Playing Catch Up!

This will be a post to sort of catch up on everything ........ First Tanners baseball team finished 3rd in the season and 2nd in the tournament. Lets just say that we are glad that baseball is only once a year. Tanner played great through the whole season. He played all sorts of positions , he liked playing "any position that the coach put me in".We signed him up for football, so that will be starting here in a couple of weeks.

Tanner Hitting.

Liam (Tanners UFC buddy) & Tanner at Baseball
CONGRATULATIONS TANNER!!

We have been going to Water World on an average 2-3 times a week. Many of my friends and family think I am crazy with 4 kids, but actually it keeps my house cleaner and gives me a break to keep me sane. My kids are little fishes. This is the wave pool that we usually make base. Sometimes we venture to do some rides. Our day usually goes like this...... Make base at captain jacks waves, sunscreen up and play through a couple of wave sessions... make our way to calypso cove where the kids can do some kids slides and play in the water spouts, go on the colorado river ride ( I carry the tube and Jake, while Tanner is usually in charge of holding zachs hand so he doesn't run away), maybe stop at Wally world to do some more kid slides and water toys, and then back to the wave pool. By then Zach is usually ready for a nap, I feed Jake and the other 2 go play in the waves and I chill out getting a good tan. It is great for all of us.

Captain Jacks Wave pool.

Calypso Cove.

Jake is now 4 months old. He is very remenicent of Tanner. He is 26 1/2 inches long and weighs in at 17 1/2 lbs. I am having difficulty getting Jacks picture to post so I will do that later.

We also had a great time with Martha and Cami when they came out to visit. It is never long enough. The kids had such a great time playing with Cami. We also had a nice hour visit with Aunt Raenie when she had a layover here at DIA. I can't believe how big Dallin is. He is supposed to stay like Jake is.

It has been a while. This last weekend we has a Lewis Family Reunion up at Winter Park. We had a great time. It was great to see everyone. Yes, everyone. Chris and family "stopped" by on their way to Dallas (where they are moving). They timed that really well. Rob and his family were also there. It is amazing how big his girls are getting. It doesn't seem that long ago that they were Tanner and Jayla's age. Now they are 12 and 11. Jayla was so excited to have girls around. Usually she is totally out numbered, but not this time. We found a hidden "gem" in the YMCA of the Rockies/ Snow mountain Ranch. There was roller skating, swimming, basketball, ping pong, and volleyball. For all 30 some-odd of us the total bill was $5. Not for each fam, but for ALL of us. Which works out to be 30 something cents for each of us. That is a deal. We stayed at the Rocky Mountain Inn and Hostel. Bob had rented the whole place out. All I can say is that the idea of a hostel is really weird to me. Apparently it is a very European thing. It was a beautiful place, though. I believe everyone had a great time. I wanted to post some pics, but I am to retarded. Martha, HELP!! To Chris and Wendy .... it was so great to see you and your family!

This is a copy of the email that Jeri sent. I thought it was great....
DARRELL SCOTT TESTIMONY Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm? On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript: "Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart. "In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. "I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today: Your laws ignore our deepest needs, Your words are empty air. You've stripped away our heritage, You've outlawed simple prayer. Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die. You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question "Why?" You regulate restrictive laws, Through legislative creed. And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need! "Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. "Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. "As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes-He did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

Ok, so I am jumping on the Blog bandwagon along with Raenie and Martha (although Martha's is "closed"). It is just such a great idea so that people can see how we are doing and I don't have to feel bad for not emailing people better. I just post once and everyone can check it when they want. I wash my hands of it and it falls upon the rest of you.

Life has been busy. It is not because there are 4 of us now, mostly it's because of the ages. Baby Jake really doesn't do any thing but eat and lay there. He is a very good baby. He is a champ at getting packed around. His main mode of transportation ( besides mom driving him in the car) is the double jogging stroller that he shares with Zack.

Zack is 2 now and is really the reason for life being chaotic. He is very busy playing "Ball" any kind of ball, and ""pansformers" (transformers). He is the child that is right next to us one minute and lost the next because he found something more facinating. He is the performer in the family.

Jayla is the queen in training, of course. With all brothers what else would she be. She has daddy wrapped around her little finger. She is the second "mom". Repeating everything I say..... "ya, eat your salad. Its good for you." ........." ya, you better get to your room. You are in sooooo much trouble". She just finished soccer. We don't think that will be her sport. She hasn't figured out that she needs to go after the ball. She just has a great time racing down the field. She usually gives her opponent a few seconds head start and taunts them as she passes them..." I am faster than you are!!!" Maybe we will try track.

Tanner is our growing Little man. He is currently playing machine pitch baseball. He is a great hitter, catcher and thrower. We are working on his running. His legs are quite fast as he runs in place. He has no fear of anything and never gives up. He believes he can do anything. Oh, to have that confidence. When he grows up he wants to play for the Rockies and be the champion in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Chamionship http://www.ufc.com/). He thinks that Chuck Liddel is the best and even has Chucks hair cut. He has a little buddy named Liam and they both practice so they both can get in the UFC. They are not at all influenced by their fathers!!

Well that is it for now. As I figure out how to post pics and stuff I will, so check here frequently.
BLESS YOU ALL!