Fall fun!!!

It's that time of year again :) You know the one - the time where I make my children all wear coordinating (well - I try to coordinate anyway) colors and drag them out to the mountains to smile and pose and do that family picture thing - the one they call family torture :) They are getting better at it, truly - they know the drill. Even Brady..... Who walked right up the rock we always take pictures on, climbed on up, posed and said CHEESE!!!! Of course he wasn't nearly so cooperative the whole time - but I am grateful that he knows what the self-timer on the camera is for and helps us out by smiling for that for the most part :) It makes family pictures a little more in the budget :) Every year I say I'm going to have one of any number of different friends do our portraits professionally and photoshop us all pretty, but every year we seem to be lacking the funds to actually do that, so we're on our own :) I do think I need some lessons in positioning though - as the kids get older and bigger, my lack of experience does show more in getting them in the right places to have a good photograph. But - we have traditions, and it's fun to see how the landscape has changed along with my kids over the years ;) It's all good :)

So - here is the result - and it's not too shabby, there are definitely some keepers in the 200 or so that we took. I am sooo grateful for digital - as we used to take 5 or 6 rolls every fall and hope and pray that one would be good enough for Christmas cards, and still have to spend the money developing each roll :) LOVE digital :)

Sunday Grains of Gratitude......

I can't believe it - September is almost over??? It just zipped by!!!! Time to start thinking about Halloween and Fall!!!! The leaves are changing in the mountains, the mornings are getting a little crisper, the sun is setting a little earlier - it's coming!!! I will miss summer though - I love the hot, long days - my body craves the sunshine - as the days get shorter it gets harder and harder to drag myself out of bed in the mornings LOL But I do love fall - and the crisp mornings always bring back memories of when Big K was just a tiny baby, and we would go out in the mornings and the air was so crisp and clean and smelled like leaves and frost :) It seems like such a short time ago - hard to believe she is off to college!!!!

I have so much to be grateful for this week - it's hard to know where to start :)

This week I'm grateful....

for fabulous friends who offered their love and support as Brady went in for his Cine MRI. I was terrified about it all, and my wonderful friend and neighbor and her daughter (one of Brady's favorite friends) accompanied us up to the hospital and spent the day up there with us. Our 1 hourish procedure took the entire day and Annie was so sweet and patient for the whole time. She was such a calming influence for Brady when he was nervous and scared (really the first time he has felt that way about a procedure) and it was such a blessing to have them both there. I am so grateful for their friendship and love for Brady!!!

that the test itself went reasonably well. I wasn't happy that Brady had to be intubated in the end, but he is alive and well and breathing on his own and back to his happy sassy opinionated self again :) He was pretty mellow on Thursday and I was a little worried - never thought I'd hear myself say that - I often wish for more mellow boys LOL But - being that it was out of the ordinary - it was a little nerve wracking!!! I am hoping to talk to his doctor about the results today.

that we got to visit with Big K a couple of different times this weekend!!! She came up for the HS homecoming football game and to hang with C, then took C down to college for the weekend, then spent the afternoon with us for family pictures and a birthday dinner for her dear ol' dad :) It was great to hear about her adventures and see her - we miss her!!!

that C did so fabulous in her SBO Homecoming dance and had such a GREAT soccer week! Wow - after our not so fabulous season, we pulled off two very definitive wins this week - over our biggest rivals too :) This coming on the heels of a small loss to the best team in the state (which pretty much feels like a win, since the score was so low ;) has been AWESOME!!! C is playing so well, even though she is injured. She is such an example of perseverance to me, and I am inspired by how hard she works to achieve her goals.

that Little K is making big improvements in her game too. She is such a hard worker now, and it is really showing in her skills, speed, and ability to move the ball. Now we just need to get some GOALS :)

for J and H and Brady and their hugs and their ability to blow things off LOL I love that about boys - they can be fighting like cats and dogs one minute - then best friends the next. I'm not sure whether it's the short attention span or what - but I love that boys don't hold grudges very long :) I'm grateful that the bigger boys were willing to babysit a bit for me this week so I could try and take some pictures at the soccer games :) I am so behind on pictures for the yearbook - and I really need to get on that!!! Thanks boys for being willing to entertain your brother while I am out and about ;)

that we could celebrate my hubby's b-day :) I'm sure it was a bit of a let-down, as it was kind of a fractured weekend with a lot going on and the girls being gone, but I promise I'll make it up to you honey ;) You look FABULOUS for 39, my love :) I'm so grateful for him, he is such a great husband and father, and I love him more than I can say!!!

