Family Fun Time

Summer goes by fast when you have lots going on.... Between lots of day outside at our own pool to going to Ross Park and Lava a couple of times we are sporting some pretty sweet tan lines!!

We had a Family Reunion in Park City the beginning of August. We went to the Olympic Park and did the zip line and alpine slide. Dawson was afraid at first but decided to give it a shot and what do you know.... HE LOVED IT!!

Shane and Dawson taking the ride up the hill.

Braedon going down with one of our cousins Evan. It was so much fun to see everyone and hang out for a couple of days!! I wish my camera battery had not died so I had more pictures but that is just my luck!! There were about 70 of us at one motel and causing all kinds of chaos!! It was a blast!

Then my dad came for a visit from Wisconsin for a couple of days. We went swimming with him too (mostly because he is part fish like my kids!!) Then we went to Riot Zone one day and golfed and raced in go karts til we were all sick to our stomach!!

She is a crazy passenger.....heaven help us when she drives!!

Braedon has the passing move down pat.... if his sports thing doesn't work out he can always become a race car driver.

Shane and my dad bumped and bumped and crashed others every single time!!! Even when the attendant would say NO BUMPING!! He must have thought they were talking to someone else. They had a blast!!

Dawson and Taelor raced each other on the little track. They were the only ones on it and battled like crazy!! It was cute!!

My dad with all of us

Then it was football time!!! Last year for Braedon to play as a Chubbuck Ram. It is kind of bitter sweet. He has had a lot of fun the past 3 years and lets hope we have a great season to end on.

I love this picture!! A little pat on my back. ;0)

LET"S GO RAMS!!! MAKE IT A SEASON TO REMEMBER!!!

Busy Busy Busy

It has been a while since I have written on this here blog of mine!! Where to begin!! We have played lots of baseball!!! First in June Braedon's city baseball team got 2nd place in the championships. They had a good time!! ( I didn't mean to load this picture, my mother in law told him to smile cheesy, I thought it was the other one that was normal....oops, but when it is so little it is hard to see!! Braedon will kill me if he ever sees this!!YIKES!!)

Then Taelor played her last year of tigerball. We were the Stingrays this year and they were such a cute bunch of kids!!! I am really kind of sad that I won't be coaching her teams anymore. We had a great time, thanks to my two best helper coaches!! I love you girls!!!

Then we went to Boise for a tournament for Braedon and we have some family there. So while Braedon was resting we went to my Aunt and Uncles house for a while. They live in the most amazing little part of Boise!! These are my cute little cousins George and Henry!!

On our way home we stopped by Shoshone Falls. It is always nice to go there. It brings back so many childhood memories of growing up there and going there with so many members of my extended family!!

This was another mistaken picture. I again thought it was another one and I couldn't figure out how to delete it and load the other one so this is what I get!! Such a cute group of kiddos!!! Taelor is on the right end. She too will miss these kids.....especially a few named boys!!

Than it was home for a few days and off to Park City or Jordanelle State Park to be accurate. It was beautiful there. We camped with family and Braedon played more baseball. Good memories and good times!!

While we were there Taelor was waiting for Shane's sister to take her on a jet ski ride and a wave came up and squished her toe between the jet ski and a concrete pilar in the water. It blew out the side of her big toe. She was bleeding and screaming!! We got boaters stopping because she was screaming so loud. One of which had some nurses on it so they got her all cleaned up and bandaged up. Poor kid!!!

Then we get home from Utah and Taelor had a sore on the side of her leg since Boise that wasn't getting any better so we took her to a family doctor friend of ours. He said there was definitely something in there that would probably come out eventually or we could cut it out. I told him to cut it out so we knew what it was. So he made a little incision and and this is what was in her leg. She never even knew it was in there and it never hurt her. CRAZY!!!

There she is the brave little girl!!

Finally home for a few days and after two long years he got his braces off!!! One kid down and two more to go!!!

The sun will come up.....

This is not the best picture but it will work....... I ran across some quotes on another blog the other day and saved them all because I thought they were interesting. As I have thought about what these said I thought I could relate a picture to each one. So here is what my brain came up with..... Yes this is what I love!!! So that is what I do!! Hear me Roar!! I AM MOTHER!!

This was taken many days ago, probably 4 years to be exact and it is still my most favorite picture of this little girl!!

There are times when she finds it hard to be happy with who she is because she thinks she is to tall or too big. She has a hard time seeing the potential she holds!! I see a beautiful young girl who loves her family and friends and has the biggest heart. I also see someone who was sent to be my daughter and best little girl friend!!!

This too was taken a long time ago. This picture makes me think of when he would run around and giggle to his hearts content.

