Scouts and Birthdays

Well, I officially have a cub scout! Am I getting old or what? KJ had his first pack meeting and was so excited to be introduced to the pack and was awarded some of his first patches!! He was so excited. And I was also called up to have KJ put a pin on me. I have quickly learned why the mother also earns a pin....having a scout is a lot of work! I did find some great fabric glue so that I can glue the patches on instead of sewing them! I like to make life easier one little thing at a time! Is there a 'cutting corners' patch?

There is a new patch you can earn that came out this year.....video game patch. Are you kidding me? What is this world coming to??!!

Here are some of the cub scouts! KJ has a great time with all of these boys!

Here he is getting his new patches!

Getting my pin!

I did have to embarrass him just a tad, I gave him a little pat on his rear! He just blushed! It's so easy to make him turn red at this age :)

And last, but certainly not least....Today was my beautiful MOM's birthday!!! Happy Birthday mom! You have taught me more about life and love than anyone else ever has or ever will. I am so blessed to have you as my mom, but also as my best friend. I hope you had a fabulous day. Love you as BIG as the beach!

Make a wish!

This is the 2nd Birthday of my Blog (or blogiversary)! I was trying to think of something really deep and moving to write, but....nothing came! These early morning school days drain my brain! Or maybe it's the fact that I'm addicted to the Bravo TV channel that keeps me up MUCH too late at night. Two years later I'm wondering if anyone even reads this blog still?! I'm feeling a bit lazy when it comes to blogging, but maybe I'll get my 2nd wind now! So, thank you if you do read, I guess it makes it all worth it!

Two Lovebirds....

It is definitely wedding season....especially for my family! My closet is beginning to be a real life '27 dresses'! Both of my little sisters have gotten 'hitched' this year! I am about a month late for this post, but better late than never right?!? Coley and Jason were married in August and it was absolutely STUNNING!!! The colors, the ceremony, the location, the company....everything was just perfect! The reception was so much fun. They had dancing, snowcone machines, cotton candy machines, a candy bar, corn dogs and french fries, watermelon, sodas, and cupcakes! For my kids it was almost heaven on earth! It was so much fun to see so much family who traveled from so far, but the best part was that I got a brand new brother-in-law! Congratulations to Coley and Jason....two Lovebirds! We LOVE you guys!

Jack is a 'whole hand old' now!

Our little Jack right after he was born!

KJ couldn't wait to be a big brother!

Our little firecracker Jack turned 5 years old today!!! There is no other 5 year old boy in the whole world that could fill my heart as much as this little guy does. He is the cheese to my macaroni! We are so thankful that he is part of our family...he keeps us all laughing and keeps us all on our toes! Anyone who knows Jack, knows what a fun and special little guy he is. The thing I hear the most from family and friends who live far away is how much they miss little Jack Jack. He really has a great spirit about him and people just seem to be drawn to him and his energetic, bubbly personality. He has come a long way in his short 5 years and has had to overcome some tough stuff, but he is the strongest little boy I know. I hope he knows how much his dad, sister, brother and I love him.

Happy 5th Birthday Jack!

For his breakfast in bed he was very specific on what he wanted! Sausage links, egg with runny yolk, blueberries and strawberries! We had to get up bright and early for breakfast in bed since we had to make it to school on time!

Here we are leaving for school showing me that he is a 'whole hand old' now!

We got to surprise him at school and bring balloons and treats to class! He was so excited! Isn't he just the cutest??!?

For his birthday dinner he chose Red Robin...his favorite! I don't know if he really likes the food, he just likes that he gets a balloon when we leave. And tonight he was glad that the waiters sang to him and gave him an ice-cream sundae with a cherry on top! He LOVES cherries!

It's present time!

He's been wanting this bumble bee pillow pet for months now!

Here's the traditional picture with all his loot! I think he made out pretty good!

Make a wish!!

A great ending to a great day! This weekend we will have his little party. And the best present of all is that his Aunt and Uncle will be moving in to our house for a month or two!!! We are all so excited! They should be here in about an hour....YAY!!!

Sleep Tight my little birthday boy!

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)

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(inside)