Special Chorus

Chase is a member of the 5th and 6th grade Special Chorus at Meadow Lane Elementary School. Each year, they go on a Christmas tour and sing at several locations including Crown Center. (If you're trying to locate him, he is on the top row in front of the last Christmas tree.)

Yep, he's officially taller than his dear, old mama! He's still gotta ways to go before catching up to his dad.

Here's the official picture of the 6th grade Special Chorus.

Gridiron Blues

Yesterday was the final game of the football season for the ONW Ravens. Chase hasn't been able to play since mid-September because of a fractured metatarsal. You can read all about it in the "Fractured!" post of 10-2-09. (I'm going to find out how to make a link that will take you directly there...stay tuned!) The 2009 ONW 6th Grade Ravens.

This was the last season they will play together. Next year, they can play for their school teams. So sad Chase was only able to play two games before being injured. He LOVES football!

These pictures were taken back in September.

The boys were hyped up before their first game.

Chase was voted team captain by the other players. He gets to go out on the field before the game for the coin toss and a pep talk from the ref.

First and 10.

In the huddle.

Man down!

Chase sustained a serious neck injury wrestling last winter and it's still a little tender.

Coach Lichtenaur comes out to take a look.

Coach Wohlford gives Chase a hand up

and back into the game he goes.

Chase (#50) blocking a pass. Great game, Ravens!!

Game over!

Season almost over...we just don't know it yet! :-( Chase will play just one more game with the Ravens.

This is my favorite picture from last season. It was taken last October. Can you tell how much Chase has grown since then?!?

Winter Quarters, Nebraska

The Indian Creek Ward had a youth temple trip to Winter Quarters today and Chris and I decided to accompany them. Winter Quarters is a beautiful temple with many unique stained glass windows portraying the history of the area.This was Chase's first time attending the temple and I was so glad to be there with him. (I have to tell you a funny story about this picture. Chase had changed into shorts and a hoodie for the bus ride home before Chris and I got to the visitor's center to tell him we wanted to take a picture so he put his shirt and tie on over his t-shirt and shorts to take this photo. That's why it's only from the waist up...khaki shorts and hairy legs below!)

There is a beautiful visitors center that tells the story of the great migration west and focuses on the time that the Saints spent here in the winter of 1846-47 after being driven out of Nauvoo, Illinois. Today when Chris and I walked in, we came upon Elder Dallin H. Oakes teaching the sister missionaries in the lobby! He and his wife were visiting his brother who is the temple president.

More that 600 people died during that winter. Most died of scurvy and malnutrition due to lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Many of those 600 who died were children under three years of age. This is a monument to the parents who had to bury so many of their little ones. Winter Quarters is a very special place that causes one to feel great respect and reverence for those early pioneers and all that they sacrificed in search of a place where they could worship in peace.

Go, Kart, Go!!

I took the kids to Sadler's Indoor Racing tonight to celebrate awesome parent-teacher conferences yesterday. Unfortunately, Chris was in Denver on business and couldn't join us. :-( Marissa and I were psyched! Chase was a little hesitant and didn't race with us the first time. We had such a blast that we went and kidnapped him from arcade and made him join us. He was really glad he did!!

Vroom, vroom, vroom!!!

During the first race, my initial lap around the course took a leisurely 2:08 minutes....my last lap, 43 seconds!!! It didn't take me long to get the hang of it! After each race, we recieved a printout of individual lap times and speeds. My top speed and fastest lap time came in the second race...26.9 mph and 40.89 seconds, respectively!!!

We love the head sock look!! (I think the fumes in the racing area were getting to us!)

Ima gonna beat you, brudda!!

Grrrrr....Bring it on!!!

Marissa got the booster seat because her legs were too short!

Ready to roll!

Safety check for race #2 for me and Marissa and race #1 for Chase.

There he goes! Having a fractured foot didn't stop him from putting the pedal to the metal!!

