Halloween 2009

Well this year was pretty quiet for Ted and myself. Easton being in 8th grade is too big to trick-or-treat. He stayed home and handed out candy before going with this friends to a party that night. Holden went trick-or-treating with a group of friends so it was just Kinley that we took around. Now Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I remember as a kid thinking what a waste of time having to go around and get candy. It was too cold getting in and out of the car 100 times. In Ted's old age he isn't much better than I am about it. We took Kinley to grandma & grandpa Richard's house, grandma greats, a couple of aunt and uncles and three neighbors. Thanks to the Earls stocking her bucket with about 15 full size candy bars, she was done after that. She was ready to go home. So I belive by 7:00 p.m. she was changed out of her costume and in her pajamas for the night. Holden and I watched a scary movie (while I edited pictures)and Ted went and played cards. No big parties but a pretty relaxing Halloween. Here is a picture of Kinley in her SPIDER WITCH Costume. She had a great black wig, but after wearing it for five minutes, decided that it was too itchy. Holden left with his friends before I got a picture of him so I told him that he has to dress back up tonight so that I can get his pic.

Easton's First Deer

This year was the first year for Easton to hunt deer. He was so excited for the opening weekend and for deer camp. After the first weekend of not findng anything, they brought the trailer home and decided to try their luck of just going around the family property to see what they could find. After multiple days of spotting they never had a good shot at anything. The very last night of the hunt Ted and Easton decided to give it one final try. Easton ended up with this 3x3. He was pretty excited getting his first deer. Grandpa Richards even told him that his picture gets to go up on the "hunting" wall in his deer. Good job Easton. Next comes the Pheasant Hunt on Saturday. Holden also gets to hunt on this one. Ted took both of the boys up on Rigby Ranch yesterday and bought them each a couple of pheasants to practice with. They both did great. Holden had one flying right at him that he brought down and had to move out of the way before it hit him. All of the boys (Ted, Easton & Holden) love this time of year.

Emotion

So Holden is our child that rarely shows emotion. He could make the winning touchdown of a football game or sack a quarterback five times in a game and all he will be able to think about at the end of the day is how he could have done better and what he will do better for the next game. In wrestling win or lose you won't see Holden show much emotion. If he wins he will graciously shake his opponent's hand. If he loses, he will still shake his opponent's hand and then find a corner somewhere to sit and think about what went wrong. So when his team won their first playoff game against a first place team, I saw Holden show EMOTION!!!!! He ran off the field into his coach's arms. It actually brought tears to my eyes. This kid is too hard on himself. He expects to be perfect in everything that he does. It's on ongoing process to try and help this kid just be happy in doing his best.

Update

Well now that it's been almost three months since I have posted an update, I guess it's time. Life at the Richards House has been slightly crazy. We started football the first week of August. With Easton and Holden both playing and Ted coaching Easton's team it makes for not a lot of spare time. The boys both had great seasons. Easton's team didn't make the play-offs. We had their banquest last Wednesday. It was a great night. Lots of crying boys sad to see this part of their lives end. They are an amazing group of boys and it has been so much fun seeing them grow up together the past six years. Holden's team made it to the second week of play-offs (which was yesterday). They ended their regular season 5-1. They won their first playoff game 6-0 upsetting a first place team. They lost their game yesterday 14-6 against Kaysville. They played great though. They had amazing coaches this year. Coach Paul is truly one of Holden's heroes.

Kinley started Kindergarten this year. She loves school and Mrs. Baker. She has learned so much already. It's fun to see her grow up so much. She is dancing three days a week with Dance Factory. She is taking the tap, jazz, ballet class and cheer and gymnastics. She is also clogging with Jett again this year. She asked me the other day what her last name would be if she married Jett. So I told her that her name would be Kinley Morgan Roche. She said that she loved the way that sounded so she would plan on marrying Jett. Sorry Jett, but I believe your life has been decided for you already at the age of 5. Although the "dramas" of Kinley's life are a little much to take sometimes, I couldn't imagine our house without her. Her world consists of singing and dancing. I do believe she hears music in her head 24/7.

