All Dolled Up

Ksenya had her night in excellence and her super cool Young Women's leaders made it a formal event.  It was decorated so beautifully like a wedding and each of the girls was wearing formal attire.  It was a little unnerving to see my baby girl looking so very much like me at my Junior Prom - standing with my date.  It was fun to be her escort though and get to see her receive her Young Womanhood Medallion.  She has worked so hard (and fast!) and really earned it.

Strange to see that piece of your heart walking around outside it looking nearly-grown.  Where did the last decade go?  Why didn't I believe them when people tried to warn me about how quickly those years would pass?  How I love this little Mama and the amazing person she is.

Ayvri's got a Date

Ayvri had her daddy daughter date the night of Brigham's baptism.  Tyler picked her up with a smile and promised to bring her home on time.  

She had made him a flower and he had a corsage for her.  They were so cute!  They enjoyed a fun dinner and dancing.  What a great tradition!

Brigham's Baptism

The big day finally came! Brigham has been impatiently waiting for this day for a YEAR and it was well worth the wait.  He was so happy and smiley and sweet (which is normal) and also so excited he hardly could sit still in his chair.  

It's a wonderful thing to watch Tyler perform ordinances with our kids.  I wonder if they know how incredibly blessed they are?  What a joy to have faith!  Not just religion, not just a church (though we love that part), but to have belief in something bigger than themselves.  Belief in something that brings peace and hope and comfort and purpose to life.

He had a great group of people at his baptism - he had invited 20 different families from the ward and all but 1 showed up!  I was blown away.  In addition he had his grandparents from both sides and Aunt Amber's family in attendance.  We felt so loved!

With every new milestone I'm just more thankful for my family.

This is my favorite picture - it always is and I make sure that the Daddy knows I need this one.  That is a HAPPY boy.  That is complete peace and joy.  

Oh - and also brings opportunities to sneak mom's phone and take selfies in church at least once a week.  These two are the best kind of partners in crime.  

Big Boy Church Moments

It's a big month for my boys.  Kabe will receive the Aaronic Priesthood and Brigham will be baptised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints next weekend.  We decided we'd better commemorate the event with some pictures and some new church clothes.  Since Noah got a new outfit too we decided he'd better be in the pictures as well.

I'm so thankful that my boys are setting such a good example for each other and for their sisters.  They are learning and genuinely try to do what is right.  I'm also excited to have another member in our family and another Priesthood holder in our home.  I know that they learned by the great example of their Daddies, Grandpa's and Uncles how to be men of honor and integrity and I'm excited to watch them to continue to grow in the Strength of the Lord.  After all, this world could use a few more good men!!!

They are also the most handsome young men I've ever seen.  Those dimples, those freckles, those cheeks.  I seriously love these boys.

Even though they are a little farther apart than the girls are in age, Kabe and Brig have really bonded and I love watching them.  It reminds me of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and the way they defended and supported each other.  I hope my boys always remember to be each other's wingman.

They really enjoyed having their own photoshoot - something that they don't get often.  I also  had the best time shopping for a suit with Kabe.  He is such a charming boy and took the whole thing so seriouslly.  He especially wanted a "real" tie that he had to learn how to tie himself just like Dad and they have had several "lessons" on how to do it.  

 I love these pictures because my boys have inherited a love of hats from their Papa Horse.  Kabe is wearing a hat that belonged to his Great Grandpa Riding.  Brigham is wearing his favorite old, worn out "cowboy" hat - the one that he wore to the farm a hundred times and it reminds me of the farm in all of us.  Noah is just the cutest thing ever in his hat and even learned to say the word Hat when we put it on his head.  (after that I had to buy it!)

 I love that they all have a little mischevious in them - look at those naughty eyes, like they are trying not to get caught doing something.  They are all three big teases and their favorite target is their mother.  Heaven help me but they've got my number big time.

I'm so thankful for my boys - they bring a level of adventure of my life I couldn't do without and are a consisten source of laughter and love in our home.   

First Priesthood Meeting

Here is Kabe and Tyler on their way to their first General Priesthood Session together.  Finally - Tyler has someone to go with every six months.  He has such great memories of going with his Dad and it was cool to watch them go together.  Plus - my guys in suits - mn-hm.  

Sweet Service

The Bishop asked us to take time to help out with cleaning up the grounds of the church house so we made a Family Home Evening of it.  After we weeded for a while we enjoyed our treat - a Popsicle out in the open where the sticky could get everywhere!  

Poor Noah doesn't have a buddy.  Sometimes I feel bad about this.  Other times I don't.

My blonde buddies.  These two look like twins - they are about the same size and both blonde and wild!  They are so much fun and really a joy to behold in their element running around like crazies.

My brownies are getting so grown up.  These two really love each other - though they don't like admitting it.  They are getting closer all the time as they mature and learn to appreciate their differences.  They do NOT look like twins because of their freakish height difference but that's ok by me - I think they're both marvelous.

