Last game of the season

For Fall ball we joined the Cal Ripkin League since our coach Bob wasn't coaching for Kearns American. Overall we had a good experience with the league and Braeden has done really well.

Sliding head first into home and was safe by the hair on his chinny chin chin!

Waiting to steal home.

Hit two triples this game! I am so proud of him, he progressed into such a great ball player this year. We have looked forward to all his games from early spring until now. A year of great friends and playing ball, what more could a 9 year old want.

He was given a chance to catch this season and decided he really enjoyed playing this position. He pitched and played 1st base as well. One of his coaches said he was an "all around good ball player." We were very proud of him! Thanks to all who came to watch him!

He FINALLY gets to play!

Waiting to steal home! (or be told by the base coach to run to the next base)

Check out the stance of that batter! This was after the true wind-up! He practiced on our Hit-away for hours just for his games! He was so excited to finally get to play a game.

This one went ALMOST to the pitchers mound!

Running for the ball (with all 12 other players) Once he got to the ball he just laid there, after being tackled by another player, and wouldn't throw the ball or even stand up. It was cute the first couple of games but then our cute coach Kim held the tacklers by their hoods! It was great! Peewees Kearns American in the spring!

I wish I had done this 9 years ago

I wish I had learned about this way of keeping a journal when I first became a mom. I would love to look back at Braeden and Lexee and keep track of their growth and development. This was taken shortly after McCoy's 2 month appointment. He was closer to 10 weeks. He weighs 9 lbs 2 oz, and is 21 inches long. He is holding his head up really well and is smiling when talked to. He is not on the growth charts yet but if he holds to his genetics (of course only his dad's) :) he will definitely get on and stay on! People comment all the time about his eyes. I used to say they were like Braeden's only inside out, but he is growing into his cutie little face! We are so in love with Bacoy or Nacoy or Bug or beebee!

Where is Cody?

The famous question by family, friends and even strangers where ever we go. 3 years ago we were blessed with news that Cody had been hired at Kennecott. Who wouldn't want to get a paycheck to play, Ohh I mean drive trucks. Soon after Cody was hired he was given the name Bruiser, someone thought he looked like a good bouncer :) His buddies include A-Rod, Thunderstick, Maybe, McCoy(look familiar), and many others. Don't ask me their real names, I don't think Cody even knows. 10-4 Good Buddy!We took Talan up to see Daddy's work. These tires are really on the trucks. They stand 12 feet 6 inches tall.

That truck, the little one in the back, is a Ford F-150, it has to have a flag that is 8 feet high above it to be seen by the driver. Otherwise, the driver of the haul truck could go right over the top of it. The haul truck is on it's way to dump the load. Loaded the truck drives 8 MPH and unloaded it can go as fast as 40 MPH.

You can see 3 steps that lead to a staircase to the deck. The deck can comfortably hold 6+ lawn chairs across the truck. Cody climbs in the door to begin his 12 hour day or night of driving, reading and jamming to his favorite tunes on his Ipod. Don't get me wrong, he is not isolated. He also plays trivia with his buddies on their radios.

The drivers wait to be loaded with the Ore, and then they dump it either in a dump or in the crusher. There are as many as 60 trucks driving at the same time.

We feel so blessed to be a part of the Kennecott team. The company has blessed our life. Even though Cody works really hard, he plays hard too. He often says that he wants our kids to know the value of work and taking care of family. He wants them to remember that when he is at home he plays hard, teaches his kids and enjoys his family and hobbies.

Kearns Town Parade

Lexee danced with her performing team in the Kearns Hometown Days Parade. She did a great job and we were so proud of her!

The Feeders

Ok so I decided to put this on our blog and not on Facebook since only a few read this. It was so funny to Cody and I that I can't resist it:

I had just stepped out of the shower and not realizing Talan in our room playing with Cody. Talan looked up at my gorgeous wet body and said, "Daddy, look there's the Feeders!" We were a little unsure of what he was talking about until it became rather clear when he pointed at my upper mid section below my chin...you know where... But we really knew what he was talking about when he said, "THE BABY FEEDERS, LOOK DAD LOOK!" I quickly turned around and then he shouted, "You missed it Dad, I can't see the feeders anymore!" I died and then I made a subconcious new rule that I would lock the door until I was completely dressed. Also, I will be a little more modest when I nurse McCoy.

