WhErE DiD ThE TiMe Go???

It is December. Almost Christmas. Wow. Where did the time go? I am feeling really sad right now becuase besides Zach's birthday post in October I haven't written since July! I figure instead of trying to catch up, I'm just going to move forward and try to do better! I was talking to my mom on the phone the other day, and she said "I was looking at you blog the other day, and it's been awhile since you wrote anything, I know you've been busy, so I'm sure it's hard to find the time to do it" and that's when it hit me... Yes we have been BUSY!!! So, that's what I need to be writing about, recording it all, so that a year from now we can look back and say, Oh ya, I remember doing that! I really really am going to do better but for now I need to finish my Christmas shopping! :) We all sat down lastnight and wrote letters to my nephew who is serving a mission in California as I was writing him, I thought I would add his letter, as it tells a little about what has been going on in our lives...

Merry Christmas!!!

Dear Braeden, December 12, 2011

You are probably wondering why I am writing you instead of emailing since that seems to be the easier thing to do, or maybe why I am writing you at all… since it has been awhile. But right now we are all sitting around the table together writing you. It is Sunday, the pasta is boiling for dinner, I am helping Boston spell words when he asks, which btw, how do you like his handwriting? Isn’t it amazing? He is in 1sr grade… J Halle is running around dancing and singing, she has really gotten into singing lately, it’s really cute! I’m sure you can’t even imagine her talking, let alone singing! J It has been a good Sunday. I know my mom told you, but I haven’t taken the chance to tell you that in September I was called to be the Y.W. President! I cried for 10 min. sitting in the bishops office when he asked me! I was speechless, overwhelmed, and didn’t even know what to say. I was sure that he had the wrong person, cuz that just wasn’t me!

I am still overwhelmed and feel like I don’t know what I’m doing, but every week gets easier! It is hard finding a balance with everything, and to still feel like I am able to take care of my family! Because this is the BUSIEST calling I have ever had!!! We have a great group of Y.W. so I feel very blessed to be with them at this time!

Our ward made a goal in August to visit every temple in Utah in a year! There are 14 temples here, so every month we have a temple trip with our youth! It really is amazing that they get to go to baptisms at all these different temples!

So far we have been to Logan, Provo, Jordan River, and St. George! We are going to the S.L.C. temple on the 19^th of Dec. I have never been inside the S.L.C. temple before, so it will be my first time! When we went to St. George we all drove down on Friday night and stayed at Grandpa and Grandma’s condo! Boys on one side, girls on the other! It worked out perfectly, it was so nice to be able to stay there! That night when everyone arrived we got together and had a devotional, Grandpa made sure he wasn’t there for that! I really didn’t see them much, as it was a quick trip! We were there just over 12 hours! Before we left to go back home, we took them to the Narrows and the Dixie Rock to go hiking and then got on the road! It was a lot of fun to have Zach there with me! It is still crazy that he is in Y.M. He is totally growing up, he is almost as tall as me, and wears a size 12 shoe! My little boy isn’t so little anymore! He is totally involved in sports, which keeps him busy, but I can’t imagine what he would be doing with his time otherwise! So, it is good! Sometimes I feel crazy running him everywhere, but it all works out! I always tell him I can’t wait till he can drive himself to practice, but then I realized that these are the times I need to cherish and just enjoy it! Because when he IS able to drive is when I will wish he was little again and I could run him all over the place! He is a great student and had straight A’s with 1 A- last semester! We are so proud of him! He really doesn’t have a lot of homework for being in Middle School! I thought he would have a lot more! He is loving Middle School and the dances! He is starting to like girls, so that kinda scares me… He is a good kid though, and so much help at home! Sometimes I feel like we expect a lot out of him being the oldest, but that is just how it goes!

