Our First Cross Country Runner!

Tayla had a great year running cross country. We are so proud of her accomplishments: Team captain, co-captain, Most Improved, Most Inspirational, Most Valuable Runner! Wow, we couldn't have asked for a more complete year. Ok, so she was the only one on the team, details! I have to admit, that I'm not sure I would have done this sport without some sort of team camaraderie. Yesterday was sub-districts. 13 schools, each with a team of 7, except Mountain View. Top 35 runners qualify for District! Tayla is a sophmore and has done great for her first year. One of her greatest accomplishments is breaking the school record. In this photo, she is standing with her coach! Just the two of them!

Here is view of all of the teams lined up with lonely Tayla in the middle in orange.

Here she is finishing the 3.2 mile race coming in at #34! She made it to districts! Go Tayla! She made Mountain View history, being the first girl to ever qualify for districts!

We finally made it to the Pumpkin Patch!

So, Trever decided to have the "First Annual Alfrey Pumpkin Contest". This means that we divided the kids into three teams and they have until Halloween to carve, paint, decorate, or do whatever they would like to their pumpkin. Only rule: you have to do it together! Grandma & Grandpa Alfrey and Grandma & Grandpa Banker will be the judges. Stay tuned for the results!
Back row: Ryder, Trever, Abi, Me, Tayla
Front row: Berkley, Talan, Elli
Team #1: Ryder & Tayla Tayla thought this was very unfair! I think she will make the best of it!
Team #2: Berkley & Abi These are two peas in a pod, so this should be interesting!
Team #3: Talan & Elli These two are so competitive that if they can keep from fighting then we should be in good shape!
Ryder really didn't want to be on Tayla's team. He wanted a 'little' pumpkin!
Team #2 had more fun with getting their picture taken than picking a pumpkin!
Team #3 was focused! They set out to accomplish the task and didn't stop until they were satisfied!
We ended with a hay ride and scary faces! Ryder was trying sooo hard to be scary!

Dateless Homecoming!

So, in my day, we would have never dreamed about going to Homecoming without a date! Now a day, the kids just want to go like they were going to a stake dance but all dressed up. There were two "official" dates in this group and the rest were just friends. They had such a great time! Tayla is the one in the light purple dress and white shrug. I think she is so beautiful!
The whole group!
Just the girls!

Tayla made corsages for her friends that were so hideous!
Tosh & Tayla
Jamie & Tayla
Natalie & Tayla
Tosh & Grandma Banker! Tayla's friends LOVE my mom!

They were all blindfolded so they wouldn't know the big surprise!

So, I had to pull an idea out of my head that Tayla would actually go for. Trever actually came up with the idea of doing a 'formal dinner' at Wendy's. So, we had such a great time with this! I actually typed up a one page menu that looked nice. Skyler, Tayla' cousin, was the waiter. He started them all out with drinks and then moved to a salad option and then the main course. We transferred their food to plates and served their drinks to them in nice glasses! So fun!

Tayla and her friend Natalie resorted to tennis shoes by the time dinner was over. Tayla's are the pink shoes she borrowed from Aunt Deanna!

I just can't let it go!

HELP! Have you ever become obsessed with something and you can't stop thinking about it? I came across this blog and I have to admit that I have developed a habit of checking it almost everyday. My heart aches for this family. There are lots of sad stories out there, but for some reason, this one won't leave me. This family is adorable. Stephanie and Christian Nielson were in an airplane crash on August 16th and their bodies were burned. They survived the crash, but are still in the hospital recovering. In the meantime, their four children are being cared for by her sister and brother in law with lots of help from other family members. This link is to the sister who updates on Stephanie and Christian and cares for their children. http://blog.cjanerun.com/

If there is anyone out there who might know of them, please email me. Any ideas on how to diffuse this obsession? I don't know this family at all except through the blogging world. I just need help with what I am suppose to do with this information. I can't get a feel for my part. Why won't it leave me?

Can there really be a perfect funeral?

