Boys Will Always Be Boys!

Grant's buddy Jordan has this fun little motorcycle and brought it out to the house so they could ride it around our yard.  It of course was an instant hit!  They have even parked it here so they boys had a place to ride it.  They scare me just watching them as they both act as if they are on motocross sports teams...but they love it.  Just as long as they never get a bigger one and head out on the streets. 

Steve taking a turn.  Like I said  Boys will always be boys! 

Our Soccer Boy

Grant is a great little soccer player and he loves the game!  He is lucky enough to be on a team with his buddies Jordan and Adam. It feels a little like we are traveling back in time as we sit and watch him play.  I see so much of Tyler in the way he plays and his mannerisms.  It is just as fun the second time around! Well, the third time around as Blake played to.  :)



I LOVE this picture...This is the face for "Are you KIDDING me...
I missed that shot?!!) 



So focused!

Grant and his buddy Jordan moving the ball down field.

The Next Olympian!!

Grant has loved taking ski lessons and he seems to have no fear.  It is fun for me to see my two boys out skiing together.

 

Grant taking the lead.
This is the ski hill they built for the 1988 Olympics
held in Calgary and where the movie "Cool Runnings" was filmed)



Love these boys!

Puzzle Time

One of our Christmas traditions is to have a family puzzle going.  Everyone (but me) enjoys spending time working on it.  Well, Grant saw this puzzle and wanted it soooo bad.  I was happy to let him pick out this years puzzle.  However, I didn't think about the fact that the kids were not coming home this year (it was (their in-laws year) this puzzle was a HARD 1000 piece puzzle. Grant would be be swayed into buying an easier puzzle and saving this one until next year.  So...it took a couple of months but here is the finished project!

Grant putting the LAST piece in!

The masterpiece.

I have to admit that it drove me crazy to have the mess out for two months but It is a great memory for my little guy.

From Grant to Blake :)

Dear Blakey bo bakey fee fi fo fakey:
Is your companion okay? I hope one of your companions doesn’t kick the soccer ball in your head so you lose your memory.

Uhm, we are going to do the sledding races again next year. Do you want to try it with us?

Let’s see. How are you doing? What’s your favorite animal that you have seen so far? My favorite animal that I have not see so far is a cobra.

This week at school we painted a polar bear out of water paint. Yesterday me and dad went on a bike ride. The weather is really sunny and warm here now.

Tonight we are having some families over. We are having desert – ice cream and cookies, and for dinner we are having tacos.

My friend Bruin came over and we built my Hero Factory (a lego project). It is a scorpion and it is really cool. I will see if Cam can send a picture. It took 30 pages to build.

Love,
Grant

P.S. The ground hog saw his shadow. That means there is 6 more weeks of winter, but it doesn’t feel like winter.

It's Great To Be Eight!

Grant is in class with a whole classroom full of boys!  How delighted we were to see his primary class when we moved to Calgary.  Last week they had a wonderful program for the boys who are getting ready to be baptized this year.   Can you imagine these boys at 16?!



I love this picture of these darling boys. 
They are full of energy and good to the bone!



Blue Star

Norque Ski Resort near Banff  holds a cardboard sled race every year for fun.  The YM in our ward entered the race last year and we went to watch.  Grant loved it and wanted to participate in the race this year.  Camille and one of her friends Jordan and Grant all worked to build this sled.  Grant named it and we just prayed that it would even move at all down the hill.  He recruited his buddy Jordan to ride down with him. 

Grant and Jordan before the race.

 The boys got a ton of attention because they were the youngest contestants and had the cutest sled!  :)

The local newspaper taking pictures of the boys...
Yep, they were in the Banff Paper.

The YM and Grant and Jordan

Steve with the boys. 
I am sure that if Steve could have fit in the sled
he would have gone down with them.

