BYU game with Grandpa Parker.........

Grandpa Parker has season tickets to BYU football and he asked me and Layne if we wanted to go to the game and of course we said yes. He had 3 tickets so we brought Julia with us to the game as well. We like to get down to the stadium a little early and see what's happening around outside. We played a few games and got some free swag. Eventually we meet up with grandpa and make our way in to our seats. Of course it's October but the sun is beating down on us the whole game.....summer isn't quite over. But it makes for a great game day.

Half time we walk around and grab a bite and a few pictures. That's just what we do. Creates memories and adds to the experience!

We won the game. It was a fun day. Great day to spend time together and watch some football!

One on One Time.........

Every Wednesday I take the twins to their therapy session in Pleasant Grove. They have been through some serious trauma in their lives and are needing some help with some emotional and social issues they have and also help with their PTSD diagnosis. So Christian came with me this week so we could have some one on one time while I dropped them off. He and Julia both get kinda lost in the shuffle a little because Isaac and Miguel are very needy and we are having to teach them a lot they have missed in the last few years. So some one on one time is certainly needed.

We stopped at a cupcake shop and grabbed a few cool Halloween cupcakes and then went to a park to eat them and play on the playground. Christian ran around and burned some energy and wanted to get underdogs on the swings over and over again. We had a great time together.

Oh The Silliness.............

We've needed some time out of the house. So we've been looking for Halloween costumes and making trips to the dollar store while Julia has been in school. We came across some cute hats in Zucher's Party Store the other day and couldn't resist.

It's really hard to get these 2 to look at the camera, let alone smile. They just don't know what the word smile means. They just stare at the camera and look down a lot. Miguel likes to smile the most. But we had to get some sombrero's in there for some authenticity!

Then we came across the mustache glasses. I laughed and laughed when each of them put them on. It was too cute!

While Christian is at school the twins play pretty good with each other and by themselves so I can get things done around the house. I remembered I had some kinetic sand and they had their trucks they are utterly obsessed with. So I thought they would love to dig in the sand with their trucks. I laid them out on cookie sheets and they went to town for a good solid hour! It is now their favorite activity......they ask to do it all the time! Genius!

Photo Shoot...........

It's that time of year again when my sister does my kids birthday pictures for the year. Julia had her baptism dress for her pictures this year and she loved being able to wear it and take pictures in it. Christian, well, he hates to take pictures. You just have to get him in his element. So we did get a few good ones of him. Here are some of my favorite ones she captured for us this year!

Baptism Day.........

 It was a beautiful, hot, sunny day. We made our way over to the Stake Center, in Eagle Mountain for Julia's baptism. Had to be there by 8:30am so Layne and Julia could change into their white clothes. There were 2 others being baptized that day as well so we divided up all the assignments like talks, songs, and prayers amongst the family members. We had both my family and Layne's family there. It was so great to be able to have everyone there for Julia's big day and I think she really thought that was cool too!

Julia was baptized by her dad and she was so happy. She walked down into the water and she was calm and she smiled. She went under the water and came back up and was just smiling from head to toe and that smile never left her face the rest of the day. The spirit was really strong for the rest of the meeting. Julia can feel the spirit and is very sensitive to it. I know when she was receiving the Holy Ghost she felt it and she gave everyone a hug afterwards. She loved being able to wear her pretty white dress all day. She felt like a princess. For a gift we gave her a set of her very own scriptures!

We are very proud of you Julia and the decision you have made to be baptized. It's one step closer to becoming more like your Father in Heaven and being able to live with Him again someday! We love you!

Soccer Season.........

 Christian tried soccer this year. His team was a little unbalanced so he tended to do a lot of running up and down the field without getting to handle/kick the ball very much if certain kids were playing. Once said players were taking a break Christian got a bit more action and really enjoyed himself. He liked sitting on the sidelines and drinking water most of the time saying "I'm to hot or I'm to tired from running." It was cute to see him be a part of a team and watch him interact with other kids. He ran along side not really sure how to get to the ball. Then we taught him how to keep his arms and elbows up to block people out and then you could see him using that skill on the field. He catches on fast and keeps improving every game. The best part for him is at the end when he gets a snack.

He loved being a part of team and being able to receive a medal for playing. He thought that was pretty cool.

Julia was on an all girls team this year made up of 3rd and 4th graders. She was the littlest of the team but man, she was fast and had hustle. They played 2 30 minute halves and by the end of those 30 mins. the girls were dying and having side cramps etc. Julia over did it a couple of games and had to sit and rest before going back in. So during the week. Layne and Julia set a goal to do some conditioning drills in the back yard to get her use to running for long periods of time. She would start out running the length of the back yard and then up the hill in the back yard and then add some sprints. By the end of the season you could tell her endurance was so much better. While most girls were walking to get to the ball, Julia was running and running fast to get to the ball to make a play. She is a great little soccer player. It's fun to watch her play and her team was pretty good this year too. She had a great season! Way to go Julia!

First Day of School..........

3rd grade here we come.........

Julia is always a little nervous going back to school. I was the same way. Nervous because she won't know anyone in her class and where to line up. But she is excited to get back to see her old friends and make so new ones.

Christian didn't start pre-school until a whole week later. So he was excited to wear his new back pack. I drove them both to school the 2nd week and walked Christian down to his class. He did some testing with her so he knew where to go and what his class looked like. He marched right down the hall and right in. He did however, go sit by himself once in class. Feeling things out, testing the waters till he gets use to people. What a brave kid....didn't appear to be nervous but I wouldn't know either because he would never tell me. Way to go Christian!

A new year, full of opportunities and possibilities! They look so big and grown up!