Happy Birthday my handsome man!

Wow...the years have passed way too quickly! My baby boy is already 7! Grady is the perfect ending to our family. How can I sum up such a complex boy. He is handsome, always willing to serve, a problem-solver, my cuddlebug, and always has a smile on his face!

Just the other day he told me, "Mom, I just need one more thing bigger!" I answered back, "bigger what" completely confused! His animated reply was, "Well, my head is bigger than Brinley and my feet are bigger than Rylin's. Now I just need one more thing bigger than Kayla!" I could only laugh. The thoughts that run through his mind!

He is constantly teaching us. I know he will be a great missionary one day, especially with his amazing memory!

Some of his favorite things are: Dr Suess books, playing video games, lunchmeat, The Last AirBender, and cookies!

First Day O School

Here comes another year! They love Chaparral and are excited for their new teachers! Everyone was up by 6am (yikers) and up and at em. Although I drive them, they are all at the same school....for now.

Mikaela 7th Grade

Brinley 5th Grade

Rylin 3rd Grade

Grady 1st Grade

Young Women's Camp Courage 2010

Mikaela and I got to go to YW Camp this year for the first time!! 

Yep, It was my first time too. 

Cooley Station Ward Young Women 2010
Front Row: Mikaela, Abby, Jesse, Alyssa, Sophia, Sara, Brittany
Back Row: Sister Tanner, Sister Thayn (Leaders) and Paula McDowell and Liz Orona (privelaged parents)

My camera was on the fritz so I only got a few pics to document this momentus occasion. We roughed it with tents, sleeping bags, and no showers. It was one of the most spiritual experiences and bonding moments with Mikaela. I LOVED it!

Brittany, Alyssa, and Mikaela waiting for the next song!

The girls had to make up a chant to try and win the SPIRIT stick. These were no ordinary chants. They were songs that they changed the lyrics to and then did a few remixes with other songs. It was intense competition! Although that darn spirit stick eluded the Cooley Station Ward, the girl's had a ton of fun trying to get it! Here is one of the chants they did to Jason Derulo's In My Head... Everyone's looking for courage... Ain't that the reason we're at this camp... You ain't gonna find a bishop like ours... We got better leaders than you girls fo sure...Just go to sleep now...say your prayers before bed. (Bummer just realized that I only have a portion of it.) 

Sara, Abby, and Brittany

They also had to make up a skit related to a gospel principle assigned to them. Ours was the night before the Saviour's Birth!

Jesse as the "North Star" aka Elvis

Brittany as Mary

We also did "Singing Trees" where each ward gathered around a tree in this grove at night. Each ward was assigned a hymn to sing. When it was your turn, you turned your flashlight on and pointed it towards the top of the tree. When you finished, your group turned off the flashlights. In essence, it created the effect of the trees singing and being illuminated during the song. The spirit was exceptionally strong!


Another great experience was the sharing of testimonies on the last night! Our Bishop and his wife came up to share in this. I was amazed at the strong testimonies that the girl's in our ward have at such a young age. I was proud of all of them! It was a perfect ending to an amazing week!

My Sweet Mikaela

Today is my sweet Mikaela's 11th birthday. I can't believe where the time went! I can't believe that she is really all grown up. She is loving, responsible, prankster, fun-loving, pensive, sensitive, and caring.

She has been such a blessing to our family. She is always willing to help. She does what she's asked, most of the time.... She has a testimony of our Heavenly Father. She loves her family, especially her grandparents.

Her passion is dance! I always wonder if she ever tires of choreographing a new dance each time her friends come over. She has a twinkle in her eye and a zest for new adventures. She is usually starting her homework before I have even asked her.

Her faves are: mac n cheese, Sonny with a Chance, Shrimp Alfredo, Brittany's Circus, the color blue, movies, reading, and texting!

Love ya!