Presenting our first Wasatch High School 2012 Graduate

Not sure if I like the looks of my baby in a graduation cap and gown! 

I am sure I don't like it, nope not at all!   

These two share a birthday and a special bond together!

The infamous car...spray painted and all!  It served him well and better keep until next year!

Guess he is ok with it being all over...this is what he thinks of school he said!

This picture makes me tear up!  These boys fight like crazy but, just the other night Colton was crying because he doesn't want Austin to move away to college.  I know they look up to him in so many ways. 

Sally, our neighbor, well really she is the boys adopted grandmother, she is family to us and we love her so much! 

Sarah and Becca, these are two of Austin's closest high school girl friends.

He did it!

The boys and girls!

The family who came to watch the event take place.

I was on the high school senior all night party committee and it was a blast! The kids had so much fun and so did I.  I had to decorate the entrance to the party and the theme I chose was "welcome to paradise" I think it turned out great! 

Baseball.......is over!

 Wasatch High School Baseball

2009-2012

Well the ride is finally over, its bittersweet to say the least!  I loved watching my son and nephew play ball but, well lets just say that was the best part!  I am now onto watching the younger boys play and that is what baseball is all about having a good time and watching these boys progress and grow! 



Austin and Mason

Austin's biggest fans

Allstar Game

Can't forget the black eye ball to the right cheek!

Austin had some good games and not so good games but overall he pitched really well this year and was nominated by his team as the pitcher of the year!  But he is hanging up his uniform, his hat and retired his bag to his little brother, Colton along with this letter to him that he wrote after his last game. 


Austin's letter to Colton

Austin the successes in your life are not on the field, those are only temporary successes that get you to the next journey.  We love you so much and are so impressed with all your accomplishments on and off the field! 

Spring Break....Arizona, Colton's 9th birthday and Easter

Well for our Spring Break trip this year we went to Arizona, it was fantastic weather, great company and fun times.  We spent the first night in Lake Powell, it was so gorgeous there, I want to return soon. 




Easter was not the same with 6 kids finding eggs, coloring eggs...messy good thing we could do it outside.  The Easter Bunny hid 88 eggs this year for them, in and outside.

 

Jen's parents live on a farm in East Mesa and the boys were so happy being there, except for the thorns from the cactus in their flip flops.  Not such a great place for flip flops. 

 

There were horses and chickens that they could care for each day.  Kade knew all the things about each animal the first day. 

For Colton's Golden 9th Birthday we had a day filled with fun things to do...First off we got to go the Phoenix Zoo for FREE !!!  I am bias of course but I think my kids are pretty handsome. 

 

 

 

 

We came home to Colton's request of Fettucine Alfredo and Jen made homemade noodles....oh my and I wonder why I added 5 pounds to the body.  They were heavenly!

 

 

The Mesa LDS Temple was close by so we went to tour the visitor center but it was closed, so we just enjoyed the peacefulness of the grounds.  I love my church, it felt so great just being there. 

Our friends from the neighborhood moved away but we met them in Arizona and one day we hiked up 1.5 miles to a wind cave and it was so breathtaking, the kids were worn out but not too much, then we went swimming. 

 

Our week went by way to fast, I didn't want to leave especially since I knew the weather in Heber was less than my liking, but we missed Dad, Austin and Meow Meow. 

Colton's talk of "angels"

Leah said I should post this; otherwise, we'll forget it.  It's really quite neat.  About a month or so ago, Leah and I both read a book about a young boy who had a near death experience.   He later told his parents about some pretty profound things about babies who die, angels, life after death, etc.    Anyway, last night, Colton and I were talking and some things he said coincieded with the book we read.  He asked me, "Dad, do you ever feel or see angels?"  Sadly, I said, that no, I do not or have not.  I then asked him if he does and he replied something like....Yes, when I'm downstairs and working on my legos by myself, I feel them around me and then, when I go to the bathroom or something, I come back, and my lego project is done (it may be true, he makes some amazing lego stuff with absolutely no help).   I asked him if he thought it was his sister and he wasn't too sure about that, BUT he did tell me something interesting, that we learn in our church...I doubt he's heard us say this, but this is what he said:  Dad, Avery's not a baby in heaven right now, she's more like your size but she'll be a baby when you and Mom get there.  It was really touching and neat.  Sometimes he is so sensitive and I don't doubt that he's more in tune spiritually with some things as children oftentimes are.  What Colton told us was very similar stuff to the things we read in this book, entitled:  Heaven IS for Real.   SH 

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Dear Family and Friends,

First and foremost, from our home to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  We love to get letters from family and friends during the holiday season and get updated on their lives and truly never think that people are bragging or boasting about themselves.  So, if you feel that way, we are sorry but only want to share the joys, highlights and wonderful things that mean so much to us, with you!

