Catch-up!

Where does the time go?  I just seem to not be able to keep up on things?  Does anyone else ever feel that they are running around in circles?  Well, here are some "noteworthy" events at the Lloyd home...


Nathanael , as I have said before, has the "heart of an athlete".  He especially just loves soccer!  He has trained and played and worked extremely hard to try out for Lone Peak's soccer team.  Despite all his best efforts, the competition was incredible and he knew that they did not have enough goal keepers -so he tried out for goal keeper and made one of the Sophmore/Freshman teams.  Apparently, he is not too bad.  He does have a 6 foot "wing span".  I have to say that I have really admired his hard work!  He is a good example to me of "laying it all out on the line".  He gave it his all and hopefully this will be a good experience.  I know that goalie would not be something that I would ever want to do!  Nat also had a spring concert with his Men's Chorus and I thought that they did a great job!  It was enjoyable to listen to and I am so grateful that his group performed first- because I had to take Zachary out in the halls for the rest of the concert-he was just too loud!

Lindsay was just offered a spot on a AAA girls soccer team.  She is so excited because, of course, she wants to try out for the girls' soccer team at Lone Peak at the end of the summer.  This will help her in her quest to try to make a team.  She also has musical theater at school and they are performing "Willy Wonka"-I'm not sure exactly what it's called , but they had all the kids audition to see who would be mostly the singing Oompa-loompas and who would be the dancing Oompa-loompas.  Lindsay was put in the dancing group but also was one of nine kids chosen to be in the "featured dance group" (there are over one hundred).  She also tried out for Concert Singers next year for ninth grade and we were grateful that she made it with her friends (not that she can't sing-there are just sooo many!).  Lindsay also gets her braces off tomorrow and as you can imagine, she is thrilled! 

Ethan worked hard and just received his Arrow of Light which is the highest award that you can receive in cub scouts.  He also just attended his first merit badge round-up for First-aid and received his first merit badge!  One thing I forgot to mention last time I wrote was the fact that Ethan's Valentine box got awarded "Just loved it!".  His class had voted on five awards and Ethan's was the top award.  I think it is because a lot of the kids in his class like the Disney show, "Phineas and Ferb" and Ethan decorated his box to look like Perry the Platypus.  Ethan was also awarded the Eagle of the Month for "being a good citizen".  One thing about Ethan is that he really does personify that character trait.

Clarissa is busy reading the Harry Potter books!  She just loves to read and read and read!  She wants to finish them by the time we go on our vacation.  She just finished , "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", which just happens to be my favorite!

What do I say about Zachary?  He continues to learn and try my patience.  I think he is the one that will make me go gray!  He is awesome!  His favorite thing to do lately is to get dressed- but then he wants to wear a couple of Ethan's sports jerseys-at the same time.  They are so big that it looks like he is wearing a couple of odd dresses.  In his mind, he is wearing a uniform just like his siblings. 

My "moment of joy" from this last few weeks was when I was listening to Ethan and Clarissa play "wizard's chess" with Harry Potter Legos and a five dollar chess set.  As a mom, it is fun for me to see how creative they can be!

Moments of Satisfaction

I cannot believe how fast time goes!  Here are some "notes" from the last two weeks at the Lloyd's home...
Nathanael is training hard to try out for the high school soccer team.  If he does not make it, at least he gave it his all.  He had to speak in church yesterday.  I went downstairs to edit his talk and make sure that his topic that he was given (living worthily) came through.  I thought that I would have to add a few things, etc.  Instead, I was completely impressed with what he had to say and did not change a thing.  He used scriptures, examples, and other church approved materials and it was solid!  It was such a satisfying moment to sit there and realize that he had written his talk completely on his own and that it was great!
Lindsay has been very physically active lately.  She has been participating in Futsal Academy, playing indoor soccer, and doing a little strength training.  She also has been playing basketball on the young women's basketball team.  Travis said that she never played better than she did last Saturday.  She is really turning into quite the athlete.  At school, she is in musical theater and was chosen to be in the "featured" dance group.  She was very pleased and honored.  It was a nice moment of satisfaction to see her so excited and feel good about herself.
Ethan just turned 11 years old!  We had a Harry Potter birthday party of course.  The party was a big hit and the boys all had a great time!  Ethan's grandma Jan could not come to the family party and so she called him to wish him a "happy birthday" and find out how his parties went.  Ethan told her about the activities and then he thanked her for the birthday present she gave him without being prompted.  It was very satisfying to see him be appreciative without me reminding him.

Clarissa is really enjoying school lately.  She has a great teacher that gets how creative and imaginative she is.  Clarissa was given "The Eagle of the Month" award for the character trait "respect".  Her teacher said that she could think of no one else who deserved it more.  It was a great moment of satisfaction to have her recognized for showing respect to her teacher and her classmates. 
Zachary continues to learn and grow and turn more and more into a little boy each day. It was very satisfying to help Zac say his first little prayer. 
My "moment of joy" was also very satisfying.  Lindsay had invited her girlfriends over for a Valentine party.  She chose the activities that they would do that night and made up a schedule.  One of the activities was to go give a couple of widows in our ward a "heart attack".  She had all her friends cut out hearts and say kind things on them.  Then they went and taped them to their doors.  It was very thoughtful for her to think of these sisters and show a little kindness. 
The last couple of weeks have been really good at our house and I am trying to really appreciate these moments and these times and hopefully will remember them when we have "teenage moments" or toddler tantrums or disappointments.  I am grateful for the people that my children are becoming a I pray that they will continue make good choices. 
Cathy