McGregor!

 10 months

I can't believe he is already 7! He is getting so big. He is our comedian. He is constantly trying to make people laugh and he usually can with little effort. Right now Gregor loves wrestling, playmobil knights, his ds, playing with friends, anything with daddy, reading, singing, and playing with swords. He loves to eat Steak and wants chocolate ice cream. He is never afraid to try something new. He is so excited to start singing lessons. His plans for the future are to sing for awhile and then be a firefighter. We sure do love our Gregor!

First Day of School 2013

Thankfully this year everyone started on the same day. Last year everyone started on different days and different times. Jarrett is in 7th!! How in the heck did that happen!! Isabelle is in 5th. Her last year in elementary school!! She loves her teacher Mr. J. We are getting old. Gregor is in 1st. His first day gone all day and he loves it. He loves school lunch and the salad is his favorite. Fletch has mommy all to himself and he loves to come and get me a snuggle and watch a movie. I love to snuggle with my boy. Here are some picture of the kids on their first day.

 This is the last year these two will be in school together.

Summer 2013

Well I have been terrible at the whole blogging thing this summer. Maybe it's my kids getting older or that we have been crazy busy, who knows!? Anyway lets start at the beginning. At the first of the summer Ben and Jarrett ran Ragnar, I drove. That is a relay race that goes from Logan to Park City. It covers close to 200 miles. Our team had 12 runners, 2 drivers, and 2 vans. We figure Jarrett was the one of the youngest runners, if not the youngest since you have to be 12 to run and he had just turned 12 a few weeks before. It was a lot of fun to spend this time together. We were completely exhausted. I think I only got maybe an hour and a half sleep in 2 days. I was thankful to pull into our driveway safe and sound.

Next we were able to go to Martins Cove with our ward and participate in trek. It happened to be over the 4th of July. A little different way to celebrate the 4th on the trail pulling a handcart. Our family has loved learning about the pioneers. Our kids love it and we have gone in search of several graves from the movie 17 Miracles, Ephraims Rescue, and some of Ben's ancestors. So we thought it would be good for our kids to experience some of what the pioneers went through. It was a very humbling experience. We were able to see where the handcart companies were at and how desolate and hard the Wyoming country was. We don't even have a clue as to what they went through. We would trek about 8 miles a day, we ate better there than we do at home, we had water, shoes, and came back to a air mattress and pillows. To think of what those people of the Martin company and Willie company went through is unbelievable that any survived. You could definitely feel the Spirit there. Amazing experience, we were humbled and so thankful we were able to experience that as a family.

The next even was Isabelle's 10th birthday! I can't believe my girl is 10. She got a new bike and we took her and a friend to the pool. We all had a fun day and are so thankful Isabelle is ours.

Before school started we ventured to Eden to a petting farm. The kids loved it. I think we all came away wanted a pot bellied pig for our next pet. Lots of fun, but a little on the pricey side.

That is our summer in a nutshell. Once I put things down it doesn't seem like we did a ton but we were running all summer. For the first time in our kid's life we live in a neighborhood we have friends for all of our kids. I have never had my doorbell ring so much, or had so many kids at my house, but we loved it. This neighborhood has been a blessing for our kids. 

This last Sunday Jarrett received the Priesthood. It was such a great day! Jarrett has such a special, valiant spirit. He has been more excited for the Priesthood than his birthday itself. He has read and prepared for this day. He had a goal to finish the Book of Mormon by his 12th birthday and he accomplished that goal with 2 days to spare. He never ceases to amaze me. He was so thankful to have received the Priesthood. We had a light lunch served after where we had family over to help us celebrate Jarrett. 

Sometimes I feel like blogs and Social Media are used to show off and I think sometimes we feel inadequate when we read what other families are doing and how perfect their life seems. I hope you don't get that from our blog. While this day was absolutely perfect and I will treasure it, we are the everyday family with our good days and our bad. We are just trying the best we know how to be a family. This day was a great day and we are thankful for all the love and support Jarrett received.

12 Years Old!

I can't believe this happened, but my boy turns 12 today! I remember it just like yesterday driving to the hospital scared to death. Twelve hours later they placed this beautiful baby boy in my arms and my life changed for forever. I have been blessed for 12 years with this amazing kid. He has so much courage, strength, determination, and love for everyone he knows, and the Gospel. I don't know how I got this lucky to be his mom and get to spend everyday with him but I am thankful for him and all that he teaches me. Happy Birthday Jarrett!! Thank you for the best 12 years!

Jarrett with his birthday present! A new electric guitar! He is getting so good at playing, I love listening to him.

How Time Flies When We Are Having Fun!

 We have been so busy the last couple of months. Yes, we have been doing some fun stuff, but it has mostly just been living life with 4 kids. The kids had their spring break the first week of April and thankfully we had some good weather. We played at parks and on Friday I took them to the Aquarium in Draper. We had so much fun. 

 We found time between soccer, school, and Ben's busy work schedule to go to Rexburg, Idaho to visit the bears. We love that place. We were a little worried about the weather but we made the trek anyway. We hit one of the worst storms we have ever driven through just outside of Idaho Falls. The truck in front of us lost control and ended up in the median of the freeway, but luckily he wasn't hurt and he was able to drive away. Once we got to Bear World we found sun and it was a perfect day. When we went to eat our picnic it decided to rain but we laid all the seats down in our van and had an inside picnic. The kids loved it. After we saw the bears we headed into Rexburg to see the temple. That day trip never disappoints. 

 Next my very good friend from Vegas was in Salt Lake for the weekend so of course I headed down for some visiting and lunch. It was a great afternoon. It makes me homesick for my life I had in Vegas, but I am also thankful for the chance I had to live there and make the friends I did and have the experiences I had. I loved our visit and I treasure our friendship. Thanks for lunch and all the talking Kira!! 

I am finding that the older my kids are getting the busier we are. Life is good and I am so glad that I have Ben and my kids to enjoy it with.

An Elder's Return

My kids have waited 2 long years for this Elder to come home. They love their Uncle Dano. We were able to go down last Thursday and see him as he came off the plane. He has been faithfully serving in Florida for the past couple of years. You could feel his love for his Savior and the Gospel. He has always been an amazing person, but I think an even more amazing person returned.

 He has always been such a great example for all of my kids. I think Jarrett especially looks up to Daniel so much and wants to pattern his life after Daniel's. I am thankful for the example that Daniel is for my kids. It has helped me as a mother and has helped my kids so much. I am thankful that Daniel went on his mission and served as he did. So much has changed for him since he came home. His life coming back wasn't the life he left. He has handled it all so well and with so much love and care. I worried for quite awhile about him coming home to so much different but he is going to do amazing things and he knows exactly what he wants out of life and I don't have any doubt he will get the life he wants. We are so thankful for Daniel and so glad he is home.

(Jarrett was so happy that Daniel was finally home, his emotions got the best of him. This was me telling him to smile. )