Quotes By Carson

Today Sadie and Carson were playing with bouncy balls, when Carson misplaced his. He looked at me and with the saddest voice ever said, "I don't have any balls."

If I can stop laughing long enough maybe I'll go rent a Chuck Norris video and buy some steaks. Apparently we've got to toughen this kid up!

How To Keep An 11 Year Old Busy

First you sign them up for swimming lessons twice a week. A good 40 minute workout does wonders for kids energy levels. It also helps to have them be the only one in the class, so the coach works them extra hard.

Have them make a video to present at their class hero night. Be impressed when they choose their older brother as their hero. Love looking at pictures of them together over the years, and try not to cry when you feel blessed with sons who truly love each other.

Have them dress up occasionally, and then escort their little sister in the princess pageant. Be grateful they are willing to sit for three hours on hard chairs to watch little girls dance, sing, play the piano and parade around in fancy dresses without complaining once.

Have them practicing for their own piano recital so they can play their piece from memory.

Cheer and clap when they win awards for attendance, math, language arts, presidential award, and the All American. Tell them it's alright to miss the science award by 1% since there isn't enough room on their walls for all the awards they've already received. Think it's cool when their classmates vote them "Most Likely To Succeed" and pray they are right!

Encourage them in their training for a mile race, making them run with you on Saturdays for extra practice. Don't yell too loud when they forget their jacket and are freezing on race day. Stand in the rain and yell encouragements no matter what time a freezing boy can run a mile in.

Make a costume for the re-enactment of the civil war and tease them they are a traitor as they march by with the confederate flag.

Be happy that he's growing his hair out since you don't have time to schedule a haircut anyway!

Congrats on your great year Hayden! Love you more!

Snyder May Top 20

Great events that happened in May to our family, in no particular order....

20. Carson finished his Tuesday play time he's done all school year with his good friend, Brent Stevens.

19. Todd started glider lessons...again. Hopefully this time he will finish.

18. We got a 65" tv. Good BIG things come to those who wait.

17. Nikki and Sara started their first softball season, one as assistant coach, one as player. One is scared of the ball and always will be.

16. All Snyder boys attended and had fun at the ward father/son campout.

15. Nikki attended the first planning meeting for her 20 year high school reunion. Go Bobcats!

14. We all celebrated the last day of school. The kids have had great teachers...Thank you Miss Larkin (Sadie AM), Miss Purser (Sadie PM), Mrs. Mikesell (Sadie ESL), Mrs. Dutson (Sara), Mr. Torrey (Hayden) and Mr. Robins (Austin/ Science).

13. Nikki organized a neighborhood yard sale and bake sale/fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. We raised $176 to donate towards the Relay For Life team! Go neighbors!

12. Todd, Hayden, Sara and Sadie made the first trip of the year (and Sadie's first ever) to Ferron. She loved seeing Grandma and Grandpa Snyder, the 4 wheelers, Grandma's box of jewelry and Grandpa sharing his beef jerky for the ride home.

11. Carson became a standing pee-er. Ask any mother of a little boy, this is a big day....which most aren't too excited about.

10. Todd and the kids planted the garden. We are anxiously awaiting raddishes, peas, potatoes, carrots, brocolli, lettuce, pumpkins and corn-on-the-cob.

9. We all celebrated Grandpa Reeder's 75 birthday! They took the entire family to dinner at Sizzler, since they were homeless :)

8. Austin got his first 4.0 report card!

7. Austin turned 13 and celebrated with a few buddies eating pizza and watching old Batman movies.

6. Austin, Hayden and Sara played in their yearly piano recital. We enjoy listening to them practice each day.

5. Sara and Sadie participated in the Nibley princess pagaent and were escorted by Austin and Hayden.

4. Hayden ran in a rainy, cold, wet Wellsville mile. He finished in 7 min 30 seconds--not his best time but nobody was doing their best in the yucky weather.

3. Nikki's parents moved out of the home she grew up in. Packing it up after 43 years takes a lot of boxes! They've moved in with us, to my children's delight! They iron, cook, clean, pull weeds, pick up kids, do laundry, buy our favorite soda....we are all enjoying them!

2. Soccer season ended for the girls. Sara had teams recruiting her fall season already.

1. Hayden earned his All American Award after memorizing the Gettysburg Address, the names of all US presidents, the states and capitals, the Preamble, the Pledge of Allegiance, taking a 100 question history quiz, writing a biography of a famous American and more!

Once Upon A Time...

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there lived two beautiful princesses in the land of Nibley. They filled their days with learning and fun. When the time for schooling had ended for the season, they bid their teachers and dear friends a fond farewell. They also won the praises of their soccer coaches...one for enduring her first season....
...and one for besting many of her opponents.

The princesses decided to expand their reign and entered the city pagaent. There was dancing...

...and music...and a grand time was had by all who sat in the hard chairs for over three hours watching the beautiful daughters of the land perform. They were escorted by their handsome brothers.

In the end, all received the title of princess. They were showered with flowers and given a beautiful crown to let everyone know of their nobility and greatness.

And if you were wondering if they loved their crowns...you should have seen them wearing them at breakfast the next morning (unfortunately the royal photographer forgot to take a picture.) And they continue to live happily ever after.

