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!

It's Great to be eight!

Happy Happy Birthday to my sweet little KJ! I know I say this every year, but how in the world did the time fly by so fast that you went from this....

(the day we brought him home from the hospital)

to this.....

so quickly?!?!

It's crazy, but we've loved every minute of it. He really is the best 8 year old I've ever met. A well mannered, sweet boy who is an amazing big brother, son and friend. We are SO lucky and blessed to have him in our family. He has been such a JOY! Although he's getting to be at the age where we have to force a kiss on him, and he gets totally embarrassed with our dancing and singing around the house, he's still our sweet little guy that loves to snuggle up with mom and dad and can't sleep without his Curious George that he's been sleeping with since he was a new-born baby. We hope you had a fabulous Birthday today! We really Love you bud.....

To the moon & back!

Here are some pictures of our full day of birthday fun! The best gift he received was a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Howard!! We love it when they come to visit!

(click to enlarge)

*Breakfast in 'bed'*

*Shopping trip to Target to pick out some gifts*

*Open Presents*

*Cracker Barrel for dinner (kj's pick)*

*Arcade*

*Go-Karts*

*Bowling*

*Cake and Ice-cream*

*Annual Spanking Machine*

*Slumber Party in the basement*

Pheww.....we had a full and fun day today and Keaton really had a great day!

Good-Night!

9 years ago...

we had just 'tied the knot' & we were dancing to this song at our wedding...

You & Me ~ Kenny Chesney

Ordinary no, I really don’t think so

Not a love this true

Common destiny

We were meant to be

Me and you

Like a perfect scene from a movie screen

We’re a dream come true

Suited perfectly for eternity

Me and you

Every day, I need you even more

And the night time too

There’s no way

I could ever let you go

Even if I wanted to

Every day I live

I try my best to give

All I have to you

I thank the stars above

That we share this love me and you

Every day, I need you even more

And the night time too

There’s no way

I could ever let you go

Even if I wanted to

Ordinary no, I really don’t think so

Just a precious few

Ever make it last

Get as lucky as

Me and you

And 9 years later I love you more than ever. Thanks for giving me all and more than I ever thought possible. I love you as big as the beach! Happy Anniversary!

What the 'hail'.....

Well, we were welcomed to Colorado and it's crazy weather patterns today! We had a huge hail storm tonight while we were lighting our fireworks....it was definitely an exciting 4th of July!! We broke out our mini-grill and made hamburgers on the driveway, and it was HOT. Then we saw the storm coming over the mountains and BAM, it hit us fast! Our cars were dented, and my hood looks like a golf ball. I've never seen a hail storm like this, but it was pretty exciting! The kids loved it. Ice cream bars, bbq's, blowing things up, getting to know our neighbors made for a great day. Living in a military town on the fourth is a wonderful thing, everyone is so patriotic and we love that! We are grateful for the opportunity to live in this great country.

"The land of the free because of the brave."

Do you think Dan was having fun?? A little bit too much fun....

And for a couple of other things we did this week---

We went to a beautiful wedding.....

A Primary trip to the Denver temple.....(and Buca afterwards!)

We have really been enjoying our time here so far!

Happy 4th Everyone!