Mara's funeral yesterday was the most perfect funeral ever. I think every funeral is perfect in it's own way, but for me, it was amazing. When Paris drowned three years ago, I was so removed that I can hardly recall the funeral. I remember bits and pieces, but the shock was still too great. For Mara, I was able to be involved and see what actually happens behind the scenes. UNBELIEVABLE! I am speechless as to how to explain the people of the Green River Ward. I know that our Heavenly Father gave them all such gifts and they use them. Thanks to all of you who serve and teach me so much!

We Will Always Miss Mara!

Our hearts are so sad to share the news that our sweet friend, Mara, passed away yesterday morning. We express our gratitude to her family for sharing such an angel with us! Heather & Bryan, may you feel the arms of our Savior envelope you constantly. We love you!

Only if you dare!

I started another blog just about me and my journey. Feel free to check it out.
http://danikickingandscreaming.blogspot.com/

"Can You Believe That I am This Old?"

Yes, it is official! Tayla has her driving permit! So, last night when I was opening the mail and her permit was in there, I went into a state of shock! I took a picture with her and her cute little permit and decided to blog it! Well, shortly after I posted it, I received a friendly email from my friend "downtown Julie Brown" telling me to quickly remove it due to the sickos out there. I was soooo grateful for her email and at the same time, I was horrified that I would do something so absurd!

Anywho~she is driving! Where we live it is a little different than where I grew up. I took driver's ed in school and I don't remember it costing too much. Here, the kids can get their permit when they are 15 ONLY if they are enrolled in a driver's ed course. The average cost for one of these courses is $400. Yes, you did read that right! $400!!! Tayla finds the course pointless and I find it an inconvenience. She attends M-T-W from 6-8 for 5 weeks. She is doing great when she drives. I am very calm. Trever on the other hand gets a little more excited if you can believe that. We have switched rolls.

Oops!

OK! So, I just posted a new post and I had to delete it. I will update later. Check later. I won't send an email update, so check back! So Sorry!

We Love Mara!

This is Mara and her mom Heather! We love them so much! Mara has a brain tumor in the brain stem called DIPG. It is cancerous and malignant. She was diagnosed last October and has been fighting ever since. Her school designed these shirts and we wanted to have our picture taken with her since she is such an inspiration to us all! Her parents have a beautiful website and have posted a statement about our church and our beliefs. I would encourage anyone who wants to feel the love of the Savior to visit this site. www.maraadams.com Read "What Mara Has Been Taught." August 31st 2008.
This is Mara and her two younger sisters, Natalie & Katrina. My 3 girls wanted their pictures taken with the Adam's three girls. So, my girls in the purple shirts are (from left to right) Abi, Tayla, & Elli. The Adam's girls are Natalie, Katrina, & Mara.

First Day of School!

I only took pictures of the little boys since the girls were so busy getting "ready". I will try to post some next week.
Berkley! UGHHHHH! Big Kindergarten!

Talan our big 3rd grader!

Classic School Photos!

Talan and Berkley on their first day of school! Talan is starting 3rd grade and Berkley is in Kindergarten.
Talan and his friend Quinn!
Berkley getting off the bus! Yes, even at child #5, I cried my eyes out!
I wanted to hear all about their day! They think I am crazy!

The Troll Under The Bridge

Troll Ave.

Ryder got snatched up by the troll
Tayla, Berkley, and Abi on the top.
All the kids up on top. I was so freaked out. Surprised I even was able to take the picture.


This is the troll that lives under the bridge. Trever found it one day when he was at work with Talan and thought all the kids would enjoy it. Ryder was a little freaked out cause he thought it was real but then didnt want to get off :) It was a very fun day in the end.

Some More Fun Pictures :)

The Ma and Pa
The Children

Day in Seattle

All the kids!!!
The fam :)
Talan's creation with his sea things! Cute huh?
What an awesome view with the space needle and the family...Precious :)
Elli, Abi, and the Old Man.

Donuts are DELICIOUS!
Mom and Dadio...as Ryder calls him.
Basically the cutest girls ever!!
Ryder LOVED it there.
Ryder, Berkley, Talan, Elli by the water.

So for Labor Day weekend instead of going somewhere we decided to take the kids to Alki Beach! Trev and I had a blast there last weekend and thought the kids would enjoy it too!!! We all had so much fun :)