Happy Birthday Mitchy!

Today is Mitchell’s birthday.  He is 9 and so much fun!  Mitchell is Jeff’s youngest son and he is such a joy to have around.  Everyone loves it when Mitchy is in town!!

We had so much fun with Mitchell this year.  This past summer we went to parades, softball tournaments, the car show, several trips to Bear Lake, the Jonas Brothers and of course we make sure to plan the annual Lagoon trip when Mitchy is in town.  On Father’s Day Mitchell asked me (in secret of course) to help him make Jeff breakfast in bed.  He was so cute!!

 

 

	Mitchell is SO funny.  His loves acting like an old man and saying “get off my property” I love it!!

Mitchell and Samantha have a special relationship.  They are “best friends.”  Samantha loves it when Mitchy is here!  They seriously never leave each others sight when they are together.

 

Mitchell also learned to snowboard this year.  He made SO much improvement and spending the time with him was super fun!  Mitchy is such a special boy, I am so lucky to have a role in his life. 

Happy Birthday Mitchell!  We love you so much!

Happy Birthday Jordi!

Yesterday was Jordan’s fifth birthday.  I could not post on that day because my computer had a virus and was in the “shop.” So, as usual I am just a little late.  I also lost my camera for a few days.  I found it tonight in a desperate search so I did not miss Jord going to Kindergarten tomorrow (it was between the fridge and the cupboards, how do such things happen?).  Needless to say I missed photos of a great birthday party with all of her cousins and family (we missed Chase).

What can one say about Jord.  She is an absolute joy and always true to herself.  She has always been an absolute blessing in my life and kept me laughing.  She was born about 3 weeks before Samantha and to this day we refer to them as “the babies.”  Kim and I have vowed to quit now that Jord is going into Kindergarten.  Jord has a unique personality and is known to everyone as a source of joy and laughter.  What else can I say?  You can’t put words to such a personality as Jords. 

Thank you to everyone reading this who has played a role in Jordan’s life.  It really does take a village! 

Jord loves dancing, swimming, American girl dolls singing, barbies, sand, her family, her grandma and grandpa  and her cousins!!
	Jord hates rules, being told no, being in pictures, waking up in the morning and getting her hair combed and skiing!

Jord has a very special relationship with her Grandpa Elden.  She will commonly snub Jeff, Kim, Grandma and mostly me but NEVER Grandpa Elden.  Here is my favorite pic of the two of them.

I love you Jord and thank you for being so special to everyone!!

Other big news in our family: Chase started school on Monday.  Freshman at Virginia Tech have to live in the dorms.  His room is complete with a “loft". Which essentially means his bed in the elevated so a desk can fit underneath.  I got this photo over email and wanted to share.  Jeff and I are going to see him at the end of October and I can’t wait!  Chase is on the right!

School Starts!

Along with everyone else, I can’t go without posting about the first day of school.  We went to back to school night last night and Taylor started school today as a 4th grader.  Jord starts K next Wednesday.  I can hardly believe it!   Where does time go?  Days like today make me realize how precious little time we have with our kids.  It seems they reach one milestone after another.

Tay wanted to get on the bus with Hunter and  Reagan.   We live near so many wonderful kids. 

After school all of the kids get off the bus and go to the “Snack Shack"  I had to work but Tay and Jord both went with friends.  One of my friends sets up a huge shacks stand in her yard every year on the first day of school.  The kids all get off the bus and grab a snack!  They look forward to it every year!

I know this photo is huge!  Thank you Kim and yes, I stole it right from your blog!!  My primary reason for blogging is to keep a history for my family.  This photo has made me cry all day.  Look at Hunter, Reag and Taylor.  Just for a moment they all needed each other.  Kim noticed this at the bus stop and pointed it out.  They all have a hold of each other.  Totally sweet!  What a wonderful thing to have my kids interact with their cousins in so many settings!  I am so blessed to live 2 blocks from Kim, Shea and their kids.

