Not forgotten....

I haven't forgotten about our family blog....it's just that our family has become a Mom, a Dad, and four teenagers!  I wouldn't mind the four teenagers so much if it weren't for the full time jobs from both Mom and Dad that keep the household going.   I love these kids and I'm ever so thankful for a Father in Heaven who entrusted us with them.  They bring a smile to my face and a hole in my checkbook but I would rather have them than financial freedom.  At least that's what I tell myself!  ;)

At some point I'm going to post pictures from Braylie & how she got the nickname "Bustin' Braylie" and Bryson as a grain truck driver.

I don't know that I really have any followers but if I do this much maybe I'll be inspired to do better and actually tell people we have a blog?!

Band Concerts....

Bryson and Braylie's last band concert for the year and sadly Bryson's last concert. He has decided to try "other" things in high school. I'm very sad he has chosen to give up his God given talent to read and play so well. He was a natural (he's piano teacher said!) at piano and he had no problem moving on to the saxophone and then spent a year on the tenor sax. I guess I should count my blessings that I won't be paying a rental for that tenor sax nor will I be buying reeds for that sax. But music is so awesome!! Sorry, this is suppose to be a fun post......

Calling ALL Cars??

When Chase finished his last pinewood derby car in Cub Scouts Dennis was more than happy to be done with that.....until his three mutual age children came home each with a pinewood derby to make. Braylie wanted a cow (she's very into cows right now), Kelsi wanted hers to look like the Dukes of Hazard car and Bryson made a really cute pick up (just don't tell him I said it was "cute"). Braylie found out cows run faster backwards and Kelsi found her car placing third overall - second if you count only the youths cars. Each car received an award of some sort and it was a good ending to the day. Sorry I forgot to pin Bryson down and get a picture of his truck.

Chase turns 12.....

I got the best Mother's Day present today. April 28 my baby (Chase) turned 12. He was ordained last week which means his first week to pass sacrament is this week....Mother's Day!! What better gift could a mom get on Mother's Day then to watch her two sons passing the sacrament together! I meant to get a picture of them in their suits with their new hair cuts but it didn't happen this morning....picture to follow!!!

Braylie got to spend a week in Montana with her three cousins (they are only 6 months older than her). They are inseparable at family gatherings.

They went camping and here is one of those pictures of them out in nature! The girls' big brother, Parker was off on a scout trip so it was all girls. It's good Bruce is used to being out numbered! :)

She loved every minute and the day before she was to come home she called us wanting to negotiate because she didn't want to come home yet-no surprise!! However, she relented and was even all smiles when she got home!

Chase

Chase is our funny analytical son who questions everything and yet misses so many of answers because his brain is always going. One of my absolute funniest stories about Chase is when he asked me if I had washed socks yet. I soak their socks in hopes of some resemblence of white. I told him I would get them washed for him. He said good because he needed socks and the washer keeps stretching his out......okay, red flag. I asked him what he meant. He said his socks are getting stretched in the laundry. So I asked him to show me........He pulls out these socks and I immediately start to laugh....he and his Dad have the same socks and somehow Dennis' socks ended up in his drawer. I still chuckle when I think of that morning.

However, he learned last night that some questions just shouldn't be asked. He was reading on the back of the Cortizone cream tube and it said not to use if there's a vaginal discharge. As he's reading this aloud and asking what it means-the room absolutely cleared out. He just sat there and looked at me. After explaining he walked into the kitchen and Dennis asked if he got his questioned answered. Dennis said he was wide eyed and said; "yea, but I wish I didn't know!"

This is a picture of Braylie's counselors after climbing 'Buck Mountain'. This was at Outdoor School and she had a blast! Dennis and I went up Wed and had dinner with her and then got the privilege of cleaning the kitchen. We enjoyed seeing her in her "element" and as a Mom, it's reassuring to see my child enjoying this opportunity!! She was fortunate enough to go up with three of her newest best friends she made this year. She was also lucky enough to get some Great counselors that she knew & enjoyed! Sorry we still don't have her ODS pictures developed with her in them.......coming soon??