I can’t even remember the last time I wrote you, which I feel totally bad about btw! I remember when you left I told you I would write you every month, well we both know that hasn’t happened! The time really does fly by, I can’t believe you will be home in 6 months! My kids talk about it all the time! I’m thinking it hasn’t gone by quite so fast for them! I LOVE getting your letters! I always look forward to them on Mondays and reading them to my kids! Obviously my kids keep me busy! I don’t ever take the time to do things for myself. I am being a mom right now, and that is what I am doing. I will have the rest of my life to do things I want to do! I really do have the best kids, I love them so much! Brinley is busy with dance! She loves it and doesn’t want to do anything else! She has learned so much being in this new studio! I’m glad that she has found something she loves, and can focus on that! For so many years we have tried getting her to play sports, which she is really good at, but she just doesn’t enjoy it…. So she dances because that is what she loves doing and that is what really matters! She has her Christmas recital this Saturday! This is my kids last week of school till they get out for Christmas Break! I am so ready for a break! We all need it! They will be out for 2 weeks, which will be SO nice! Brinley is also a good student at school, she loves her teacher and is very aware of all the kids in her class, she is so sweet and caring! Boston is huge! He weighs 76 pounds at 6 years old! He is the biggest in his class, and loves school too! It was really hard for him at first starting 1^st grade and going to school all day, but he loves it now and has a really nice teacher! He will be starting basketball after Christmas and Morgan will be coaching him. Halle boo, oh I could go on about her… she is my little partner these days! We go everywhere together! I have always had the 1 on 1 time with my youngest when the other kids go to school and I have to say, it is kinda fun! She makes things so much more fun and I love hanging out with her! She is learning and doing so many new things right now and developing her own personality, she takes lots of teasing from Boston and runs to Brinley or I to “save her”! She is so kind, and thoughtful for a little 2 yr. old! Really, like getting the door for me, or getting my shoes! Saying please and thank you, Sharing with her brothers and sister, she gives out hugs and kisses like you wouldn’t believe. She loves to help and will most of the time do things that I ask her to! She really brings a lot of love and laughter into our home, and I am so glad that she is part of our family!

Well, I hope that gives you a little recap of what has been going on in our lives, with all the busy, crazy, running around, I have realized that the most important times are when we are HOME together! The other night I made something really crappy for dinner, but it didn’t matter, the thing that mattered is that we were sitting around the table TOGETHER eating as a family! I think I worry so much about what to cook, when no one really cares, if I can just focus on having us all at the dinner table together everything else falls into place!

I wish the best to you over this Christmas holiday! I’m sure it is weird thinking this will be the last Christmas in the mission field! You have been so diligent as you have been serving, it is fun to hear about all you do on your mission! Keep up the good work Braeden! We love you and pray for you every day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

OfFiCiAlLy A TeEnAgEr!!!

(This picture was taken at the Labor Day Tournament in Spanish Fork- We were down by 2 and Zach was up with bases loaded-he hits a homerun to win the game! I just love the smile on his face!)

On October 2, 2011 this "once" little boy of mine turned 13! Yes, we officially have a teenager now! It is crazy to think that he used to be this little...

This was his first day of Preschool

I love this picture of him and Boston

Zach is 6 and Boston is 9 months old

Zach with Brinley (3 1/2 yrs. old)

I always stay up and blow up balloons to put in my kids rooms on their birthdays, but since this teenager of mine likes to stay up late, I went to bed before him and didn't get it done! Him and Morgan stayed up watching a movie, and I just couldn't stay awake... so it worked out perfectly, we did it in the morning and I even got Brinley and Boston's help! They thought it was great!

They were good little helpers, and it sure beat doing it all myself!

Yes, Zach was UNDER all those balloons!

He woke up when we started throwing them on his bed, but we made him stay there for a picture! :) They went to town with all the balloons! We had them everywhere! I finally made him pop them all this last weekend! I was sick of them all over the house!

I made his favorite breakfast, Puff Pancakes with Candy syrup, and for dinner he wanted Bar-b-que Beef and Texas Caviar! He could live off of this stuff! I make it almost every weekend during the summer, and I thought he would be sick of it, but he wanted MORE! He loves to help me make it too, which is always fun!

Zach's birthday is always over General Conference weekend, this year it was on a Sunday, so we spent the day hanging out, it was so nice! Halle really loved Zach this day, it was the best birthday present she could have given him! He LOVED it! They hung out together, reading books, playing my iPod, and she even fell asleep on him! So, So sweet! She hasn't done that since she was a tiny baby!

Halle kinda got into the cake that was cooling on the table when I was in the shower...

oops! She loved it though! I loved her little mischievous look here!

And my kids knew me better and even took pictures for me to see!

You can see exactly where her little chin was!

This was during the Sunday afternoon session!

So cute!

Zach looks so big!

I made Zach our traditional chocolate layered cake, but used a Snickers bar instead, since that is his fave!

I meant to put a pic with all of us, but this one came up and I didn't want to change it!

We went out Monday night to celebrate at Texas Roadhouse! He even got to ride the saddle!

