Parkers Visit and a few Birthdays

Well, Parker was just here visiting for ten days from Nebraska. He's stationed there, working on an Air Force Base, for the Navy. He's there for probably two years. It was so good to have him home. The boys absolutely love him and love to be around him when he's here. They all look up to him.
It's amazing how he's changed and grown up. It's so weird to say "we have a 20 year old!" Time sure flies. He was barely 15 when we met, Cameron's age. He's finally coming into his own. Growing up and maturing for sure, and realizing how important the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to him. He has such a desire to repent and live the gospel fully. He went to several single adult activities while he was here and attends a ward there in Nebraska. I'm proud of him.
We got to celebrate Jaxon's 13th birthday while he was here too... and he just missed Don's by a day. Jaxon couldn't have been more excited to have Parker here! We went to Stoneridge Resort in Blanchard ID for the weekend, went skiing one night and one full day. The kids had a great time. I of course, do not play in the snow! But I was there to support and watch! At the resort the kids played raquet ball, swam and played games together. It was a great weekend.

       Cortney the ever talented, made this awesome shirt cake for Don. It even has a Robert Graham tag!

 The crew getting ready to snow board up at Mt Spokane. Easton absolutely loves it!! Next time he wants to try skiing. Jaxon isn't really into either one, so we mostly hung out in the lodge together. 

 Fun at the pool and the raquet ball courts. 

 Jaxon... the big 13! He's a teenager now! It was fun to celebrate at the Resort. 

 We had just a few minutes before Parker needed to be dropped off to get some family pics... Don and I were trying to figure out the timers on our phones and he shot this while we were all doing our "own thing".

Family is great. 

It's about that time...

I would have to say after reading my last few posts, especially the date, that it's about time I start posting, blogging and writing again....Don't you think?
My life is filled with so many experiences, daily really, that I don't know why I haven't been more disciplined in writing. But, here we are again at this time of year... Christmas. Thanksgiving has passed, we all focused really hard for a few weeks on what we were thankful for, then once the turkey was carved and the fancy china was put away clean for another year, the world (or maybe just my kids) started to focus their attention on what they WANT!
Well, maybe it just comes with age, but don't we have enough? Are we really in need? I know I am not, I know my kids are the most well taken care of children I could imagine, but all they seem to do is imagine what it would be like to have more! Their days are filled with writing lists and circling toys and gadgets in the paper, searching on line and taking actual time to sit around and think up ideas they can put on their Christmas list.... I mean, really? They don't even know with out putting in some real effort?! Do they ever think about needs? I wonder some times, do I teach them the difference between wants and needs? Do I even know the difference? Am I not their example to follow?
This year I feel different. I feel less like getting out the clutter of the season and focusing more on the reason for the season. Jesus Christ. Instead of thinking about what I want, I am trying to think of what he would want me to do. Who can I serve? Who needs my help? What do my children need from me? What friend needs my ear? Where is my testimony? Do I really understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ and what His life we celebrate this time of year, really meant? Do I really know he lived and died for me? For all of us? And can I help my children this year to understand that better for themselves?
These are the thoughts going through  my mind today as I sit and pickup the blog where I last left off.... Much has happened.... I will try in coming posts to gather thoughts, experiences and photos of our last few years because, don't they just go by too fast?

Cameron....As he may become

So today was Cameron's very first talk in Sacrament Meeting. He blew me away!! His topic was the power of scriptures. The talk in itself wasn't something really extraordinary, but the way he presented himself and the confidence he had and his ability to give such a great talk was so awesome to watch. I was in tears from about the time he said "Hi, my name is Cameron". :) I just don't give the kids enough credit and was really questioning all week what kind of a job he was going to do and did he have enough written down. I didn't help him a whole lot, but I did give me resources to use. I was just so proud to be his mom as I watched him talk. I have never heard Cameron bear his testimony before today and he ended his talk with it. It was of course simple and short, but I was impressed that he knew to end his talk that way. Just about every person I saw after that meeting was telling me how great he did and how impressed they were with him. I was so proud. 

