Eight is Great!

My little Brady Bear is turning eight in just a few weeks. It seems like yesterday that I was sending him off to kindergarten and maybe a week ago that he was learning to walk and talk. I fell in love with him from the first moment I saw him. I was still lying on the OR table and Kam, after Braden was weighed and cleaned up, brought him over so I could finally lay eyes on him. His little face was perfect. He was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. He looked at me and stuck out his tongue and I was hooked. He still holds my heart and will forever.

Braden is a serious kid who is wise beyond his years. He is so tender and shows love through service to others. He is a really good kid and is almost always quick to obey. One of my favorite things about Braden is that he shows excitement in the most beautiful way. I remember once while living in Pennsylvania my mom flew in on Braden's birthday as a surprise. We drove to the airport to pick her up and when Braden saw her he started to cry. He is the best big brother to his brother and sister and all around a total STUD!

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Naughty Sister

Riley is a very good baby...most of the time. She is silly, affectionate, and very interested in everything around her. She loves watching her brothers and destroying playing with their toys. She communicates very well and is learning new words all the time. She has also become a really great sleeper. Riley loves to color. Sometimes a little too much. She tries to get into drawers she's not allowed and if she finds a pencil or pen she will color on the nearest thing to her. At least most of the time she looks for a piece of paper. Today she got into the kids craft drawer and pulled out the markers. I found her like this, coloring on a piece of paper but she also colored on herself. Thankfully she didn't color on anything else. Naughty Sister!

And I just had to share this photo from our lunch the other day.  

Riley makes this face all the time and it is absolutely so cute! Love her.

My Baby is a Kindergartener

I hope my kids are always excited to go to school as they are now. Carter didn't given too much thought about school during the summer but his eyes were alight as we started to gather school supplies and later visited the school. At the open house he decorated a name tag to wear on his first day so the teachers and aids can help him find where he needs to go. He also met his teacher, Ms. Corrales. He was shy when meeting her but I don't think it will be long before he warms up and she becomes his best friend.

Sissy decorated herself.

Braden has been getting anxious for school to start since we got home from Utah. He has really missed his friends and his teachers. He was very excited that at the school open house he was able to say hi to his 1st grade teacher Mr. R. Braden's teacher this year is Ms. Spencer. She is a great teacher and I foresee she and Braden working really well together. Braden was super excited to find out that 2 of his friends from the ward, Ava and Leilani, are in his class this year.

Today, the first day of school for the boys, was really exciting. Carter was awake nearly an hour before he needed to. Kam tucked him into bed with me to wait for the alarm to go off. As soon as it did he rushed to his room to get dressed, make his bed and then back to my room to comb his hair. He practically had his lunch all put together before I even could pull out the plates to begin making breakfast. He and Braden got along so well together this morning. I loved hearing the encouraging words Braden had for his brother. I didn't take the boys to school, instead I let them go with our carpool, which is another thing Carter was super excited for.

Waiting for Carpool

There goes my baby!

The whole carpool gang: 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 5th and K!

My friend Kim saw Carter and took this shot for me. He was beaming!

Last night we did our traditional back to school dinner and mini-home-evening where we talked about school and priesthood blessings and then the boys received a blessing from their dad. The spirit was so strong and I feel from the blessings that this is going to be a very special year. I see carter growing in many ways especially socially as he learns to communicate better and begin new study habits. Braden's blessing talked much of missionary work and being a good example to his classmates. I think with his upcoming baptism he has much to show with his ever growing testimony and faith.

Happy First Day of School!! 

Lake Mead

We spent the last day of summer out on the lake with some of our wonderful friends, the Starley's. We are so grateful to them for not only taking us out on their boat but for welcoming us with open arms to our new ward, neighborhood and state. This was the first time to be out on a boat for both Carter and Riley and Braden's second time (he was only 1 1/2 the last time we were on a boat).

Braden was very brave. He was anxious to try everything. He liked the tube but got a little worried when we went too fast. He also tried to wake board. He was doing really well, but never made it up. He stopped after a while because he was frustrated that it wasn't as easy as it looks. His favorite was the ski-trainer.

I took Riley out on the tube. I wasn't sure how she'd like it but she loved it. She screamed in delight! She also really loved watching everyone take turns behind the boat. She would point and smile at them.

Carter was hesitant to get in the water at all until the very end of the day when he finally jumped in just as we were ready to pull the boat out.

Wake surfing was my favorite. After watching Nick go out with his kids I thought there may be some hope for me, but I was certain that I would not be able to get up. I surprise myself by getting up after a few tries. I'm glad I didn't give up as I was near doing. I wish I would have been able to get Kam out to try wake surfing (maybe next time) but I did get him out on the tube with me.

We all had a really great time. Both the boys said that being out on the boat was the best day of their life. Hopefully one day we will be able to join the club and get a boat of our own so we can play on the lake more often. For now, we will gladly accept invites from any of our friends!

