Blueridge, Tennessee

Memorial weekend, this year, we were invited to go camping with some friends in Blueridge, TN.  I was a little hesitant to go, since we'd be staying on an island in the middle of the lake.  There were two concerns with this situation, #1 we'd have to get all of our camping gear to the island on our boat and #2 NO BATHROOM!!!  I went back and forth about it and couldn't decide.  I'd just had surgery a couple of weeks before, for more kidney problems and had a stint placed in my uretur and I wasn't sure if it was the best idea to go where we wouldn't be close to a hospital if there were problems.  But, with a lot of peer pressure, we caved and decided to go.  Mike of course came up with a list of things we needed for the trip and a million $ later, we were ready to go!  Who ever said camping is cheap, has never camped!
Getting to the island was no easy task.  We had to load EVERYTHING on the boat, including 5 people and two big dogs and Mike was adament about only making on trip.  There was a lot of frustration, sweat, tears and not so nice words, but we made it and had a great time! I'm really glad we went.  The kids had so much fun!!

 Braxton and one of his best buds, Jared.  They were throwing rocks into the lake and the sun was setting and they were talking and laughing having a great time.  It was just so nice and peaceful.

 We don't boat on Sunday, so the kids tried to entertain themselves by making a basketball hoop and played some basketball.

By the time we left to head home, the kids were wiped!!!  They slept almost the entire drive home.

Hailey's Dance recital

Another year, another dance recital.  I was not looking forward to the 2 1/2 hour long show, but this year the show was only 45 min.  It was wonderful!!!  Hailey looked so cute and did such a great job!  It's fun to be able to see that she's progressing.  I felt the same way with Braxton, when you could tell he actually started to understand what he was doing when he'd play sports.  Honestly I couldn't even tell you what the show was about it was just a mish mash of numbers.  She did a ballet dance to the song "colors of the wind" from pocahantas and a tap dance to "wild west".

 All ready to go

 Mike and Hailey after the show

Hailey and her mama!  Way to go Hailey, you did such a great job!

San Destin, FL

Every year, Mike has several opportunities to do a continuing education meeting.  He is encouraged to do at least one a year.  This year he signed up to do one in San Destin, Florida.  We took the kids for an extended weekend stay.  The weather was beautiful and the kids had fun at the pool and the beach.  On the last day, Braxton mentioned he wanted to go up to the room and nap, so we sent him up with Logan for them both to lay down.  Once Hailey saw that they were going up to sleep she wanted to go too, so all three of them went up to the hotel room and took a nice big long nap.  That left Mike and I down at the pool by ourselves...and I have to say it was WONDERFUL!!  Why didn't we think of this before?  We had 2 1/2 hours to ourselves, without fighting and crying.  When they woke up, they were happy and rested. We have now decided that there will be manditory naps on vacation!

 Braxton doing some body boarding

 Hailey and Logan watching a movie on my phone....what did we do without these things?

 Thumbs up!

 Lovin the ocean

 San Destin

 at breakfast at the broken egg...

Easter

We actually drove home from Florida on Easter Sunday, so we weren't able to do any traditional celebrating, but we did listen to conference talks for the entire 10 hour drive.  It was awesome!!  The following Sunday the kids were able to wear their Easter clothes to church and we had an Easter dinner with the Maddox's and the Crosby's, followed by an Easter Egg hunt.

 The kids waiting to find the candy!

 Logan was all about finding eggs until he figured out there was candy inside them, then it was all about getting them open and eating what was inside.