This was Zach after eating his big steak dinner! He loved every bite of it, and this is how he felt after...He looks like he's going to explode!

Mmmmmmm!

My cute boys!

I can't believe he is 13 already! I feel like his birthday snuck up on us this year, things have been so busy! He picked out everything he wanted online this year, it is the first time we have let him pick out what he wanted instead of surprising him! Another sign that he's growing up!

The sad part was that none of his presents got here in time for his birthday! Bad planning on MY part! We even tried to pay for the 1-2 day shipping and they still wouldn't have made it on time! So, his presents didn't come until Tuesday, but it was still fun for him to get them delivered! So... he didn't open up any presents on his birthday, he was a good sport about it though! He got money from both his grandparents, and my sister gave him a card with money too, so he wasn't forgotten that's for sure!

Zach has grown up so much in this last year! For those of you who have seen him you would know that he went through a big growth spurt this year! He's almost taller than me and from September-April he grew about 4 in! We have it marked on our wall! At the time we didn't realize he was growing so much, but he was eating ALL of the time! And he would eat MORE than Morgan or I! I kinda miss him eating so much now, cuz now he just eats normal! He grew 2 shoe sizes and now wears an 11 1/2! He weighs 145 pds!

I feel like he is my newborn baby and I'm updating his growth status! Haha!

But it's crazy how big he is!!! I think he kinda likes it, he is definitely one of the biggest kids in his grade at the Middle School!

Zach is such a good kid! He always has been! He is always happy, and has a good attitude!

He is a leader, and kids look up to him! He is an example to everyone around him! He is the one on the team to pick everyone else up if they are down, you can't help but be happy when you are around him! What a great trait to have! He has a great sense of humor! Just this morning when I was taking him to school he was making me laugh in the car!

I get to take Zach to school every morning, he wasn't too excited about it at first, and wanted to ride the bus, but I love the time that we have together in the car, just us, after I drop Brinley and Boston off. I like knowing that he made it to school safe, and I like watching him walk into the school, and being with his friends. He doesn't complain, he just knows how to make the best of things, even if he doesn't like it!

I got to go to the school last Friday for an in-class choir concert to watch him! It was so much fun, and I love what he is learning! He used to take piano, he took for a couple yrs. and then I let him quit cuz he was too busy with football, I regret letting him, cuz I think he really has talent, and if he practiced would be really good. His teacher told me the same thing! Zach loves music! He can listen to a song and learn the words like that! He loves to sing, but doesn't think he is very good! But I do! He makes us laugh when he sings! He can be such a dork!

I am so thankful to have this kid in my life! He has brought so much joy into our lives, and I know there are many more memories to be made!

Sometimes I wish I could just FREEZE time! It seems to go by too quickly these days, and I just want to zap my kids so they can't grow up! o.k. not really, I have enjoyed watching Zach grow into a Young man! He is experiencing so many fun things in his life right now! He got to go to his first dance at the Middle School last month, and thought that was pretty awesome! I couldn't believe when I found out they had dances!!! They never had them when I went to Middle School!

Zach really wants us to finish a room for him in the basement, we'll have to see about that one!

He also has decided that he wants to have "hair" now! His whole life I have shaved his head! And this summer when we bleached it, I let him grow it out, and he doesn't want to cut it! I don't really care, he can wear it how he wants, he looks cute with it longer! And I think it gives him personality! Thanks for just being YOU Zach! Glad you had a Happy Birthday, and thanks for being patient with us as your parents! We only want what's best for you, and for you to be Happy! We love you!

BoYs Go CaMpInG!!!

Back in June our ward had Fathers and Sons and it got rained out. Boston was pretty bummed! They even had the weekend planned where they would be able to go, and then it was raining! When they rescheduled a different time to go Morgan wasn't able to take the boys then and promised them that he would take them camping sometime to make it up to them!

Zach probably would have been fine, but Boston was not going to forget it!

In August we had a little break where the boys didn't have any games so Morgan came home on a Friday afternoon with this canoe tied to his truck and told the boys they were going camping! They threw a few things together and off they went! Morgan isn't very spontaneous, but I have to say he did pretty good with this one!

They drove up American Fork Canyon and went to SilverLake. I guess they even had to drive through a little canal to get across to the campsite they were going to!

They (well Zach) made a fire, cooked hot dogs, and roasted marshmellows, went fishing, and got to sleep in a tent! Not more you could ask for a quick over-nighter! Boston was in heaven and they all had a good time together!

