Xan

 While we were suffering in the heat, Xander spent the first week of July at the cabin with my parents and his cousins. 

 He was able to con my dad into taking him to the Black River where he caught too many fish to count. 

 My dad told me he is so impressed with Xander's fishing abilities and skillz. 

Xan was able to con Joe into going too.  He wants me to go next year - it involves a lot of hiking so I think I will.  I love seeing Xander doing something that makes him so happy.

June

flew by.  Seriously.  I took this picture of Ben in the beginning of the month before he left for a week to scout camp (which he was so nervous about but ended up loving).  I am so thankful for this kid.  He is so obedient and helpful - he keeps me sane!

 Also, in early June my dad ended up being admitted to the hospital for heart problems.  By divine intervention - the doctor found and put a stint into a blocked artery in the back of his heart.  It is something that doctor's routinely miss and it could have proved fatal.  Over the past few months my dad's health has continued to deteriorate.  Please pray for him.  I can't even imagine my life without him, I love him so much.

 Ian has had quite a few days off work (trying to let his back heal).  One of the major pluses was all of the time he spent with Evan.  Evan loves his dad so much.  So do I :)

 Also in early June, Christy and Eric went to girls camp so the boys and I got to spend the night over at their house with their kids.  They have such a fun house - the boys had a blast.  One day Xander and Ben stayed all day long.  Max only left because he had a dental procedure.  I am so grateful for such good friends that live so close.  We love the W fam!

June was a great month for our family.

Have you ever

felt a certain way and just wanted to hold onto that feeling forever?  Like a first kiss or the first time you ride your bike.

I felt that today.

Xander was ordained a teacher by my dad.  You might not know what this means, but what basically happened was that my dad gave him a blessing.  I have never felt the spirit so strong.  I started crying, which I never do now days.  Sometimes I feel as if I'm made of stone or that I have to be, but today the waterworks fell.

In the blessing my dad talked about how true happiness come from serving other people.  He challenged Xander to be an example in our house and to be a peacemaker.  He said more than that and I can say for certainty that the things he said were inspired.

Today I am so thankful to be my father's daughter.  I am thankful that Xander is his grandson.  I am thankful that my dad is worthy to give Xander such a blessing.  Those two have always had a strong and special bond.

As I sat in Relief Society a good friend wrapped her arm around me and said, "You look sad today".  As she hugged me I felt such peace.  I didn't want her to let go.  This particular friend understands a lot that other people don't.  She knows without me having to say any thing.  I am so thankful for her friendship today.  On a day when I desperately needed it.  It made me realize I am not alone.  That my Heavenly Father loves me and blesses me through my family and friends.

Today I am thankful.

Fall Break

Ian had the first week of fall break off work so we traveled to the Lodge to spend a few days there. We didn't do much - just hung out and enjoyed each others' company. The boys played 3 flies up:



Evan packed all of his toys in his backpack and went exploring outside.
Xander called some elk. As soon as he heard them call back, they all jumped on the ranger to find them.
On one of the days my mom took us to the campsite my dad was setting up for the Super Activity he was preparing for.



Xander found an elk jaw bone.
The boys played some more football.

Grandma and Grandpa searched out fire wood.
Xander helped out :)

Later me, my mom, Xander and Evan took a walk. We were interrupted by a rainstorm and my dad had to come pick us up. We were all so excited to see a double rainbow.

Proof of fall in Arizona:
Another day my mom and I took Xander to Sheep's Crossing to fish. It's one of my favorite spots in Arizona. It was freezing that day so my mom, Evan and I stayed in the car.


Evan and I got out briefly to go for a little walk.

We saw a snake. Thank goodness it was NOT a rattlesnake. Been there, done that.

Evan got warm and cozy in my sweatshirt. Also, I think he might have brown eyes? Where in the world did he get them? His eyes are constantly changing from green to grey to brown.
On the ride back I spotted a porcupine by the side of the road. Of course I stopped so Xander could get a closer look. He took a quill. We found out later that porcupine's quill's have a natural antibiotic in them. Also, if you look closely you can see Xander isn't wearing pants. He's actually wearing his sweater on his legs. His pants got wet fishing.
It was a fun trip. I spent a lot of time with my mom. We talked, did puzzles, went for walks and watched Little House on the Prairie. Xander and Ian shot a little bit too. We love it up there.

