Scouts is Awesome

In February Dax received his first badge-his Bobcat-at the Blue and Gold Banquet which also happened to be the Scouts 100th Birthday party. He was pretty excited and pretty proud of himself. In case you didn't know, you're super cool when you're old enough to go to Scouts. Grandma Jo invited Dax over to help him make his Blue and Gold cake for the cake auction. She said he was very "hands-on" and didn't really want her to help, but in the end allowed a few suggestions and maybe some help with the letters. The cake was much admired at the auction and sold to the Geldmachers for a whopping amount. And I must add a thank you to our wonderful scout leaders. It can't be an easy job to have what must seem like several hundred eight-year-olds at your house on a weekly basis. You guys rock.

Christmas 2009

Christmas was so fun! The boys are at such a great age for that time of year. It's sort of magical for them. Oh, except for Asher. The problem is that he is never Big Enough, as evidenced by the fact that he really hated everything Santa brought him. Seriously. It started with not getting a snow board like the big boys and never really got better. He asked for Rocky the Robot Truck for months. But after the snow boards, nope. Hated it. It was super adorable, that throwing a fit on Christmas morning:

Thank goodness for Aunt Camille. She might only have girls at her house, but I think she knows a thing or two about little boys because Ash loved his present from the Jewetts.It was a beautiful day, so we took the boys right out to test their balance on their new boards. We have some perfect hills behind our house. I won't say the word "naturals" came right to mind, but they did pretty good for their first time. By the time we went home they could both stay up all the way to the bottom of the hill.

And believe it or not Asher actually became one with his super duper sled and even liked it a whole lot. Will wonders never cease.

Thanksgiving 2009

This year we spent Thankgiving in Cedar City with the Wileys. It was super fun and super delicious. The Berretts were very kind and offered us their beautiful new condo in St. George for the weekend. We accepted, of course. It was also super. Thanks Berretts!

There's nothing better than a chocolate cupcake and a roll in the leaves before the big meal. I fully support chocolate cupcakes at any time. Especially on holidays. And days that end in y.

The twinnies got festive in several dance costumes before their leaf jumping. Oh to feel beautiful in spandex.

On Saturday we asked the kids to choose an activity that they would like to do. Being the ambitious little buggers they are, they picked hiking. We decided that was an excellent idea-especially after our super star eating all weekend-and we took them to one of our favorite places from back in the day, Red Cliffs.

I wandered around for a significant amount of the weekend without doing my hair or my makeup. I think I'm getting lazy in my old age. Don't worry, I'm ok with it.

Some of us even climbed up the holes carved in the wall using the rope. It seemed very high and daring over that waterfall.
Yay for boys that pick to go hiking. Also very super.

A Baptism and A Halloween Party

Dax got to be baptised and confirmed on Halloween day, 2009. It was an awesome day for him. And what happened in Sacrament the next day was even more awesome. The Bishopric invited him up to the stand to congratulate him, announced him as a new member of the ward and also invited him to sit with them. They gave him a brand new Book of Mormon as well. As he was standing up there, I noticed a whispered conversation going on between him and the Bishopric councilor. Notice in the picture that he is holding scriptures. Tyler and I gave him a Book of Mormon and a scripture case for his baptism. You can see where this is going, right? Um, yes. He politely informed the Bishopric on the stand in front of the entire ward that he didn't really want their Book of Mormon. He got one with his name on it and everything just yesterday. Thanks, but no thanks. Uh Huh.

Now on the note of that little jem, here's where I get a little mushy. It really was amazing for Dax to have the opportunity to go through this special experience. To become a member of the church and to get to have the gift of the Holy Ghost! What a blessing. I don't talk about it as much as I probably should, but I want my family to know that I have a testimony of the Gospel. To raise these sweet boys into righteous young men who will hold to the rod in this scary world is a great responsibility that I worry about. A lot. And to have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion to them brings such comfort. I am so thankful for Tyler, that he was worthy to baptise Dax and be an example to all the boys. I am thankful for all of our family and friends, for their support and love. I am thankful that we are an eternal family. The Gospel is true. We are known, and we are unconditionally loved.

After the baptism, we of course had a rockin Halloween party. It was so fun to share Daxon's special day and Halloween with cousins and friends.

A little Rock BandThe Trick or Treat crew

A scary Phantom Skeleton and the Wolf Man on their way to school

Happy Birthday Dax!

Dax turned 8 on Oct. 24, 2009. I have so been loving his age lately. Not a baby, but still young enough to Believe It All. He is such a great kid. Responsible and kind and thoughtful and smart. And such a boy through and through-the blaster slash shooting noises are just getting more realistic all the time. As is the wrestling slash fighting. He is turning into quite the chapter-book reader and has a mind for math like his dad. He also has a mind for Transformers and Star Wars. And much to Tyler's relief he is really starting to like sports. But my favorite by far is evidenced by a paper he brought home from school a little while ago. His class had been talking about individuals and appreciating that everyone is different and special. On a worksheet they answered questions about themselves. One of the questions was "I like ____." Dax filled it in to say "I like imagining." For some reason I just loved that little sentence. It's so him, ever since he was tiny. He loves to imagine and he is good at it:) I think it's great that that is something he knows and likes about himself. I hope he doesn't outgrow it or its coolness anytime soon.

Waiting with some friends to get the party started

We went to Pirate Island Pizza. Needless to say, it was a big hit. And left me with a little yearning to go to Disneyland, for some reason...

I love you Dax. I love to see you ride off on your bike with your friends, I love to hear about the newest Transformer you've created (to a point, anyway) I love to listen to you read, I love to look at your drawings. I love you.

Oooo, oooo Whitchy Woman See How High She Fly i i's...

I'll say just one word. Ok, two. Witchy Weekend. Already jealous, aren't you? There's nothing like a Girl's Weekend. That's right. A. Whole. Weekend. For just the girls. Did you forget I live with only boys?

This weekend happened because of much hard work, including tears and some swearing, on the part of Camille. Who then had to miss much of the fun. In looking at the pictures you will notice that Camille and JoEll are absent. The morning after we started the party in Salt Lake Addie Jo was admitted in to the hospital with pneumonia and they went home to be with her. Because they are moms, and that's just what you do. Thank goodness for moms.

Nothing like a witchy picture to make me want some serious photoshop skills and a diet I can stick to. While still enjoying donuts and Pepsi.

Granddaughters

I have no words except that this just seems right, somehow.

Cheers!

Notice the large glitter eyelashes paired with big black hairy moles.

You try holding up those eyelashes.

This was fabulous! I highly recommend Witchapalooza at Gardner Village, as well as Girl's Weekends in general.

As for Addie, she is still in the hospital. It will be one week tomorrow. Today she received chest tube number two. It has been a rough and very frustrating week for her, as well as for Broc and Camille. The doctors think she may be starting to slowly get better, but still has some yucky days in front of her before she can go home. Addie and Camillie, you girls are my girls:) I love you both!