Baseball game, School, teeth...you know..stuff like that

A few weeks ago we took the boys to a Green Jacket's game for Family Home Evening. It was so so fun! We both thought the boys would be bored after 5 minutes but they surprised us! They got exceptionally happier though when we added a few baseball treats in the mix. In fact that was almost they're favorite part. Every foul ball that was hit Kade was hoping he could catch it...but they never came our way. About 30 minutes before we left the nicest man that was sitting on the opposite end of the stands from us, walked up, handed us a foul ball, and walked away. HOW NICE WAS THAT! The boys were thrilled! And since we had some players sitting right next to us, we had it signed. SCORE! I just love nice people!
Rhett was so happy the whole time and then just drifted off to sleep. This one has been a dream pretty much! We like that!He's so so so cute huh! I may be partial.... Every time I drive him to school he sings

"today is a wonderful day, for I am going away.

Not to the circus, not to the pool! Can't you guess I'm going to school."

It was my favorite little song when I was little and I LOVE that he sings it!

Lucas started Pre-School! He's a champion at it too! He goes three days a week for 4 hours. The things I hear about everyday, is who he did centers with (the time when they move from station to station, playing, and learning in small groups of 2 to 3) and what he did at recess. Since it's so hot here, they have a gym in th center of the building where all the kids are able to ride bikes and those little red and yellow cars. This way he doesn't have to play in the heat and almost die, but he gets to play. I LOVE IT! His favorite part of pre-school for the longest time was the fact that he got to ride with his friends to school for our carpool (one of my favorite parts too!) He's so rad though. We love the kid!

If you paid a dollar on a particular day at Kade's school(to help the hospital in our area) you got to wear a hat to school. Kade suprised me when I asked him if he wanted to, and he went straight to Jess and aske him if he could wear his Cowboy hat. The thing was HUGE! And adorable. So that's what he wore to school. He said people he didn't know were calling him cowboy all day and he loved it.
Here are the boys with their friends Tucker and Hudson at the bus stop--they're fun kids!

Notice anything missing? Kade's been wanting to loose a tooth for YEARS now! And a few weeks back at church, it finally came out. We were in sharing time and he walked up to me with the biggest grin to show me what he had in his hand. His teachers were all excited for him too--they're great! And since it was so ready--there was no blood--that was my favorite part! I'm not a big fan of wiggling teeth and all that stuff--so it was perfect!

As for everything else. Rhett is sitting up now--and pulling his knees under him while shaking his little bum back and forth (so so cute) getting ready to crawl. So that's cute!

Quote from Lucas when I picked him up at the family Y childcare, "I thought I'd missed snack time, and then BOOM-no" he he ooh, and also when he has to go to the bathroom, he'll run from the room most times saying, "Potty Alert, Potty Alert"

Jess is in school and trying to prepare his mind for the idea of Law School. We're looking around for a LSAT prep course that he can take before the real thing. And I'm just getting used to 3 kids still. It's nice that they come one at a time so that the decrease in time you have for everything and everyone doesn't seem so drastic..but it does take some getting used to. Life is great!

Wyoming

Our trip out West was amazingly awesome. We love our families so so so much! Our first stop was Wyoming! We played Frisbee and baseball and just hung out in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard. It was great cause--turns out-- out there you can go outside and not become drenched by the humidity--there was even a nice cool breeze that made it "enjoyable" to be outside. hip hip hooray!!!

Lucas is one for being silly--and naked...so playing in a little mud and then getting hosed down by dad was perfect for him!

awwww....
We got some KFC and ate it in the park by their house...saw Dispicable Me --which was hilarious ("it was accidentely destroyed maliciously" ha ha). Kade learned that going grocery shopping with Grandma is WAY cooler then shopping with mom..and that she gets you tons of stuff.

We wanted to go swimming, and since we missed the hours to go to the Y, Aubrey brought us to her hotel pool which was so fun and we all had a blast. Plus I hadn't been in a hot tub in FOREVER and well...I love hot tubs so AWESOME!

One night we had a party! Andrea's boyfriend Andrew came up, and one of Jess' best friends drove up and we played 500 (that game scares me like I'll be trampled any moment..but it was fun to watch :), roasted marshmallows, had fireworks and played one of my favorite games--Balderdash--a fantastic time was had by all!

This is a champion picture for so many reasons..strange expressions, Jess is holding an ax...okay--maybe just 2 reasons. But here's the 500 group after they were done.



We even got to drive out and see Jess' grandparents in Tooele one of the days. Melodie (Jess' sister) taught the boys all the stellar games they used to play as kids--like High Ho Silvio--the just of this game from their youth sounds like you jump off the ledge of the retaining wall...say, "High Ho Silvio" and then run around and do it again--Jess says his sisters would do it for hours! LOVE IT!

