Kiddos

Kiara went to a birthday party last Saturday where they got to go have their hair, makeup and nails done. She came back all beautiful and very happy. Here she is posing with her pretty hair.

She wanted to pose with her birthday blower, so here you go. She is quite the photo queen.

Today the baby woke up and I needed to finish something up, so I asked Aidan to go talk to Rowan to keep him happy. When I went in there, this is what I found:


Aidan climbed in and kept Rowan happy. They were having fun in there. Aidan is already teaching Rowan how to jump on the bed.


Sometimes I forget all the good things about being a mom in the midst of the diapers and the dishes and the messes, but things like this really do make it all worth while. If only I could hold on to these pictures and times a little bit better!

Rowan meets Oreo . . .

We were trying to get the laundry room cleaned out and Rowan kept getting in the way. So I put him in the high chair and gave him an Oreo. He had never had one before, but as you can tell I think they will be great friends for many years to come.

Here are just some other cute pictures of some kids that I think are pretty cute. (I may be a little biased, but . . . )

My friend, Leah, who is an aspiring photographer (a very good one!) just took some pictures for us today. I can't wait to get them back. She is so fun and did so good with the kids. She was hopping all around and even got Rowan to smile in some of the family pictures. I can't wait. Thanks Leah!!!

The Fair!!

Last weekend was the Graham County Fair. Shane took Friday off and we pretty much spent the weekend at the fair. Friday Kiara was in the parade, so we went to that. Elizabeth, Andrew and Avery were all down for Aaron's homecoming talk so they got to come too.

Aidan and Avery had fun waiting for the parade, playing in the dirt and checking out the trees and pinecones and rocks.

You can barely see Kiara in this picture. I don't know how to make it zoom up, sorry.

Friday afternoon we went to the fair to check everything out. Kiara had entered cookies, cupcakes and some drawings in the fair. She worked really hard to decorate the cupcakes all by herself and she got a blue ribbon on her cupcakes and her cookies. She got a participation ribbon on her painting and I think she was more excited about that one because it was red white and blue! The kids and Shane rode on the merry go round. This picture is kind of blurry, but I think you can tell they were having fun!
Saturday we went back to the fair so Kiara could perform with her dance group, Precision Dance Company. They did an excellent job. Tonya Larsen does such a good job with all the girls. I still can't believe she can get 3 to 5 year olds to dance so good. She is amazing!!

Cowboy Missionary

So my brother, Aaron, made it home safe and sound and so did my parents. A hurricane/tropical depression/storm blew through Veracruz while they were there so we are glad they made it back safe. It was a fun trip to the airport. All my family that live in the Gilbert/Chandler area came to the airport too, so Aaron had quite the welcome home committee. We had to wait a long time for them to get through customs because they came straight from Mexico City.

Kiara and cousin Marci waiting

Cousin Jacob, cousin Bryce, Aunt Bev and Aunt Jodi

We were standing there with our signs and people kept asking where the signs for them were. When they finally came out Aaron looked just the same - cowboy hat and all! I guess this is what you get when you cross a missionary and a cowboy:



I can't believe my baby brother is a returned missionary! I look at Aidan and think he looks just like Aaron did when he was little. Aidan has decided he is going to go on a mission and tell people about Heavenly Father and Jesus just like his uncle Aaron. When you ask him where he is going he says "I go on mission" I guess that means he is willing to go wherever the Lord sends him : ) He also wants to fly on a plane to his mission. I can't believe that someday I will hopefully have 2 missionary boys. Having Aidan talk about going on a mission keeps reminding me what a huge responsibility I have to teach him so he can teach the people he is meant to bring to the gospel. Now Aaron has to figure out life in the real world again and without a companion!


In unrelated news, we also went to Kiara's neurosurgeon appointment while in Phoenix. The doctor told us something just wonderful. He said she is doing so well that she doesn't need to come back to see him for 2 years as long as she stays well. Shane and I did a happy dance all the way out of the clinic! After so much worry over her it is so wonderful to finally have some good news and nothing new to worry about! I think I better do another happy dance just because I'm happy thinking about it!