Take me out to the ball game....

Last night was a first for anyone in our family....KJ was able to throw out the first pitch at the SkySox baseball game! He did awesome and threw the ball right to the catcher. What a stud! He thought it was pretty cool. He told me that "the reason he got so lucky to be able to do that was because he found a penny the day before, a lucky penny!"

walking off the field with his new souvenir!

Sox the Fox came up to the banquet hall to meet all the kids, they loved him! He was quite the riot! Olivia was too scared of him to hug him!!

And of course, the blow-up slides are always a highlight!

First week of school....

This past week has gotten away from me and today I realized that I haven't even had the chance to post about Keaton and Jack's first day of school. It was scary going to a brand new school but the nerves quickly passed once we met the kids and parents in the classes and we are very excited about both of the teacher's that the boys got this year! One really great thing about living here is that EVERYONE seems so friendly and helpful. It just makes everything so much easier! Keaton has already made a couple of new 'best' friends (as he would call them) Zack and Mustafa. Crazy name, I know, but he was born in Egypt and KJ just Loves him! Keaton wants a 'cool' name like that and has asked me several times if he can change his name, silly kid! And little Jack's teacher said that he is the 'social bug' of the class, so I guess that's a good thing right?!? I'm sure she'll have her work cut out for her, but everyone eventually falls in love with little Jack and I'm sure it'll just be a matter of time before he captures her heart! He is doing a half day of Kindergarten this year and then next year we plan on having him in the full-day class. We have to slowly get him used to this whole school thing. But he's doing great and is starting to write his own name (big progress for him)!! I'm so releived that the first day of school is done with....I ABSOLUTELY HATE the first day of school. I seriously get all sad and depressed for the whole day. It's so hard for me to let these little ones walk off into this big world with so many different influences surrounding them. Plus, I am selfish and want to be with them as much as I can. But I guess just as a mommy bird does....you have to eventually let them wander out and fly on their own (at least during school hours). The one good thing is that the school is located right in our neighborhood and I love having it so close that we can walk there in under 10 minutes! It helps knowing they are so close. Olivia and I are always so excited when we get to pick the boys up! I have to admit that it is kind of fun to have some one-on-one girl time though. My family is just growing up and I'm learning to try to accept that!! Although each new stage of our lives is just as great as the last one!

Here are some pictures we snapped on the first day of school.

And here was Jack's first day! I had the hardest time saying bye to this little guy.

I am so proud of the boys, they were much more brave than I was!

And I'm glad to have a whole year before the next 'first day' of school!

best weekend ever....

We just got back from a fantastic family trip to Riggins, Idaho! I say it's the best weekend ever because we were able to be with so many of the people we love, we went camping in God's country on a white sandy beach, we sang songs and ate treats around the campfire, played in the clean water, went kayaking down the Salmon River, but most of all....KJ was baptized!!! It was fun, memorable and spiritual all rolled in to one! The baptism was beautiful and we just want to send an extra BIG thank you to everyone who was able to come! I know sometimes camping is such a pain with so much to pack up and unload....but everyone there helped to make it such a special weekend for Keaton. We are so proud of Keaton for making the decision to be baptized and to make covenants with our Heavenly Father. He is such an amazing kid!

Here is the invitation we sent out for the big day....

The group shot with everyone who attended!

I'm so proud of these two!

Is he cute or what?!!?

Here is where I started to get emotional

my perfectly clean little one! How awesome!

One proud mama!

The men from the confirmation circle-

Pops Ralph (great-grandpa) - Dan (father) - Papa (grandpa) - Bryan (cousin) - Pops Smidt (great grandpa)

The musicians! Jason and Bryan both played beautiful music for us!

(click to enlarge)

Good-bye Riggins....hope to see you again real soon!

And here was the program for the baptism...

(front)

-

(inside)

Three's Company...

We have been lucky enough to have had lots of company the past couple of weeks! First Dan's parents came to visit from Illinois, then Dan's brother Brian and my cute niece and nephew, Emily and Sam, came from Japan for a few days, and to top it all off, my parents also came to visit for a couple of days!!! The kids were in complete heaven having everyone here. I think now that the house is quiet and 'back-to-normal' today the kids are wondering when everyone can come back again! We miss everyone already! So a big thank you to everyone!

When Grandma and Grandpa Howard came we took a road trip to explore some of our new 'back-yard'. We were able to drive through Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Then we went to stay in Steamboat Springs for a night, and then went to Aspen and stayed in an awesome townhouse. We had such a fun road trip with them, despite the one 'bout of car sickness with Keaton! And I learned that Colorado is absolutely stunning! We can't wait to get out and camp in some of the beautiful spots that we discovered.

We have had our share of fun with everyone! Now it's time to pack up and make the drive to Idaho for KJ's baptism! Summer sure does keep us busy, but we love it!