Dawson is rather hard on himself at times and that is very hard to see as a parent. He has great potential to do anything but he lets peoples opinions influence what he thinks. Not in bad ways, but in ways that would hold him back from doing what he loves and accomplishing them. He is a great young man who needs to see what I see which is someone who can accomplish anything he sets out to do no matter what anyone else says!!

This was from Braedon's first year in boys baseball. He looked so big then to me but now looks like just a little guy!!

Braedon has no troubles doing what he loves.....which is baseball, basketball and football. The problem is he runs out of motivation. He is very much a kid who needs to see what is at the end of the tunnel before he will go through. He wants to know what is in this for him, even if it is just a little something. He needs to realize there are lots of hills and bumps but you can't loose focus on the end goal which is to NOT give up. I have seen glimpses of it, so I know it is in there somewhere but trying to get him to see it is the hard part. So I guess he will just have to try and remember to keep trying!!!

Being a mom is the hardest and most rewarding thing there is in the world. There are days when I think I want to throw in the towel and walk away. Other days I can't imagine my life without them. All I know for sure is that no matter how frustrating a day can be they go to sleep at the end of it and there is a new beginning tomorrow when the sun comes up. Ready for a new chance to teach them, love them, laugh with them or become a better parent!!!

Catch up....

What a month this has been already... First my cousin got married in Salt Lake and we all went down for the festivities!! It was a blast. I think it was the funnest wedding I have ever been to, or maybe it was just because all of my awesome family was there!!! Either way it was so much fun my cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing! My Uncle Brad and Megan doing their Daddy/ Daughter dance!! It was priceless!!

One of the very few pictures of all us in our 'nice' clothes.

My mom, Aunt LaRae, Aunt Tammy and Taelor. Love these girls!!

More family- Aunt Jennifer, LaRae, Tammy, mom, Grandma and Uncle Brad.

Then we had a week of normal stuff before we jetted off to St. George and Mesquite for a baseball tournament. It was alot of fun. I only wish we hadn't brought the chilly weather with us. One day was nice in about the mid 70's and the rest was cloudy and chilly!!! But the boys played well and had a great time......

and THEY WON!!! Whoo hoo!! Go Sun Devils!!!

13 and shiny!!

It is so hard for me to believe that on February 23 this boy or..... young man is now a (gulp) teenager. I feel so cliche when I say "I rememeber when..." But it is true. Life has a way of going by way to fast. Before you know it your a mother of a teenager!!! Braedon is a good kid (stay the way!!) who loves his family....most of the time. He stills likes being with me and hanging out which I like too!! He is always being "Braedon" as we call it, but whether he is teasing, or being goofy he is our Braedon and we love him!! We can't imagine our family without you!! Happy Birthday!! Showing his manliness!! Grrr!

We love to watch you 'do your thing' whether that is baseball, football or basketball. We have and always will be your biggest supporters!!

I love when my kids get along!!! They are so fun to watch play together!!

Showin off his killer smile!!

A little tender moment with the brother and sister....ahhh!

This is him at one of his many goofy moments. My kids love to shove blankets in their clothes and try to see how big they can get!! I think mission accomplished!!

He has had many bike crashes, sports injuries, falling mishaps, basketball hoops being slammed down on himself after a good slam dunk but never a black eye. So it seems it took 13 years and some messing around with his cousin to fix the problem of saying' Never a black eye.' Funny thing is after all the things that have happened to him he got this by running into a wall. Poor kid!! But now he can't say he never had one!!! We love you buddy!!

Feeling some love....

Taelor has a friend named Tenley who has a brain tumor. She and I have been wanting to do something special for her and finally decided on a pamper party. So together with the help of a few other moms we put together this party. It was a surprise for Tenley so when she came over she had no idea what she was doing at our house. I explained to her that there would be some girls coming over to do hair and nails. She was very happy!!! The smile right then and there made it all worth my time and effort. She is such a sweet little girl with an adorbale personality!! I hope she felt all our love and continues to feel it as she goes through chemo!! We love you Tenley!! Fancy nails!! Oh la la!!

The pros doing the nails. Thanks girls!

Taelor getting her hair done being goofy like always!!

Tenley and her pretty mom Kim!! Had to write that Kim!!!! ;0)

My pretty girl

She had her first dance recital Thursday night. She was very nervous but fought through it and came out and dances her little heart out. She was worried she would forget some parts but she did great and from what I saw she didn't mess up to me!! She loves getting all fancied up in outfits and makeup so this was a day she had been counting down for. She has a vibrant personality and it was a fun proud moment to watch her do what she loves!!