This year was to say the least a busy one.  We became foster parents in 2010; however, we never received a placement until early this year, when we were asked to care for a 10 week old baby girl.  Our lives were changed, our schedule and everything now revolved around this precious baby.  She was such a blessing in our lives. We truly needed to have her, all of us healed in so many ways due to her simple presence.  We had her in our home for 7 months and enjoyed every single minute of it.  We forgot how much time babies take and how much gear they have too, but we wouldn’t have traded that for anything in the world, it was so much fun.  We felt truly grateful for the opportunity to raise her for that time.   

Austin will be just two months from turning 18 when you receive this letter and is a senior in high school.  He is preparing all his college applications and getting ready to graduate and begin the next step in his life.  Leah, on the other hand is not sure she’s ready for all this to happen. Wasn’t it just a short time ago that he was a young boy getting ready for a full day of school in first grade?  Austin decided to forego swimming this year so he could have a little more free time in the winter.  He’s playing rec basketball, will probably do a little snowboarding, and will have more time to get ready for spring baseball.    

Colton hasn’t changed much and as we pulled out the baby books this year, he was a strong personality from the start!  He fortunately has channeled it into sports and loves wrestling at the moment, although I am not sure I do!   He loves about every sport, depending on the season.  He loved having a baby around the home and was always doting over her and if she even cried one second he was there tending to her every need and want.  He was a terrific diaper changer too and he has very protective instincts. 

Kaden has gotten to be a bit sassy and bossy in his advancements in age.  He will say something to us and then say “alright?” while shaking his fists down at the ground. It is so hard not to laugh at him because it is truly hilarious but if you do that it will turn to the opposite extreme and he will then run into his room crying!  He too has enjoyed the wrestling gig and often times he will be at a match and look over at us to see if we are watching and give us a great big grin!  He’s a solid kid and doesn’t have much fear of anything.  He really likes the skate park, doing tricks on his scooter, playing football, etc. 

Steve is still working at Zion’s Bank.  He enjoys raising these boys and watching them become the independent individuals they are.  He loves watching them participate in their activities and teaching and coaching them. He really enjoyed golf this summer.  It’s the most he’s gotten out for some time now, since the boys are getting older.  He even bought Colton a jr set of clubs for his 8^th B-day.   

Lastly, Leah kept busy exercising and training for to run a half marathon in February on behalf of children with heart defects. She is training to run another this year, she says it keeps her winter weight off.  She still coupons like crazy and we now have 456 razors on hand!  In case of an emergency, we’re hoping we can barter toiletries, soaps, razors, shampoos, etc for food, since these are what we have most of in our storage. 

It was truly a wonderful year of just enjoying our home, friends and family nearby.  Life sometimes gets so busy you don’t realize all the fun and excitement you need are right in front of you, and it truly was.     We also are so grateful and thankful for our health, family, friends, jobs and our faith!  Sometimes the simplest little things are often the most profound. We wish for you and your family a happy holiday season and prosperous new year.                                             

 Love, Steve, Leah, Austin, Colton, and Kaden

Elfy has arrived!

Elfy made his debut a few nights ago and the kids have been so excited to see the tricks and funny things that he has in store for them this year! Elfy was caught watching TV when the boys woke the other morning!  They left him a note telling them what they wanted and he wrote them one back telling them to keep their room clean!  Of course Elfy doesn't spell very well, so Kaden wrote him a not back telling him ever so bluntly how to spell and at the end of the note he writes in his bossy tone "all right"!  I wanted to tell him that that was spelled incorrectly too! 

 Elfy must have been thirsty last night and didn't know what that white stuff was in the jug, so he magically turned it green, we caught him enjoying his normal beverage almost.  Later that day we found him with his feet up in the air diving into the homemade chocolate chips cookies I made!  

 I was accused of possibly touching Elfy and he looses his magic when touched by humans.  Last night Elfy protected himself from the many hands that might encounter him "accidentally" and hid under a drinking glass!  I am pretty sure he is safe inside there at least for today anyway!   

 My tree went up the day after Thanksgiving and truly this picture doesn't do it justice, it really turned out super nice and is 12 feet tall but this picture makes it look skinny and small....sure wish pictures did that to me!  hehe  I love the holiday season and thankfully the snow has NOT come yet,  I hope it doesn't slam us all at once! Most of my shopping is done too!