Has it really been 12 whole years?

It's been almost a month since the big guy's birthday, but we did celebrate for about a week!

Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Ama, and even Pops came to town to be here for Brayden's milestone in receiving the Aaronic Priesthood.

The Birthday weekend brought all sorts of fun festivities to be continued.... But for now, the Birthday continues on my blog since I was on a Summer hiatus.

Bray's Faves:

Color: Blue

TV Show: Saturday Football, really.

Sport: Football

Animal: dog

Holiday: Easter

Song: Light On, (David Cook)

Celebrity: Ben Roethlisburger (Big Ben), Steelers QB

Teams: BYU, Notre Dame, Steelers, Gators, Patriots, Dodgers, Celtics, Heat (is that enough? So the boy loves sports)!

Subjects: Math & Language Arts

Car: Corvette

Restaurant: In-N-Out

Food: shrimp

Dessert: chocolate cake

Candy: butterfinger

Temple: Salt Lake City

Thing to do: watch sports & draw

Movie: Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Place to go: Utah

Books: Fiddle of Fire, Football Genius, Cover-up

Scripture Story: 2,000 Stripling Warriors

Bray's big goal is to continue to advance in scouting to earn his Eagle at 14

and to learn to type fast.

Birthday Celebration at Pat & Oscars

Bray had a few of his close friends over to celebrate his bday before school started

We L-O-V-E you, sweet Brayden!

If ever I need to smile...

I pull out my kids' artwork. Works every time.

I especially love the eyelashes... and all the sunshine.

I love this artwork

where I can see the world through my four-year-old's eyes

where everyone is happy and dancing.

Where there is so much brightness, hope.

Izzie has that affect on me...

and I especially needed to smile and see the simplicity of life through a child's eyes this weekend.

I got the sad news that a friend that was once very dear and close to me was killed in a freak car accident. He was only 42. His sweet family survived...all four boys and his wife.

When my friend sent me the news, I fell to my knees. I'm so thankful for the simple beauties in life. The simple joys, the little things Curt does to make me happy, the things the kids say that make me laugh out loud, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our eternal families. My heart goes out to this family as they pick up the pieces and try to move on with a perspective that one day they'll see their beloved dad/husband again.

I love the new song my kids have been singing and humming around the house... It's such a simple message based off the

The Family: A Proclamation to the World and goes like this:

Izzie's portraits leave me in stitches...

and leave me with a smile in appreciation for the simple bounties...and families.

Shout from the rooftops!

It's Back to School!

Going to school when it's still triple digits outside just doesn't seem right. I know the kids would echo my feelings that the rest of August really should have just been pool and beach days. That being said...

Oh, I still did my happy dance...those day time hours are back when I can actually, quite possibly, just maybe get things done (okay, maybe not...I still have Izzie & Vivs to play with).

They all started new schools, in a new city, with new faces, a new routine, and loved it. phewww.

Kids are happy...mom is happy...everyone's happy

(Brayden's unsure...7th grade can be cruel, but he's great now).

I can hardly believe my little Lex is growing up and has one little foot in the world of big people. If I could freeze time, I would. Miss snappy pants (her new nickname) is wanting to be done with pictures already because everyone is watching. She's the embarrassed kind...oh, what fun we'll have with that!

and now I can breathe, organize, breathe some more and rest easy knowing that she's in a good place and loving life.

As a side note on tradition: Every new school year Curt gives each of the kids a father's blessing of comfort as they step into a new school year with all the unknowns. In our family, it's a line-up and takes a good chunk of time. This year, he finished with Lexie and then Izzie demanded to have one as well (even though she isn't going to school). So she sat quietly for hers, and then Vivie jumped up into the chair and wanted her turn. These moments are so special as they learn to appreciate the blessings of having a worthy father that can perform such sacred ordinances. They have the comfort of knowing that all they have to do is ask. How I'm grateful that there's not even a question in our children's mind if their dad is able to be that conduit because of the life he has chosen to live. Love you, babe!

61 days of Summer

and 61 days of cra-zy.

Mons had a week long scout day camp

A major hi-light was breaking away from our moving clutter and escaping to Utah just in time for Pioneer Day festivities.

Izzie, Lexie, & cousin Jonas were TV buds.

The gang. Brett & Emily, Jonas, Makai and US.

One of the things the kids enjoy at Ama's house is playing pool... and Kelly banned us.

Not cool.

Fun in the sun

Pioneer Day Party at the Stewart Ranch

(where Emily did that great photoshoot of the kids)

and Vivs has all the fun stripping down and wearing clothes and shoes that don't belong to her.

24th of July in Utah r-o-c-k-s. After attending this Sanpete County Demolition Derby Curt felt like his IQ had dropped like 25 points just for being there! I think we've seen it all.

Sanpete should be the people watching capital, USA.

Kenz & BFF Rachel after her harp concert. We LOVE the Ogden Family. All of 'em.

beauty tip: As soon as you arrive at Rachels, make sure to stick your face near a hive and get stung by a wasp right under the eye. OUCH!

Uncle Brett & Izzie on his cool bike

waiting in 115 deg heat to take a bike ride

The very posh Venetian for a night...

Tie dye...as promised.

She has to get right in there with the big kids

Lovely Belmont Park...If you've never been, you really should take the kids and go FUN DAY.

"I can do it myself!"

"That's a big bite, Daddy!"

She begged to go on. Go figure

...and "I can do my hair myself" and yes, I let her go out in public like this.

What's happened to me?

Isn't this non-g-string worn as a g-string lovely? Vivs likes wearing things backwards, inside out, mismatched, etc. We'll just have to keep these lovely pics for bribery purposes.

and apparently she also likes fingerpainting without permission in the new house.

my bathing beauty.

The boys had a 'Rock 'n' Roll Tour' with Pops. They think he's the most fun Grandpa that ever was and I'm glad. They broke rules and ended up meeting the star BYU lineup and just goofing off all day long.

S'mores, anyone?

I miss that fireplace.

and it's been a summer where Raid is our best friend. Ants. Ants in drawers, ants in laundry, ants climbing walls, ants in the refrigerator, ants in Izzie's pants. Ants EVERYWHERE. Those pesky little creatures. But we will win. Raid will prevail.

Our 'memory list' got 1/2 completed and I guess it was a lofty list for 61 days of summer which included moving all SUMMER l O n G. I just didn't feel motivated to take out my camera for all the pool days, beach trips and pretty much the whole summer. The ant spray was getting to my brain.