch! There were a bunch of kids form our ward on different teams for different elementary schools through out the region.  On his team Soren (green socks) and Lucy (hat with pink band) are in ward.

 He friend Tucker also played (and took 2nd!) for another school. Other kids from the ward were there but I didn't get a picture dang it.

It was a fun day. It's always fun to see our kids try new things.

Basketball season

That's right, it's here.  Basketball season is upon us and we are excited to watch Braley work her magic on the basketball court.

 All my pictures are blurry because she is never holding still on the court.  She is playing point guard and is loving it.  She already had some really nice baskets and a few great assists this season and games just started this week.

She's paying with one of her new best friends and that makes it even more fun.  They've won 3 and lost 1 so far.

Great job Braley!

Sister missionaries

It's been so great having sister missionaries in our ward.  We love Elders too but because Jason travels as much as he does we don't have as much interaction with Elders. But with Sisters it's way easier.

Sister Heywood was transferred into the ward the same week we moved in so for the last 6 months we have had a lot of fun getting to know her and her companion, Sister Sullivan. Sister Heywood finished her mission this week and we couldn't send her home without a lil' party.

Love missionaries. Love her. Love these kids.  Love having dinner with a group because you don't have to plan a big meal, you just have to make a lot of one thing.

The Oregon Classic

Oh man guys, this meet was t-o-u-g-h.  And huge.  We didn't realize that wrestlers from Oregon as well as states like Washington, Idaho, California, Montana and Arizona were going to be there.  Seriously, it was fun and crazy to watch.

Ansen did his very best and we couldn't be prouder. He wrestled some tough boys who were a lot more experienced and technical in their ability to wrestle. It was a great opportunity for Ansen.  He wrestled with heart and natural talent and man did he try his hardest.  Ansen didn't end up placing but, as corny as it sounds, we think he's #1.

17 mats all running at once.

Cati came to the tourney as a mat helper for her high school and Kahau was doing some volunteer hours for her orothodontist work so there two got to hang out during the weekend.  These two cousins were thrilled to be together.

I did a bit of volunteering as well and got assigned the task of making coffee.  I guess there is a first time for everything.  I don't know if I did it right (I tried though) and since I didn't get any complaints I figure if I ever need a job I can hit up Starbucks.

Whew.  I'm sure we will be back next year.  Until then Oregon Classic.

Jason and the Ducks

He was so excited for the Ducks to play in the national championship. He was going to be out of town, in Reno, and he was going to find a big huge screen to watch it on.  He was going to cheer them all the way to victory.

And then he started puking.

Poor guy got the flu the night before the big game and he was one sick sickie.  This is how he watched the game. In his jammies, barley saying anything. It may actually be his fault they lost.

He's better now and back to work and there's always next year for the DUCKS.

Oregon classic qualifier

Guess what we did this weekend?  Yep, wrestling.

This was a big meet because whoever took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd qualified to go to the biggest meet in Oregon next weekend call the Oregon Classic.  

Ansen was super nervous because we was going to have to wrestle some kids who he's never wrestled before, the one who he beat for the 1st time last week and the 1 who beat him last week.  Fpr a while I though he was so nervous that he was going to be sick.

 His first 2  matches went down pretty easily and that helped stave off some of the nerves.

  He relaxed a little and started checking out the competition.  His match with Potts went really well and he beat him again.  2 weeks in a row. The thing that I appreciate about Ansen is win or lose he always congratulates that other kid on a good match. He is a good winner and a good loser.  That's important in our book. His match with Potts put Ansen wrestling that same boy he wrestled last week and again they were wrestling for 1st & 2nd.

 How many coaches does one kid need in his corner? We love that so many come to help him out.

  Because he had already made the qualifier by beating Potts some of the pressure was off. Jason told him to go out, wrestle hard but have fun.  He didn't have to prove anything. He was going to the Oregon Classic no matter what.

 He went out and did his thing...

And Won!

Look at that smile on his face.

 He took first and is off to the Oregon Classic!

Wicked smart

Jason and I got a letter in the mail telling us how smart our freshman was.  We already knew, but it was fun to have a paper telling us we were right.  Today there was an assembly at school to honor all the honor students.  Kahau was awarded to the All-Star 1st academic team.  That means she was recognized for earning a gpa of 3.75 and above.

We are honestly so proud of this girl.  

Way to go Kahau.

Involuntary taco fast

Most of you know I've been on an involuntary taco fast since we've moved from the Authentic Taco Capitol of America (i.e, Woodburn). It has pretty much been the biggest trial in my life to be separated from my favorite food. Trial OVER! Found a new taco place. It's not tacos coronas but it'll do.

That is all.

Look at us

 Oh gosh.  Would you look at us.  We don't look so ridiculous in the top picture but when you focus in on it and look at Jason, Kahau, Braley and I in the bottom one you'd think we were watching a gladiator fight to the death.

It's fun to all like the same sport.....we just need to keep the pressure off Ansen.