Payson Temple Open House

For the past couple of years, when we would drive down to St. George to see Rachel and her family, we would pass the Payson Temple being built. It seemed like it was taking forever to be completed, but it finally was done. We knew we had to visit the open house.

I must have waited too long because the only evening reservation I could get was a Friday night at 7:45 pm. Well, it ended up working out because Cole had a soccer game at 5 and then we ran home, ate and showered and headed down to Payson. What a beautiful temple - the woodwork, the artwork, the marble, the stained glass, the chandeliers. Wow! It was gorgeous. 

I am so glad that there are so many temples nearby that are being built or remodeled. When I was growing up, the Arizona Temple was remodeled and I was able to go to the Open House there. However, that was the only temple I was ever able to tour when I was a child. Reagan and Cole have been through the Draper Temple, the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, the Ogden Temple and now the Payson Temple. I love that we can take Reagan and Cole through the open house of these temples that are such an important part of our lives. I love the spirit and peace that we feel there. We believe that our family can be together forever because of sacred priesthood power as well as promises and covenants made in these sacred temples. I can't imagine only having Reagan, Cole and Steve until death do we part. I'm so glad that they can be mine forever. Next up, Provo City Center Temple.... later this year, I think.

End of Spring Soccer Season

Another soccer season has ended. By the time I'm writing this, we are part way through the next season as well.  I'll get caught up on this blog someday :)

We had winter soccer season from January - April; however, we opted out of games for that winter season. Last year, we would ski all day on Saturdays and then have to go straight from the slopes to Cole's soccer games. His legs were mush after skiing all day. He wanted to continue to play during winter season, so, we decided to go to practices, but not games. It actually worked out for the best. Some of our friends who played winter games wished they hadn't. Most of the games were early morning (one was at 6:45am!!!!) and didn't seem to work with anyone's schedules. After winter season ended, spring season began and we were back to our usual schedule - two practices a week and one game a week. It was a short, two or three month, season, but it was great.

Cole has continued to improve in his skills. He is better at playing the position he is assigned and knowing what is required of a player in that position.

His footwork has gotten so much better. He seems to know more about how to control the ball and get it where he needs it to be.

He plays defense a lot because he is really good at it. He seems to know when the ball is coming and can usually beat it to the goal and keep the goalie from having to come out of the goal to stop the ball.

However, he would rather play forward and be able to score. He LOVES to score. He is certainly aggressive and I laugh that sometimes he will end up on the ground, rather than let someone else take the ball from him.

He loves soccer and has made some great friends. I'm so glad that we have stayed with this club. Now that spring season is over, we'll have tryouts for next season (our third with Blue Knights) and we will start into our summer practices and KNVB camp. Alrighty then, let's go!!

Cole's Spring Program

Cole's Spring Program was next. We enjoyed his program a lot. His wasn't quite as polished as Reagan's (probably due to a few of the boys in his class), but Cole was definitely the most prepared and poised in his class. I think he knew this because he said his teacher specifically put him in the front, center of the class. In fact, I was watching the video back to make my little movie at the bottom of this post and I had to laugh how she would que them to do something and only Cole would move. Then, she would whisper "Good job, Cole". Love it!

Cole's program was all about the history of the west. They talked about pioneers, cowboys, the railroad being built and miners digging.

Cole's class also had dancing and recitations as well as their singing. Cole was one of the first speaking parts and almost the last as well. (He originally had only one speaking part, but apparently one of the boys in his class couldn't behave during rehearsals, so, he lost his part and the teacher gave it to Cole.)

One of their songs was the national anthem. They asked us to stand for that song and the students turned and faced the flag while they sang it.

After the program, we went back to Cole's class to see his Young Author book and to see his papers on the "Best Work" board.

Just like Reagan's program, I want to remember this. So, I made a little movie of video clips from the program. Way to go Cole - we loved your program!!!!

Reagan's Spring Program

Reagan and Cole have two major programs at school each year. They have the Christmas Sing and the Spring Program. I am not being biased when I say that these programs get better and better each year. Seriously! I don't know if the children are getting older and so they are better able to memorize their parts, their songs, their recitations and their dances or what.

This year was amazing!!! Reagan's 3rd grade class did a fantastic job. I know they worked really, really hard on it. She was memorizing drills, songs and poems for months.