The "girls".  Ah - the girls.  These two.  What am I going to do with these two?  They certainly keep me busy and keep me smiling and keep me amazed that two sisters could be so different and still be so inseparable.  What a marvel they are.

Thanks Bishop for the challenge - it was a fun night remembering how blessed we are to have such a lovely church to meet in.  

Camp Time

Ksenya was a 2nd year for Girls Camp and they take camps seriously here in Alaska!  Her camp was 5 days and boy was she excited.  

While she was gone her bed got turned into the sleep-over bed.  Ayvri didn't want to be alone and the little girls thought it was great fun to invade the "big girl" space.

Who was the most excited to see her (besides her mother of course?)  Noah!  He wouldn't let her go for nearly an hour and kept checking on her throughout the rest of the day. The feeling was mutual as she almost cried when she picked him up.  Everyone else was pretty excited to have her back too.

Kabe was a super lucky duck and got to go to the big scout camp even though he's only 11.  He had to be driven up and back each day but it was worth it for all the amazing things he got to do. Since he was home with us every night there wasn't a lot of time to miss him, but I sure did.  He's such a great young man and I can't believe he's almost 12!

I love that the church provides opportunities like this for my kids where I feel that they are safe but at the same time very stretched.  I'm also thankful for the baby stepping out of my Motherly comfort zone and hope it helps prepare me for my little chicks when the time comes for them to leave the nest.  I want them to leave - eventually, but I know it's gonna hurt too.  #momproblems.

Activity Days Camp

This year Ayvri got to go on a three day -day camp with her church group.  They did so many fun things and I got to join them for one day.  

Here is the group - our ward's girls group is pretty huge.  

Ayvri has the cutest friends!

Why are kids this age so very sweet?

The facility was pretty cool - a scout camp with all the amenities and lots of neat classes and activities.

Again - the cuteness just never stops. 

This was on our botany hike - it looks like a postcard to me.  The plants here are unreal.  I've never lived anywhere that a FERN would grow in the wild like a weed, but it does here.  

And we found this little friend who is obviously used to the campers and enjoying his cheese because he let me get REALLY close.

Told ya - this was on my phone - we were inches from each other.

And then the lake.  This is a serious canoe face.

This is such a fun exercise to watch - nothing screams team building like tandem canoes.

And then the water.  Yes - she's swimming in a Lake in Alaska in May.  It was cold.

Her biggest problem was that she couldn't get herself back onto the dock in that oversized life vest.  Every time she wanted to climb out the life guard would haul her out and then watch her jump back in.  I could never be a lifeguard.

What's more girly than sunbathing? 

Sunbathing with your heads together so you can still chatter.

This place was surreal and beautiful.  Blue water, blue skies, green everywhere else. 

It was an awesome day.

Pinewood Masterpiece

I'm a girl.  This means that in the culture in which I was raised I never had the chance to build a pinewood derby car.  That's a scout thing.  Now I'm not complaining - in fact I think it's great that my first opportunity came just a few weeks ago when our ward activity invited everyone to build a car.  I was ready for this and had big plans.  

I got a little carried away, but it was SO fun!  I want to take up whittling, or wood working.  I told Tyler I want to get a giant log or stump so I can carve a totem pole in the backyard.  Seriously - this was some major craft therapy for me.

But - I let the girls claim it as their own and race it.  We were slow - didn't even come close to the fast cars, but we were so pretty we got the Sweeptakes trophy.

And what a trophy it was!  Where do you put this thing?  Such a fun night - our ward really is awesome at throwing parties.  

Church Greeter

Over a year ago one Sunday at church Brig asked if he could help Brother Moody pass out the programs.  We talked about how he would need to stand and shake people's hand and make eye contact and pass out the programs and welcome them to church.  He has since taken the job very seriously.

After we moved I hoped that our new ward would be supportive of his self-determined assignment and sure enough - he was welcomed with open arms.  Each week he makes sure that he is standing in "his" spot to give out the programs and if we arrive after anyone he hand delivers one to his seat.  Now he even has his little sisters wanting to help with the task.  

This little man is preparing today to hold and honor the Priesthood and I just love his honest spirit and the way he assumed this responsibility without any push from me.  The church has done great things for our family - and this kid will do great things in the church and the world because of it.

Conference Time

It's time for General Conference and we're all ready.  We have the photos hung and the notes posters ready - we have the playdough and pipe cleaners and snacks.

I love seeing what the kids write on the posters with the ties - some of them are great notes, and others, mostly "art".

This year instead of setting up a tent (which is in the shed in Utah), we hung sheets from the ceiling.  I think it was better than the tent because we had the feeling of a tent and something special, but we got to utilize the whole living room and it wasn't so loud - I think we'll stick to this.

The kids were busy and engaged and mostly quiet the whole time and I actually got to hear - every. speaker.  This is epic!  I also like having it a little earlier (8-10 and 12-2) because then when it's over we still have time to do something together as a family before dinner and bedtime.

I love General Conference.  So MUCH!!!