Some Summer Pics

Spencer's Summer of Accomplishments

Spencer has had a great summer! He is such a busy kid. He has really enjoyed attending art camps and interacting with other kids who love art like he does. We are now really looking forward to a special class that he will attend this fall. He has been asked to join the Youth Artists group at the Scera. He will be attending class, learning about art history and participating in special art shows and projects that are reserved just for this elite group. We area all very excited for him.

He has also been singing this summer. He recently sang with a small primary group in sacrament meeting. He did a great job! He has a great memory and remembered all of the words for the songs they had learned. I was rather impressed! It was really neat to see him getting more comfortable in front of all of those people.

He has also been busy with scouts. In our most recent Court of Honor, he earned his First Aid Merit Badge. This is the first Merit Badge he has earned. It isn't 'required' that 11 year old scouts earn any merit badges, so this puts him on the path to great accomplishments in scouts.



Last week he attended Adventure Park Scout Camp with Earl, Br. Brady, and Jacob M. Earl was recently called as the 11 year old assistant scoutmaster. Although Spencer protests it, I think he really enjoys having his dad at scouts. At this special camp, they were able to accomplish many of the things that are necessary for Spencer to head down the trail to earning his Eagle. He did a great job. He and Jacob really had a fun time together and kept each other laughing!

He really is growing too fast!!

The Blessings Are There, Sometimes You Just Have To Look

I was totally caught off guard the other day. I was driving around with Brayden, which I do on a regular basis to keep him happy, when I had this overwhelming sense of gratitude. You see, it wasn't long ago that Earl and I had moved to Utah County from Logan and were wondering what in the world we had gotten ourselves into. It was a hard time for us. We were completely starting over. New place to live, new job for Earl, suspecting that something was 'wrong' with our little baby boy. At that time when I would be driving Spencer and Brayden from our apartment in Orem to my parents' house in Pleasant Grove, I would often look around me and wonder how in the world I was going to ever feel settled and like I was somewhat in control of my life.

So, here I was, driving around with my kids again. Now, with 4 of them. In a van that wasn't falling apart at the seems. Getting to reflect on how far we have come. I can't believe that we are settled in a nice house, with great neighbors, awesome friends and a ward that I wouldn't trade for the world. I don't always feel in control of what's going on in my life, but I'm learning to be OK with that. I don't have any say in what's going on with Brayden's disabilities, but I have total control over my reactions to it. I can't control the fact that Spencer is well on his way to becoming a young man who won't need his mom so much, but I can always show him that I love him. I can't control Andraia's boisterous and outgoing personality, but why would I want to....she is such a light in our family. She introduces me to someone or something new everyday. I can't control Chloe's growth. Where did the time go? She's already 16 months old. But I can totally control how much I enjoy this time in our lives.

The blessings truly are there. Sometimes you just have to look for them.

Bowling

We had a great time bowling with our friends today. I was nervous at first because we would be taking EVERYONE without Earl, but it worked out really well. Thanks to my awesome friend *Mindy*, my awesome niece *Caitlyn*, and our awesome family friend *Amy* we were able to keep track of all the kids and still have lots of fun!

Thanks you guys! Extra thanks to Mindy for taking and sharing the pictures!!

New Family Pics

We found an awesome photographer through my sister, Trisha. Her name is Cheri Rodas and she did a great job with Brayden. She was so quick and very easy going with him. It is so nice to have an official family portrait. We'll have the big 16x20 up on the wall in the next few weeks. Come see it when you can!

We also had individual pics taken of the kids. They are all so gorgeous!









Yes, the pictures are small. Guess you'll all have to come see the real things at our house. The pictures and the people!

Tim McGraw Concert

My friend, Mindy, my sister, Trisha, and I went to see Tim McGraw in concert! It was so much fun. We had a great time going out to dinner and hanging out. No kids, no hubbies, just us girls. It was really fun!

Of course, I knew some of the words to the songs, while Mindy knew them ALL! We sang, laughed, cried (a little) and just had a really great time.

More girls nights away coming soon!