Sadie's Pink China Dress

I'll always remember the moments when I'd just delivered a baby and the nurse handed them to me for the first time. Looking at their little red faces and just taking them in for the very first moments of their lives. These seconds are engrained into my memory forever. Just as amazing as those moments were, seeing Sadie for the first time will always be a favorite memory of mine. In a small room, sweltering heat, filled with smiling and crying people I sat wondering if I'd recognize our girl when they brought her in. Maybe she'd look different, afterall we didn't know how old the pictures we'd seen of her really were. But then there she was, so tiny and dressed in the cutest pink dress I'd ever seen, running towards us. I will never, never forget that.
In the eight months she's been with us I've wanted to take some pictures of her in that pink dress. Finally, worried it might be getting too small we took some pictures at Grandma and Grandpa Reeder's home.

She definitely fills the dress out a little better. The hair-do is probably more my taste than hers. And as I look at these pictures, I cannot believe the things this child has learned in 8 months. The dress may still fit, but she has changed in ways I can't believe.

These are pictures I won't need, because the memory will always be better, but I'll enjoy looking at them all the same.

Spring Update

Spring has arrived, with it's tulips, daffodils, and new outside jobs. We've cleaned out the garage and mowed the lawn already, but wouldn't be surprised to wake up to snow. Cache Valley is beautiful, especially when it greens up, but it's fickle and likes to throw you a surprise now and then. Here's a run down of what we've been doing:

Todd: Finally got a new suit and shoes for church. This was looooooooong overdue. He's trying to start up running again to train for the TOU 1/2 marathon, but life often gets in the way of running time. My guess is he will get serious about it here shortly. He also has motorcycle fever and can often be found drooling over pictures on KSL.

Nikki: I have been in a cupcake baking frenzy for at least a month. I got a new cookbook for Christmas and am hosting bookclub. My neighbors have gained weight from our sharing. Maybe it's strategic so I'll run faster than them. I'm also trying to run and hit 5 miles this past weekend. My legs are threatening shin splints but what's running without an ache or pain. When I'm not running literally, I'm running kids or myself to some event. I'm currently helping with PTA, Heritage Days, 20 year high school reunion and Relay For Life. I'm overbooked and it's entirely my own fault. If the appraisal goes through, my parents are selling their home. I was raised in that home and lived there until I was married. I'm grateful that memories go with you and for all the good ones created in those rooms.

Austin got a note sent home from the school nurse telling us he needed an eye exam. He lasted longer than most kids in my family. We are give contacts a go later this week. He's busy with scouts and young mens, reluctantly camping out with friends and dad. He had his fourth laser treatment of the year and they are making great progress in lightening his birthmark. Austin REALLY wants a pet snake for his upcoming birthday. His dad REALLY hates snakes. I'm not sure if it will be a happy birthday or not yet....dad is still thinking.

Sadie started soccer...during her first game she ran more that half hour than she ever had. She scored 2 goals during her second game. They were more about being in the right place at the right time than skill, but I was cheering as if she were a pro! Her games are indoor and the walls create the out of bounds. We were a bit nervous about the 80 lb. kid on the opposing team, but he was so happy to be playing he scored all the points for both teams. It's also not uncommon for teammates to hold hands while running down the gym, leave the game during play for a drink break, or simply go sit by their parents for a little nap. It's my favorite entertainment all week. Her biggest thrill of the season so far was that her team received the blue colored shirts.
Hayden was accused of being a hippy by his Grandpa Snyder, and is loving the ability to see his own bangs and swishing them to the side. We are easily amused at our house. He was Albert Einstein for the school History Night. He looked great and we were happy to finally justify his large head with the 160 IQ.

Sara has also started soccer season and seems to be one of the few girls on her team who actually knows what they are supposed to be doing and has the ambition to try to do it. She's usually good for a goal each game and I am thrilled with her get-up-and-go. She listens and is usually in the right place at the right time.

Hayden, Sara, Sadie and Carson all participated in a fashion show. They were only involved with one set, but seemed to have fun. Carson was supposed to flex his muscles, but we preferred his deer-in-the-headlights smile at center stage. Sadie is excited to be participating in events the other kids have done that she's seen pictures of. She's experiencing the full Snyder year and it's fun to add her into the events we look forward to. As we all lay on the blanket at Sara's soccer game cheering for Sara, I couldn't help but smile at how she's one of us. She just doesn't look back and I'm thankful to be sharing my blanket with one more Snyder kid!

With talent like this (see below), you can see why they are recruited for Fashion Shows. Doesn't this just bring a tear to your eye.....yes, I'm talking of joy and pride!

Carson refuses to wear shorts even when it's close to 80 degrees. It might be a hot summer. He continues to keep us laughing with the great things that come out of the mouth of 3 year olds. When we were in St. George Todd ask him if he thought the temple was pretty. He thought about it for a minute and then replied "It sure is big!" He sounded like an 80 year old man shooting the breeze.

A few days ago Carson found ants by the sliding door. I sprayed them and as the last few were staggering around he yelled down at them "My mom killed your friends!" If the fumes didn't do them in, he was going to threaten them to death.

He's also the king of coloring and writing abc's. We continue watching and wondering if he's left handed--it seems to be more dominant, although he continues to switch back and forth.

So that's it....off we go, to piano recitals, princess pagents deadlines, Wellsville Mile training.....we are anything but bored!

St. George Spring Break

What we loved about Spring Break in St. George:

Todd: Eating at Five Guys and not having to work.

Nikki: Being with family and the Wise family, hiking, shopping, eating out, running in warmer weather.
Austin: Playing at the sand dunes in Snow Canyon.

Hayden: Everything! (especially climbing on the red rocks)

Sara: Seeing grandparents and Jesse and going swimming.

Sadie: Climbing on the big red rocks!

Carson: Seeing and sleeping at Grandma and Grandpa's and wrestling with the boys!