I'm so thankful to have a husband that is willing to do these kinds of things his boys!

It is these kinds of things they remember doing!

It's all about making memories!

I love their faces here!

They felt bad for leaving us girls home alone, but we got along just fine! We enjoyed a dinner at Cafe Rio, watched a movie and had a sleepover in moms bed! It was a nice relaxing night which was very much needed with all the baseball games we have had!

BoStOn finally lost his front tooth!

Boston finally lost his front tooth "deady"! It has been discolored for a long time and when I took him into the dentist last he wanted to pull it. He told me it was dead and it would eventually fall out on its own, we would just have to wait... well 6 months later it happened! I had all the kids into the dentist right before school started (no cavities for ANY of them) YAY!!! And our dentist said it would fall out any time, it wasn't even attached to the root anymore!

The first week of school Boston was eating an apple at lunch and it must have done the trick! When I picked him up he was so excited to show me that his tooth was hanging by a thread! He wiggled it and wiggled it all afternoon and couldn't get it! I sat down with him on the couch and he looked at me with his cute little smile and I pressed on it with my finger and it popped right out! It barely even bled! I am so happy that this tooth is finally out! I love the toothless look on him, I am not real excited for his BIG teeth to come in!

In the car showing me how loose it was!

He loved wiggling it with his tongue!

So Happy that his tooth is finally out!

Love that cute smile!

4th Annual Lava Hot Springs trip!!!

Every year we go to Lava Hot Springs with my family! August kinda snuck up on us this year and we decided to go the weekend before the kids started school! Only our family and Rhett's family were able to go this year, we missed everyone being there with us but we still had alot of fun!

Last year we tubed the river in the morning before we went to the pool, and the kids had alot of fun so we decided to do it again! Lance and Halle were older this time too, they didn't love it, but we had them go down with us a few times! We rented 2 of the 4 man tubes and all piled on making sure there was an adult to go with the kids each time! The water was alot higher this year which meant alot more rapids! The kids had a blast!

We missed my mom there taking pictures of us while we were floating down the river!

We didn't get any this time!

All my pictures were taken on my phone! I didn't take too many and the kids didn't like posing so I snapped these while I could!

These kids have so much fun together, Nate is just one of them! They can't get enough of each other when they are together!

I love that Lava really is in the middle of nowhere! It is the funnest little place to go! Boston even noticed the "L" on the mountain!

Halle having a snack... I think the sun is in her eyes!

These 2 little beautys slept for a couple of hours! It was so nice! We would take turns sitting with them while the others would go on the slides!

Having lunch!

This was Brinley's first time ever jumping off of the platforms!

She had decided she was going to jump off the lowest one and she loved it, so she went for the higher 2! She and Nate saved the biggest one for last! They spent the last 30 minutes on the top waiting to jump! Finally Brinley decided to jump and it took Nate up till the last second when they announced that they were closing that he finally decided to take the plunge! It was pretty funny! Boston jumped from the lowest one, and that was it! It is crazy to think that Zach was his age when he jumped off the highest one his first time! Different personalities... Boston doesn't love the fast slides either, we couldn't get him to go on one! He is kinda a mama's boy, and I kinda like it!

We always go to the Hot Pots after the pool closes at 8! The water is SO hot, so we don't last long. There was this little ledge that all the kids wanted to sit on, so they had to take turns...There were so many people here this night! It was packed!

Bailey and Boston

Bailey and Halle

All the kiddos

Just as we were leaving

We stopped and got ice cream on our way out of town, the kids were so tired, and slept all the way home!

Zach has really been into these Oakley sunglasses. They all had theirs on and wanted to walk into the ice cream place with them!

Back to.... ScHooL!!!

It's Friday, and I can hardly believe that my kiddos have been back in school for a week!

I'm never ready for my kids to leave me after all summer and go back to school, but this year totally snuck up on us!

We snuck in our annual Lava trip the last weekend and came home early Sunday afternoon since Zach's first day of Middle School was the next day!

Yes, my oldest baby started Middle School this year! But he was so ready to be done with Elementary! After being the oldest in the school last year, now he gets a turn to be the youngest in the school again, and to be called a "sevey" (another term for 7th grader) which they don't like to be called! But I reminded him that next year he will get to call the kids seveys!

He really has enjoyed it so far, it is a big change, but he loves going to school with all of his friends again! 2 years ago when North Pointe was built he lost alot of his friends there, so he was happy to be with them again!

