A Very FUN Week!

Doug and Sara brought the family for Kendall's baptism and got to stay the week!  My boys have been counting down the days until this great event.  They love to look forward to things and cousins are on the tippy top of their list.

Mammy put on a fancy dinner with lots of things out of her garden.  When she was serving the kids, she bumped her toe on the bottom of the couch and broke it.  It was dangling off to the side and looked so painful but of course, she just went on with the dinner laughing.

The kids were able to go to a few parks and we let the boys miss school to go to Airplane park.  It was surreal being the only ones there but we took advantage and the kids run up and down the green grassy banks.

Papa was holding Charly for a minute and the next thing we know... she got a bit squirmy and he dropped her . She kinda rolled with a little confused grin.  It was a great reminder to have him only watch the older kids if there ever comes a time- haha!

We were able to have a HUGE family dinner up at Garret and Stacey's.  We caught up with Tiger and Ali and kids, had s'mores in the fire pit, and watched the eclipse.

We managed to squeeze in a yummy breakfast and some shopping too. The boys had a sleepover at Mammy's and the dad's went to a late movie.

It's always fun to make memories and watch all these sweet kids get older.

Getting Pinned

I know the scouting program was inspired.  

I love how much the leaders put into the program and I love how the mom's go behind them and "clean up" all the loose requirements.

Mom's can't do this alone and it makes us appreciate amazing and willing leaders that much more.

Nathan got two badges at once and was able to pin me twice and Kendall had just finished his first badge, the bobcat.

(I am 7 months pregnant in this picture and my face is quite "swollen" with baby number 3!!)

I Loved Today...

Today was just a normal day.... but I loved it!

I got to wake up and make pancakes for my hungry boys.  We said family prayer and then we were out the door to do carpool and head to school.

I came back home and listened to two conference talks, planned out our weekly dinner menu, printed recipes, and constructed a grocery list, took a shower, talked on the phone with a dear friend I haven't talked to in a while, and talked to another friend in my entryway.

I headed off to King Soopers and realized I was starving with a side of "the shakes".  I grabbed some "cooked" California rolls and ate them in the Cafe in the front of the store while talking to my mom on the phone for the third time that morning.

I finished up my grocery shopping and noticed that all the ingredients for homemade chocolate caramel apples ended up in my cart. Wink-wink...

When I came home I put the grocery's away, switched out the laundry, cleaned two bathrooms, straightened up the house, ironed Justin's work shirt while watching an episode of Fixer Upper, drank a bottle of liquid gold {aka} chocolate milk, sent Justin a few texts, folded more laundry, and checked a few emails.

I ran back up to the school and left a little early so the kids would not have to wait in the rain.  I was third in the carpool line.

 As soon as the kids were in the car my ears were full of the BEST sound. Their little voices telling me all about their day.

I ran Nathan to piano, dropped off his buddy in our carpool, went back to pick up  Nathan from his lesson and played a million tic-tac-toe games with Kendall while we waited.

We got home and Nathan started on his homework while Kendall practiced his piano.  When Kendall was done, we listened to Christmas music and I made shrimp tacos with Kendall for dinner and a batch of banana cookies for Scout pack meeting.

This happened to be my favorite part of the day.  We sang with the Christmas music and enjoyed how the smell of the cookies made us feel so cozy.  Justin got home a little late but we had just enough time to finish up dinner and clean up.

Pack meeting was a blast.  Kendall earned his bobcat and I got "pinned".  Nathan earned some awards as well.  After the awards the boys got to go on a wild boar hunt.  Amazing!  The boars were cut out of wood and painted then placed on  wheels while the leaders reeled them across the gym floor with fishing poles.  The boys got to take turns throwing foam javelins at them.  Boy, was it serious to knock down those boars! Quite the competition.

Justin left the pack meeting to go to an elders quorum meeting. I stayed and got to talk to several sweet friends from my old ward.

When we left it was pouring rain. We stayed in the dark parking lot and I talked to another friend in the rain and the boys played till they were soaked.

Back home for showers, prayers, and tuck-ins.

Justin got home really late and I was off to bed exhausted.  On my pillow were two sweet letters from Nathan and Kendall.  My heart was full as I reflected on the day.

Today was good.  What made it so good was that I knew Heavenly Father was right there with me, helping me.  A while ago I could not do the simplest of tasks and now my days are full.  Some better than others and I still struggle most days but I will take folding laundry and grocery shopping and helping the kids over being stuck in my body in bed or on the couch with constant tears.

"Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days." D&C 24:8

I am learning.

And I am thankful for what I am learning.

And as hard as it has been,

I would do it again.

Strong as a Rock!

We are so lucky to be included in Aunt Pam's Strong as a Rock Family Home Evenings.  Each one is so thought out, planned, and prepared with the spirit.

We were able to go to the temple and sit on the lawn facing while watching a stunning sunset in the background.

Tanna talked all about family history and lit a fire under us to get the ball rolling on the other side.

Then we took a walk and had a some more stories on the brides benches in the back.  The kids were all able to go touch the walls of the temple and make a promise to all be inside someday.

 I love this family and am grateful for temples so that we are bound eternally.

Kendall's Baptism

I asked Kendall how he felt on his baptism day...

"I LOVED getting baptized.  It was amazing!  I liked that Nathan sang a duet with Molly.  I felt the Holy Ghost and the spirit comforting me.  The water was really, really warm.  I felt like a lot of love was all around me. I felt like dad was going to do a good job baptizing me, and he did. I felt so good being by my mom and dad and right after I got baptized, I gave my mom a hug.  I loved that we celebrated at the park after and all my cousins were there."

I have such sweet and tender feelings when I reflect on Kendall's baptism.

The room was filled with family and friends and was thick with love for Kendall.  He beamed and radiated the entire day.

I loved watching his Dad preform his baptism and then giving him a bear hug after. Kendall still had his "perma" grin on after he came out of the water.

 Nathan was able to sing Gethsemane with Molly and I'm glad that Justin and I were there early and got all of our tears out at the rehearsal.  They sounded like angels.

Papa gave the talk on baptism and Claire gave the talk on the Holy Ghost.  I'm so grateful for the peaceful feelings they were both able to bring to the day.

Kendall sat in the middle of his Dad, both Grandpa's and Uncles.  Justin gave him an amazing blessing and he received the Holy Ghost. When it was over, there was that sweet grin still plastered all over that perfect boys' face.

This day was in my top ten favorites of all times.

Kendall's Baptism Invitation

I loved Kendall's sweet testimony he wrote for his Baptism invitation:

"I know if we are good and try our best to make good choices, we can live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again.  I know that we can be sealed in the temple and be with our families forever.  Whenever I think about Jesus I get a really good feeling and know that Jesus is a part of this church and He will come for us again.  I know these things are true so I would like to invite you to my baptism."

President Stutz read it and talked about Kendall during Stake Conference.  It was such a tender moment and I'm so grateful that I get to learn from Kendall daily.

And Just Like That...

He turned EIGHT!

Kendall is a pure delight and has seriously been the perfect addition to our family.  There are so many things I admire and adore about him.  He is a breath of fresh air and a shinny new penny.

He can light up a room with his smile and can turn a hard day into something wonderful.  He is an amazing brother and extraordinary son.

He is just a good person.  Plain and simple.

Here are eight things we LOVE about Kendall:

1. His willingness to to always help.

2. His HAPPY, positive attitude

3. He always tries his hardest- very determined.

4. He is kind to others and goes out of his way for them.  He looks outward not in.

5. He is a HARD worker and knows how to make it fun.

6. His smile and laugh is contagious.  We love to laugh with him!

7. He is NEVER grumpy!

8. He is a good communicator.  We love hearing all about his day and his ideas.


His birthday was so fun!

The night before Grandma and Grandpa took Kendall, Nathan, and Dad to chick-fil-a while I stayed home and taught the Young Women how to make cinnamon rolls.

In the morning he woke up to his birthday streamers and gifts on the table.  Kendall has a lot of self control and wanted to wait to open his presents later when GG, Aunt Cindi, Mammy, and Papa came over.

Pancakes and eggs for breakfast for the birthday boy.

He took his class Halloween notebooks and pencils to celebrate and he got a surprise lunch!  All his food was individually wrapped with a fun little note.

When he got home, the party started!  He got to open his gifts which included his baptism book, scriptures, scripture case, scripture markers, money, black slime, squirmels, silly glasses,  sugar free mints and variety bag, popcorn, and a bungee chair.

We went to Texas Roadhouse and watched all the waitresses sing to Kendall while he wore a cowboy hat.

He loved it!

By the time we got home we were all too full to have "dirt blizzards" with gummy worms for Kendall's birthday cake so we saved that for the next day when all the cousins arrived.

It is a pleasure to celebrate this little boy!

A New Cub..

Cub SCOUT, that is!

The age of Eight is pretty exciting around here...