Last Week of Summer!!

This was the last full week without school!  I can’t believe how fast this summer has passed.  We decided to live the last week up!!  Taylor had a late night party with her friends and a piano recital.  Kim, Jill and my mom took the kids to Dinosaur Park (thank you!), and we all went to Hogle Zoo!

Taylor has the cutest friends ever!  The girls stayed late and played night games.  Check out Jord and her little friend.  They are tired already!!

Next event was the zoo.  The kids always love the Zoo.  We left at  7:30 a.m. to beat the heat and it worked… well sort of.  For the most part the weather was bearable and we had a great time!

	Everyone made it to the zoo!  Ryker is a teenager now and such a great sport!  I loved the baby giraffe.
Hunter, Hayden, Sammy, Kendall, Reagan, Jord, Anders, Tay and Ryker!

Piano fun!

Taylor took piano this summer.  She learned so much this summer and absolutely loved piano lessons.  She can’t wait to continue.   Grandma and Grandpa came to support her.  Below is her teacher, she plays at every recital.  She is very talented and we are lucky to have her so near by!

 

 

Chase goes to college!

I wanted to dedicate at least one post to Chase.  For those of you who don’t know Chase is Jeff’s oldest son.  He just graduated from Sky View and is headed off to Virginia Tech.  Chase came to live with Jeff about 18 months ago and I am SO glad he did.  He is so fun and has truly been a blessing in my life.  I found myself driving to work today crying randomly (and now again as I write this).  Chaser (as I call him) has become a great friend of mine and such a positive person for my girls to know.  As we speak he and Jeff are hauling across country in Chase’s car headed to school.  I asked Jeff to take photos so I can document the trip.  Here are some photos of  the highlights of the last year!

 

Thank you Chase for making everything so fun.  My favorite memories include Las Vegas on Chase’s 18th birthday!  Our trip to Price, Utah where I could have sworn we were in the twilight zone.  Spending time in Lava Hot Springs as of course our Saturday ski trips!  Love you Chase!  Have the best time ever!!

Christmas 08!  Chase and T got new jackets!

I love this photo.  Chase is in the black and grey coat. 

I loved spending every Saturday with him.  He is an excellent snowboarder.   Taylor and Mitchell felt so cool to be related to someone who could do such “wicked tricks.”

	Left:  Chase and Tay fishing at the ranch. Above:  Chase at our hotel in Lava Hot Springs.
Above:  Jeff and Chase golfing at Lava Right:  Chase jumping off the highest platform.
Chase, Jeff and I are our annual Lagoon day!	Bear Lake with all the kids! Chase is an awesome on the wakeboard and just landed his first flip a few weeks ago

Right before the 4th of July Jeff was in Boston on business and he brought Chase this hat back.  He then wore it for the next two days.  He wore it the entire Jonas Brothers concert.  He is so dang funny!! Right:  Snowbird.  There was a moose right behind were the kids are standing.
Above: In the car on the way to Jonas Brothers. Right:  View after we rode the tram to the top of the mtn at Snow Bird.

Chase’s graduation.  He did a back flip when he got his diploma.  It was very cool!  We had a great party after!

 

 

 

This last weekend was Chase’s last weekend living in Utah so we lived it up.  On Friday night the Huskinson’s had a party for Chaser.  It was a great time!  Chase had just got his wisdom teeth pulled and was a trooper!

Scott gave Chase this megaphone thing (I don’t even know what’s it’s called).  Oh my, that could be trouble.	On Saturday Greg and Sheree (Jeff’s brother and sister in law) drove from Idaho Falls to have lunch with Chase.  Nothing is ever serious!!  Which is great!

Then Chase headed over to my parents for one last Sunday dinner where everyone said good bye to him.  He has been such a source of fun for us!

 

Love you Chaser!  Can’t wait to come visit you in Virginia!!!