I love Jess' grandparents--they are so so sweet and hilarious!

Also here is a beautiful picture of Melodie as she was playing with the boys! (she's a hoot!)

Grandpa Dick was in a parade for being a veteran of World War 2. He bought a few hats to try and pick which one he wanted for that day and let the boys pick out a hat from the ones he didn't use--He's so so rad! For real--I like him lots--I also love this picture of the boys with him. He's such a neat man!



Evanston has the coolest rec department ever! One of the days we were there they had a golf clinic for kids. The boys really liked it. AND--having gone miniature golfing since--they have improved DRAMATICALLY. So--good job Evanston!

Jess' mom's birthday was while we were there so we threw her a surprise Princess birthday complete with streamers, pinata and a Princess Ribbon! Woo woo! Even though it was one of those pull string pinatas, we decided to whack it with a bat anyway--Andrea was super brave to hold it on the broom for us.
I love how in this picture Aubrey, Andrea and Julie look all beautiful and Melodie has on the crazy eye and Justin looks like he kills babies...ha ha--craziesCute!

Also while we were there we went to Seven Peaks; ONE OF THE GREATEST PLACES ON EARTH! We didn't get any pictures--but for real...i love that place! Every time I go on one of the free fall rides I get so giddy--Jess, Aubrey and I did them and...just yay! So fun!

Utah

Here's a video of right before we left, and while we were out West!

After spending some time with Jess' family we drove down to PG to hang out with mine!

The first night we were there it was the 24th so we had a bbq with mom and B.J. and Kara, did some fireworks with the boys, and after they were in bed climbed the roof to see the rest in the valley.

Monday morning, we all got ready and went hiking up the mountain by my parents house. Scott and my dad took us all repelling/beleying once we got up to a waterfall. So so fun! The boys were all sorts of excited (but maybe probably mostly me...maybe :) We got them all set to go. (Cute right?--look at those little helmets!)

Kade started getting a little nervous. Jess pulled him off to the side and said some words of wisdom..and courage and all that good stuff, and Kade was ready to go!

If you watched the video, you heard how the boys were feeling before going and how Kade felt after--I loved those parts!

AHHH! Awesome--he did so so great!

Luke got suited up next.

He got down most of the worst of it by himself (with grandpa hooked up next to him on a parallel rope) and right when it was about to be just a ride down to the bottom he got super nervous. So he climbed back up. He did so so good though. I can't wait for him to try again next time!

This was right before Jess went....he's pretty cute I think!

I went after that! I got to go in-between 2 waterfalls. It was AWESOME! I love that my dad and Scott had all this gear! So fun!

That night we all headed up to Gavin's family birthday party. It was fun to all hang out and see Jared's side of the family! The next day we saw Toy Story 3 (good, but I really think Despicable Me was funnier) We spent the night at the Holmbergs one of the nights--and stayed up way too late talking-they're fun. Then we went to sleep--which is when we found out that mom and dad's air mattress does indeed have a gigantic hole in it..leaving you sleeping on the floor around 2:00--ha ha--good times.



Here's a picture of dad while eating some Pina Colada Cake--BEST CAKE EVER!!! Notice how he's eating it like they do on t.v. mmmmm...(it really is that good)

We went to good ole P.G. pool a couple of times and LOVED it!

Here's Christy with the boys!

Mom and Rhett
Christy and Luke going down the waterslide! We even got to go to Seven Peaks AGAIN! and loved it the second time all over again! Kaden tried all the rides that he was big enough for (and was bummed he couldn't go on the bigger rides) and Luke, after being so so scared to go on one called Flash Flood (almost to tears) said he would ride it later. Later that day--he decided it was time, and marched right up there with no problem and loved it. We learned a lesson in waiting for it to be the right time for Luke.


ANYWAY--When we got to PG pool and it had a big waterslide as well, he was so excited and would have spent the whole time doing that if we would have let him. ("again, again, again!")

Dad and Rhett

We love playing croquet in our family. For Dad's birthday we all played in the backyard. Sometimes while you wait..you think of new things to do with your mallets right? Well, we were trying to see who could balance it the longest on one finger. (this may have been staged for the picture though...in our real contest mallets were flying everywhere--we couldn't so much stand this close...)



Jess meanwhile...was watching the kids...and saving them all from certain destruction..due to mallets and falling children...

While we were there we met up with the Bush family at Gateway Mall and the kids played in the water fountains there! It was short but so good to see them again!

Lucas, lucas, lucas. I'm actually unsure of the whole story for this picture. We just looked outside..and found him dressed in nothing but his undies and a white shirt..used as shorts..sliding down the slide. I love that kid!

Here's dad playing soccer with the boys...and I'll tell you what, that's a pretty darn good high kick for a 58 year old man!

