Happy Halloween!

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Halloween!

S is for Saturday, Suns & State Fair!

I have to start this blog by just saying how fun it is to have a brother with "connections"! Saturday was so much fun. We started the day by going with my whole family to the US Airways center where the Suns play, and watching their "open practice". My brother, Lukas, from 97.5 held a contest before the practice. He is so cute to watch in action. He is such a natural in front of an audience...I love him so much!

He arranged for all of us to sit in the "court side" seats (you know, the black, leather, comfy ones), and it was AWESOME to see the Suns players up close. My camera battery was about dead when we got there, so I didn't get very many pictures unfortunately, and the ones I did take mostly came out blurry, because everyone was moving so fast. Anyway, it was a lot of fun, and Jeff was in heaven....he LOVES the Suns.

Before the practice they had this jumping slam dunk thing with a couple of people that I guess do it all the time for the Suns....but they were jumping off a trampoline, and flying through the air. The Suns Gorilla had like 8 people stand between the trampoline, and the basket, and hold all of their arms straight up in the air, and jumped right over them....CRAZY GORILLA!

My family (minus my brother Alex) in front of the US Airways Center

Mimi and Katie

Coco & Lolo...both really surprised, or checking their breath :)


My sweet little niece, Tylee

Crazy Gorilla
Okay, I know this is a horrible pic...but, if you look closely, you can see the guy with the orange jersey on, and he is holding a ball over his head, and his shoulders are above the backboard...those guys were flyin'!

This was Katie the whole time...it was very loud...and she is very sensitive to loud noises!
My brother, Lukas, getting ready to come out and do "his dance contest"

My least blurry picture of Steve Nash...he is incredible to watch (well, they all are really)!

Afterwards, we all went to the AZ State Fair. We had a ball! Although, everything was way more expensive than it was last time I went (when Austin and Katie were 1 and 2). My brother's station also had a job for him there...he had to host the national Thriller dance. I guess they did it last year too, but people all over the world all dance the Thriller dance at the exact same time....it was pretty cool.

Anyway, we won some prizes, we went on rides, we saw all the animals, and we ATE! It was lots of fun, and the kids had a ball! I love getting to spend time with my family...they are so much fun! So, thanks Bubby for such a great day!

Me, Jeff, Austin, and Katie going down the big slide...this is my favorite thing to do there!

Zac and Coco coming down next

All of the AZ police depts had booths set up with free stuff for kids, and they let all the kids take pictures on real motorcycles....Katie was too scared to get on one by herself, so Jeff hopped on with her.

Me, Lukas, Zac, Austin, and Katie before his "Thriller Dance"

This was a few minutes before the dance started...I went up this ramp to get a better shot, but it didn't work out so well. It was craziness over there, there were a lot of people watching.

My only (blurry) shot of the dancers...I think there were like over 150 dancers...

And of course, what is the State Fair without....
Pink
Cotton
Candy! Yummy!

Family Pics

We finally have new family pictures...yeah! We haven't had any done since Katie was 1 because she would "FREAK OUT" whenever we tried. So, my sweet friend Aimee took these the other day....thank you Aimee.

What a Face!

I LOVE this sweet face!!!!!

Bobcat Bonanza!

So, tonight, we went to pack meeting, where Austin received his Bobcat Badge. In the tradition of our pack, Austin's den leader (that's me) painted his face, and presented him to the pack. So fun! I am so proud of you Austin....keep up the good work! I can't wait 'til you get your wolf! HOWWWLLLLLL!

Me painting Austin's face

Austin receiving his Bobcat Badge!

A Day to Remember!

I am so very grateful for the sweet spirit that I felt at Austin's baptism on Saturday. It was such an awesome experience for me, words can't even describe. The day was beautiful!

I started off my day going to Lanee's Legacy Pancake Breakfast. It was such a great turn out, and it was a very well-planned event. There were lots of things for kids to do, and every few minutes they were giving away raffle prizes. I am so proud of Becky, and her whole team for all of their hard work....it certainly paid off ladies!!!