What was really special was watching Cameron give his talk and then following him was Quinn Robinson who is leaving for a mission in 2 days. I was so moved by the spirit as I thought about that being Cameron in  a few short years. It's really not that far off, about 5 years. His talk was so moving, he spoke about the scriptures and what they meant in his life. I really hope all of our children were listening and could feel the same spirit I could and felt the importance of the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon.

It was just such an amazing tender mercy to feel the love for Cameron that I have and to see him in a different light and then to think about him going on a mission in the near future. I don't think I have to worry so much about what he is or isn't doing. He's young, and I could tell he knows the gospel is true and knows whats right. I am so proud to be his mom and so thankful for the spirit I felt today and was able to see with new eyes what he is to become.

Fall Family Photos

 We recently had our family photos done by my good and REALLY talented friend Christy Ivory. She did ours and Jennifer and her family too. We just found this beautiful little spot just right off the highway out where we live and it was the perfect setting. Christy brought the awesome chair you see in some of the photos. I had a fun time picking out everyone's clothes, I didn't want to be super coordinated, but I thought it turned out really cute with the girls in pink and the boys in their shades of blue and grey. It was a great day too! Lucky for us we just got what we needed before the rain came. I can't believe how much everyone has changed in a year and a half since our last photos. I am so proud to be the mom in this family! 

 mommy and her boys

 ever handsome and serious Cameron

 I made sure we did a daddy daughter one this time around and I love it!

 These all turned out so great! I love them. 

 totally captured who these two boys are!

 this one of the kids is just awesome!

 the two women of the house

 Love my man

 and the two big boys of the family. Parker unfortunately moved out to his moms a few months into summer. I was so thankful to him for coming and being a part of our day, it just wouldn't have been the same without him. They sure is handsome! (like their dad)

Harvest Fun Run & Rockford Fair

This post is a bit late seeing as it's already November! But better late than never. It was a fun fall this year and just beautiful. Rockford is a small little town 15 minutes up the HWY from our house. They host a small fair right after school starts and on Saturday they did a fun run. I ran it with a few girls, but we didn't stay together at all! It was a short 5k. My friends and I have been meeting  a few mornings a week to run on a trail near the schools, which I have loved. 

Here are a few pictures from the fair and the fun run. 

 Easton and Regan enjoying some rides

 Cameron and Regan went on a "scary" ride and she laughed so hard the whole time! 

Jaxon found a few friends... girl friends!

 Heidi above, Maren below (she's super fast)

 And Kathleen, she's new to our ward and area and we just love her!

 I am pretty sure I was first in my division for age and female, which isn't saying much cuz there were only like 50 people who ran total, but this guy in these "shoes" and the guy with his donkey were both faster! Granted the donkey does have twice as many legs as me. :)

First Day of School

Kids on their first day of School and Eastons first EVER school pictures.

Landon is 16 and a sophomore, McCall and Cameron are 13 and 8th grade, last year before high school, Jaxon is in 5th grade but is in a 5th/6th combo class, so he is in a 6th grade class and spends his day at the middle school and Easton is in preschool.

Can't believe how big he is!

 

Fall Apple Festival

We have a great place North about 30 minutes called Green Bluff where we can go apple picking every fall. They have differnt orchards and all kinds of fruit all Spring, Summer and Fall you can go pick or just purchase from. This weekend here was from the Fall Apple Festival. There were hay rides and little kiddie rides and face painting. Jennifer, Matt and the girls came with us too.

 

 Doing some picking!

 They had the most clever little kid play area! It was a pea pit...instead of sand. It was little baby split peas. We all cracked up saying all our funny jokes about "playing with the pee" and on and on. Don especially!

 Jaxon was our volunteer to be buried

 Sweet girls

 Ok, so the goats... OH MY GOSH!!! they were so FUNNY!! I litterally laughed so hard I was crying. I could not stop. These were NOT typical goats, they were making the weirdest noises I had ever heard. I sat there laughing and listening and just couldn't get over it. Some how not everyone was laughing as hard as me.... I think by the end of it they were laughing at me!

 Fun face painting