Love/Hate

The relationship Gabe (and Mom) has with our new puppy, Sunny.

Drew's caption: "It's a dog-eat-dog world and I am wearing Milk-Bone underwear!"

I Wear My Sunglasses at Night...

...and during the day, and watching a movie, and in the tub.

Gabe, our Shades Dude.

Pay Day

I don't want you to take this wrong. I know that Heavenly Father sent 6 amazing little spirits into our home. They had their talents and gifts before they ever became part of our family. They were created and existed long before I ever knew them or had any influence over them.

However, I just might be doing something right.

I went to parent teacher conferences last night and received wonderful reports. Of course I was thrilled to see all of the A's and E's for excellent. What made my heart sing, however, were the reports I received of their character: Respectful, kind, helpful, well-mannered, delightful, a joy to teach.

I don't receive paychecks or promotions as defined by worldly standards. Sometimes in the frustrations that come from raising 6 children I wonder if I am doing any good at all. More times than I care to admit. No accolades are received for the Blood, Sweat and Tears that go into piano practicing and homework supervision, very limited screen time, chore delegation with follow up...the list goes on and on. Family Home Evening lessons seem, at times, as part of a circus act.

Yet, I must be doing something right.

Ready, Set, BLAST OFF!!!

Finished product. BEAUTIFUL!

Summer's getting her FIRST tooth pulled out. Dad is pulling on one side of the floss, Braden on the other.

Great teamwork, I would say!

Family Night Fun!

We earned enough quarters to pay for a fabulous night of bowling. Way to go kids! We had a fun family night and celebrated Danielle's birthday to boot.

No sibling rivalry here! Dawson and Danielle didn't mind at all that their younger brother cleaned their plows.

OK, so my 3 yr. old beat me bowling...

Drew impressing his woman.

Danielle and Gabe knocking 'em down.

HAPPY 11th DANIELLE!

Love the presents!!
Talking to Aunt Shalee


Grandma Dayton and Birthday Girl


We love you Danielle!

Danielle, happy birthday sweetheart. How could we be so blessed to have you in our family? How could so much talent and so many smarts be in one 11 year old body? Oh, the places that you can go, kiddo. The sky is the limit! More than brains and talent is your kindness and compassion and your strong testimony. What more could a Mother want for her child than for him or her to have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel, to reach their potential, to be happy, to be kind, to be honest, and to serve others?

Attack of the Killer Toothbrush

BUSTED!!!

Hmm...There appears to be a half-eaten Tootsie Roll
smack dab in the middle of your chest, Braden...

SUMMER-time Year Round

Even when the days turn cold you brighten up my day, Summertime. Running up to your room as soon as you are home from school to change into your skirt (or your sister's skirt...)

Oh, the color! Oh, the fashion! I love you my little Summer girl.

Pocket Patrol

This is from 7 days of emptying pockets before I did the laundry. Not too bad; at least no foreign currency (from two different countries) that is unexplainable. (Yes, that has happened).

Bye, Bye Gabe

See you after pre-school. Love you and Miss you already.

Little Pieces of Heaven

A beautiful Autumn day, warm sun filtering through the windows, listening to Bach and doing our puzzles with my lap the favorite seat in the house...

The only thing better than reading to my kids is them reading to each other.

The Leaning Tower of Laundry

Why am I surprised when I open the laundry chute to see a tower of laundry looming overhead? Not to mention the 3 baskets below that are usually overflowing. It really is simple math: 8 people x 4 or so items of daily clothing=32 x 7 days=224 items of weekly dirty laundry. Gabe is a great laundry assistant--as he helps me put each piece of clothing into the washing machine, he says: "Daddy's!, Danielley's, Gracie's!, Brad-o's!..."

I am so grateful for the bodies that fill these clothes and that they are

mine to love.

Behold the Sweet Potato

Don't get me wrong. My first and forever love is and will always be Summerco's Russets. My kids eat them like candy! It's the beta carotene boost they need every now and again. Introduce my love affair with the Sweet Potato (a.k.a Yam). I steam or zap 'em and put them in fruit smoothies, mac 'n cheese, spaghetti sauce, lasagna, pancake batter...ne'er a complaint. Now that is something to love.

Go, Hannah, Go!

Is this the Best Family in the World, or what?! Hannah, thanks for working hard to get to the State Cross Country meet; giving us another reason to get together. We love you!

The Mighty Hunter

So, the guy still has it. A 360 yard downhill running shot that hit the mark! A great time with buddy Scott and his horses. Elk in the freezer. Mighty Hunter pacified for a short time.

Halloween 2008

This little piggy went trick-or-treating!

Well, we've got a super Spy Girl, Dash, Bob the Builder, and one very nice Witch. We were delighted to have Grandpa and Grandma, Aunt Suzy and Hannah here to join us in our traditional scary Halloween Feast and lots of trick-or-treating. We loved it! It was a perfect Halloween...beautiful weather, vibrant fall colors, good food and best of all...an AWESOME family.

Blessing # ??

OK. This was an epic freak out for Dad & Mom. Right before Family Home Evening: Boys running+boy pushing+boy flying+wood shelf+boy's head=the mother of all goose eggs. We were so blessed that it wasn't worse and Gabe is doing fine. Count your blessings, name them one by one...

Gabriel Pre-School!

Gabe goes to an early intervention pre-school to help with his speech and language. A big yellow school bus the size of Texas comes to our door step to pick Gabe up and drop him off. Tears the first day, but now he and Mom love it. He is so big!

Spud Harvest 2008

Braden with Mom's spud truck "Big Red"

Summer and Uncle Rhett on the cross-over

Dawson and Micah working hard?!



Danielle and Summer working in the spud pit



Braden and Grandpa Gary

Braden with Mom who is giddy as a school girl behind the wheel of a spud truck. It is more therapeutic than a day at the spa!

So this is how ya get the job done. Aren't those spuds pretty? Braden, Danielle and cousin Hannah are hard at work!

Go Dawson, Go!

Dawson participated in 7th grade Cross Country this fall. The skinny kid with long legs is built to run!