The Blanding Bugle

Volume 16 Issue 4

April 2007

"Blow the Whistle Ref"

Kray (and Doreen) did something they have been trying to do for two summers--they qualified to become soccer referees.  They had to sit in class for four nights straight, take a practicum on the field and then take a test!

You had to get a 70 on the test to become a ref and Kray got a 88 and Doreen got a 87.  (Yes, Doreen hasn't heard the end of it.)

Kray is now registered to ref 8 games this spring and hopes to ref quite a few this fall.  He does get paid for them and hopes that this will add to his every shrinking bank account and hopefully turn it around.

Kray worked hard at learning the laws and will make a good ref.  Because of the many brothers he has playing this spring, he can only ref girl games since they won't let you ref sibling games or games that are in your sibling's division.  That takes out most all boy games.

Yes, the Blandings will be seen again out on the grass at Marymoor Park four nights a week as spring soccer starts the second week in April.  Doreen will be coaching Mike and Jessie.  Kray will be coaching Chris.  Kray and Jason will be playing on the same team. Poor Matt is the only one by himself this year, but that doesn't stop the scoring machine in Matt.

Youth Conference

About 13 months ago, Doreen and a friend, started a LDS teen group for homeschoolers in the Seattle area.  It started slow and has steadily grown and is now a great success.  Along with this group came the idea to put on an all day conference for these wonderful youth.  Inviting the rest of the state LDS teen homeschoolers, they set about to put on this enormous task. 

With seven adult conferences under her belt, this poised a different problem.  How to do it for youth?  Speakers were lined up, a service project or two was through of.  And activity was put together and to top the night off a family dance.

March 10th was the big day.  Doreen started the day off with a class on how to combat Satan.  Next up was Brother Tanner on how to be an adult and have a checking account and all the "adult" kind of stuff.  Lunch was well, lunch.  Then, Brother Black talked about what it took to be "grown up."  Lastly was Steve and how physic play into our every day life and why it is important to learn.

Next we got into the fun stuff!  We read books into recorders for a teacher who will take this and put the pictures with the tapes so that handicapped children can read the story.  We also tied fleece quilts for Children's Hospital.  For our activity we made our own version of Mormon Ads. 

We had invited families to join us for dinner (pizza--what else do you feed teens?) and a family dance.  It was the highlight of the day!

After the closing prayer, one teen asked, "Sister Blanding, can we do this again next weekend?"

Think those words spell "S-U-C-C-E-S-S."

Kray dancing with Sarah.

Kray and Jason each taking a turn dancing with Mady.
Yes, Steve is sitting in the background--he was the DJ

 
Kray being Kray and making everyone laugh.

Watch out John Travolta, Matt has learned a few moves!
Matt and Jessie dancing the night away!

Jason making a blanket.

The winning Mormon Ad
"March to the Beat of your own drum" or "Don't follow the crowd"
The alligator boots belong to Chris!