So, in the past 6 months here is just a few of the things that we have done and been lucky enough to catch on camera....in no particular order. :)
Some of you might have seen the video I posted of Austin on facebook when he was sedated for his mouth surgery (if not, you should check it out, it is kinda funny). This is about an hour after surgery when we got him home. You can tell he is still drugged pretty heavily.
Smile, Austin! hehe
This is about 3 days after surgery. He had surgery to remove extra skin that was connecting his lip to his gums. Everyone has skin there but his was thick and tight causing his gap and also making his upper lip not be able to move up all the way when he smiled. As soon as he became functional again that is the first thing he said, "Wow mom, I can smile better." I am so happy for him!
This is a picture of Austin's finger a day after he slammed it in the door. Right after he did it he actually went into a shock a little bit. He became pale, clammy, nauseated, and a little loopy. Poor kid! But luckily we were able to bandage it up good and he didn't need stitches. You can't tell but on the other side there is a large cut.
In the last 6 months, we also celebrated 2 birthdays. Abigail turned 6. She picked out a cherry cake which I didn't like very much but it was pretty. She is growing up to be such a beautiful young girl. She helps me around the house whenever I ask her too. She even helps me keep an eye on Asher. She is creative and very motherly. She loves to dance and begs to be in dance class but I told her she had to wait until she was 8 (family rule). She is slightly stubborn ;) and my most shy child. She just finished her first year in Kindergarten and can't wait to be in first grade. Happy 6 years, Abbie!
Chris turned 37! His cake is a chocolate cake with marshmallow filling and malt chocolate frosting....super delish! Wow, he is getting old! And that makes me realize that I am getting old. Which makes me realize that my kids are getting old and that life is going by way too fast. As we get older we are realizing more and more to enjoy our children at every stage of life and enjoy every day but that is always easier said than done. Maybe by the time we are 50 we will finally be good at it. :)
Allison started piano lessons this year. She loves it and is doing amazing at it. She attended a music competition where they give you a rank and she received a superior in her category. Her piano teacher also said that she is doing awesome! This is her playing at the Activity Day girls talent show.
Easter weekend! Chris's family was all in town this week for Keith's homecoming so we had a "Super" Easter egg hunt. We went out to Three-Peaks Camping Ground and hid the eggs for the kids in all the rocks. Chris's family used to do this when he was younger. There were about 20 grandkids there and we hid over 400 easter eggs! I think we actually found every one too! Crazy!
Here are all the kids in the trailer enjoying their loot!
The next day we went to my parents house and the kids had another Easter egg hunt and got to ride the 4 wheeler. Austin is growing up so tall. He is now officially as tall as me (I know, that isn't hard but I am just sayin'...). He is such a good big brother. Yes he will fight with his younger siblings but I know I can count on him when it really matters and for the most part he is always thinking about their feelings. I love this picture because it reminds me of how happy my kids are and how happy they make me!
On Easter Sunday, I tried to get a good picture of the kids in their sunday dress. They all looked so beautiful. But the sun was "too shiny" according to Asher and it was a little windy. Even with squinty eyes, they are still beautiful! :)
Asher learned to write "his letter." And now he writes it on everything!
Here is one of the many projects that have kept us busy. I wish it was a fun one but it is just a "fix something that is broken" one. Since it got so cold this winter, we had a shattered pipe under part of the sidewalk. We had to dig out the dirt, replace the pipe and compact the dirt back in...easy enough, right? ;)
I try to appreciate these experiences a little. At least they are good teaching moments for Austin. He has become a good little worker with only slight complaining. :)
We also made 2 raised garden beds this year. Hopefully next year we will build a few more. I want a total of 6: 4 - 4x4s and 2 - 8x8s. That is a lot of garden for someone with a black thumb. :)
Here are some pictures of the boys at the father and son's campout. They went to a beautiful area this year that Chris said he can't wait to take the whole family back to.
Asher is always the life of the party!
Chris got the boys up bright and early to go on a hike and so they could enjoy the beautiful sunrise. I think they were happy??
Abigail graduates from Kindergarten!
I always attend field day at the kids school. This year, I bounced between three kids events! By some small miracle I actually was able see 90% of all their events. Allison's relay team won 1st place in the 2nd grade and I am happy to say that Allison is the fastest girl in the 2nd grade. She was quite amazing. Austin's team won 3rd but he is the 4th fastest kid in the school. I am not sure where they both get their speed but its not from their parents. :)
Abigail goofing around during field day!
Allison and her best friend.
Austin and his best buds. Last week of elementary school. (shed tear)
Here is the girl he likes. Shh, don't tell!
Did I mention these pictures were in "no particular order?" :) Here is a picture of Abigail as a "100 year old lady." They had to dress up as a hundred years old for the 100th day of school. She is a very cute hundred year old lady, if I do say so myself. ;)
OK, time for a little bragging (I promise that isn't what I was doing before). Austin won Cub Scout of the Year for our scouting district. He won out of 21 boys nominated. Here is a picture of him bashfully receiving the award. He also earned the Patriot award at his school. All 5th graders are encouraged to memorize a series of things such as the preamble to the constitution, the first 4 paragraphs of the Gettysburg address, the Declaration of Independence, all the presidents, states and capitals (spelled correctly), the star spangled banner and pledge, continents, the state symbols of Utah, the US symbols and the symbols of the flag and what they all mean and tell what the three branches of government are and what they do. If they memorize all that then they are given a plaque and this year they also had their picture taken with a Utah State Senator. We are very proud of all his hard work.
So that is the last 6 months of our life summed up in pictures! See you in another 6 months! :)