Up North

I'm just going to have to face that our life as a family will take place in Henderson, NV. I still call Utah home, but it really isn't anymore. We haven't lived in Utah for 5 years now and I don't see us ever going back so I guess it's time to let the Nevada Sate song, Nevada Means Home sink into my heart. But even though Nevada is our home, it doesn't mean I will ever not want to be in Utah around my family. It's our new tradition to spend 2 weeks "up north" each summer. This summer was really fun but also sad too as we had to say farewell to some of our family who are headed to Minnesota for school.

Our trip began earlier than planned since my mom's back was hurting her while she was down visiting with us so we drove her home and Kam met us later with her car. Upon arriving we joined my family in Salt Lake for a Bee's game. We ate dinner in the parking lot of Lowes and then headed to the stadium for the game.

We didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the game. We did with though! Mostly we spent our time laughing together and making faces pretending to be emogi's.

Uncle Peter made the game complete by buying the kids some peanuts and crackerjacks!

The best part of the game by far were the fireworks! Riley and Navy both fought over who got to sit with Grammy Bo to watch them. Riley loved the loud booms, but navy not so much, she spent the whole time peeking through her fingers that were covering her eyes.

The following day we went to the Days of 47 Parade in Salt Lake. Afterwards, we visited Gramma Dee and then took a long nap!

One of the fun things we did after Kam joined us up north was spending the day at Seven Peaks in Provo. We had so much fun, and although he was scared at first, Braden went on almost all the big slides and he loved them. We went on the perfect day. It was overcast with a chance of thunderstorms that didn't come until late in the afternoon. The lines were short and it was the perfect temperature.

Riley loved the water.

Our favorite slide was the boomerang. We kept trying to see if we could get enough speed to touch the other side of the half pipe. My brother and I did it once, touching it with his big toe.

My brother, Peter who volunteered with ACT was part of their summer production of Fiddler on the Roof. Kam and I were going to go to the show together but he ended up needing to help my youngest brother fix his car so my mom and I went together instead. It was a really fun night and I'm really glad that I was able to spend the evening with my mom.

Also while up north, the kids and I went to the Highland Day's parade. The kids loved all the candy they threw out. Before the parade we walked around to look at all the booths. The kids got a kick out of an airplane/box booth where they got to try on this Navy helmet.

While with the Henrie's, we played games, got ice cream, ate rasperries and apricots, and got to go for a ride with uncle Kris in this Razor.

Even Sis went for a ride.

Our week with Kam seemed short but he had to get back to work. After dropping him off at the airport I headed to my mom's so we could get ready to go camping at the river. This is one of my most looked forward to vacations ever. I love being in Idaho near where my grandparents grew up and I love getting to see all my extended family on the Auger side.

Tent Row

Keeping warm by the fire with Uncle Dane and Michelle

Riley was just a baby the last time we camped at the river. This year she was toddling around playing in the dirt.

Sis in a bucket

Bath time in the bowl

This year I was really excited for Carter to go down the river on his own tube. I had to trick him both times we went down. The first time I told him he would be on the same tube as me but really I planned for him to have his own tube while I took Riley with me. The second time I got Carter out in the water telling him I needed to take a picture with him since I didn't get a picture the first time around.

Carter was so mad at me. The first time he went down he decided it was okay until he fell out of his tube at the bridge. He didn't even really fall out, I could see that he was going to flip and I grabbed him, pulling me up on my tube. He did get back in his own tube but decided he didn't want to go down again which is why I had to tricked him again. He was upset at first but warmed up to the fun very shortly after. It probably helped that we steered clear of the pillars by the bridge and he didn't fall out.

Sissy was a big help on pick up duty. She loved seeing us all floating the river and she loved being able to play with Olie, the dog (she always wanted to be right near him.)

I only took Riley down the river once. I had tried to put her down for a nap but she was too excited to sleep so I grabber her jacket and took her with me. She did okay. She liked just laying near me and nearly fell asleep but any time the water would splash on her she'd wake or cry. It was too cold for her I guess.

Braden was an animal! He went down the river every time a group went. He couldn't get enough. I love that he loves it as much as I do.

While at the campsite all my cousin's kids, mostly the girls, followed my brother's girlfriend around asking her if she was Ariel. She put on a great charade telling the girls stories and introducing them to Peter, I mean, Prince Eric. For dramatic measures my brother proposed to Ariel and she said, YES! I wish it was a real proposal because I just love Chelyse!

Our camping trip did not disappoint. I only wish, as I always do, that Kam would have been able to be with us. We were lucky that we had to leave a little early to head home because just as we were leaving it started to pour rain. Driving home was a bit scary but at least I knew I didn't have to sleep in the rain that night. Instead we headed to the Henrie's so we could say goodbye to the "G" Family. Even though we don't get to see each other often it was really hard to say goodbye them knowing that our infrequent visits will be even more infrequent. These kids love each other, but hopefully through FaceTime and cell phones they won't forget just how much.

After lots of hugs and fixing a flat tire we were headed for home. It felt good to be back but it never gets easy saying goodbye.