Payton, Payton, Payton!!

I have really been debating whether I should post this or not, but after discussing it, and laughing, I have decided that this is my only journal and I need to write this down so I have it!!

Payton is in baseball and this year Tyler said we should have him play up one year. He said it would make him work harder and make him be better at baseball. Me, being a mom who doesn't like to see their kids struggle, thought it would be better to let him play being the oldest and best, but Tyler said he would be better if he played with the bigger kids, so, he had to try out (yes, he had to try out for a team) and he was luckily put on a team with a bunch of other boys in our ward and neighborhood. A couple of them are as young as Payton, so I'm sure they won't have the best team, but I'm sure they will have the MOST fun!! He is in the Rookie league (the boys pitch to each other, no more machine pitching).

The season hasn't officially begun, yet, but last Saturday they had a scrimmage against another team. I was super busy that day, so I didn't get to go watch, but afterward I got a call from his coach. Now, his coach is a great guy, but I knew something must be up if the coach was calling!! He asked if I made it to the game, and I said I hadn't, and he asked if Payton was home yet, which he wasn't, yet. He said Payton was a great hitter and hits almost every time up to bat. I told him that was great, and Payton thought he was a great coach. He seemed hesitant, so I asked him why he was really calling. He said the FUNNIEST thing had happened in all his years of coaching (He has 5 boys, so he has coached A LOT!!). He said that Payton had gotten up to bat and had hit the ball and ran as fast as he could to first base, where the coach gave him a high five. Payton then leaned over to the coach and said, "Coach, my cup fell out." Sure enough, right on the first base line was Payton's cup on the ground!!! Hahahahaha!!!!! He then asked, "What should I do, coach?" And, the coach told him to run over and grab it because he wasn't going to!! Hahaha!! Yes, in Rookie league, they are required to wear a cup, and Tyler had bought it for him, and when Payton was getting dressed, Tyler had gone in to help him. (I have never bought a cup, or used one, or dealt with one, so Tyler was in charge of helping). Apparently, the underwear you buy with it has a pocket to put the cup in and Tyler and Payton were not aware of this!! And, since it was a scrimmage, he hadn't worn his baseball pants, but workout pants, so they were loose. ANYWAYS, Payton came home holding his cup, and we all got a good laugh. Needless to say, there will be NO MORE wardrobe malfunctions at baseball. At least it was a scrimmage, so not too many people were there!! HAHA!!

Cute Payton. We LOVE him, and I am sure he will love me for this post!

Ummm...a thought!

So, last week during church Tyler leaned over to me and showed me a scripture. He said he looked up Jake's birthday (1/21) in the scriptures and this is what he came up with.


2 Nephi 1:21 "And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity;"

I cried!! Now, for those of you who don't know, Nephi is out of the Book of Mormon. It is something we, as LDS members, believe in, but it is to supplement the Bible, not to replace it. I'm not going to get preachy, just letting you know that this book has brought me enormous peace and comfort this past year. Originally Tyler looked up 4th Nephi 1:21, because Jake is our 4th child, but it didn't say anything, and he realized he is our 2nd son, so that was when he looked up 2nd Nephi 1:21. It was like Jake was speaking directly to us, for just a brief moment. It brought me such a warm and wonderful feeling. I know some people may be skeptical, and that is fine, but what matters is that I believe Heavenly Father gave me just a little piece of Jake, and let me know Jake is with us.

On another note, I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to EVERYBODY!! I am ordering material for Jakey's Blankies, and I have a TON of material to order! I think I will have more blankets than last year!! What a HUGE miracle and blessing!! So, to all of you that donated, THANK YOU! And, to all of you that posted Jakey's blankies on your blogs, THANK YOU!! Please, tell everyone thank you very much!! I am overwhelmed at the amazing response. I will post pictures of all of the material, and once we are done making them!! Wow, it was a huge blessing. You are all amazing and sooooo supportive! THANK YOU!!!

Pinewood Derby, Parades and Ponies!!

2 weeks ago was Payton's FIRST Pinewood Derby!! He and Tyler (mostly Tyler) worked SO hard on his car! They had a plan, Tyler researched ALL about the cars, and the best way to add the weight, then started making it. It took over a week, and boy, did they do a GREAT job!!
This was Tyler's "Emergency" kit that we took to the Derby, in case something happened to the car. I LOVE it! Payton is so proud of his car! And, it met the weight PERFECTLY!! 5.0 oz is all that it can weigh. GREAT JOB!! He raced about 5 times and took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in different races. There are 43 scouts that raced (yes, that is only our ward). It was a LOOOOOONG night! He didn't win overall, but he did get the award for 'Out of this World" car!! They have already started planning for next year! How cute! Great job, guys!!

Last weekend, Lexi and Maddie were in the Ostrich Festival Parade with their dance group, Dance Addiction. They had to get up early and be at the parade 2 hours before it started! They practiced and got ready, and we saw Sherriff Joe Arpaio! (He isn't my favorite guy anymore, but, Hey, it was fun to get a picture) but got a little tired, and by the time the parade began, Lexi looked

like this on the float. This is what Maddie was doing behind her.... Then Lexi layed down...Then Lexi closed her eyes and fell asleep. Yes, Lexi slept through most of the parade...it was quite funny, and all of the people watching the parade thought she was SOOO Funny! I was SOOOO Embarrassed, but I guess that is part of being a mom!! THen, all I could do was laugh as well. Who falls asleep during a parade...When you are IN the parade!!! What a goofball!!

Here is most of the group! We love Tracy (the teacher!!)

After the parade, we went to my sister, Julie's house. Her Shetland pony had a baby!! Look how small it is!! The Mom is standing behind Lexi, so you can see that she isn't very big either!!

This is Maddie, Addie, Julie and Lexi. The pony doesn't have a name...yet, but she sure is cute!!