Daily grind

Volleyball, football, water polo, homework. Repeat. Those 4 words define our 3pm to 8pm pretty much Monday thru Friday. It's a crazy schedule but its good for all of us.  I love watching those kids of mine playing a sport they really like and I like (most days) helping with homework.  So people think ew are doing too much but I don't agree.  It may get hectic and there maybe be knee pads and cleats and wet swim suits all over our house but I love it!

Adieu

 Thanks for some great times summer 2015.  Thank you for the:

River floats

Hikes

Boat days

Lazy Days

Waterfall jumping days

Bon fires

Dance parties

Friends

family nights

BBQ's

You've been rad. Catch you in 9 months.

Bummer Oktoberfest & stake youth activity

Last weekend we were missing Oktoberfest in Mt. Angel something fierce right now.  But thank goodness the big town next door has one.  What a relief.....not!  We happily headed into town to conquer German food and the Chicken dance and instead we were met with teriyaki stands and insurance booths.  I can't even give their effort a "good game" pat, it was that bad.  Oh well, we went and raced go carts instead.

 Afterwards the girls and friends went to a stake youth activity where they out ate every boy in sight and got in the river fully clothed.  Silly girls but boy did they enjoy themselves.

Thankful for warm sunny day!

#25

Ahhh man, #25 is having a great season!  Smallest one on the field as well as the biggest heart on the field.  Ansen is having an amazing season so far and I know it's just going to get better!

(Smokin') Birthday Boy

Last birthday of the Widing family birthday season belongs to this guy.

We thought long and hard about what to get his for his special day and this is what the kids and I came up with.  A smoker.  Bring on the meats!

Happy Birthday, Jason!  Here's to another great year!

Retail therapy

The kids are back in school which means it's awfully quiet around here lately. Jason tried to help me out this week by taking me out for a little retail therapy.  While I wish it was still summer, I do love our new purchases...and tacos. A taco can make almost anything better.

Friday Fun Day

The mountains finally got a little snow (hallelujah!).

This boy is obsessed with skate park (we go early before all the scuzzy big kids show up).

Friends are over all the time (which I love).

My Sox are doing so hot (but I still love them).

Jason and I won the Us-ie contest between Kahau and Morgan.  This is not the winning photo (the winning one was of is kissing).

This was their response (rude).

It's safe to say they won't be picking an us-ie battle with us again.

10th

Sophomore year here she comes!  Kahau may not look too thrilled about starting today but she is.  She's ready for school and really ready for seminary to start.  She loves starting her day at seminary, which I love to hear.  What she isn't super excited about is her super busy schedule but hey, that's high school for you.

This year is going to be fun and full of more new experiences for her.  Good luck this year, Kahau! Make it the best year yet!

8th grade

Why is she getting older?  Braley is beyond excited for this year of school and is ready to take on her final year of middle school.

 Braley is back in the same hall this year and we/she are so excited for that because she is fortunate to have excellent teachers.  She is ready to get back to school and excited to be a mentor and really looking forward to all this year has in store for her.

 Good luck, Brays!  I know you will love this year, its going to be amazing!

5th grade

Oh my gosh, its here.  Ansen is officially in his last year of elementary school and he is ready to rule the school.  We have heard great things about his teacher and we are all really looking forward to this year.

 When he waled into class this morning someone said "Yessssssssss! Ansen is in this class!" He couldn't be more happy to have some of his favorite friends in his class.

He is going to work hard and play hard this year and it's going to be one amazing last year of elementary school.

Good luck this year, Ansen!  Knock 'em dead.

Friends!

We love when friends come to visit!  The Lulich's were having a quick vacation over in our neck of the woods...er, desert and we were lucky enough to get to hang out for a few day.  They came to church with us, we went caving and went out to a fun lunch (which is where we ran into some other friends from the valley.  All 3 families were in the same ward together in Woodburn).

Ansen and Zach

Emery, Kahau, Claire, and Braley.....Ella must be off chasing the boys somewhere.

Joe and Raina and me and Jason.

Alright friends, who's next to come and visit?

DUCKS season opener

Today was better than Christmas for Jason.  Today was the DUCKS season opener and we all got to go!  According to Jason, "A family that cheers for the DUCKS together, stays together."

This was Kahau's first game.  Everyone else has been at one point or another but not Kahau.  Everyone was excited, Jason most of all but I think Kahau took a close 2nd.

The fab 5.

Our ducklings:

Doing the shout together:

Perfect night:

We won!  It was a great game and we are excited for the season although we will miss Marcus Mariota...a lot!

Post game celebrations on the field.

Great game DUCKS!