The Pretty Girls!

Maggie, Tallis, and Molly looking so beautiful!

Happy Birthday Smed!!

September 14th has come again and yet again I cannot believe that Sawyer is another year older. Eight years ago as we sat in the McCall hospital for thirty-some hours watching the World Trade Center disaster play out again and again I would not have been able to tell you how amazing my oldest is or was going to be. Sawyer is my sensitive helper and my right hand. You are so quick to talk back and want the last word, might I say a little llama drama. You are smart and have an endearing sense of humor and a deep love of animals, fake and real. I cannot imagine our lives without you in it and all that followed. I cannot wait for the years ahead, and yes, I know that they will fly by as these so quickly have. Without good family my prayer of being a mother might have gone unfulfilled, I cannot even imagine. We love you Smed and hopefully your eighth year will go slower than your seventh. Happy Birthday.

Quack, Quack!!!

Today is the day... the big game between BSU and Oregon! The boys left for school decked out in green. Sawyer said they would probably be the only ones because everyone else is BSU fans. I also had to call Madison and make sure she was wearing her BSU shirt...she was, of course! Madison and Craig will have alot to talk about tomorrow and I guess we will see who gets to be the one to gloat!! Did I mention that Craig works on a crew were the owners have season tickets at BSU and has been asked on numerous occasions what the big yellow 'Zero' in his back window stands for? Fun, Fun, Fun!!

I loved this!!

It came out too small but it reads- "Do NOT make me use my Logger voice!"

First Day of School 2009!

I am not ready to say goodbye to summer or be settled down to the schedule of school but this day came all the same. The boys were excited to pick out their own clothes and NOT sleep in. I'm sure that this will not always be the case! Sawyer is excited to have Ms. Lattimer for his second grade teacher and Sidon will have Mrs. Stoker for Kindergarten. Sidon came home and reported that it was only kind of fun and they didn't learn anything to which Sawyer replied that you never learn anything on the first day of school. We have the blessing of the Stanford Clan again this year. They are so great about taking the boys along with them in the morning which allows me to let the little girls sleep. We are going to take full advantage of the hot, sunny weather and continue to ride bikes to school until we no longer can. Of course this forces me to pull out the stroller in the afternoon for a much needed walk. I was excited and nervous for Sidon as he headed out this morning but I think he is going to do great. It was nice to have the quiet and the girls played all things girly for the few hours that he was away. And of course when he came home they were ready to play Transformers with him. Ahhhh, everything in balance!

Bo's New Toy!

Bo has been wanting a dirt bike for a long time. I could not tell you how many Thrifty Nickels have come through our home or how many times I have been summoned to the computer to look at a 'Sweet Bike' on Craigslist. Bo is extremely careful with his money and now that he has a job he decided that it was time to get that bike he had always wanted. This is easier said than done! Bo had come across a listing for a bike that fit all of his criteria AND was in his price range. He made the call and decided to head down to Nyssa to take a look. The night before he was to make the trip he was a nervous wreck. Spending his hard earned money and that much of it all in one place had him hoping and praying that this bike was worth the drive. We received the call, 'I am the proud owner of a dirt bike!' and beieve me I could see his smile through the phone and of course the Mom in me took over and asked, 'You are going to stop and get a helmet, right?'. I am thankful for having this big kid in my life I am proud of the person he has become. I am extremely happy for him to get to enjoy something that he will not take for granted. When he came home from his first tour of Cuddy Mountain on his new toy he was smiling as he said 'It was worth EVERY penny!'. And he did purchase that helmet on the way home!!

Congratulations Lewis and Kinna!

We had the privilege of attending a really sweet wedding last weekend. I have such a soft spot for those weddings were the bride and groom are looking at one another like they are the most perfect thing in the whole world. This was one of those. From the moment they came over on Valentines Day at 9:30 p.m. so excited to share their news of becoming engaged to this day I am so so happy for the two of them. My prayer for them is that they always look at one another and see that person they fell so madly in love with. It took me back to my own wedding and how I was looking at that guy that the Lord picked for me. As an added bonus we had the opportunity to take some family pictures which is not a fun venture for Craig. He was a good sport and smiled pretty and we have one more picture of us and all the kids, SUCCESS!



This is how it all starts! Maggie was wanting to talk to Kinna all day, I think she was a little intimidated by the gorgeous bride in her beautiful dress. When she was finally brave enough to ask for a picture she realized that beautiful girl was still Cousin Kinna!