Just a few things I love...

As of recently I have realized and really been trying to focus on just how great everyday life it.  I posted about this a few days ago but needed to add a few more things...

 Summer!  It is so close!  I know it is summer time when the little girls start to take ALL of the doll stuff to the back yard and set it up in the playhouse.  Yeah!  Sicily, Samantha and Jordan playing in the playhouse.   I also know it is summer when it's 9:30 p.m. and the kids are still outside.  Last night Jordan, Reag and Mannie left our house at 9:10 to run over to the Watrins.  Is said to Jeff,  you can tell summer is coming!!

Kinnick!  I love all of the Watrin kids but since Kinni is so little he has a special little place in my heart. I stole this photo off Kim's blog but I mean seriously?  Check him out, he thinks he is 17. 

Here he is at Taylor's soccer game.  He kept saying Tay Tay and trying to run out on the field.  Kim and Hunter came too which was SO nice!

This photo is the story of Kinnick's life!  Always chill!  He just climbed up on the couch and laid right back like he owned the place!  What a delight!  I BEG Kim to go places so I can keep this baby!

 I just love my Mitchy!  Seriously?  This kid is an absolute crack up!!

 Here he is entertaining himself at Taylor's soccer game.  He is such a good sport.  He makes friends with just about everyone!  Mitchy says the funniest things!  Kim asked him if he wanted to walk home from church with she and Samantha and he said sure that he could "use some exercise."  By the time they got home his church shirt was competely unbuttoned and around his back like a cape, he belt was off and he couldn't wait to "get out of that heat."  He was playing with Hunter the other day and Hunter threw it just over his head.  Mitch made no attempt to jump for the ball at all.  Hunter said, "Mitch you can jump for those."  Mitch said, "I just forgot."  Seriously so funny!!

 I love Tay and her cute soccer friends.  2 years ago when they started her team they one 1 game that season.  This Spring they are undefeated and are winning by 2-3 goals at least.  So proud of these girls who have worked so hard!

Whit, Taylor and Lucy

I love this cute photo!  These girls couldn't wait to get back in the game.

Whit, KC, Voni and Taylor

I love my Jord!  This girl is SO funny.  Her one liners are hilarious.  I was talking with  my family and we have always thought she was like Grandma Fern but today we figured she is more like Grandpa Glen.  That man could tell a joke or make a wise crack and not crack a smile.  I mean he would not even flinch!!  Jord tonight in the bath.  She said "I only turned on the vets (yes vets) for one minute and looked what happened."  

Just a few of my favorite things...  Jeff is one of my favoritest (its a word, ask Jord).  I will post about him soon:)  I just need to get my thoughts and emotions together!

Final Orchestra Concert at Willow Valley

Taylor just finished her 4th full year of playing the violin.  She is in 7th grade and in the Willow Valley Advanced Orchestra.  A few days ago she had her final concert at sweet Willow Valley.  What a great experience orchestra at Willow Valley has been.  When Taylor started playing the had a 1/2 size violin, then she moved up to a 3/4 size and last fall we bought her a full sized violin.  Wow!!

 My kids never have a lack of support.  Thanks so much to Hunter, Jill, Anders, Mae Mae, Kim and Grandma for coming.  

 Taylor and her friend Kenndi got to open and close the concert.  I asked her how she was assigned that and Taylor said this, "Mrs. Lamb says Taylor you are talking all of the time anyway, why don't you welcome everyone to the concert and then thank them for coming."  Haha!  Mrs. Lamb was right, Taylor NEVER quits talking!

 Taylor's sweet friends Lucy and Maya came to the concert to support her.  I love these girls!

 Tay and Jord!

 Taylor and her orchestra friend Millie.  Taylor and Millie did the USU Ambassador program together!

I am so grateful that Taylor has been persistent in her learning to play the violin.  She plays beautifully! Now on to South Cache (ugghhh) and she just keeps growing up!  

As of lately...

We haven't been doing a whole lot of anything special lately.   Or so it seems.  A goal of mine is to "find special" in every day.  So here are a few every day happenings in the last week.  First I need to mention a few that I don't have photos for.  Mitchell is getting all A's and B's.  School is NOT Mitchy's favorite thing so this is a BIG deal for him.  We are so proud!  Second, a few days ago I mailed Chaser's graduation announcements.  Graduation from college that is!  WOW!  Time flies.  I am counting down the days until we all fly out there to attend his graduation.  Chase has worked so hard!  What a huge accomplishment!!  So, as for a few less significant happenings....

This is what my front hallway looks like on almost any given Friday.  My kids are super social (wonder where they got that from?) and on Fridays they both usually have friends over.  Last Friday there were 13 kids at out house.  Some days I think I have lost my mind but most days I just enjoy the chaos.  

 I have been anti-pet for quite a while now.  But for Taylor's birthday all she wanted was a turtle.  A turtle?  So, that is what she got.  She is actually a tortoise and rather delightful!  Well, after the purchase of the turtle Jord was set on a hamster.  Since it was NOT her birthday she had to pay for it with her own money.  And that she did.  Everyone, meet Rhino.  We have already lost Rhino once after Jord, Reag and Samantha failed to put him back in his cage after playing with him.  He roamed around in our great room for an entire day.  When we noticed he was gone (or course it was 10:00 at night!) we put forth a full scale search.  Jeff found him underneath the armoire!  Phew!!!  Jord, of course, chose an "oversized hamster."  Love it!!