Ted's been busy taking pictures non-stop. I don't believe he has had a Saturday without pictures since the first of August. He's also tried to squeeze in three or four sessions during the week also. So between pics and football it has been a crazy few months. It will be nice to have a couple of weeks off before Jr. High Wrestling starts.

All in all, life's good. Even though I hate the cold weather that is on it's way, I do love some things about fall. I love sweaters, levis and boots. I love spiced apple cider. I love snuggling on the couch in a blanket reading a good book. I love the fall colors. I love fall decorations and I love the holidays that are coming up.

Kinley and T-Ball

This was Kinley's first year playing a sport. We cried through the first game, but by the second game we were starting to really come around. I'm not going to say that she ever loved it, but the treats and drinks after usually was the highlight of her game. She had improved by the end of the season and wasn't nearly as timid out there on the field. She may never play again, but that's okay with me.

Yellowstone and Kinley's Birthday

We decided that for our family vacation this year we would go to Island Park and Yellowstone. The last time we had been there was when I was pregnant with Kinley (5 years ago). With the boys schedules, the best time for us to go was during Kinley's birthday. We stayed at the family cabin in Island Park for four days. We had a lot of fun seeing Mesa Falls, Old Faithful and Big Springs. We also floated down Box Canyon (thanks Susie and Jeff). The boys got a round of golf in and Kinley and I chilled at the cabin and watched a couple of movies. We had a good time and Kinley loved spending her birthday with the chipmunks. It's hard to believe she's five years old and will be starting school next month. She keeps us on our toes. She is all girl through and through. She spends her days making up dances and cheers and then has to perform for all of us. Happy Birthday again Kinley. We love ya!

Waiting for Old Faithful to errupt.

Lower Mesa Falls

Going into the park.Stink Pots (this was Kinley's favorite things)

Opening presents. This is her "I got what I asked for" face.

We met up with Aunt Susie and Uncle Jeff and shared Kinley's birthday cake.Hopefully it's not five years before our next trip here.

Baseball in Montpelier

Holden's baseball team finished their season last week by playing in the Montpelier Tournament. They had a rough start, but ended up winning the Tournament in their group. They did a great job and stayed a class act all season long. Brad and Goose Theurer do a great job coaching these boys. While I'm sad that baseball is over, it also means that football is just right around the corner (10 days to be exact) which is our first love here in the Richards Family. Good job this season Holden. We are proud of you.

I think that this is when Holden got his ground rule double (I think that's what it's called). The ball diamonds at Montpelier were kind of crappy for this.

Sliding into home. And yes he was safe.Stealing home.Holden and his 1st place trophy

The Bear River Bears 10u team.

4th of July

We had a great weekend in Richfield for the 4th of July. Ted and the boys golfed I think three times while we were there. We did a two mile hike in Capital Reef. Kinley was a trooper. She didn't complain once. Thank goodness for her walking stick and grandpa supplying her with water constantly. I don't have many pics of Easton & Holden because they were about a 1/2 mile ahead of me at all times. It was also time for a new Summers pic to be taken. Hopefully we are good for a couple of years now.

We also had the opportunity to go to the Fleetwood Mac concert with my mom and dad. It was a lot of fun. Loved Stevie Nicks.

Catching Up

Well, since it's been over a month since I've updated here's a quick run down of what we've been up to. May was a crazy month between baseball games, the end of school, dance review and preschool graduation. Kinley loved dancing for Dance Factory. She especially enjoyed clogging with her partner Jhett. She's already asking when it starts next year.

Kinley absolutely loved preschool with Ms. Nicole. She was nervous when school first started, but it didn't last long.

Ted was also gone for a week fishing in Lake Powell for their annual trip.

The girls (mom, sisters and little girls) enjoyed a great weekend in St. George. We just layed by the pool and relaxed. It was perfect weather and we all had a great time.

This pic was taken during Holden's baseball game a couple of weeks ago. Crazy girl loves posing for pictures. I love that it wasn't planned at all. She kept bugging me to take her picture while I was trying to focus on Holden's team. Sometimes the best pics come when you aren't trying. The last picture hasn't been touched up. That is really the color of her eyes.