My Favorite Look

Brandon can grow facial hair like a bear! (Do bears grow facial hair?) He shaves every morning, and a by the afternoon he already has a scruffy face!

I have always loved him with a goatee, but he thinks it gives off the wrong impression to people. What?...he doesn't want to be seen as tough, rough, outdoorsy, in charge, confident, etc.??

I finally convinced him to grow one while we were in St. George a couple of weeks ago. I love it!

Isn't he handsome? It only lasted for a couple of days....got too itchy and long he said. But I loved every minute of it! Thanks for the sacrifice babe!

Schedules here we come!

With the first day of school beginning, I have a few emotions:

First: saddness to see the summer ending. This summer has definitely been interesting...I am not sure I would recommend having a baby the day school gets out! It makes for a long month and a half when your kids want to be entertained, but you don't feel like entertaining. The last half of the summer was much better.

Second: I love warm weather. I love the fall even more, but it never stays long enough. I am not ready to brave the freezing cold...and I know that is coming. I also love nights of playing outside until 9:00....the days are getting shorter, and that means cold weather is coming :(

Third: I am so ready for a schedule! I love spontaneity....but I think I love having a schedule a little more! It makes it so my kids go to bed at a decent hour, we get back on our routine of scriptures, prayers, exercise (oh, wait...haven't done that yet!), and although it is crazy....it seems normal!

My kids were so ready for school to start, they were craving a schedule as well. Too bad everyday cannot be the first day of school, where they are so excited they jump out of bed, make their bed, get their clothes on, and ready for school before I even ask!






Halle went to school for 30 minutes to meet her Kindergarten teacher....such a tease to do to a child who has been waiting for years to go to school like her brother and sister. So, she will start next week - so anti-climatic! (I can't believe she is in Kindergarten....I remember taking Kason to Kindergarten like it was yesterday - and now he is in 5th grade!)

So, here is to schedules beginning. I am sure I will write a post in a couple of months about how crazy our schedule is and that I am ready for summer again. But until then.......Happy Back To School everyone!

Curtis and Megan's Wedding

Brandon's youngest brother got married last week. It was a wonderful day, and lots of fun. However, I did learn a few things about weddings that I would like to share.....

1. Don't think that you and all of the kids can actually be ready to go at 10:30 am when you start at 8:00am. It actually takes 3 hours! We could have made it in 2 and a half hours if it weren't for Ava's diaper explosion all over both of us as we were walking out the door! (We still made it to the temple on time....just not with much time to spare!)

2. Don't think that 2 ten year old boys can babysit 20 little kids in the waiting room of the temple while the adults are in the wedding ceremony....and be quiet! Even with the whole talk before hand of behaving and being quiet and respectful....20 kids don't translate to quietness! (OK, so we did have a couple of teenagers to help - but it was still nuts!)

3. Don't expect that the photographer will hurry when taking the "big group" picture outside of the temple - even when it is 90 degrees and the same 20 kids are still going nuts!

4. Do leave your 2 1/2 year old at home with a babysitter while you actually enjoy the wedding luncheon!

5. Do expect to have some form of chicken at the wedding luncheon. I mean, who hasn't had chicken at every wedding luncheon/dinnner? It was very good - especially when you get to eat it warm because you left your 2 1/2 year old at home!

6. Don't expect that you can get from the wedding luncheon, back home to pick up the 2 1/2 year old, and back to the reception for pictures on time....especially with the crazy traffic and construction on the freeway.

7. Don't expect that you can actually have a good family picture when you are all finally cute and ready in your wedding attire. If you do, the following will happen.....your 5 year old will sit on a wasp while getting in the right "pose" for the picture, your 7 year old will get hit by the teeter totter while trying to make it to the "pose", and your 2 1/2 year old will continuously run away and proceed to throw a fit if you try to make him sit in a "pose". All the while your husband is now fuming...and reiterrating why he hates trying to get any sort of a family picture, and it is just "not worth the fight!"

8. Do just bag the picture...who cares about getting the "perfect" family picture!

This was actually taken later in the night....after all the crying ceased for 2 mintues! Definitely not the "perfect family picture", but better than none!

9. Don't be any means expect 16 adults and 20 kids (all under the age of 11) to even remotely look at the photographer at the same time while trying to get a "big family" picture. (Yes, there are 36 people in Brandon's family - with spouses and kids....can you believe that?) And, if you are the photographer, don't try to proove how good you are by continuously calling all of the kids to look at the camera....it doesn't work! (See number 7 and then do number 8)

10. Do resign yourself to the fact that candid shots are always cuter the "posed" shots and let all 20 kids go play in the yard instead of fighting them any longer.

11. Do look at each other and just laugh about the whole situation, instead of crying out in frustration like you want to do!

12. Don't let your 7 year old daughter, who is already infatuated about weddings, catch the bride's bouquet!

13. Do enjoy a beautiful summer night, an amazingly gorgeous garden reception, and lots of good company... while all of the kids are happily playing because you are not trying to make them take the "perfect picture"!

14. Do plan on very onery kids the next day because of such a late night the day before. But smile when you see all of the crazy pictures you took the day before, and remember all of the funny moments! (Especially when they are all in the past)

More Wedding Moments

A Blessing

Our sweet Ava was blessed this last Sunday. It was a wonderful day, especially having all of our family with us. Brandon gave her a beautiful blessing, the food was good, and the company even better!

Brandon's mom (Grandma Debbie) made her blessing dress and blanket. She is such an amazingly talented woman, and has made all of my girls their blessing dresses. What a treasure for them to have!

I love my sweet Ava. She is so peaceful, calm, and happy. She brings peace into our home....which is much needed at times. We love her angelic personality, and hope it lasts a long time.

The kids especially love her, and say over and over to me "I am so glad we have a little baby to love." My thoughts exactly!

We love you Ava. Thank you for blessing our family!

Independence

This is what happens when you let a 2 1/2 year old pour his own bowl of cereal, because you are just too tired to fight him about it one more time!

Could have been worse....he could have made it to the milk before I made it downstairs!

Best Friends

Since the moment Braden was born, Kason has been so thrilled to have a little brother. (I actually think that he was just so relieved he wasn't going to be the only boy in a house of girls!)

They have a very special bond, one that I hope will last forever!

Braden lives for Kason to come home from school, practices, friends houses, etc. He runs to him every time he sees Kason - yelling "Dare" (this is what he has called him since he could talk - who knows where he got it!).

As a mother, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing your kids love and protect each other! And there is something so sweet about brothers loving each other so much.

So, since Braden idolizes his big brother, he tries to do everything Kason does. Who cares that he is 8 years younger!

This is their favorite summertime activity to do together:

Kason is a great skateboarder....and Braden has totally surprised me with how good he actually is. The kid has no fear! These pictures were taken when it was 95 degrees outside. They didn't mind, they stayed outside for a long time perfecting their skills. When they came in, however, they had bright red faces and were covered in sweat! Love the determination boys!

oh, and just for your information...the big trucks in the background are not mine....just my neighbors across the street. Don't worry they have three more (even bigger) trucks in their driveway that you cannot see! (Do you think I am a little bothered by this?)

one other thing....I am not sure what is up, but the spacing on my blog has been crazy lately! Blogger won't let me separate my paragraphs with spaces....it just does what it wants! Any ideas all my blogger experts?? So, sorry about the "visually unpleasing look of my post"