On Monday they had only the 7th grade go which I thought was a great idea to let them get used to being there, & where their classes are, etc. before all of the older kids come!

I love watching this boy grow into a young man! He is such a good kid and has a kind heart! He is a little sad to not be playing football this year, but is excited to be playing with his new Red Sox baseball team this Fall! Super League starts tomorrow, I can't even believe it!

Oh, and if you're wondering where a picture of this handsome boy is...

well, I guess he is too cool for that this year!

I wanted a picture of him standing in front of his new school, but he wouldn't have anything to do with it! I guess I'll have to snap a picture of the school by itself, but that's not very fun!

My little Boston started 1st grade this year! I don't think he really knew what to think about it, and is still a little overwhelmed by it all. But I know he'll get the hang of it! He is a great learner and loves to read, so I know he will learn lots of good things this year!

Boston in his new shoes...

this kid seriously has the biggest feet out of any 6 year old I know! This year we had to get him a size 4!!! He has been so good at wearing his orthodics, and isn't much of a flip flop guy anymore! Probably cuz his feet kill him when he doesn't wear them!

This little beauty started 4th grade this year! She was really hoping to get Zach's old teacher, but didn't. She was really bummed the whole week after finding our teachers out... until we got to back to school night and walked into her classroom only to find a super cute, energetic, young girl to be her teacher! YEAH!!!! Brinley couldn't have been happier! We knew nothing about her teacher other than she was new to this school! She would have loved to have more friends in her class, but there is always room to make new friends!

Brinley has decided to put a few more hours of dance into her week, she danced all summer and loved it, and is moving up a few levels! We'll see next week how that all works out with school and everything else! Brinley was a super big helper to me during the summer, and I will miss her badly, but am excited to see what this year has in store for her! She is such a sweetheart!

Together... 8:00 a.m. mind you! ;)

Boston let me walk him into his class and even take a picture! I just love this kid!

He could care less what anyone else thinks! I just hope it lasts!!!

Brinley with some of our neighbor girls...

(Shaylee, Mariah, Mylee, Kayla, and Brinley)

Me and Halle have gone down to the school EVERY DAY this week to eat lunch with the kids!

It is such a transition for these 1st graders to be at the school all day, let alone eat lunch there!

It is a nice break during the day for Boston and gives me comfort knowing that I was there to help him open his capri sun, bag of chips, or whatever he needed help with! Oh, and to wipe off his face! Haha! You don't know how many kids walk out of the lunch room with peanut butter from ear to ear! I just wanted to help him with his routine and make sure he knew what to do! The lunch room is crazy and there are duty guards to help the kids, but not enough of them to go around! Today when we went I made Boston open his capri sun by himself and he DID it! I was so excited! I know that sounds silly, but I have always been there to open everything for him, and never even thought of teaching him how to do it till now!

This may have been our last day going cuz Halle threw a fit today! She was screaming the whole way into the school, I'm pretty sure she just wanted to be at home in bed watching Little Mermaid! I don't blame her! She finally stopped once we were in the lunchroom and she saw the kids! But man she was NOT happy! My little neighbor girl McKenzie even came up to me and asked why Halle was so cranky! I thought that was funny!

This is Boston with his BF Hank. They were hoping to get in the same class this year, but didn't so they look forward to lunch where they can sit by each other! Oh, and to play football together at recess of course! Hank was diagnosed with Diabetes almost 6 months ago, in fact I remember they had to go up to Primary Children's on the day of Boston's birthday party! :(

They have been good little friends, and I know Boston would always have Hank's back if anything were to go wrong! He is such a cute kid!

This is how Boston felt the first day of school! He was wiped out! This kid has GOT to get more sleep! This was about 4:00 in the afternoon, and I couldn't believe he fell asleep! I let him sleep till 5:30 and then woke him up so we could go to dinner. We took the kids to Chilis to celebrate another school year! We ran to Wal-Mart after to get the kids some school supplies and it was CRAZY! Everyone else was doing the same thing... never again! Zach still needs some more things and I dread going back!

I have enjoyed spending some 1 on 1 time with Halle! It is always so fun! I have been blessed to have my kids far enough apart that I have always had someone little home with me to spend some time with when my older one(s) go to school! I dread the thought of when I won't have anyone by my side to hang out with where ever I go! I seriously HATE going to the store by myself! I love having one of my kids with me! Who wants to be alone? 2 is much more better than 1!!!