Sunday morning, before church

Spring Break 2012

This year, spring break was a particular good one for us. Along with our friends the Maddoxs, my sister's Kerry and Kristine and my Brother Jarom and their families came with us.  It was so fun to get to go on vacation and spend time with them.  Before we met up with everyone in Orlando we headed down to Tampa to stay with the Sampsons for a couple of nights.  It was so good to see them!  The kids were so excited to get to spend some time with them.  After spending some time there, we headed over to Orlando for 4 days.  We went to Sea World, and the Magic Kingdom.  The crowds weren't too busy and it wasn't too hot, so it was perfect!  After Orlando we said goodbye to the Crosbys and Jarom and Liina, they had to head back home to go to work, and the Jensens and us headed down to West Palm.  The Jensens had never been to Florida before so it was fun to be able to go with them for the first time.  In West Palm we just did the usual, beach, pool, peanut island and ate.  The kids had so much fun playing and I really enjoyed spending time with friends and family!  (the pictures loaded in reversed order)

A storm, heading our way.  Made the water so beautiful.

 The boys with their sea life from peanut island

Kerry and I enjoying the beach.

Braxton and his buddies Jake and Luke relaxing in the sand seats they built.

Logan and I (Logan watching Max and Ruby on my phone)

Hailey and her cousin Kate.  Hailey LOVES her cousins.  She couldn't get enough of Kate and Elsa!

Mike enjoying the hot tub and Logan taking a nap.

Hailey lovin the pool

Our beach buggy made for a very nice stroller when we didn't have enough hands to carry Logan.

Hailey and Kate collecting shells

Abe, Kate, Elsa, Ben, Sophia, Hailey, Braxton and Logan with captain Jack.  On our way back from peanut island.

A view from our deck....West Palm Beach Florida

Abe, Braxton, Hanele, Elsa and Uncle Jarom in Space Jail, at the Buzz lightyear ride.

Mike and Logan on the people mover.  Logan LOVED this ride!!!  I liked it because there was no line.

Getting tired with his sleepy druel....

Everyone at Seaworld waiting to see Shamu

A ride the Logan wanted to do over and over again, thank goodness there wasn't a line.

The Jungle cruise

This is a typical scene with Braxton and Brady....Brady punching, slaping, pushing or pulling Braxton to egg him on....

Jarom, Liina, Hanele, Braxton, Ben and Logan on the Aladin ride

Hailey and Gabby going back and forth from the pool to the warm tub....I seem to remember doing that as a kid, but with the sprinklers....

Logan

The boys enjoying the trampoline

Hailey and Gabby

Wilderness in the Smokies

Mike thought it would be fun to take a short little trip, up to Pigeon Forge, TN for a little break from life.  We stayed at the "Wilderness in the Smokies Lodge" where they had an indoor water park.  Our friends, the Maddox's came up with us and stayed for an extended weekend.  The kids had a great time playing in the pools and waterslides.

Locks of Love

The weekend after Christmas a friend in our ward was diagnosed with liver cancer.  It was pretty devastating that someone so close to us would have to go through such a trial.  He had to undergo intense chemo therapy, which caused him to lose his hair.  When this happened, the men in our Elders Quorum all shaved their heads in support of our friend.  They kept it quiet so they could surprise him at church.  It was such a neat experience to see the expression on his face when the guys, walked into the chapel for sacrament meeting, with his their heads shaved.  It took him a minute to catch on to what was happening, but when he realized he broke down and cried. 
Hailey was so fascinated as to what was going on.  I explained it to her and she had a million questions.  From, why did Brother Dunford lose his hair to why would the dads shave their heads?  She asked if children lost their hair when they had cancer and I explained that the medicine they have to take to get rid of the disease does cause them to lose their hair.  I also told her about Locks of Love.  A group that collects donated hair to make wigs for children that lose their hair.  The next day Hailey had made up her mind that she wanted to cut her hair to donate.  I told her she needed to think about it before she made the decision, but she was determined.  I even tried to talk her out of it, but she wanted to do it.  So that week, we went to the a hair salon and she had 10 inches cut off!  She was so excited that her hair was going to make someone very happy.  That definitely was a proud moment for me.

