FIREWORKS!

We had so much fun celebrating the 24th of July.  We had a big barbeque with Lindsey and her family, and Kari and Madison.  Angie and Jordan and their family came over for fireworks.... Our neighborhood has the best view of the fireworks.  Then we did some of our own... I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.  My face is still sore... What a fun night!  You won't see many pictures of Major because he is terrified of fireworks so he was inside watching a movie :)

Getting Madison comfortable for the show:)

We wish you guys would just move back to the neighborhood already!

Anyone that dropped by got their picture taken:) Calvin Barney.  Maddock LOVES Calvin:)

Shonnie doin her fireworks

Kari and Madison

Ballard

Huh, Linz? lol

Maj was out cold in the house

This one's for you Ang!  LOL!  I think the adults had more fun than the kids :)

Pioneer Day

This is one of the reasons I love living in Utah.  Fun activities and celebrations throughout the month of July leading up to Pioneer Day.  I am incredibly greatful and humbled by the Pioneers.  I think of my ancestors that made that trek and how proud I am of my heritage.  I have a big stack of books all about my ancestors and I have come to really appreciate them... when I was younger, my Grandparents would give us these books for birthday presents and Christmas presents and any other occasion you could think of.  I didn't understand the importance of them back then but as I get older I have learned to love these books.  I draw inspiration from these books for all kinds of things in my life... I even got all of my boys names from these books. (with the exception of Mitch who is named after my brother) My family is working on a book right now about my Grandparents and each grandchild has been asked to write a little autobiography about their life and family and for some reason I have really been struggling with this.  I could write all day about my Grandparents and the things they have taught me but to sit down and write about my own life story is very hard for me.  I think I am one of the last to get my story in and my mom told me the other day to "GET IT DONE!  You don't want to be the only grandchild without your story in the book!"  That really lit a fire under me and sent panic running through my veins!  Thanks mom!  I can always count on you!  haha! 

Children's Parade

Our ward enters a float every year for the Childrens Parade in Spanish Fork.  This is the first year that Maddock was in it.  He had a great time helping decorate the float and he put a few streamers on his bike to ride in the parade.  He had so much fun!

After the parade, they had games and things set up for the kids.  Madd was so proud of this fish he caught!

Special Brothers

I caught Maj and Mitch playing the other day.  It was too cute, I had to snap a few pictures....

I had Major in a time out in the corner by the front door, I found this much later in the day...

The joys of having boys :)

Another Maddism

Maddock was playing at Boston's house the other day and his mom asked Madd, "Who do you look like? Your mom or your dad?"  Madd's reply was "Well, I don't look like my mom cause her hair is way different... and I don't look like my dad cause he's bald, so...." LOL! This boy is so funny!  He makes me laugh :)

Stephanie

This last Wednesday, my sister and I drove up to Shriner's Hospital for two reasons.  One was to visit my neice, Madison, who had surgery on her spine to correct her Scoliosis on Monday.  The second reason was for an orthotics appointment for Mitch.  His dafo's are rubbing a sore on his foot, anyways... while I was sitting there waiting I met this woman and her daughter.  I knew this woman was special right when we walked through the door.  Immediately she told her daughter to switch seats with me so that Mitch wouldn't get hit by the door if someone walked in.  Believe it or not, that is rare.  She asked us what we were doing there and I told her Mitch's dafos were not fitting right and she said they were there for the same reason.  I looked at her daughter a little closer and saw that she had a prosthetic leg and it was rubbing sores on her leg.  I also noticed that her daughter was Chinese... I didn't ask if she was adopted because for all I knew her husband was Chinese also.  We said good luck and goodbye when it was our turn to go back and that was it.  When our appointment was over, I went back upstairs to join the rest of my family and they were no where to be found so I sat down at one of the tables and let Mitch play.  On the second floor of the hospital there is a huge play area for all the kids... it seriously is amazing.  I sat there a little while and pretty soon this woman from down stairs walked out of the elevator and we waved and smiled just like we were old friends and she sat down at my table with me.  We started talking more and more about our families and she asked me a few questions about Mitch.  She told me that she also had a few of her other children with her and she pointed them out to me, one of them was a son that had brittle bone disease and was there for an appointment that day too.  Again, I noticed that he was Chinese just like his sister.  The other was an older girl that looked a little different from the other two.  That is when I started to think they were adopted.  She went on to tell me that she had a son at home that was a lot like Mitch but that he was walking around... we compared stories and talked about how the whole walking thing has its definite disadvantages and we laughed about that.  I asked her who was with her disabled son at home so she told me more about her family.  Her oldest daughter was watching him that day.  One thing led to another and pretty soon this woman pulled out a picture of her family and my jaw dropped to the ground!  They had 4 children of their own that were all grown and then they had adopted 11 more children, many with disabilities.  About half of them were from China and the other half were from this Indian tribe, which explained why her older daughter looked a little different.  I sat there in tears and in absolute awe of this woman.  It is one thing to have a child be born to you this way but it is quite another to CHOOSE to bring a child into your home that has disabilities, with all the stresses that come along with them, and she did!  (SEVERAL TIMES!)  One of the greatest blessings that comes from having a disabled child is that the most AMAZING people come into your life that you never would have met otherwise.  I haven't been able to get this woman, Stephanie, out of my mind.  I am kicking myself for hugging that sweet angel and then just letting her go without getting at least an email.  I needed to meet her that day and I am so grateful!  I love that the Lord sends us people along the way that help us on our journey.  I am so grateful for Mitch in my life and for the people I meet because of him.

Maj's ABC's

San Diego July 2010, YES AGAIN!

Yes folks... again!  Who can blame us?  This is the only thing we ever do!  Our financial situation is not such that we can do anything else.... so.... enjoy some pics from our latest trip:)  It was a doozie!  We had a CRAZY trip this time... Mitch had a seizure the first day we were there, we had an earthquake and we survived it all! LOL!  Even with all the happenings the boys didn't want to come home and I don't think I have to say that I didn't want to either:)  Will is the best husband ever!  He always tries to make me happy and do incredible things for me, even though we can't afford much right now he knew I wanted to be there for my birthday so he made it happen.  I am so lucky!  I love my family!  We did the regular things we always do like swimming (A LOT) and Bates Nut Farm and we hit Seaport Village this time too!  Oh... something new that happened, Major is swimming all on his own!  He is swimming from one end of the pool to the other... ALL ON HIS OWN!  He's a fish!

My birthday started with kisses...

My sweet boys surprised me with a cake:)

Enjoying some fireworks.. we had a great view of them:)

Somebody pooped out on us early!

A birthday doggie pile!

And it ended with kisses... It was a great day!

Mitch loves this spot, it's just perfect for him

And then he'll get cold

but that doesn't last long!

he gets off the chair himself and scoots over to the pool when he wants to get back in!  He is so independent!

Major was absolutely uninhibited this time!  This was one of the few times that Will was actually looking before he jumped!

I am one camera happy fool!

I would have had a beautiful little girl:) haha

My little "Cat in the Hat" at Seaport Village

Don't get bored with me... I know that is all I blog about!  haha!  It is so fun!  We love it there!