Me and Jess with B.J. and Kara--they're so cute!

Being in the military you make friends and then get spread around the country again...it's so so crazy that 2 of my best friends I've made out here (and have since moved to Vegas and Virginia), were actually in Utah while I was as well! And Tiff was having a baby! YAY!!! So we got to go up and visit her in the hospital. I love her!

Jess giving Scott a backyard haircut...he was really excited....it turned out real nice!

Luke loved this spot in the yard where a hammock was set up..he would just go out and swing all sorts of relaxed for a long time. It was cute.

Rhett's perfect blessing day--My new sister!-and some random things

Rhett's blessing day was a perfect day for us! Jess' family drove down Sunday morning and came to church with us to my parents ward. Afterwards we were able to bless Garrett at my parents home.

This picture reminds me how thankful I am for the priesthood. I'm grateful to my Father in Heaven that has blessed us with His power here on earth. I LOVE the Plan of Happiness and how everything is set up perfectly-to help us make it back to live with Him. Jess and I both, have been blessed to have a noble and righteous holders of the priesthood in our homes growing up, and I've been blessed to marry an incredible man who honors his priesthood by treating me with kindness, respect and love. (and he's hilarious to boot!) What a life!

(I'm pretty sure they called each other up to coordinate their outfits ahead of time--and they looked dashing!)

Afterwards we all ate such great yummy food. And everyone laughed and hung out and it was such a great feeling to have so many of the people we loved together in one room (we missed you Brysons, Andersons and Wares!!!)

I know I can't even come close to articulating how great that day was--but it really was just a gift! The love that Jess and I felt, and the happiness and joy was incredible! I went to bed with such a huge sense of gratitude. I'm so thankful for the gospel!

Here's most of my family:



Here's a pic of Jess' family (plus my nephew Gavin from my side of the family--we love him :)

I think Luke took this picture? Here's Jess and his mom

Classy Jess, classy.

Me and Andrea told Aubrey we'd give her a dollar each if she ate this knife full of butter...she totally did it. Here she is waiting to get it down--She's cool like that!

B.J.'S ALL GROWN UP AND MARRIED!

Aren't they adorable? My little brother B.J. got married to a beautiful and amazing girl that we all love. Kara is so great and fun and I'm so glad she's in our family! It's crazy how much she just fits perfectly.

ANYWAY...

They're wedding date was while Jess was gone in Jordan....so I had the kids...and I wanted to go soooooo badly. An awesome friend of mine (thanks Cindy!) watch Kade and Lucas, and another friend of mine gave me one of her buddy passes to get to Utah. It looked like it was going to be easy breezy...until I flew to Atlanta and found that I had gone from 9th on standby to 27th! (there was a storm somewhere...crazy airport diversions...stuff...) It was a long wait and lots of nerves were split by Jess who was texting me the entire time worrying and Rhett and me.. but we made it and it was so worth it. I was so glad I was able to go! The ceremony was perfect, and I flew home the next morning! Love you B.J. and Kara!!!

Here's B.J. and Kara at the wedding luncheon!

Here's Dad and Rhett at the reception. Rhett's middle name is Reed--named after my dad because he's amazing! I love them!

Me and Scott took like 5 pictures to get this one. We were laughing (hence the scrunched up nose there) Anyway--he's a hoot!!

I was really taken care of sooooooooo well while Jess was gone. Thanks to ALL MY FRIENDS who did so much!!! One of my friend's husband volunteered to watch the boys while we went to a womans conference. Thanks so much Tyler. Here's some pictures he took while we were gone.

Water goes in....

water goes out...


ha ha! I love it!

Here are just some random pictures that I liked from the summer...playing catch-up blog is pretty fun huh? So...here we go:

Rhett

Veges from our garden--mmmm

Okay--now for real...these are the BEST MUFFINS ever!!! We got the recipe from America's Test Kitchen and they are amazing! For real though..mmmmm

What is better then a tramp, or a slip n' slide in the summer? A tramp with a slip n'slide ON IT! You'd think anyway right? It didn't really work out so well...but it was fun thought!

This one was funny though. The boys wanted to sleep on the tramp--that's fun so we said okay. They read with the lanterns and loved it..until they came in at 2:00 in the morning soaking wet. Not from rain---but because of the humidity in the summer out here. HA HA! Who knew! (well, I'm sure we could have thought about it longer, but now we know for sure--don't sleep in the open in Georgia in the middle of the summer.)

For those of you who don't know, the boys are performing the "our garden rocks" dance. (it was pretty spectacular for awhile there....) I've never had better tomatoes! It's died since then (turns out if you leave it for 3 weeks in the middle of summer in August..it dies..go fig!



Kade graduated from Kindergarten. He's so great! This was his teacher Mrs. Copeland--she was amazing. We all loved her like crazy!!!