Imola 2011

Time for my annual post to recap Trent's season. Pictures say a thousand words so I like to pick through the ones that I have saved this season and post my favorites. Every season is different. Each with ups and downs, victories and challenges. This one was no different. He played another great year leading the league in scoring for the second year in a row! He averaged 22.4 points per game, I guess some things do really get better with age! A huge highlight of the season was a game right before Christmas when he scored 43 points going 10/12 from the 3 against the top ranked team Udine. It was such a fun night to watch. We feel very blessed to have him get through another season without any major injury and are looking forward to next year. I love watching Trent play basketball! He truly inspires me with his hard work, leadership, and dedication in doing what he loves. Love you babe!

Happy Easter

My kids love Easter! Being away from home doesn't allow for the fun Easter egg hunts, but we try to do stuff that will make it fun for them. Trent had a couple of days off so we got to spend alot of quality family time together. We had plenty of sunshine and took full advantage of it going to the park and playing baseball with the kids. We made Easter egg nest treats, colored eggs, had family movie nights, and went to a traditional Catholic lunch at one of our friend's house. These are huge lunches with many courses, I love Italian food! You could have rolled me home! On Easter the kids woke up to a jelly bean trail leading to their baskets...they were not disappointed! I love seeing their faces light up when then go through their "baskets!" I couldn't find baskets here that weren't already prefilled and wrapped so we used big bowls. Thank heavens my mom sent us a package with Easter candy and the egg die!

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Tourneys

Jace is on the travel team here in Imola and they had a tourney this past weekend in Bologna. It was perfect timing because Trent had played the night before so he could go with us. They played two games the first day and won both. Jace played great with a BEATBACK on a guy twice his size that he was really excited about!

We played the second day for the championship and lost by 2. It was a heartbreaker for my little guy, but Trent turned it into a great learning experience. Its times like these when being a professional basketball player comes in handy and your son will listen to what you are saying because you know what you are talking about! It was really fun watching Jace play! He hit a jumper and started waving his hand over his face in front of his defender...gotta calm that down! "But Dad does it..." Is what I got in reply and I really didn't have a response for that one because deep down I was one proud momma!

FORTS

The weather has been so nice here this whole month of April. I take my kids to a sweet park that has huge hills, that are flat on top, with big trees on top of each hill. They have started building a fort on one of the hills and love to go there and play in it. They have a door, firepit, bed, couch, and weapons storage. Their little imaginations run wild! It is so fun to just sit at the park at watch them in their own little world!

March Madness

Jace won our annual March Madness brackets. No one had A team in the final four so he won by number of wins. We all had to give him foot massages, 10 minutes each foot as he requested. I must say this year of March Madness was one of the funnest years to watch!

V-day Fun

Living overseas has created a different kind of Valentines day for us. We celebrate the love of each other and take a day or two to recognize each other and give extra love and service. This year we made Valentines cupcakes with the kids. We all made each member of the family handmade Valentines cards and did something special for them. We gave the kids special presents that they loved! Jace had a basketball game, then we went out to a nice dinner. It isn't the same as going to class parties and having v-day cards from classmates, but it is still something special for us. We are together with the ones we love!

We Finished!!!

We started reading the Book of Mormon last year with the kids. We made sure that no matter where we were in the world that we had the base of reading as a stable way of teaching and talking with our kids about gospel principles. Even when we are apart for the small time we are, I still continue to read with the kids every night and Trent does his reading too, keeping on the same spot as us so when we get back together neither one of us has to jump ahead or wait. It has been so amazing to see the love of the BOM grow in each one of our children! They ask questions and it prompts discussions. They are always the ones to remind us every night to read. It has been a very positive experience for all of us. We just finished reading it cover to cover, including the D&C and Pearl of Great Price!!! It is such an accomplishment, challenging and yet so rewarding at the same time. And now we are started over...there is always something new to learn each time you read it and testimonies grow everytime the spirit testifies of its truthfullness! I love the scriptures, but have found a new love of reading them with my children!

Toothfairy Notes

Amari pulled out another tooth! She said she was going to write a note and ask the toothfairy how she can fly? Trent explained to her that the toothfairy doesn't have time to answer notes because she has so many kids to visit, and she was too small to even hold up a pencil anyway. When we went to tuck her in bed there was a note next to her bed for the toothfairy with a tiny pencil that she had sharpened down to the nub so that it was small enough for the toothfairy to hold! Too Cute! And of course the Toothfairy left her a reply!