Christmas Eve part 1

On Thursday I only had to work half day. We had Liam and Elliott over to play (Christian had mouth surgery the day before and had to take it easy). I love Tiffany's kids like my own - it's always fun to have them over. Elliott is one of the most self sufficient kids I know. That kid can do anything! Later Kalani and Kahea came over with Pono and Ashton. Pono quickly made himself at home and watched a movie with Elliott and Evan. Kahea brought me treats and Kalani helped me with my computer. I am lucky to have them as friends.The next day was Christmas Eve. I spent the morning with Tiffany, Holly, Tayler and Phoebe at Anthro in Scottsdale. It was so much fun.

Later (after some last minute shopping and baking cookies for Santa) I took the boys to my mom and dads.

This was the first face I saw:
I'm sure you all know how much I love Ruby. I keep trying to steal her but Darrel and Trina won't let me!

Evan has to hold Ruby every time he sees her. She loves it.

There was plenty of food and treats at grandma and grandpa's. Notice the hat Max is wearing. He cut his forehead and was so worried someone would ask him about it so he's been wearing hats. The kid is so weird.

We hung out and watched cheesy Christmas movies.
Ian showed up around 5:30. The earliest EVER! He never gets home on Christmas Eve before 7. Then we let the kids open one gift at my mom's. It's always a blanket.
Rowan was hilarious. He got a Spiderman blanket. He LOVED it. Like LOVE, LOVE, LOVED! it. He kept giggling and looking at it.

Evan got a Toy Story blanket. Perfect. He never goes anywhere without his Woody doll. And now he takes his blanket everywhere too!
Ben and Max cuddling up in their blankets. I don't have any pictures of Xander because he yelled at me and I sent him home. He is so frustrating. Let me tell you having an (almost) teenager is 1,000 times harder than having an infant. Seriously, it's mentally draining.

I can't believe I didn't get a picture of Addy and her blanket. I'm a slacker. Ruby got a Tinkerbell blanket and she loved it.

More on Christmas Eve later...

Christmas FHE

On Christmas morning my dad usually reads the account of Jesus' birth from Luke 2. This year, my mom decided to do it a little different. She wanted to have all of the grand kids dress up while my dad read the story. We all congregated at my parents house on Monday for the reenactment.

Ruby didn't want to dress up so she helped Grandpa read the story.
Xander, James and Michael were the Wisemen. Max really wanted to be a Wiseman. Maybe next year.

Joshua, Evan and Rowan were the Shepherds. Evan refused to dress up. And he said he wasn't a shepherd. He was Woody from Toy Story.

Molly was a little angel. She looked adorable.

Ben was Joseph and Anna was Mary. When I was a kid we would go Christmas caroling every year and dress up. All the girls would fight over who got to be Mary. Stacy usually won.

Molly kept stealing baby Jesus.

Addy & Emmy were angels too.

Max was the Innkeeper. He was NOT happy about it.

Joe and Dallin were the accompaniment.

After it was over, Ruby decided she wanted to be an angel too.

Evan decided he needed to pick Ruby up. He is constantly trying to carry her.
And she doesn't even seem to mind.

I hope we do it again next year. It was really entertaining. :)

Party at Grandma & Grandpa's

Last Saturday my mom and dad hosted a Halloween party for all of their grandkids. But first, Xander returned from his 3 day camping/hiking trip. He was exhausted. I was relieved. Like super-duper relieved.

Anyhow he got home just in time to enjoy the festivites at grandma & grandpa's.

The kids were encouraged to wear their costumes. Evan was Buzz, Joshua was War Machine and Rowan was Spiderman. Addy was a witch and Ruby was Tinkerbell.
There were games for the kids and chili, hotdogs and chips to eat.

We made spiders out of oreos and pretzels.


Max liked eating the donut on a string.

Addy liked the glow in the dark necklaces.

My mom had set a badmitton net up outside and the bigger boys loved playing that. Ben especially.

Notice how dirty Xander looks. He didn't want to take the time to take a shower and miss out!

Ruby liked hanging out with Grandpa and eating candy.

My mom and Kim spent a lot of time and effort to make sure all the kids had a great time. We all had a blast!