doodling

abe loves to draw.  

ever since he was two, i would find little doodle papers laying around.

it's something i want to remember.

here are a few recents.

     

....and lately, i find things like this as my screen saver or in my phone pics.

 he even helps his little bros create.

AND 

 ...we can't forget about etch a sketch!!

moab

dave and i went on a quick trip to moab.

dave keeps me adventurous, for which i am grateful.

we enjoyed mountian biking, shopping, and eating out.  

we found a campground and slept in our car with a blow up mattress.
thanks to our little projector, we watched a movie on the ceiling--the bugs liked the light so 

we had a few friends that slept with us.  ugh. 

the next day we drove to a bunch of look out views and took in all the beauty.

my favorite thing i saw on our trip--this trail marker!   

it made me laugh- it was HUGE!  

i thought, in life, when we have big decisions, wouldn't it be awesome if we had big trail markers like this!!  then, i realized i have had big trail markers with every big decision i have ever made.  

i'm SO grateful for the gospel and the holy ghost. 

keeps me on the right path!

i am a winner

a few pics of abe's soccer team.  

they played in a tournament a few weeks ago and won the whole thing!

abe made the most of the very low key award ceremony:)

"yay abe!"

vivian actually really likes going to her brother's soccer games.

i love when she cheers for them.  sometimes, she will yell for abe when he is out 

on the field.  i think it surprises him, so he 

always looks over at her and smiles.  

it's my favorite.

well played boys, well played!

do it.

HAVE A GRAPE DAY!

kai's birthday

i thought i should mention kai turned eleven...

in august.  

yep.  

i feel like i am that behind with a lot of stuff. 

he is totally worth mentioning though:)

kai makes me feel like a good mom.  he tells me thanks often and sometimes, hugs me for no reason.  he even told me i was doing a good job the other day when i felt like crying.  he is smart, like really smart, and competitive, like really competitive, and sensitive, responsible and yet easy going.  he likes to be prepared.  he doesn't need a lot of reminding to get things done and he usually does things on the first ask.  he is easy to get a long with and takes awesome care of his little sister, which is why she regularly blesses him twice in her prayers:)

i love reading with kai at night, i consider this my "kai time".  

  lately, we have read four harry potter books, queen of sheba, number the stars, and right now we are deep into a nancy drew mystery.  haha!  shhh, don't tell.

kai wanted to go bowling with our family for his birthday.  

so we did:)

loved it and celebrating our kai guy!!

dance pictures

my two girls in their homecoming dresses.  

vivi wanted a homecoming dress too:)

 sadie lets me be her personal shopper for all the dances.  

she doesn't have a ton of time to think about it, and so it's kind of become a hobby.  

i really like trying to put together something she will love, that looks modest and stunning. 

 i completely believe the girl makes the dress and not the other way around-- 

but i do have to say, i LOOOOOOOVED this ensemble.  so fun!!

this was the "OK DAD-ENOUGH WITH THE PICS, WE ARE OUTTA HERE" look...

 abe was required to help at the dance (student government duties) -dateless.

we tried to make his hair as big and curly as we could.  it was fun.

abe wore the same blazer his grandpa john wore to his high school dance when he was in student government years ago.  abe was in charge of turning on all the lights, plugging in all the important things and doing last minutes decorating.  haha!  i'm glad the homecoming dance was in this fourteen year old's good hands.  he laughed that he was the first one to the dance and the last one to leave...waiting out front for his dad to pick him up:)  i was so proud of his tact though, when a boy from our ward asked abe if he needed a ride home, abe told him to go ahead

 with his date and then had dave pick him up. 

 good thinking abe!!!

promises

homecoming week is in full swing.

sadie got asked to the dance by her good friend, carson. 

she (and abe) helped plan and execute a full week of activities for the students.
(street painting)

 (water slide)

 (parade through downtown)

(kai's band class played the fight song as the parade rode passed. sadie snapped a pic of him.   nicely done, kai!) 

sadie was one of ten girls nominated to be homecoming queen.

she got to be in the assembly with her date.  

 they lip synced in front of the student body.  so fun!

she considered it a big compliment to be nominated and was happy (like radiated happiness) being a  part of it all.

watching her and carson perform, i couldn't help but think back to when we moved here half way through 7th grade...she was so nervous to start another new school.
she was quiet, observant, and quite self protective.
i remember PROMISING her that if she kept the commandments and did all she could to put Heavenly Father first, she would "prosper in the land".  how many times does it say in the book of mormon, 'they did keep the commandments and they did prosper in the land"?!  it is a pattern that i truly believe in.  i have watched this happen with sadie!!  she makes huge efforts in doing the things Heavenly Father would want her to do.  she continually strives to be obedient in little and big things and i have watched her have so many opportunities!
does this mean it has all been a piece of cake?  no.
there have been tears and trials, but she's had help to come out of it with a light in her eye and strength and happiness.  she has grown, expanded herself and her comfort zone, she has felt the spirit, she's learned to be charitable and happy for others.  she has learned it's not all about her and enjoys reaching out.  she is a good friend and has good friends, she works hard and has been successful.  plus, she has had a ton of fun!!
she has been amazingly blessed.
GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES.  i know it.
i wish i could show every little 7th grade girl (haha- or adult), struggling to feel confident or like a somebody, or needing any kind of direction or help-- i wish i could show them this story and this pattern.  i love her so much and i know God does too.  i know sadie is nervous about the future and all the decisions that lie ahead, but i know as she puts God first, she will continue to have God's help, and she will prosper.
amen:)