Signs and Christmas Sunday

I always like to take pictures of them in their new church clothes they get every year! Hope they never grow out of this tradition!


The kids were so excited to pick Trent up from the airport because of his delay they had extra time to make a poster. Trent has had the nickname "Italian Stallion" forever, I called him it our first year over here and ten years later I still tease him with it! :)

Jace's Gingerbread house

His class made homemade gingerbread houses and he got voted the most detailed house. Here is a pic of his creation!

Christmas Morning

Thought I better post some pics of Christmas morning before moving on to the new year! Sorry so late, but we like to enjoy our time at home and not worry about all the other stuff. We had a great time at home getting to be with family and friends and eat some Amaerican food! Time sure does fly by fast when you are having fun!!! But now we are back in Italia and have finally changed all of our time zones to Italy time and got my feet back under me...we can get on with life now! Forza Imola Trent and Jace!!!

INSANE!!!

Trent went off this week!!! HE was unconcious... 43 points, 7 assists, 10/12 from the 3 with a 45 valutation! We beat the #1 ranked team, Amari got some TV time after the game, and Jace was doing the Heart flash in his Whiting jersey like Trent does after he makes a big shot! It was such a fun night...IT was INSANE!

Who can pull their own tooth out?

Amari can!!! Two different teeth to be exact! Her first one wasn't quite ready and Trent finally told her that the tooth fairy brings 5 dollars if they pull it out theirself instead of one dollar. Of course that worked with Amari and an hour later came in holding her tooth! A couple of days later the second one was ready, and Trent asked to pull it out and she replied, "I perfer to do it myself daddy!"

Time to be Thankful

I always take a moment on this day every year to blog about how Thankful I am but this year for some reason being Thankful just doesn't seem like enough. I am really and truly so grateful for so many things! Words can't express how full of gratitude my heart really is right now for so many blessings. Just thinking about everything in my life that I am grateful for makes this lump come up in the back of my throat and tears well up in my eyes.
I first and foremost and Thankful for my husband Trent- he is my world literally! He brings so much to my life and makes me a better person. He has seen me through the good and bad, and has always found a way to help me. He is truly my best friend! He works so hard to provide for our family and sacrifices so much. He always takes time for the little things, especially with the kids. He is everything I ever dreamed of!
I am so Thankful for two of the best kids in the world! I love that they are "bestest friends" and get along so good! Jace brings so much laughter into our home and can cheer me up or make me laugh on point! He is such a kind and caring older brother, always looking out for Amari and helping her with anything. He poors everything he has into what he loves, and is very passionate about things that are important to him. Amari is such a cute, bubbly, and fun girl! I love that I have a little shopping partner, and I also love how much she loves to go get pedicures with me! I hope that never changes! She has a very tender heart, but at the same time can be fiesty as crap! I love how she has brought a softer side to our family and how she shows each and every one of us love everyday!
I am Thankful for the gospel and what it brings to my life. I love that I have that rock in my world that no matter where we go or where we live we can find the church. I love that I have the scriptures and am Thankful for the quiet time in the morning that I can read and feel of the spirit. I am so grateful for the blessing it is in our life to have the gospel!
I am Thankful for great family and friends. Even though we are so far away most of the year, they love us unconditionally! They are always there for us and have given us many happy memories! They have taught us many things and been great examples of qualities that I always am trying to be better at in my own life.
I am so Thankful for so many things, but just wanted to touch on a few that are very near to my heart today. I hope this Thanksgiving day you have a chance to reflect on your own blessings, and am hoping that this day finds you with plenty of reasons to give THANKS!

Halloween Italia Style

We had a fun Halloween weekend! Trent and Jace had basketball games, then cookies, carving pumplins, Pranza lunch, a little trick or treating, and a great Family Movie Night!

Halloween Costumes

Replica Jerseys

The team bought the kids replica jerseys of Trent's away uniforms. They were so excited! Coolest kids at practice that night! They even got Trent to get them Kobe kicks to show off their skills! Remember when you were a kid and it was all about the shoes!

First day of 1st grade and 3rd grade

I can't believe they are growing up so FAST!!!

The Black Knights 2010