Noah's birthday

This was Noah's "off" year for a birthday party.  We had a little family party with some presents and a chocolate trifle. 

Noah is having a great year right now.  While he still has some rough moments and sometimes rough days (who doesn't?) - some of the issues we were having at this time last year or even 6 months ago seems so distant.  He is generally happy and helpful. He is very creative and is working on some new hobbies and talents - especially that of  drama.  He and Dane have a special relationship.  He has a great little friend group at school and is getting along better with some kids that, in the past, he has struggled with. He is getting VERY excited to get the priesthood and go to the temple in January.  He even started working on family history last week and seems genuinely interested in it.  Last year I was so concerned that there was NO WAY he would be ready to go to Young Men's, or the temple, or get the priesthood - but he has blown me out of the water - he is very ready and is going to do great.

There is a giant in the fairy garden... run!!

Dane loves playing in our front yard.  We put a swing on the porch for him, he loves our front yard sand box (yes we have a front yard and a back yard sand box!), he loves going up and down the stairs and trying to climb on the rocks.  But his favorite thing to do is destroy the fairy garden and eat my ground cover.

I LOOOOVVVEEE hanging out with this kid all day.

family for the baptims

Welp, I did a terrible job of taking pictures of our other activities for Madison's baptism.  The morning of the baptism we went to the park and the library (the baptism wasn't until 3). 

I can't remember what we did Saturday Night (I know that Debby and Randy left on Satuday - they had a lot of stuff to do to get ready to go to Greece the next week).  My parents stayed and hung out with us on Labor day and they took us miniature golfing and then out to slurpees.  Then my mo took Noah birthday shopping.

We  love when family comes!

Madison's baptims

Madison got baptized on August 31.  It was a beautiful summer day and she was so excited.  She had a lot of family and friends come and support her.

Daniel is a rock star and drove 10 hours alone with is girls on Friday and then left Sunday.  Can you believe it?  What a good uncle!

She also had her good friend Zoe and Delaney come.  And they brought her flowers!

Jason baptized and confirmed her.  He did a great job!  Megan gave a talk about baptism and Noah gave a talk about the Holy Ghost.  Madison wanted us all to participate so she had Brock give the closing prayer and I led the music (while holding Dane) - that way we all got to participate.  Originally Brock was supposed to give the baptism talk and Megan the prayer but Brock was still way behind in school from our Boise trip and was trying hard to catch up and was really stressed about doing all his homework and writing a talk.  Madison sensed this and asked if he wanted to switch Megan.  It was kind of cool to see them interact like that.

Megan had just gotten diagnosed with Celiac about 2 weeks before the baptism and Madison was very sensitive to it and wanted to make sure Megan could eat everything after the baptism - so she chose ice cream sundaes. 

This is Christina Coddington.  Her son, Kelton, has been Megan and Madison's church buddy for a few years.  They take turns sitting wit the two of them and coloring during sacrament meeting.  Kelton left to serve in the Army just the week before.

Scouts

Brock has been camping all year.  Did you know deacons go camping every month???  I didn't.  I couldn't believe it.  I am SO SO SO grateful to our angelic scout leaders who take these boys every month.  I am so grateful that Brock gets to learn about and enjoy camping.  I PRAY with all my heart that my other boys will get the same opportunities and that the men of the church will still be willing to do these hard things with them with the new program.   I desperately want my boys to get to go fishing and camping and hiking and learn how to do those things.  Here are some pictures from scout camp this year that the leaders sent to me.