Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Our Friday evening activity as a family was centered around baseball! If you weeks ago we had invited a family in our neighborhood to come to the "Orem Owlz" game. They had never been to a game before, and we had not been to one this year. It also helped that we had received a large number of free tickets. We figured to our kids could play with their kids if the game got dull and we could watch the game.

The game was very enjoyable. It was not a close game by any means. Our team won by eight points. About halfway through the game the littler kids started going to the playground area and playing. Aylee and Johnathan had brought their mitts to try to catch any foul balls that came into our area. They hung out at the edge of the field for quite some time waiting for balls. After a while, Johnathan went and played with the kids. For most of the evening, Aylee both hung out with her friend and kept her mitt at the ready so she could catch any foul balls.

Aylee had gotten close to a least one ball, but the competition was too fierce. Near the end of the game we started to pack up. Aliece came running from the playground to show us what she had found. She had in her hand a shiny slick "Orem Owlz" baseball. Aylee was very jealous. Here Aylee had spent most of the game near the edge of the field to catch a ball. Aliece got a ball just by going and playing in the playground. Aliece said she found that stuck in the fence.

We all had a great time and it was fun to get to a baseball game before the summer was over.

An Intriguing Host

The other day Alayna wanted to have a friend come over and play with her while the kids were at school. Amber called one of our neighbors who has a child Alayna's age. The neighbor dropped off their child and Alayna and her friend went off into the play room and started to play with Legos and other toys. When it was time for the little girl to go, her father stopped by to pick her up. Amber went into the playroom to go get his daughter and found Alayna fast asleep in the Lego bucket with her friend dutifully playing by her side.



I think we need to give Alayna some lessons in hosting company!

Jock?

I spent a few minutes outside with the kids to shoot a few hoops with the basketballs lying around our yard. Amber had to clean up the kitchen so she brought Jace out to me to hold. He got a kick out of watching everyone shoot baskets. I grabbed the ball and we shot together - making a perfect basket no doubt! Man, he started laughing his head off. He thought that was just great.

We came in the house shortly after and Jace started playing with a basketball in the kitchen. He would grab it and then either throw it or roll it. He would then crawl over to it and laugh and laugh. He and I threw it back and forth a bit - him laughing all the time.

His "play fetch" games with the smaller balls (as mentioned yesterday) are mutating into mini basketball games now. Who knows, maybe the kid will have talent!

Back to School

Monday was the day everyone was waiting for in our household - it was the first day of school. It was especially exciting because the kids have a new school building to attend.

Although Alayna is disappointed that she will not be joining the older kids for school yet, she is comforted in the fact that she will be starting preschool in a couple of weeks.

Yesterday, at the dinner table, we were surrounded by reports from each child regarding their class, their friends, and the new building. They were all animated and detailed in their reports.

Alayna joined in the conversations with her own premonitions of preschool. During one rare lull in the dinner-table conversation she exclaimed, "Well, at my preschool, Miss Stephanie has water! If I get thirsty, I can have a cup of water!" Not hard to excite that one, is it!

Johnathan's Baptism

Johnathan's baptism took place the day after Aylee's birthday. It turned out to be a very nice occasion. We had family from both sides able to attend. Some of Amber's extended family here in Provo also attended. Amber played the piano for this service, and Jen let the music. Aylee gave the opening prayer. Grandma Andersen gave a talk regarding baptism. Both grandpas were witnesses as Johnathan walked into the font filled with water. He let me do the honors of baptizing and confirming him. Grandma Reed followed up with a talk on the Holy Ghost. After Johnathan's confirmation, he was invited to bear his testimony. He did a very nice job. The service was concluded when Ashlee gave the closing prayer.






We all met at the house afterward for a big taco bar of Amber had set up. It was fun to sit and visit with everyone that had come. As always, I never did get to visit with everyone that I wanted to chat with. It is always hard when there are so many people that you know and love and see very little of to be able to divide the time up just right to visit everyone. But I think everyone had a good time and it was a special day for Johnathan.



The desert for the event was a beautiful cake made by Michelle. The beauty of the cake did not lie in appearance only, but also in taste. I think it was Johnathan's first sin after his baptism because the cake was undoubtedly so rich and tasty that it had to be against the Word of wisdom. But, I have to admit, we all partook in earnest.