Getting their award

In the first race the boys started out great but then the sled turned and they rolled it.   The last race was called the free for all and all of the sleds (about 20) raced at the same time.  It was stunning to see the Blue Star shoot out of the gate and win the race.  They were going so FAST that I was a bit worried about them.  They finally came to a stop after running into a makeshift fence.  The crowd cheered the boys on and they got the biggest reaction at the awards ceremony.  Steve and I laughed about it the whole way home.  Grant is ready to start making the sled for next year!

Readers Theater "The Night Before Christmas" 12/2011

Grant Preformed a Readers Theater at school right before Chrsitmas.  All of the Grade 2ers (as Grant calls them) preformed for their parents.  The music teacher always does a fablous job. Grant loves to sing and we love to watch him! 

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS!!

School Parade and Trick or Treat!

Grant had a fun day at school with Halloween parties and a fun parade.  I went to the school to see all of the darling customs.  Some people are so creative!  Thank heavens for me, Grant wanted to be a "football player" AGAIN! :)  



Grant and his class



The parade

This is not a very good picture but what a darling costume.
A fire with a marshmallow.

Grant coming back from trick or treating!
He said that was his Santa bag.

NO one needs this much cAnDy!!

Heritage Park Field Trip

I was lucky enough to WIN the draw ( I am totally serious) of all the parents that wanted to go on the field trip with the kids to Heritage Park. I was really impressed with what a great learning experience it was.  It was all about the settlers in Canada and how they settled this area.  I would compare it to Nauvoo.  It really was excellent and a wonderful learning experience for the kids.  I was glad I was able to go. 

This was the old time classroom.
 The teacher taught the kids about how
they did things back then.

I love this picture.  it looks like a scene out of
Little House on the Prairie.

This was funny.
 The teacher drew a circle on the chalkboard and had
Grant come and show the kids how the teacher
 use to discipline the kids by having them
 put their nose to the chalkboard.
 They thought that was so funny! 
Even I remember having to do that.  I
 guess I was not always perfect like I am now!  Ha    

Teaching the kids how to write with the ink pins of yesteryear.
(is that a word?)

These horses were so big and beautiful! 

A sod house.  Can you even imagine living in a house of dirt? 
The kids were fascinated by this house.

Here they are showing the kids how to make bread
with the tools they had back then. 
Grant and I had a really great day together.

Personal Success Award

That's my boy!  Grant received an award at school for being a curious and enthusiastic learner.  I love it when these kids are spotlighted because they are so proud of themselves.  Grant loves to learn and discover new things.

Grant and his best buddy Jordon who also got an award.

As his award said....Bravo Grant!

Calgary Zoo with Grant 7-2011

Grant has been so interested in animals lately and has loved learning about them. 

 We decided to take a day and go exploring at the Zoo.

Brave Grant

Grant got a kick out of this guy!
 He sure played to the people at the Zoo.   

So the funny story of the day...When we saw this guy, Grant says, "Mom,
look a baby hippo!"  I said , "Grant, that is a Pot Bellied Pig!"
 He had never seen one before.  We have laughed and laughed over that!! 

We were both loved watching this talented wood carver
 making these masterpieces with his chain saw.

Grant the Penguin!



We had a great day at the Zoo and a great day together.
  We ended the day sharing a burger and shake from Peter's!

Move Over David Beckham!

Grant LOVES soccer and was thrilled when soccer finally started and he could play.  They have a much more casual approach to soccer here (Hockey however is like football in Texas) But he is on a good team with great coaches...My friend Tammy took these pictures and I love the first one. 

Grant in action.



The celebration fist!



This pictures makes me laugh...
I am sure ALL of my kids can relate to this picture...
Dad giving them instruction before they go back in. 
You would think that Steve had played professional ....
soccer, baseball, football...you name it! ;)





Look at that form...



Grant and his buddy Jordan.  I think we will see this
 photo duplicated over the years.
  They are both sports fanatics!




Grant's team.  He was mortified in the beginning that he had girls on his team
 but he has come to terms with it. 
One of them is better than most of the boys...
You go girls!

Thanks for the pictures Tammy!!