2 months old *sniff, sniff*

I know people say it all the time, but I really can't believe how fast kids grow up! What a wonderful baby we have been blessed with. He is a welcome addition to our family and completely adored by both brothers and his big sister!

We decided to get away and head to Park City for a couple of days. There is a new Alpine Coaster, everyone was able to ride, that was so fun! It goes 45 miles an hour down the mountain. Cody, Braeden and I rode the Zipline down the mountain going 30 miles an hour, it was great! I was surprised to see how adventurous Lexee was. Talan and Lexee loved the Launch Tramp the best. Brae loved all the higher adventure stuff but no one could beat a good game of Mini Golf or should we say mini baseball. We don't go anywhere very often and this weekend was great to spend time together as a family!

More B-NANA Bread

About a year ago I posted about my mom's Banana Bread that Talan calls B-NANA bread. She made some a couple of weeks ago and the kids tore into "their" special loaves.

Seriously we don't live very far from my Mom and Dad!

No, Seriously we live 8 houses away from them and the kids couldn't resist the 4 second drive home. (I know why do we drive to her house...that's another point)

McCoy's blessing

Cody blessed McCoy on Sunday. He blessed McCoy that he would desire to walk in Christ's footsteps and that he would be an example and help to our family. He thanked our Heavenly Father for the health of McCoy. It was a beautiful blessing. I am so thankful that Cody holds and honors his priesthood.

bAck 2 ScHooL

I can't believe how big they are getting. Lexee just entered 2nd grade.
Braeden (a little embarrassed of the picture-takin' mom) is now in the 3rd grade.

3 Weeks of Summer Vacation

Year round school only gives 3 weeks for summer vacation. We tried really hard to squeeze some fun activities in before starting school again.
Lexee sharing her face painting talents with Logan.

Ice Blocking at Murray Park.

The 24th of July took us to Fort Douglas where families of soldiers are invited to enjoy a BarBQ and activities for the kids. Thanks Uncle Richard for all you do for our country!

Just learning how to do bunny ears, now even more fun to take pictures.

Drive In to see Up and the Proposal.

Here we are hiking Silver Lake and Twin Reservoirs. It was really fun to take a random Wednesday and hike with Jake, Ness, Steph & a whole lot of kids.

Love the Baby Bjorn. McCoy (just over 3 weeks old) did really well for the whole hike. He hung out with Cody's hat over him to avoid any sun exposure. Co got a great idea of what it is like to be pregnant, as he hiked with this baby on his tummy.

Steph and I picked up jogging strollers. No we aren't jogging yet, but we have goals. The kids ride their bikes and we try really hard to keep up.

MIA- Lexee was with Ness.

Happy Birthday Brae!

Brae turned 9 on July 16th. It is so hard to believe that he is growing so fast. He is such a fun kid to be around. He swims in AXE body spray, wears baseball hats most all the time, tells people that he is almost an adult and is willing to live life to the fullest.
I wished on his cake that I could tell Braeden and have him truly understand how much we love him. He adds so much pride to our family. He is witty and kind. He is the first to rush to someone's defense.

I also wished on his cake that I could go back and hold him again as a baby. I would have held him more, cuddled him more and spent more time just looking at him. He is one heck of a kid and we love him so much! Happy Birthday Brae!

"Wow Mom you are THIRTY-TWO!!"

Pedicures and Brunch! It's like we are grown-ups!
We were suckered in and got a little nail art but we did politely decline the twofer one wax special. Those nail people could sell you sand when your on the beach!

The Big Green

I love the hospital binkies, the smell, the look, everything about them. This is the only kid I have had where the binky is almost as big as his head!
Oh and Co, when we loose this one...prepare for the tears, I am sure McCoy will be OK, I don't know if I will recover though! Those baby blues are a doozy!!

All Stars & The Bees

We took our favorite All Stars, Brae and Cole to the Bees game. Of course all we heard was, "I coulda hit that!" "Come on Blue what kinda call was that!" "It's outta here!" "Strike!" "Good eye!" Lex has a thing for baseball players already! I told Brae he better get used to her "hanging" around his friends, it's all down hill from here."

Fun in the Sun

Tanning?
Couldn't leave McCoy out, he sleeps anywhere we go so we might as well entertain ourselves.

Swimming at Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center

Not camera shy at all.

Working on the tan for the 3rd grade :)

Love the goggles!

Working on the upper arm tan :)