Update

I'm just going to sum up what's been happening with our family since the end of January. The boys chose to do Spring Wrestling (Freestyle & Greco). This was our first time doing this. It was a lot of fun watching them learn so much more. Easton just did the first of the season and Holden went to the end. Holden ended up taking 1st place in State in Greco and 2nd place in State in Freestyle.

Easton decided to run for Student Council this Spring. He ended up being elected 9th Grade Vice President. He is really looking forward to next year and being a freshman.

Ted & I took a much needed vacation in March and headed to Puerto Vallarta with my sister Tandy and her husband Mel. We had so much fun. This was a great way to spend our belated 15th Anniversary. We can't wait to go back again.

Ted and his dad and brothers took a short trip up to Island Park to do a little snowmobiling in February. This was the first time they had gone up there together. They had a lot of fun.

Kinley had alot of fun with dancing this year. She competed a couple of times with their clogging group (they took 1st place in Idaho) and also with her cheer group (also took 1st place in the competition in May). The dance review was alot of fun, but by the time we got hair done and everything ready I had forgotten my camera.

We had a great and busy spring and now we are looking forward to a relaxing couple of months this summer. That is until Monday when football for Easton starts.

And last, but certainly not least, new family pics.

State Wrestling

So this is my chance to be a proud mama and brag for just a little bit. Not just on my own kids, but on the whole Bear River Junior High Wrestling team. We had a great wrestling year and took 28 kids with us to state over the weekend. Last year we took 21 wrestlers with us to state and we placed 13th out of 15 teams in 3A State. This year we placed 5th in 3A and 8th overall (1A/2A/3A) out of 37 teams. In just the Middle School Division (5th & 6th graders) we placed 3rd. Out of the 28 wrestlers that we took to state, 14 of them medaled. This is a great improvement for our wrestling program. Ted is so excited for the future of Bear River Wrestling. He is a great coach for these kids. Matt, Reed and Shawn also do a great job coaching these boys.

Now for my boys. Easton did a great job this year. He had about 20 kids in his bracket at 86 lbs. and placed 5th. He lost his first round so he fought hard to make it back into the running. I believe he had a total of 7 matches.

Holden had 16 kids in his bracket at 65 lbs. He is the State Champ! He was so excited. After the championship round as soon as he had shaken the opposite coaches hand he went running to his dad and jumped into his arms. Now, if you know Holden you know that he doesn't show a lot of emotion. I think he had half of us Bear River fans in the stands in tears. It was an exciting match.

I'm so proud of my boys and the determination they have and the hard work that they put into this sport. It's not an easy one. To have to be out on that mat by yourself cannot be easy. Good job boys and I love ya!!!!

These are our two state champs. Holden at 65 lbs and Ridge at 108 lbs. If I get a chance I am going to steal this kid and make him our own. Also three out of our four coaches. Reed Cutler, Ted and Matt Cutler. Shawn Judkins is the other coach.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Wrestling

THANKSGIVING

Well here is a major catch-up of the past couple of months. We spent Thanksgiving with my family in Richfield. We were all there this year. We did a little shopping and the boys spent most of the time shooting skeet.

This is our pic that we used for our Christmas card.
The kids table. Randi did a great job on all of the table decorations.
Easton shooting skeet.
Holden shooting skeet.
This was the other favorite past time. Napping while watching football.

WRESTLING



I haven't taken many wrestling pics this season. Since Ted is the coach for the Jr. High wrestling I am usually keeping score and helping him out. This pic is from the Mountain Crest Duals. Our team did really good. Easton finished the day 3 - 2. Holden went undefeated and received a medal. They are both having a great season. We have one month left before State and then we go right into Freestyle Wrestling. Even though life is crazy wrestling 5 days a week, I wouldn't trade it for anything. It is probably my least favorite sport to watch though. I get a little stressed watching them out there all on their own.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Our Christmas Tree

Kinley's Christmas PJ's.
Holden's Christmas PJ's.
Easton's Christmas PJ's.
I'm sure like just about everyone else, we get to open PJ's on Christmas Eve. This is a tradition that my mom and dad did for us as far back as I can remember. My kids love opening their pajamas on Christmas Eve. The next morning the kids had a great Christmas. The boys got their flat screen TV for their room they had been wanting. We also surprised them with Ipods. Kinley got a karaoke machine, new baby doll and rescue pet from Santa. She was so excited for everything this year. She kept telling us that this was her BEST Christmas ever! She kept saying thank you over and over and over. One of the biggest hits was their "Year In Review" scrapbooks that I had made for each of them. All of the kids loved them. We went to Ted's parents for breakfast and then came home, packed and headed to Richfield for a few days. Sorry about the poor quality of the Christmas pics. It was me taking them and not Ted.

TUBING AND SLEDDING

Tandy & RadisynHow many people can you fit on one sled? Apparently 5.

Mel & Kinley

Once sledding became to mundane, we had to try snowboard/sledding. Yes this is me.
(Back Row)Dad, Randi, Berkley, (Middle Row) Tandy, Mom, Calli, Ted, (Front Row) Mel, Kinley, Radisyn, Easton & Holden

We had a great holiday. Lots of fun, family and food. We still have a few days off until it's back to work and school. I think we are all starting to get ready for our schedule and routine to get back to normal. It has been nice to just sit around and watch movies and play games with the kids. We don't get a chance with their busy schedules to do much of that.

So with that, we'll say goodbye to 2009. It was a pretty good year and say hello to 2010. Let's hope this year is even better. We wish you all good health and happiness.

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.