This is Lola.  Lola reminds me a lot of myself.  Very slow and steady and old and wrinkly.  Lola is actually quite endearing. 

Jeff has been working a lot in Salt Lake.  Last Tuesday the girls had a furlough day and Jeff had to work in Salt Lake on Monday and Tuesday.  So we headed down to Salt Lake.  Who doesn't love a good night away from home?  We ate at Cheesecake Factory and Jord swam twice.  My heart was a little sad when Tay didn't want to swim, she is getting old.

 Life just doesn't get better than this.  Eating Cheesecake and watching Duck Dynasty!  We had a nice relaxing evening and slept in the next morning.  

Overall, life is wonderful and busy and crazy and that is just the way we like it!!!

Happy 13th Birthday Taylor!

Wow!  Today Taylor officially becomes a teenager!  I swear she has been acing like one for the last 10 years!  Taylor had a really big year.  She had a lot of "firsts."  She got her first cell phone.  She had her first party with girls AND boys.  Here are a few events in the past year of Taylor's life.

Taylor fell in love with all things "One Direction."

Taylor made her first trip to the Mall of America.  She loves to shop.  I wonder where she got that from?

Taylor had her first real heart break when she lost a good friend to Leukemia.

Tay attended her first girls camp.  What a BLAST!!

Tay just finished her first year working on personal progress.  She has completed well over half the requirements for medallion.  In this picture she was canning with us.

Tay attended her first General Young Women's conference.  Our ward got to go to the conference center this year!  Excellent experience!  She is still talking about it!

Tay had her "first" real injury.  She tore her calf muscle playing soccer.  What a determined girl!  The Dr told her at least 10 weeks.  She was playing soccer 6 weeks later!  

Taylor LOVES her family.  She loves the little kids, especially Kinnick and Mae Mae.  She really loves her Grandma and she talks to her about everything!!  Tay is a great example to everyone in our family!

 Tay still loves her violin!  She practices every day (almost) and is getting very good.

Taylor loves soccer.  She loves to play soccer but just as much as that she loves her friends and all of the great experiences she has because of soccer.

Taylor is such as great girl.  She has grown so much in the gospel and has a firm testimony.  She is an incredible person!  She is LOUD and SILLY!  Sometimes it drives me crazy, but I know the ability to have fun is such a great characteristic.  Taylor is very social!  She wants to be doing something EVERY second of EVERY day!  

Happy Birthday to my beautiful crazy teenager.  Jeff and I are proud to be your parents.   We love you Sis!  Yes, the nickname Kim gave her as a baby still sticks!!

Way to go Tay!!

 Six weeks ago this was Taylor.  Torn calf muscle.  One week after her injury the Doctor told her she could start to rehabilitate after 6 weeks and maybe play soccer in 10.  Taylor was so disappointed she cried right there in his office.  She thought she would miss her entire Spring Season.  Well, today it has been just over 6 weeks since her injury and yesterday morning her Dr told her she could play soccer!  Limited time for a few weeks, but still play!  She was SO excited.  

 Tay was dying to get put in the game.  I was worried she would be timid or afraid she might get hurt again, but that was not the case.  She played incredible!  She played as well as I have seen her play... EVER!!  She was so excited to be able to play with her team again.  As a parent it was seriously joyous to watch!  Her team all clapped when she got put in.  Even better, Tsunami wins 4-2 on the road!  Go Girls!!

 Photo below is the girls cheering after the win.  Look at Taylor and Lucy in the far left of the photo.  So Excited.  I love these girls!!

 Post game cheer.  I couldn't get many good pictures because we were looking right into the sun.  We played in a beautiful spot.  I took this photo of the Bountiful Temple right from my chair!  

Just a few more photos I liked!

 Telly

 Kaycee

My Jordie!  She doesn't love soccer but was a great sport.  The referee was seriously like 80 years old.  Jord had plenty of one liners for that guy!  She kept us laughing!!!

I am so proud of Taylor.  She went to physical therapy at least 2x a week.  Did her exercises at home nightly and worked out with a trainer 1x a week.  She attended practice when she couldn't play so she was up to speed on the plays, etc.  We are grateful for Larissa and Todd who work at South Valley Clinic where Taylor had her physical therapy.  Larissa is actually my cousin's daughter and I loved catching up with her.  Todd pushed Taylor and now she is SO thankful he did!!  Way to go Tay!!  Another hurdle conquered!!  

Princess in Training

For Activity Days the wonderful leaders (Kim Watrin, Jacki Erickson and Lynn Rawlinson) had a "Princess in Training" Activity.  They had each girl share something she was working on in her Faith in God book and then their parents crowned them "Princesses."  It was so excellent and the girls really felt special.  Jordan's talk was SO sweet.  She wrote and typed it herself and was so excited to give it!

 This isn't a great photo and I saved her actual talk but if you look closely at the bottom she has typed. "I want to thank you all for coming."  So sweet!!  I also love how she has written things as she more thoughts she wanted to share.

 Love these crazy girls!  Check out the attitude on the front row!  Then check our sweet Reagan watching them thinking Seriously???

 We have lived directly across from the Watrins for nearly 2 years and have been in their ward for nearly 4 (or maybe 5).  Anyway,  sometimes I still can't believe how blessed we!  I love these girls!

Jordan and her BFF Sicily.  So beautiful!

Here is Jordan after.  She truly felt like a Princess.  What a blessing for Jeff and I to attend with her!  Thanks to the incredible leaders for organizing this activity.  It was truly amazing!