I am a really bad blogger. Let's see, what's been happening lately?

Jake spent three days trying out for a premier soccer team and made it on the team he wanted! He's a star! I am excited for him. The program is a new one being put together for his age group. Usually, they wait until U11 before they start the select or premier teams, but his team has got the excellent skills and talent and his coach helped organize a U10 section with a few other coaches throughout the Vancouver area. The boys will have an "academy" style training program and will benefit greatly from being in this league. It is a program through the VUSA Timbers and has an awesome reputation. In addition to his regular coach (he's been on this same team since Kindergarten), the assistant coach is actually the head coach for the Men's varsity soccer team at Clark College. How awesome is that? Because of the type of training they will be doing, they will be with their core team once a week and then as a group with the 4 other teams in the program. Those coaches are also amazing...former pro soccer players, other college coaches, etc. How lucky are we??? It's gonna be a busy summer, and the only down side is figuring out how to do the Thursday practices and Scouts on the same night, plus trying to help his coach understand that he won't be participating in tournaments that happen on Sundays. Luckily, all the tournaments we are considering are Fri, Sat, Sun, so he can do the first two days and not Sunday.
He's continuing to excel in school. I'm lucky to have kids who are such awesome students. I wasn't so great at the school thing, so they definitely get that from their dad. Jake's scores on the state standardized testing were impressive. Top 10% in reading. In math, he scored 100%!!! His teacher has him doing special advanced math...from a 6th grade curriculum. The stuff they were doing in class was too easy and boring for him. He still loves PE and recess most though!

Rebekah will be marching in her first parade this weekend for band. It's the "Hazel Dell Parade of the Bands." She's not exactly acting thrilled about it, but I know she will have fun once she gets started. She's so funny...she used her Christmas money to buy a flute, and has taught herself to play it, but hasn't told her band teacher yet. She says it will be easier to march with her clarinet anyway. Goofball!
She is the Secretary in her Beehive class at church. I am still the YW Secretary, so it's fun working with her in that calling. She and I have been working together on Personal Progress for YW. I'm close to being done and able to receive my medallion, because I've been in YW for almost three years now. After I finish, I am going to keep working on it with her and earn my honor bee. The new program s amazing. I'm so glad it is available for these young women. It will help them with their spiritual growth and testimonies!
She's looking forward to summer, mostly because of Girls' Camp. I wish I could go up there with her...but with the baby it would not be fun, plus Steve can't take that much time off work. I'm secretly hoping that he and I can go up there for the bishopric night, but I'm not expecting it to actually happen. Becka is also excited for our trip to Utah/Idaho this year. She wants to look around BYU and BYU-I campuses, and can't wait for the water park. :)
Rachie is doing a lot better in school. She was struggling with her reading. Most of it is because she is the youngest in her class (she only made the cutoff for Kindergarten by two days), and she is easily distractable. That's my Rachie, lol! She is finally excited about reading and counting and such. She still says she hates school. According to her, the only good things about school are PE, library and recess. But, she's full of excitement every day when I pick her up.
She has been planning her birthday party now for about 2 months. She has about 4 different themes she wants and keeps going back and forth between them. I think it's funny, since her bday isn't even until the end of August. I wasn't planning on doing a friend party for her this year. For the past three years we have spent her birthday at Grandma's beach house, and adding a big party to that was just too much. I think if we go to the beach again this year, she will just be getting a family get together. I love planning parties, but sometimes it overwhelms me.
Hannah will be one this Saturday! I'm in denial. :) I can't believe it's already been a year! Why is it that pregnancy seems to last FOREVER, but then those sweet babies grow up super fast. Not fair! She's such a good baby. She is happy and friendly and just a lot of fun. Everything makes her smile, and the cutest thing ever is seeing her face light up when one of the older kids come into the room. I really thought she would be walking by now, but she doesn't seem to have any interest in it at all. All three of my kids were walking by this age, so it's weird to me to have one who isn't. That's ok though, she can stay little for as long as she wants. :) Plus, it helps my muscles from carrying her around.
Steve has been really busy with work, church and working on the wave runners. He's hardly ever around and if he is, he's in the garage trying to get those things ready for the summer. :) He and Jake are going on the Priesthood father/son campout this weekend and both of them are super excited about it. Jake can't wait for hiking, kickball and smores (I bought them some of those giant sized marshmallows to take along). Last year when they went, it poured the whole time and they were soaked. The tent flooded, sleeping bags were drenched. This time it looks like the weather will be a little bit better for them.
I'm busy with the kids, school volunteering, church and such. I'm kind of disappointed in myself. Since Hannah started solids, I have gained 25 of the 35 pounds that I lost after having her. I'm trying to be better about getting some exercise, and hopefully it will become easier, since we have been running with Jake several times a week to prep him for his soccer training. Hannah is finally old enough to ride in the bike trailer, so we are planning on getting back to our daily family bike rides once the weather gets better. This summer is going to be all about adventures and being outside as much as possible. I want to go somewhere new at least once a week this summer with the kids. I'm looking for fun nature trails, streams to splash in, other free fun activities. Anyone have any recommendations? Anyone wanna join us?
Rachie and I planted the garden together and I am excited to see how it does. So far the squirrels and bunny have left it alone, so I am hopeful. I am a bit nervous about the bunny though. He lives under the shed right next to the garden, and once my plants get bigger, I'm afraid he will think it's his own private buffet. Hopefully he will munch on other people's plants and only come home to sleep, lol!
I'll post some pictures later. Hannah's crib is in the office, so I don't get in there as often as I used to. My main computer time is when she's sleeping, and she doesn't sleep through it when someone is in there with her. Right now I'm on Steve's work laptop, so none of my pics are here.
Have a happy, wonderful day! Sorry for the long novel here, I will try and update more often. Now it's your turn! Go update your blog so I can read all about you and your family!!! Loves to everyone!