What's up?

I have decided that no one really reads anything I write- at least no one comments- but I am going to continue to write because I like the books I make out of the blog at the end of the year. It's a journal/scrapbook of our family and a great family record of our lives. That said here is the latest news on each child:

Amber- has found Sophomore year to be busier than she thought possible. The newspaper is keeping her jumping. Her editors have changed her assignments multiple times and when she asks for help and doesn't get it, she gets frustrated. Hopefully the final product- out in October- will be great and she will have figured out exactly what it is she is supposed to do. Early morning seminary is killer- on her and her parents who drive her! This past week she found out she got a part in the school fall play "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare. She is a water nymph- a huge chorus part because they are on stage a lot! She is excited to work with the new drama teacher, Mrs. Dunavold (I hope I spelled that right). She is also rehearsing for Queen's Ball at MTV, so sleep and homework time are limited. Hang in there girl!

Justin- his team won the lunchtime football intramural lunch league at school last week. He then led the student all-star team vs. the teacher team in a special game yesterday. He was QB of the student team and they lost at the very end of the game. One of the teachers told him that when they win one of the lunchtime leagues he gives them extra credit. Unfortunately, Justin doesn't have him as a teacher! Bummer. He is also busy playing Charger football, as a wide receiver mostly, and backup QB. He also tried out for an All- Net basketball team and made it. He is playing this morning in a game and then has a football game this afternoon. He will be 14 in a few weeks and is driving his mom and dad crazy because he doesn't talk to us much anymore. I can break him down though if I drive around in the car with him long enough :)

Marin- made the All Star wall this month at school - meaning she didn't have any late assignments or behavioral problems during the whole month. They get a treat of some sort and a privilege. Yesterday they had Popsicles and free time outside for almost an hour. The kids who don't make it don't get the treat and have to do study hall. It is her goal to get it every month for the whole year. She was a bit let down at the "prize" yesterday- hopefully she will keep the goal anyway. She is having fun at 5 dance classes a week and seems very grown up this year! She also loves her teacher- yeah- since 5th grade is a lot more work!

Ben- is the QB for his team and they have yet to win a game. We are crossing our fingers for a win today! Nana and Granddad are here, so maybe we can pull off a victory for them to see. He is an amazing speller (unlike his sisters) so his teacher is now skipping the regular spelling words that most kids get and he gets a special list of harder words. He got 100% on those too. Ryan thinks we may have to start doing spelling bees in our free time :) He is reading out loud to Ryan every night and is a really good reader. Amazing for a boy who needed special help in 1st grade because he was so far behind. Still deciding if he wants to play basketball in the winter. He is being a bit wishy washy about it all. Oh- and he started Cub Scouts- which he loves!

Grace- thinks preschool is the bomb! She runs in each time barely even remembering to say good-bye to me. She has learned how to write her name. She loves to practice writing all her letters and can figure out simple addition problems. I think she has picked up a lot from her older siblings. She is doing great in Miss Nicky's ballet/tap class- much better with her than she was with mom as her teacher. She loves to play games on the computer- Nick Jr. and PBS Kids. She has also figured out how to take pictures of herself with the computer camera. She also seems very grown up a lot of the time. We still do get lots of snuggles and her favorite thing in the world is to wrestle with daddy (she also likes texting him!).

Mom and Dad- I am doing choreography already at Sierra Vista and Venado. Busy organizing Red Ribbon Week and being on the Choral Music Boosters Board at the high school in addition to teaching 6 classes at the studio each week. Ryan is still on the Charger board (I think this is his 7th or 8th year as treasurer). He is coaching Ben's team, being the 1st counselor in the Bishopric and oh yeah, working :). He tries to make it to at least one high school football game a week around here since he knows so many of the boys playing because he coached them when they played for Chargers.

There is the long and crazy update!