Self-Portraits/my job that I love

I've been taking this fabulous photography class that is taking us through the basics of our digital camaras. (I have time to take it!!! That alone is huge!) Anyway, our first assignment was to take a self-portrait following some of the things that she taught us. She wanted it to tell something about ourselves, so I decided to take it at my job. I love my job and it says a lot about who I am because I love children and working with children.

Here they are.

Missing Video

Classic Ethan...the monster!!

First just a picture that we took on the playground. Ethan is climbing through a tube. It's classic!

Then, enjoy this video. We watched Monsters, Inc today and I must have rewinded the beginning 5 times because of these. He's such a funny kid!

Posting picture for Debbie ;)

Here is the latest. I was gently lovingly scolded for not updating. These pictures were taken at my husband's soccor game. He lost! but the kids had fun! I'm going to get to take an Enrichment photography class.

Ethan's Latest Pics

Could it be that this could has absolutely no fear? Most are aware that his dad is a paintball enthusiast and that his mother is very musically inclined. But, would anyone have guessed that he would turn out like this...

Future Acoustic or Electric player? And yes, he was strumming it on his own.

Mommy will be mad that this photo made it in here. But, that is what happens when daddy handles the latest Ethan post.

Little Leprechaun.

Guitar Hero.

Jason Receives Scoutmaster Award of Merit

On March 12, 2009, Jason was privileged to receive a very special award. Two years previously, Jason had been called to serve as the Varsity Coach in our ward. A calling that required knowledge he did not have. He jumped into it head first; not really knowing what he was getting himself into (sounds about typical). He gradually learned his duties and began to turn the program around. During that time, he re-engaged the boys in high adventure type activities as well as their Duty to God advancement. His dedication to learning his position and the skills necessary led him to be the first Varsity Coach to become fully trained and even receive a full-paid opportunity to go to Wood Badge (Advanced Scouting Leadership Training) in the late summer of 2008.

Consequently, his service did not go unseen. He was nominated by one of his peers (unbeknownst to him) and then endorsed by the Varsity Team Captain and Team Committee Chair. That resulted in his nomination being sent to the National Office in Texas to be confirmed. In the process, National had to verify information regarding the award that Jason was nominated for. A Varsity Coach being nominated for this award had never been done before. So, it caused additional questions to fly. The more National learned about Jason's dedication and service, the easier it became to finalize out the award.

As a result, Jason Lopez was awarded "the Scoutmaster Award of Merit for service with enthusiasm, wisdom, experience, and understanding resulting in a dynamic Boy Scout Troop operation." While Jason was not leading a Boy Scout Troop at the time of his nomination, we was called as Scoutmaster and released as Varsity Coach in December of 2008. Jason now serves as Scoutmaster for Troop 566 continuing the progress he began as Varsity Coach. In the top picture, Jason has received his citation from the Senior District Executive, Nat Baker, Crossroads of America Council.

Ethan "loves" the cat!

I had to post this because I thought my mom would get a kick out of it. She likes to tell a story about how she was trying to get a friend of hers to take in a kitten we had because I was not very good to it. I "loved" it a little too much. Well, as the friend was explaining that she couldn't take another animal I apparently came around the corner carrying said kitten with my hands around it's neck. The friend took the kitten. Well, mom, here's the mother's curse!

Precious Prayer...

Ethan is really into kneeling to pray with us for our family prayers. Now he folds his little hands and talks like he's praying. It's precious!! Here's a picture I snapped...

SNOW!!!

I thought I would post this picture on the blog for you all to see. We had a snow day last week and I opened my garage to this. I swear it's a foot of snow on the vehicles!!

Jason's Newest Opportunity

Recently, Jason was serving as the Varsity Coach in our ward. He had been in that position for almost two years. A couple of weeks ago, he was released from that calling. However, the Bishopric member that came to see us handed us some treats as he led into his real reason for visiting. He looked at Sarah and said that he had a calling to issue. Then he turned to Jason. Jason knew that it had something to do with scouting again as he was a part of numerous discussions about what should be done. Not to mention that Jason has been very active at the district level of scouting that it was bound to happen sooner or later. So, the calling was issued and now Jason is the new Scoutmaster for our ward.

But, that was not all, not long after being called and sustained as the Scoutmaster, Jason was talking to the scout office about his Wood Badge training ticket (a series of tasks that puts into practice the training he received at Wood Badge as a large project to receive his Wood Badge award). He knows most of the immediate district executives that he has to interact with and knows them even down to their cell phone numbers. But, this one he was talking to was very open when he asked Jason to serve on the district level as the District Varsity Roundtable Commissioner. It took Jason by surprise. He knew that he enjoyed scouting a great deal. But to serve as a volunteer that high in the district at first seemed overwhelming for him. Sarah and Jason discussed it quite a bit as Jason is looking to return to school in the fall for his masters degree. So it had to be clear how this would impact that particular plan. After much prayer, discussion and fasting, Jason accepted the opportunity to serve as the District Varsity Roundtable Commissioner. This will put him as the top person (almost) in the district with regard to the Varsity Scouting program. It's a little know program mostly used by LDS units. But, other troops have looked into the Varsity program in order to expand their own units and provide opportunities to their boys.

So, Jason begins his service on the district level effective immediately and has a great task ahead of him. Being the most knowledgeable in the district of the program, he has a great deal of teaching and direction to provide and a great work to accomplish. He will do well. It's hard to picture Jason with a failing attitude at anything he does.

Our little comedian

Tell me this isn't adorable and yet annoying at the same time!