We have a teen-ager

Happy birthday Kaelee! She lived to see 13 Wahoo! I remember the day she was born we were so happy to have her in our little family and she has been a blessing every day since (Ok most days). She turned 13 on Sunday July 18, 2010. She gets to go to a big BYU Volleyball camp for her Birthday and she also got a long board. We had so much fun sending her on a Scavenger Hunt to find her present it was the highlight of the day for me.

Kaelee is into all things active. She plays Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, runs and jumps in track, and plays the trumpet in Band. Whew! Most mom's of the average 13 year old tell me the fight is to get them off the couch, my biggest struggle is to get her to slow down and be 13. This summer she has worked at the Sno Shack and attended multiple camps while playing on a competition Softball team. She got her first broken bone (Her pinky) and she is finally starting to speak up a little. Everyone tells me how lucky I am. Funny thing is I realize We have a very special girl in our home and I have known it since she was two that she would always be extraordinary! She helps me when I am sick without complaint, she is usually kind to her little brothers and sisters. She is Makenzie's biggest fan and coach.

I can't wait to see how she grows bigger and I know her grandma is amazed and proud of the young woman she is.

We love you Kaelee!

Our traditional Sunday Drive

This weekend we got the chance to go on one of our "Sunday Drives". We never know where we are going when we go but we just start driving. This weekend we ended up in Island Park. We tried to find new things to look at but we ended up at our favorite places, and made a few stops on the way!

Growing

Ok I will admit it my kids are growing FAST! Now I have always been one of those moms who thought those ladies at church who say to you (as your baby is crying, screaming, or spitting up),"Enjoy it, because it won't last that long!" were just plain crazy. I know that's not nice but as my baby just puked down my top into my bra the day couldn't go past fast enough, or Makenzie's nine months of colic (or constant screaming), or Gavin's turning blue at a moments notice, or Cache's constant accidents. These are all things at the time I couldn't wait to move past now I looked back at each moment and smile fondly at the memory. I catch myself, as I watch the young mom walking her crying infant up and down the hall, not to warn her to enjoy it.
This summer feels like the first or the last(depending on who you are asking) of a chapter in my life. My baby is going to school. My oldest is becoming a teenager (ick), and everyone in between is just old too. This summer Kaelee is turning 13 going on what seems to be 20 as she lays her plans on how to get the scholarships for college she wants. Makenzie is going into middle school as the self-declared most popular girl and some how I believe she will make it happen. Gavin (my little ladies man) is going into 2nd grade with the confidence of 10 kids his age, I love seeing him comfortable in his skin and himself. Then my baby Cache is going to school, he can count, spell, read some, and is overly independent. They are each such awesome kids but oh how I wish I got to wipe spit up, change diapers, or kiss boo boos for a few more years. As the kids grow I see in myself growing. I think the Lord helps us to grow so when it comes time we can let them go. I hate growing! But oh how I wish I had a time machine to go back and tell myself (through the long nights, the flu, the stitches, the broken hearts, and every other time my kids needed a hug from mom to make their world right)"Enjoy it while it last because it doesn't last for long!"

Newest member of our Family

Here is our newest member of our Family it's Zukie!

She is officially my 33^rd Birthday Present! Funny thing is my kids love her as much as me. I really thought it might be hard to have a new dog in our family after our two awesome previous dogs (Ice and Lexie) but wow she wormed her way into our hearts fast! She is a beautiful English Bulldog and we have to socialize her so she goes everywhere with us. It is annoying and fun all in one. She is very spunky and smart which sometimes equals disasters, but she is a great puppy.

Kaelee's pitching debut

Gavin got baptized

On Saturday June 5, 2010 Gaivn got baptized. He was baptized at the Rexburg Stake Center in Rexburg (this was very confusing for Leola). Gavin was concerned because I made the girls dresses for their baptism so he wanted me to make him something. He chose a Tye. The catch was that Jay had to have a matching one. After much deliberation in the fabric store, Gavin wanted pink floral an I knew Jay would not wear that, he chose green with lime green poka-dots. I actually thought ahead this time and sent out invitations to his baptism, which was fun. My favorite part was during his blessing when Jay began to explain that he was a natural leader as he was in heaven. This talent could be used for good or evil and to use it wisely. It just touched my heart, because in many ways Gavin leads his sisters and is very much the leader in his group of friends, and they often get in trouble following his lead. We had a very simple luncheon afterwards and the kids played everything turned out good.

2010 Summer

What can I say about summer? Hmmmmmm oh yeah crummy weather so far. The kids got out of school one week early (much to their pleasure and my dismay) due to budget cuts. The weather has been miserable all of May and now into June. Yuck! Kaelee just had to play in the water outside as her last day of school tradition it was maybe 50 degrees out and she jumped into the ditch. The funniest part is when she acted surprised when she got sick. I have great plans for next week to start everyone on a "Summer School" program we are each going to write a book and I will have them published (I'll let everyone know how they work). Gavin we will be working on his reading and math (I'll have even more gray hairs by fall). Kenzie we are going to work on reading comprehension and handwriting. Cache its all about kindergarten. Kaelee I think will help with the others I am excited to see what she comes up with for her book though. We have officially done nothing summery yet because the weather is bad. Cache asked me to get him his winter coat and he put on his snow boots because he needed protection from the wind. Ya gotta love Idaho. So my fingers are crossed for a great summer and if the weather keeps it up we might have to migrate south for the summer!