My cheerleader.....

Brenna has now cheered officially in 2 games for the boys of Alta. I think this is one of those things that she was meant to do. She seems to have such a natural ability to get up in front of a crowd and do her thing. She learned the cheers quickly and is having such a fun time with her new friends. She had to wake at 5:15a.m. for the last 4 weeks of summer to go to practice everyday...never complaining (she would just come home and crash at the end of the 3+ hour practices) All their hard work is paying off though, because they all looked awesome during the games.

It is hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that this is my daughter. This is only something I would have dreamed to do. Never being brave enough (or talented enough for that matter) to give it a try. I am in constant amazement with all of my children, they seem to live life to it's fullest. They are all blessed with talents that they are magnifying and this I am so thankful for.

My Ji.....

Let me start out by saying just how much I LOVE this boy.....however, he is exhausting. Jiles is now at the age where he loves to make trouble. He is so curious that I have had to put hair bands on all my cupboards, J.D. has installed locks on our pantry door because he gets into the garbage or climbs up on the shelves and brings me all sorts of canned goods. We keep all the bedroom doors shut because he can destroy a bedroom in a matter of minutes. He knows how to turn on the bathtub water and turn the faucet around, he has nearly flooded my bathroom more than once. He quite likes sitting on my folded or not folded laundry piles, getting in the baskets is one of his favorite things to do. He can get out the back door, so it must stay locked always.....he drags our poor dog around by his leash and loves to empty his water and food dishes. Yikes is about all I can say.

Playing in the dirt and making mud at football practice the other day was one of his 'boy things' that we caught on film. He will try to sit on any strangers lap while at football, he backs in slowly, kind of like a truck, and then just gives them a grin.

What?? Why can't I sit in the toy cupboard?? He is such a joy, but I find myself looking for ways to slow him down. Buckling him in his high chair, stroller, or wagon for instance....also giving him a bath tames the beast for short periods of time. I will also lock him in my bedroom with me during the day and I will try to get as much as I can done from one room....pay bills, fold laundry etc.

In so many ways Jiles is our very best baby. He sleeps for hours....and is so dang nice. He has a dreamy temperament and is will lay on the kisses. We are grateful for his craziness, but we are also grateful for bedtime.

We love you, little man.....

Firsts.....

Here we are again, with another summer that has quickly gone by. Lots of Lagoon days, lots of swimming pools and water slides, a quick trip to St. George in the hottest time of the year, lawns to be mowed and countless trips to the gas station for diet Pepsi's and icees. My children are growing up before my eyes and I wish at certain times to just be able to freeze these moments.

Morgan started her senior year at Alta and Brenna began her high school days.....I am hopeful that they will have a fabulous year together. They are amazing friends and I am so glad that Morgan has decided to transfer back to spend a year with her sister in high school. I think that these will be some of the memories that they will carry with them throughout their lives.

Drew and Jensen.....another year at Summit Academy. Drew is in the 8th grade and Jensen has started 4th. It wasn't until I took these pictures that I realized how tall Drew is getting. Granted, he has just passed up both me and his sisters, but when you see him in a picture next to Jensen that tells the whole story. They are good boys and I am hopeful that they will have a great year also. Oh and did I mention how much I love uniforms!! No stress in the morning...