Happy New School Year!

Not really, but you gotta make the best of it right?

This 8:00 a.m. schedule has really put a cramp in my style! I have to say that I actually like it! It is so nice having everyone up in the mornings getting ready at the same time!

Morgan absolutely loves that he gets to see all of us in the mornings before he goes to work!

Being back in a routine will be nice... but why is it so much work to get your kids to bed early?

Summer here... Summer gone...

Wow! I am feeling a bit sad as I write this right now... that summer is almost over! Only 1 more week until my kiddos go back to school!

I am also feeling sad that I haven't posted 1 thing about this summer!

I have been trying to play catch up and haven't quite "caught up" yet!

Going to Cooperstown, NY in July was definitely the highlight of our summer! It was something we will never forget, and I am so grateful that we were able to have that experience together!

I look back at pictures from while we were there, and I honestly MISS it! I have about 450 pictures that I printed at Costco that I still need to put in a book of our trip that I am just trying to find the time to do!

I feel like most summers we spend swimming at the pool, but with the pool not opening until June 17th this year I contemplated even getting a pass, I didn't know if we would use it enough. Morgan knew better and went ahead and got us one, and I'm glad he did, cuz we have spent MANY days there since we have been back!

We spent most of June getting ready for our trip, or should I say "I" spent most of my time getting everyone else ready!

We got to spend a few days with my brothers family who were here from Tennessee and had Lehi Round Up Days before we left!

The week before we left (when I was busy getting all of the last minute things done) Halle got sick! I thought I would never be able to do everything I needed. I dropped everything and held her for 2 days while she was running a fever. Luckily it didn't last long and I was still able to get everything done! It's alot different packing to go on an airplane, than to just drive to St. George where I can throw whatever I forget into the van as we are leaving out the door!

We left on June 29th and came back July 13th! We got to spend the 4th of July at Cooperstown, watching baseball games! We drove to the city of Oneanta for fireworks that night, which was fun! Morgan and Zach stayed, cuz they were so tired and didn't want to get back late.

My mom and dad lived in Oneanta right after they were married. My dad went there to play baseball, I don't remember how long they lived there for, I am thinking it was just for the summer. We were so sad it was dark, cuz we would have loved to go see where he played and where they lived and everything! So sad that we were that close and didn't even get to see!

After we got back from our trip I thought we would be so tired we would want to relax, but the kids spent the ENTIRE day outside playing in the yard with their friends! I think they were happy to be back home and out of the city! It was nice to be home!

Their best sides...

Our Family

Both Zach and Boston played in the Pioneer Day tournament in South Jordan. This was Boston's first tourney and it kinda did him in! He was a bit worn out both days!

My mom was here for the weekend and stayed another day since my birthday was on Sunday! Her and Morgan made it a special day for me! We all slept in and skipped church cuz we were so worn out from the weekend. You just have to do that once in awhile, and it was SO nice!

Morgan and my mom made dinner and my mom made me a cake! Everything was so yummy and it was so nice to not have to be in the kitchen! We went to the park that night to listen to this band play that a couple of guys from our ward were in. It was a nice relaxing day!

The next weekend we went down to St. George for Zach to play in a tournament with a new team. This was their first time playing together, and it was really fun! This is the team he will be playing with in the Fall with since he won't be playing football! Sigh...

I am so sad he won't be playing football this year! Hopefully taking a year off will help his knees and give them a break! He has Osgood Slaughters disease, so ice and rest are about the only thing that will help him right now! It will be nice to not have to worry about him getting injured though!

So, June and July flew by! I kinda feel like we haven't had a summer! Although it was fun to getaway for a couple weeks and go on vacation! We have spent many days swimming and hangin with friends! Zach has kept busy with baseball, Brinley has been busy dancing! I originally had planned to have her take the summer off, but she didn't want the "break"! They actually had a "break" and it was while we were in Cooperstown, so it worked out perfectly!

Boston has been my little buddy and big helper to Halle! I love having this kid around and love that he doesn't have a super busy schedule yet! He is so much fun to be around and Halle loves to play with him! He is ready to play flag football this fall!

I can't believe my kids go back to school on Monday! We are leaving Friday to go to Lava Hot Springs with my family, we go every year, and this year it hasn't quite happened yet, so we are going to hurry and squeeze it in! I will post pics later!

My family on the day of my birthday

My awesome mom with me and my girls!

She always makes everything so special...