After the breakfast, I rushed home to get my kids ready for the baptism. We so appreciate everyone that came (especially those that had to drive far). I have to say from the second I saw Austin in white, the tears were streaming, and I felt so happy to be there, and so blessed to have such a sweet, and faithful child. All 3 boys there that day were darling, and I am proud of all of them! Merriann gave a beautiful prayer, and then Lolo gave the BEST talk on baptism, and she focused a lot on being a disciple of Jesus Christ, and what that means. Then the baptisms took place. I can't talk about that moment, it is too special to me.

After the baptisms, the boys were confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. When I was watching this ordinance take place, it struck me, how every boy had to have the exact same ordinance done. They all had to have priesthood holders lay their hands upon the boys heads, and confirm them. And even though the same ordinance happened three times in a row, it was still so personal for each one of them. They each received a personal blessing, and an acknowledgement that their Heavenly Father knows each one of them, and loves each one of them. That is something that I love so deeply about our church. I love the way it is set up the same all over the world, and yet, it is so personal for each person, and we are individually entitled to our own personal revelations. I just love it so much!

After the baptism was over, all of the family went over to Ironwood Crossings park to have some pizza, and cake, and play. The weather was PERFECT! It was so much fun! Everyone that went, had a great time, and I was so grateful for that!

This was definitely a day that I always want to treasure. I hope that I will never forget, and more importantly, I hope that Austin will never forget!

My heart has been so full with gratitude. Where would I be....what would my life, and my children's lives be right now....without the brave young boy known as Joseph Smith. A young boy that had the courage to get down on his knees and ask a simple question...."which of these churches is correct?" I love Joseph Smith. I love that he lived his life in complete obedience to the Lord, whether he understood why or not. And above everything else, I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love that I know Him. I love that I know what He did for me. I hope that my children will come to know Him, and appreciate all that He has done for them. I hope that I can live my life to reflect the gratitude that I have for Him, and live worthy to receive the many blessings He gives!

Austin & his Dad before the big event!

Quick Family Pic

Austin & his Daddy in whites

Austin & his Aunt Lolo

Austin & his Grandma

"The Cake"

Turkey Hunting Pics

I got in big trouble for not immediately posting the Turkey pictures from Jeff's most recent (and successful, I might add) hunt. So here are the pics of my Thanksgiving providing, turkey hunting man!

Jeff actually brought home the tail and wings for us to see and feel....very soft!

Jeff & his Brother-in-Law, Dave (The proud hunters!)

Anxiously Awaiting Tomorrow!

I am so anxious and nervous and excited for tomorrow that I almost can't stand it! My baby is getting baptized.....my BABY! I don't care how old he is, he will always be MY BABY! I have been crying like a sap off and on all week! I am going to be a complete mess tomorrow, but I can't think of any event that I will be more excited over!

Also, my good friend Becky has her very first "Lanee's Legacy" breakfast tomorrow morning! I am so proud of her, and so excited for her. I can't believe what she has done, taking something so heartbreaking, and turning it into something so wonderful and beneficial for so many people! I admire her so much. And I hope that anyone that reads this will buy a ticket or make a donation to her wonderful cause. The link is on my blog page. I hope that it turns out as wonderful as it can for her and all of those who have worked so hard on it! And I love my brother so much for offering to emcee the event! You are such a sweet and darling brother (and nuntle).

Now, if I can only concentrate on what I need to do today....it is so hard...my hands are shaking, my heart is racing, and my stupid eyes keep getting blurry with tears, and I can't see! I have got to pull it together! But, I can't help it...I can't wait for tomorrow!!!!

Baptism Announcements

I have to say that I am so excited about Austin's baptism. Things are progressing along with planning it. My good friend Becky took me and Austin out, and got these awesome pics of him. We were eaten alive by mosquitoes, but it was so worth it! Anyway, I looked at a lot of different announcements, and came up with this idea, and think it came out so cute! So if you see this, and get one in the mail, I'm sorry, I'm just really excited!

I told Austin to kneel down like Joseph Smith, and try to imagine what he was thinking about when he had his first vision. After the pictures were done, he said "mom, I was really trying to think about Joseph Smith", and I think it shows in this precious picture.
I'm only showing the front side...the back has more pics with all of the personal details, that I don't want to share on here. Anyway, it is going to be so awesome, that I am already getting teary-eyed every day just thinking about it! Here are some of the other pictures she took that day...

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!