Utah Summer Games-2009

Back from the summer games in Cedar City. What a great four days! Ellie's U9 soccer team competed in the highest U10 bracket. They surprised alot of the teams and actually took first in the bracket. Unfortunately, they lost in the semi finals but did play in the bronze medal game and grab that. We are so proud of her!

An overnight trip to Las Vegas topped off our trip as we feasted on Alaskan king crab, sushi and creme brulee. Ellie of course, wore her medal everywhere!

Let Summer Begin!

Another school year over and summer is here! Ben graduated last wednesday from kindergarten. He looked very "handsome" in his white shirt and tie. This was Mr. Garcia's last year teaching at OPA so it was very emotional for him and the children. Not very many dry eyes in the room- especially Mr. Garcia himself.

Ben continues to rehab from his broken clavicle. That consists of playing "Red Rover, Red Rover" at Ellie's soccer team picnic, dancing around and doing tricks on a trampoline- and Scott and I wonder why it has slipped and had to take him to an pediatric orthopedic specialist-LOL.

Ellie received a Presidential Academic Award at school. We are so proud! Thank you Mrs. VanPatten!

Ellie made one of the LaRoca U10 girl soccer teams. She was very nervous at tryouts Tuesday and Thursday, but Scott and I had no doubts. Now it's off to the Utah Summer Games next week!

Catch Up Time

I can't believe that I haven't posted in many, many months! Everything is in full swing of course. Run down:
Len- Soccer, working (too much!)
Scott-Soccer, working, collecting dyer's woad for Ellie's soccer fundraiser.
Ellie- Switch to LaRoca FC. The team is dominating their division. Has sung a solo at her choir concert. Pass end of level testing and going into 5th grade- had no doubts!
Ben-Started karate- got yellow belt and began sparing- Unfortunately Ellie body checked him last Saturday and broke his collar bone. Ben refers to it as his clavicle bone. No more karate, soccer and T-ball...Graduates from Kindergarten on Wed(5/27).

That's it for now!

2008

WOW! 2008 came and went... just some memories to share:
Highs
*Vacations- Disneyland/ Las Vegas/ Yellowstone
* Len finished school and passed the Registered Nurse Licensing Exam- 1st try!
* Soccer
* New Job in the Main OR- Len
* Joined Facebook and found many friends from the past!
* Mormon Pioneer Trek
* Len started the Putnam Family Blog- thanks Brett N!

Lows
* Granny Great- Scott's grandma past away
* Len's Dad started kidney dialysis

Funny
*Ben's school card fiasco- call-girl style cards and kindergartners

Harrison FC: The First Session

After 8 weeks at the top, Harrison FC fell in the first round of the session's playoffs. For the entire session, our tough defense, ball control and hard kicks carried our team to victory every friday. Scott was excellent in the goal- especially because that was the first time he has played goalkeeper for the entire session. Combined with our most excellent defense, we had the least amount of goals scored against our team. On the other end, we also scored the most goals out of all the teams.

Play-offs were another story. We lost both rounds in very similar fashions. We lead for most of the game and then lost control the last few minutes. Oh well- the Nike contract will just have to wait.

2nd Week of December

This week in a nut shell: worked, called in sick, missed women soccer game, shopped- did not find anything, worked, party with Tolls and Chatlains- Scott won $36.00, played in two late soccer games-lost both.
This week's high- Ellie's soccer team won their game in a "shoot out" 2-0. They placed third in the session. I have also discovered the convenience of shopping on line! I know I'm a little behind the times- but better late than never. I can't believe how many deals there are out there in the cyber world and I can shop for them all at the convenience of my own home- while even playing Boom Blox on the Wii with Scott.
This week's low- very sick on Tuesday, could not function.
This week's funny-Nothing!

Our Pioneer Experience

This past June, our family got the opportunity to actually experience a piece of history. Our ward went to Wyoming to do a portion-a VERY small portion- of the Pioneer Handcart Trek. The trail is the route the pioneers used to come across the plains from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley. This three day camp trip had been planned for a year. Ususally done by the young women and young men of LDS wards, our bishop (DW) felt that this needed to be experienced by all.

What an amazing trip it was! You truly had to be tough to be a pioneer! We only walked 17 miles- the original trail is over 1,200 miles through dirt, grass and rivers- and the things we did only represented a portion of what the pioneers experienced. Unlike the pioneers, we had full bellies all of the time. Three meals and snacks a day were a luxury that we had. I even had a mickey mouse scone made for me by one of the cooks. The pioneers had flour rations at times that were less than half a cup.
Ben and Ellie really shined. Scott and I were so proud of them and how they represented themselves. Ben walked at the front of the crowd leading them on the trail to the campground- this was about a 3 mile hike! Ellie walked the entire 17 miles, while so many of the other children rode in the handcarts. Ben walked about 14 miles. Many of the ward members commented on how inspirational they both were.

The last day as we hiked back to the visitors center- many of us quiet from the walk, possibly thinking about what the pioneers really had to endure, the many deaths, the lack of food, how truly tried they were- the only sounds that could be heard at times were the wheels of the handcarts turning on the dirt trail and footsteps. Now and then cheers would go up as carts were pushed down small hills and back up the other side. Smiles and hugs were shared by all as we dropped off our handcarts at the visitor center. The Martin Handcart Company and the Willie Handcart Company unfortunately did not come out as well.