101 Dalmations

Hailey's teacher decided she wanted to take on the task of putting together a play for her class to celebrate the 101th day of school.  Why, I don't know, but Hailey was so excited about it!  She loves to perform "on the stage".  She came home from school and told me she was one of the puppies and that she needed to start working on her lines.  We practiced everynight, until she had them down.  On the day of the play, a girl in her class, who had a part was home sick.  So Hailey volunteered to do it along with her part.  She memorized the lines the morning of the play and did such a great job!

Daddy Daughter date

Just before leaving for the "Sock Hop"

The Elementary School does a daddy/daughter night and a mother/son night.  The mother/son night was always on Sunday at the bowling alley...why they did that I don't know.  So Braxton and I never went.  The daddy/daughter night is always a friday night and it's a dance.  Last year Hailey did not want to go, but wanted Mike to take her out to dinner and shopping instead (just like her mom).  However, when her friend, Gabby came back from the dance telling her how wonderful it was she was really upset that she chose not to go.  So this year as soon as it was announced at school, she was sure to let Mike know they were going and for him to put it on his calendar.  Every day she asked "how much longer to the sock hop"?  The night finally came and they had a lot of fun.  Dancing, games and food.  She let me know she definately wanted to go again next year!

the kids

Braxton is 11 now, just about to turn 12.  He will be a deacon in a month, wow.  He played football this year. He was a North Forsyth Raider.  They had a pretty good season and even when to the championships.  They came in second place, not to shabby.  It was a very time consuming sport and I was very glad when the season ended.  Braxton does really well in school.  His best subjects are Math and Science, boy he sure doesn't get that from me.  He's not only school smart, but he picks up on things very quickly.  Which can be annoying at times.  He is a fantastic big brother, always wanting to help me with the kids.  He is a big helper to me, always asking if there is anything I need for him to do.  If he senses that I don't feel well he will see if there is anything I need.  He is just a really good kid.

 So this was the sad year that Braxton broke it to me that he didn't believe in Santa anymore.  Apparently he felt this way lastyear, but didn't want to tell me.  It's little things like that, that I think are going to be the hardest for me with the kids, but I guess they have to grow up.  There was an upside to this....he took over the roll of moving the elf everynight.  And he was excited about it.  He did fun little things with him and it was fun to see Hailey's reaction when she saw the mischief he'd gotten into.  This is a picture of the elf getting into the cereal.

 One Sunday, Braxton and Hailey wanted to set the table for dinner and this is what they came up with.

 Little miss Hailey is 7 now. She will be baptized this year.  She is our little artist.  She loves to dance and just started piano lessons, along with Braxton.  She is so excited to go, and to practice!  I hope the enthusiasm keeps up.

 Hailey lost one of her front teeth.  She worked on it for weeks and finally just ripped it out after I told her I was going to take it out myself.  She was so proud she got it out.  Too bad her other front tooth has a big cavity on the side of it that you can see now.

 Mr. Logan is our little comedian.  He loves to be goofy, especially if he has an audience.  He is a funny kid.  When Braxton and hailey were babies they had a bearblanket that they took with them everywhere.  Logan never really became attached to anything, and then all of the sudden he was carrying this blanket that was made for Hailey as a baby, around.  He loves to snuggle it and nuzzle it, it's pretty funny.  If he sees it across the room, he'll run over to it and lay on it with a big smile on his face.

 Logan loves to dance.  Actually all three of our kids couldn't resist bobbing heir head if they heard music, when they were babies.  If any music is on, even the hymns at church, he'll start dancing a little.

 Logan is probably our pickiest eater.  Dinner time can be really difficult.  Once we were having crock pot chicken and asparagus.  He loved the chicken, but wouldn't touch the asparagus.  I had finally given up feeding him and started to eat my dinner, when Hailey started laughing.  I looked over and he'd put his asparagus on his head.  I guess that's one way to get rid of it.

Logan is a huge snuggler.  If you pick him up he will hug you so tight.  He loves to snuggle with Mike in our bed.  One night, Logan woke up crying and we happened to still be up, so Mike went to see what was wrong. He brought him back in our room and was snuggling with him to calm him down and they both fell asleep.