AAU Basketball

This was Jaxon's first season of AAU basketball and it was much more like real basketball! As much as I love Upwards there is just a different level of intensity that comes with AAU ball. And the kids actually play a position, run plays, foul, steal the ball, and GET into it! Or maybe I should say I GET into it! He plays for the Meridian Wolf pack and considering that they have only been together for 5 weeks they did pretty dang good! This weekend they played in a tournament with just 4th graders (last tourney was against 5th graders...boy, one year makes a difference). So they actually won two of the 4 games that they played! This was a BIG deal! Its great to see the boys get a taste of success when they have worked so hard the last few weeks.

Jaxon had an awesome weekend. He plays point guard and can dribble through just about anything! He had 11 points in the last game and considering they only scored 31 total, that's great! He had 4 or 5 steals for lay ups, really learned how to draw the foul and had some awesome assists! He even threw up a shot at the half time buzzer and it went in! The crowd went wild....you would have thought we just won the championship! I have to say, I never thought 4th grade basketball could be so exciting! I get giddy just thinking about it!

But what impresses me most is the incredible attitude my son has. Jay and I just look at each other and wonder where he got that from! He is all smiles win or loose and he asked Jay after the last game "what could I work on to get better dad?". And he really wants to know! Considering he is one of the best players on the team that's amazing to me. He's not a ball hog, but he's not afraid to keep shooting even if he misses. I hear him after every game encouraging his other team mates, telling them what they did great out there. There is no pride, or arrogance just a teachable spirit and a true love for the game. Oh, Lord, I pray he keeps this attitude! What an inspiration he is to me and Jay.

#3, Point Guard for the Wolfpack....Jaxon Huuuuuughes!

Free Throw shot...yeah....it went in!

Antoher Free Throw

From the Foundation, Up!

Last week Foundations Academy held an open house for anyone who wanted to come walk the framed halls of the new school building. So of course we had to be there! They had hot chocolate to drink for everyone (good thing...it was BRRRRRR cold), and sharpie markers to use so that the kids and parents could write their names and favorite verse on the framed building. It was so fun! The kids loved finding where their classes will be next year and even Ty and Huddy had fun running through the kindergarten rooms. Huddy wrote and H on the wall and Ty wrote a T! We are so excited that this new building is literally right across the street from our subdivision! What a blessing from the Lord!

The kids in the halls of Foundations!

Little boys in Kindergarten room...someday boys, someday...

Kenna's markings

Jaxon writing on the door post of the 4th grade room.

Oh, how we cant wait for the fall of 2009!

December Recap

Since December was such a whirlwind I'm going to have to recap all that we did!

The day after we got home from Yakima we started decorating for Christmas. The day Jay and the kids put the lights up on the house it was almost 55 degrees! Since it was so warm we had chili out on the front porch for lunch! The kids loved this!

Here they are on the roof!

Aren't they funny!

While they were all outside putting up lights I was inside decorating the house with Christmas music blaring!

I worked on homemade Christmas gifts.

We had lots of snow to play in!

The kids had a blast in all the snow!!!

We hosted our HFG's Christmas party!

Steph and I spent a whole day making soups!

We went to the Botanical Gardens' Winter Garden festival! Beautiful!

We went to a Blazer game in Salt Lake with Jaxon, Kenna and the Turners. Fun but fast.

The Day the whole family arrived in Boise we had a little party to watch BSU in the Poinsettia bowl....slightly disappointing, but fun to hang out and have football food together!

Look at these cuties!

Christmas Eve Day we put our Gingerbread House and Gingerbread Train together!

Christmas Eve we went to Calvary Chapels Christmas Eve service that was wonderful and then over to Chad & Bridgette's for dinner and presents.

The kids waiting so patiently for their first present!

Tyson LOVED his new football slippers...he just had to dance around in them for us!

We hosted Christmas Day at our house so we started off the morning with the kids opening their stockings by the fire. We then spent the morning getting ready for lunch with the rest of the family. We had a WONDERFUL prime rib dinner with lots of yummy sides to go with! We finished lighting our advent wreath and spent the day hanging out with family.

On Christmas Day evening we went over to the Moffatt's for their annual (we make it when we are in town) Christmas play done by kids only! Its such a great way for the kids to remember the story of Christ's birth! It was so fun!

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Our last night together we went bowling down at Westies, then drove up to Quail Ridge to check out the most decked out holiday house in Boise and then back to the Hughes dome to for chili and corn bread. It was a great way to end our time together before Mom, Dad, and the Grandparents headed back to Yakima.

Setting up for a Mission Thanksgiving

The day before Thanksgiving we went down to the Mission with the kids and helped set the tables for Thanksgiving dinner, which they were going to have 2 of. One the day before and one day of Thanksgiving. It was such a great experience for the kids and it gave us so many opportunities to talk about the important things. Kenna was extremely excited that the homeless people would have good food to eat. She is so tender it melts my heart! Even the little boys were a big help.

Picking out napkins for the dinner.

The finished product in the banquet room.

Ty putting silverware on the table.

Hudson was a perfectionist when it came to where and how the silverware was supposed to be placed on the table. =)

Jax was in charge of place mats and cups!

Kenna too helped in every area possible!

Mamo & Papa with Ty peaking out behind papa's back!

Grandpa Rog, Jax & Kenna.

34 again

So apparently I'm 34 THIS year...seems Ive been thinking I was already 34 so that was a nice surprise to me! =) Just goes to show you once you pass 30...WHO CARES! Since my big day was on Thanksgiving this year we celebrated the day before at El Portons in Yakima with the fam! It was fun and I was even serenaded by the waiters who so kindly made me wear a ginormous sombrero! Good times!

I LOVED all of the homemade cards I got from the kids and Jay this year!

Stylin!

Jaxon wanted to know why they sang "Happy Bird day dear Header"...

Fried Ice Cream that was passed down to the kid side of the table and was gone in about 3 seconds! PARANAS!

The Heathers!

My Norma-ama!

The kids!

Fall-ing behind!

I just love Fall! The mornings are crisp but it warms up enough to be outside in the afternoons. The kids loved playing in the leaves and I was amazed at how many more leaves we had this year. When those maple trees are full size were gonna be neck high in leaves! =)

Hudson wasn't too sure about being covered in "dirty" leaves.

My thoughts exactly! What little girl wouldn't want to do a cartwheel through a huge pile of leaves!!! So fun!

What a cutie pie!

This pile was racked, destroyed, racked, destroyed...you get the picture!

Kenna with her Daisy Duke!