And Marissa comes around the bend...

I'm trying to pass Chase politely, seeing as how it was his first face and all, but the punk is using evasive maneuvers! Time to get aggressive!!

Fractured!!

Chase...I love the guy!! But you know what? He is always getting hurt in fluke accidents. Take last Friday, for instance: He was riding the bus home from school, leaning forward talking to the person in the seat in front of him. He had his right leg bent under his seat with the sole of his foot facing upward. The kid sitting behind him stepped on this foot. Chase screamed and cried...it HURT!!! When I saw him limping off the bus, I thought "What in the world have you done to yourself this time?!?" We took him home, elevated the foot, and applied an ice pack. (You can tell we've been through this before!) Naturally, Chase felt that he couldn't miss football practice that started in just one hour. He went to practice wearing a walking boot that we had from a prior accident. He also wore it to the game on Saturday. The pain wasn't easing up so I took him to the doctor's office after the game where they x-rayed Chase's foot and determined that he had a fractured metatarsal. Of all the luck!!! Who'd have thought? It seems that we can't get through an entire season of sports without getting hurt in some way! Needless to say, he'll be missing football for a couple more weeks.

Having a fractured metatarsal does have it's advantages though....like being able to use the electronic cart at Hy-Vee. Chase has always wanted try one of these out. It makes missing football almost worth it!

Birthday Treats

Chase has always loved to share birthday treats with his classmates. When he was in kindergarten, he chose cake-filled ice cream cones as his treat. When I asked him what he wanted to bring in 1st grade, he answered "Cake Cones!" and it has been the same ever since. The color of frosting and sprinkles might change but the treat remains the same. Well, Chase is in 6th grade this year and a long tradition comes to an end. I think I'll miss making those cake cones each year!

A Young Man Prepared

Chase turned twelve yesterday. As a young man who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that is a pretty big deal. Today, Chase received the Aaronic Priesthood and was confirmed to the office of a Deacon. As a Deacon, Chase will be able to pass the sacrament, go home teaching with his dad, and collect fast offerings. This is the beginning of a six-year journey that will prepare Chase for adulthood and the Melchizedek priesthood.

Each week, Chase will recite the "Purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood," which are:

1. Become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and live by its teachings.

2. Serve faithfully in priesthood callings, and fulfill responsibilities of priesthood offices.

3. Give meaningful service.

4. Prepare and live worthy to receive the Melchizedek priesthood and temple ordinances.

5. Prepare to serve an honorable full-time mission.

6. Obtain as much education as possible.

7. Prepare to become a worthy husband and father.

8. Give proper respect to women, girls, and children.

That's quite a list, isn't it? We are very proud of Chase and know that he will make great progress on this journey.

Here Chase is being welcomed to the Deacon's Quorum by it's president, Eli Molina. The Molina's have been our friends since our very first Sunday in the Kaw River Ward and we are so pleased that Chase and Eli will be working together in the Deacon's Quorum.

Happy, Happy Birthday, Children Dear!

I have two September babies. Mallorie was born on September 17th and Chase was born on September 5th. We've combined their family birthday parties since Chase was born. He didn't like it so much when he was little but now he thinks it's cool to have such a nice big sister to share a birthday party with!

I've always made fun cakes for the kids each year. Mal chose a surf board this year in honor of her upcoming move to Hawaii.

This is the first year Chase has chosen a "grown up" cake. I've made train, monster truck, football, dog, and rocket ship cakes in the past but not this year. I guess he really is growing up even though there are only twelve candles on that cake!

Marissa and Maddie chillin' before the party!

Marissa got Mallorie some cool purple shades for Hawaii. Tristan is such a doll baby! We love him! Mallorie cleverly put her gift for Chase in a Victoria's Secret bag! He normally wouldn't go near such a thing but the idea of a gift for him being inside wore down his resolve. Isabella was quite taken with Marvin.

We're lucky to have family nearby to help us celebrate!!