in no particular order

These are pictures taken within the last week or so that I had every intention of posting, but life happens and here they are....finally.

Braeden finally learned how to tie a tie. It's not perfect but it's getting there.

Two of Braeden's favorite things...playing the piano and soccer. He has managed somehow to put the two things together.

I DETEST frogs! My darling daughter however LOVES them. This toad was found in our backyard.

Kate actually loves animals of ALL kind. She fell in love with this donkey and a couple of horses at our ward picnic.

Our annual Easter egg hunt at our dear friends, the Flores.

Easter Sunday before church...love this picture of Kate. Such a little lady!

I have decided I can never tell Joshua to say out of the mud. It just won't happen. On Monday after some storms had cleared he wanted to go outside. I specifically told him not to get the tiniest bit of mud on him. I should have known better. He came in covered in mud. The very first words out of his mouth were, "I'm so sorry! It was just to tempting." It's very hard to be mad at that cute little face.

Lucky #13

Braeden is officially a teenager today. These birthdays are getting harder and harder for me as the time just keeps slipping away way to quickly. I want him to stay just the way he his....forever!



A few memories of Braeden....

When he was a baby he loved for me to rub his face. I would lay in bed with him at night and trace his forehead, his nose, his chubby cheeks, and his eyes. With my pointer finger, I would go over his features over and over and over again. I would do this until he would fall asleep.

When he was little he also loved the primary song "We'll Bring the World his Truth". He could be screaming at the top of his lungs and I would sing this to him and he would immediately calm down.

Braeden has always been a talker. He loves to talk to anyone and everyone. He can be in a room full of complete strangers and have a new friend within a few minutes. When he was little he would try to talk to absolutely everyone. So much so that I could tell some people were annoyed and some were just scary. I had to talk to him about strangers and how we should not talk to every single person we see. I remember one day going into the grocery store and he kept asking me, "Mom, can I please talk to them? Please, please can I talk to them?"

Braeden has grown in to quite the young man. He is very intelligent, responsible, confident, friendly, athletic, charming, and a fabulous big brother. He absolutely loves sports. He was the quarterback for his football team this year, ran hurdles in track, and just made the school soccer team. He is always outdoors with some kind of ball in his hands. He also plays the piano very well and loves to charm the girls with this talent.



Love you B.......Happy Birthday!!

DONE

After 10 different post and countless numbers of pictures I am finally done posting vacation pics. I promise this is the last one....

Trying on hats became a game for Kate during our Disney visit. She must have tried on 50 or more different types. By the end of the trip the boys had joined in but never came close to catching Kate. Here are a few of my favorites...

Taking a Dip

This is how the kids spent their time when we were not at one of the Disney Parks. It was still kind of chilly in March for swimming so the pool was heated. These kids were spoiled!









And in the evening after a long day of walking we would come home and soak our sore feet and bodies in this jacuzzi.

I am totally retiring in Orlando!

disturbing?

My usual question to my kids everyday when they get home from school is "Did anything exciting happen at school today?" Yesterday instead of asking Braeden if anything exciting happened I asked him if anything disturbing happened.

His response, "Just Science class"

This made me laugh......They have been learning about the human body and reproduction.

Character Sightings

Animal Kingdom

Yes, I am STILL posting Disney pictures. I am almost done tho...PROMISE! I love Disney and even I am getting tired of looking at these pictures, but they have to be documented for my posterity. So, here is a condensed version of our trip to the Animal kingdom. It is a beautiful park with animals, trails, lots of wooden sculptures, and we could never forget Everest....one of the best roller coasters Disney has to offer.