for my parents - they are just the best!!! I am excited that they will be down here soon - so we can see them more :) And - even if we don't see them more - at least it feels nice knowing they are closer :) Love you mom and dad!!!

for the primary program :) It's always a nice change from regular Sunday meetings :) It was fun watching all the kids up there. The choristers really do a great job helping the kids learn the songs. My Eternal Family was Brady's favorite one to learn this year, and he often goes around singing "I am a builder, working so hard, to build my familyyyyyy" :) He just LOVES singing time :) When the next door neighbor's son talked about having his cute little sister (the same sister who came to the hospital with us) sealed to them after her adoption, it just brought tears to my eyes. I love that little girl so much and I know that she was meant to be in their family - she needed them, and they needed her :)

for all the prayers and positive thoughts that all my "cyber" and IRL friends and family offered on Brady's behalf on Wednesday. I know they helped, and I did feel at peace that things would go alright and that Brady would be fine. Those prayers help and mean more to me than you will ever know - thank you!!!

What are YOU grateful for today?????

Sunday Grains of Gratitude.......

Lest you all think I've given up on being grateful - please know that I haven't :) Since there are wayyyyyy too many summer gratitudes to catch up on - let me just say - I had many many things to be grateful for during the last three months, but you would all be bored to tears to read my "catch up" post - so I'll start fresh this week - recommitted to posting gratitudes each Sunday :)

This week I'm grateful.....

that I have time to write my grateful post!!!

that Brady is in a good school with people who really want to support him and help him be successful! And - that I had my easiest IEP ever on Thursday - hardly any stress, and lots of peace about our decision to change schools, even though we most certainly miss Brady going to school with all the neighborhood kids. He has a fabulous, darling teacher, great aides, and such cute kids in his class. Of course we still have some glitches, but it is definitely an answer to prayer!

that the hubs was in town this week!

that C and Little K played well at their respective soccer games :) We didn't get wins at either one - but apparently the girls played super well at the HS game to keep the score very low against the team that has won the state title the last 2 or 3 years, and Little K's team continues to improve each game - and that is the goal :)

that C had fun at homecoming :)

that H is enjoying school. He wasn't too sure about going to a charter school, but I think in the end he is happy and learning and having fun.

that my dad's back surgery went well and that he is HOME from the hospital. It took a few days, but I'm glad he is home and I hope and pray he continues to recover and is back to health soon!

that the mole we had removed from C's back came back as an "age spot" and normal tissue. An age spot at 17??? She better stay out of the sun LOLOL

that the weather has been beautiful for the most part. The leaves are starting to change in the mountains, so it won't be long until my children have to endure our yearly torture - er - picture taking session :) It has been gorgeous, and while I love fall, I will be so sad to see the summer weather go - I just LOVE summer!!!

that I will get to see Big K this coming weekend :) She has pencilled us in to celebrate her dear old dad's b-day - so that will be great. I'm grateful she is having a good time at school, but we still miss her tons :) I actually opened the door to her room the other morning to get her up for scriptures and then remembered - oh ya - I don't have a kid in this room right now ;) The little kids asked if she was going to come home for holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter :) They really miss her too!

for the sweet new sheets my mom bought us - they are like HEAVEN :) I think she purposely bought light colored ones to ensure I make my bed each morning so the kids don't get food on them while they are sitting on my bed eating and watching tv, in what they KNOW is a NO FOOD ZONE. They are awesome - thanks Mom!!!!!

What are YOU grateful for today????

Labor Day Weekend Get-away!!!!

My climbing boy had no fear!!! That can be kind of scary thing around big climbing rocks and drop offs ;)




















Red Rocks are COOOL!!!!!


A hiking we will go :)





I LOVE the red sand - it is soooo cool :)








Rocks and a stream to throw them in - what could be better????? YAYYYY!














We found all sorts of wildlife - including frogs from tadpoles to hoppity little full grown froggies. This was the fattest tadpole I have ever seen :) The kids thought it was so cool!

Sooo exciting!!!!

Little K's team had a chance to be ball girls for a local college game a few weeks ago. They were so excited to snag balls and play a scrimmage at half time :) They could barely contain their giddiness. When the local team scored barely into the game they were so excited - then so bummed when it was called off-sides. It was a GREAT game, unfortunately the team we were cheering for lost 1-0 in overtime - but the little girls had an amazing time anyway :)

Soccer girl :)

Getting ready!!!!



Goooo C :)