They had little moves during their songs, did a little dance, moved on and off of the risers and gave a great performance. Of course, Reagan is always SO expressive. Love that girl!!!! 

The theme of their program was Third Grade News Network. They had "reporters" in the field telling stories about the books they had read throughout the year (The Black Stallion, The Wizard of Oz, Pinocchio, the Wright Brothers, etc.) and it was so cute. 

Reagan was reporting on the Wizard of Oz and she did a great job - I could totally see her as a reporter :)

After their program, we returned to their classroom to see what was on their Best Work Board and to see their Young Author books. Every year, the students write a short story, illustrate it and the school binds it. Then, awards are given in each class. Reagan won Bronze in her class this year .... yeah!!!!

I put together a little movie with clips from Reagan's program. I loved it. I said that the programs have been better and better each year. Not sure they could top this one, but stay tuned... we'll find out next year!!!

First Karate Tournament

Through the almost four years we've been in karate, there have been many tournaments. We, however, have not attended any of them. At first, I was concerned that Reagan and Cole didn't know enough or wouldn't perform well. Later, we were just so busy that to add one more thing wasn't in the cards for us. For some reason, this time, we had a free day and we decided to go.

Not really knowing what to expect, Cole thought it would be like the tournament in the Karate Kid movie. I had no frame of reference to tell him otherwise. It was held at UVU in what is, I would assume, their basketball center. I think I've heard of concerts being held here and things like that. It was huge. They had twelve mats holding different competitions at the same time. We arrived at 9:30 and were able to watch some competitions for a couple of hours before Reagan and Cole's divisions were called. 

I had signed Reagan and Cole up for three categories in their divisions: power karate, forms and sparring. We opted not to do the weapons category since they had only started working with their nunchucks a few weeks before. They are put in divisions according to their age and belt level. Reagan had 9 competitors in her division. Cole was the only one in his division. I didn't see a sole competitor in any other division the entire day.

When I thought about it later, I remembered that to move up to "Juniors" from "Little Ninjas", you have to be 7 years old. Well, when Reagan turned 7 and was ready to move to "Juniors", I didn't want to have to bring Reagan and Cole to different classes, so, our instructor let us move both children up to "Juniors" even though Cole was technically too young. That's probably why there weren't competitors in his division. Not many students could move up to "Juniors" at age 5 and start moving up in their belts. Oh well, you work with whatever the situation was. Cole had practiced and was prepared to compete, but no one else showed up.

Cole still performed his power karate and his forms. Actually, his scores were higher than many other  students in other divisions. Had he been with other students, I still think he would have scored high and done well. He was awarded the gold medal for each of his categories, but since he had no one to spar with, they had him go to a higher division and had him spar with them on an "exhibition" basis. No matter, he still sparred really well with older kids in a higher division.  When we talked later, Cole said "I cheated Mom. I won every medal." I made sure he realized that he did NOT cheat. He did nothing wrong. The fact that there were no competitors didn't change the fact that he had prepared, he performed well and he won his division. I wanted to be sure that he didn't think he had somehow wrongfully won his medals.

As I said before, Reagan was one of 9 competitors in her division. She performed her power karate well and her form.

Reagan is so friendly. She knew one of the boys in her division (he is at our same dojo), but she was chit chatting with everyone. One of the boys signed up to compete in weapons, but didn't bring a weapon. She right away offered to let him borrow her nunchucks. Another boy forgot his power karate gloves and Reagan offered hers right up. Not sure the other competitors wanted to have a new friend right there during the tournament, but they were going to get one :)

She also sparred well. During one round of sparring, she was one point down and if her opponent gained one more point, she would be eliminated. However, she was aggressive and ended up scoring a kick to the boy's head. That scored two points and she won that round. Whew!!! Steve went over and told her how well she had done, but she was more worried if she had hurt the boy she kicked. She kept asking him if he was ok and I think he was a bit embarrassed and wouldn't answer her :)

So, at the end of the day, Reagan won a bronze medal in sparring and a bronze medal in power karate. Cole won a gold medal in sparring, forms and power karate. Altogether, we had a great experience. Plus, now, we have a frame of reference of what these tournaments look like. We will definitely be back. 

Way to go Reagan and Cole!!!! We are so proud of you!!! You are great competitors!!!!

I made movies of clips of Reagan and Cole's tournament. Sorry - they are sort of long, but this blog is our own little, family, scrapbook and I want to make sure to remember this day :)