Many new and exciting things happen.

Kendall has been watching Nathan go to cub scouts for 2 and a half years.  Sometimes, Nathan's leaders will even let Kendall participate with them which makes him the happiest kid in North America.

Now Kendall is of age and is more than ready.

He memorized the scout law and oath in one day and is so proud to wear the scout uniform.

Kendall and the Piano...

When you turn 8 years old at our house you get to do something very special....

You get to start taking Piano lessons.

It was Kendall's turn to take his shoes off at Sister's Shaws and go into her big cozy living room lit with a golden light  above the piano and start his journey.

Sister Shaw has such an amazing way with kids and can teach and push them to learn new songs and "everything piano."

When Kendall climbed into the car after lessons, I asked how it went?

He said, "AH. MAZ. ING!" and then told us about his entire lesson.

We all laughed and knew this was the start to a very enjoyable experience thanks to Sister Shaw.

Car Talk

There has been such a different feel since we have switched schools.  It feels more like an "us" sort of school.  It's a  feeling like we will be needed to help build this school.  A feeling of family unity and a feeling of working together with each other, the boys teachers' and other staff.  It's a full and safe feeling.  It's a feeling I have been hoping for and looking for.

We were able to go to a family back-to-school picnic and sit and visit with some good friends who have also made the switch.  We attended an open house where we toured the new school and met the boys' fabulous teachers.

Nathan's teacher is a gift from heaven!  We love her.  Instantly we knew this was the right place for him.

Kendall's teacher we have known since he was a baby!  It was nice to have something familiar in all the "new".  Super excited for his year and for the class to pick out a name for the class turtle.

On back-to-school night Nathan's teacher gave out questions called, "car talk"....  You are supposed to discuss at least two questions per drive home.  On the first day we did all of them!

What did you learn?

Nathan: A little bit more cursive, a couple things we are going to do later in science.  Mrs. Bowers loves plants and is a master gardener.
Kendall: Names in my class.

When were you most productive?
Nathan: In science
Kendall: In 1st grade

What did you work the hardest on?
Nathan: Science because that's when we did the cursive and the note we wrote to Mrs. Bowers.
Kendall:Getting to know each other.

What are you most proud of?
Nathan: My family
Kendall: That we are having a new baby brother.

What new thing did you try?
Nathan: Cursive, not exactly new but a bit more than I usually do.
Kendall: To get new friends.

Who were you a friend to?
Nathan: Bryland Graber
Kendall: Ben and Dennis

Whose day did you make better?
Nathan: My mom- I helped with a bunch of chores.
Kendall: Savannah, because she was shy so I helped her.

What did you create?
Nathan: A name tag and a chemistry design for my science notebook.
Kendall: New friends

What are you looking forward to?
Nathan: A bunch of field trips.
Kendall: Having my baptism and seeing Claire and Hannah.

First day of School... With a TWIST!!

 Boy, how this summer came and went this year!  I nominate these two kids with the BEST boys in the world award!  They sure have been a pure delight to have around.  Maybe that is why I cried for 3 hours straight when they left for their first official day of school.  Oh wait...I'm also pregnant, sick and hormonal.

The beginning of this school year is defiantly one for the books.

I have been feeling a change in the air.  An adventure was in the works, I just didn't know what or the timing...

Someone else with a bigger picture and perfect plan swooped in after the forth quarter during overtime.  And I'm still thanking Him everyday.

Sunday, we had stopped in the halls at church to chat with a friend after my mom had asked him about his kids school.

After much prodding and talking Justin,  I knew we needed to check this "new" school out.  I began researching on the computer, calling friends that I knew went there, and after a summer full of prayer and worry, we got our answer.

The next morning we sent our kids off to "regular" school at Stoney Creek elementary and I headed off to the new school to see if we could even get in.

They had spots open and the minute I enrolled the boys, my worries melted away!  HUGE blessing and I am so grateful for the feeling of peace.  I'm talking the peace that creeps into every nook and cranny and fills up the entire area until nothing but pure joy fills the soul.

We picked up the boys from school that day and told them they got into Addenbrooke and we all cheered!  I think Nathan could feel how right it was and he beamed with excitement.

Justin took Nathan to say bye to his teacher and get his supplies I took Kendall to his.

A major perk???

Two more full, entire weeks of summer because Addenbrooke didn't start until September when construction was completed at the new campus.

 Pictures of the boys on the first day of school for Stoney Creek before we even knew that they would be wearing uniforms and attending Addenbrooke.