Quote of the Day!

I love this....and far too often I find myself with this sort of

attitude or mindset. I am thankful for all of my wonderful

blessings, no matter what my struggles are. I have amazing

kids and the most wonderful husband, who I love to pieces.

Life is good, regardless of the bad!

“One’s life…..cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free.….

“Therefore, how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, ‘Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!’ …“Real faith.….is required to endure this necessary but painful developmental process.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Camping!

We went camping this last weekend. It was the first of many

trips up north that we usually take in the summer.

The kids had a good time as usual. They love being

outdoors and riding their quads! It makes

me happy that we have something that we all love to

do as a family.

Jaxon riding his quad! Everyone always comments on how

talented this boy is on a four wheeler. He has always been way

too brave on one in my opinion. I remember back when we

first moved into our house he would go across the street into

the plot of dirt and ride while I sat in my driveway watching. He

would put his knees up on the seat and stick his leg out like he

was flying, and spin broadies (sp?) when he was a three year

old. It has always made me nervous. He just recently discovered

dirt bikes. His first time on one he found a dirt mound and started

launching himself off of it to jump. Well everyone

knows that if they're too brave they will wind up hurt.

Low and behold, he crashed 2 times on this trip.

Luckily no broken bones just an insanly bad bruise.

I told Colyn he wont be getting back on until we invest

in a whole get-up of protective gear. The kid is too much

like his dad, I cant believe he would even want to get back on!

Conner is also getting really good on a quad!

Much more timid than Jaxon, thank goodness!

Gracie just hangin' out! She drove Olivia around in circles

in the Ranger almost the entire trip. She is such a good sister!

Conner and Jax buckling up for a ride! They love the Ranger rides,

Jaxon still hasn't gotten over it being pink but he still

loves it deep down! I know it!!!

This is the way Olivia looked pretty much the entire time!

Sometimes worse. She really loved spending her time in the dirt.

Giving her typical dirty look!

Jaxon's Kindergarten Graduation!

Jaxon Graduated from Kindergarten! For this special event,

the entire kindergarten puts on a concert! I thought it was

great, Jaxon....not so much! To explain I'll back my story up

to earlier that day. Jaxon came home with a yellow light from

school. He is usually really behaved at school, hes only gotten 2

other yellows this year. We asked him why he got a yellow? He

said to us "Because I wouldnt sing!" I said "Why wouldnt you sing

Jaxon?" He wouldnt answer me! Later that day we got in the car to

go to the Performing Arts Center at the High School and he was

really quiet in the car. I could tell he wasnt thrilled about

performing! He is quite the shy kid and doesnt like to get out of his

comfort zone. On our way in to the PAC I ran into his teacher

and asked her what had happened. "He was stomping on

everyones feet on the risers and goofing off, and every time the

music teacher asked him to sing he would yell NO!" Great! I

thought. Worried that would be his reaction during the real thing

we had a pep talk! He seemed excited. So when it was time to

perform he ran up there with a smile on his face. As soon as the

music started he got this really mad look on his face and wouldnt sing.

In a way it was funny I guess. He stayed there with his arms crossed

almost the entire time, and as soon as it was over he was back to

being happy Jaxon! He is thrilled to be a BIG first grader!

Jaxon has really excelled this year. He went from being

in a smaller self contained class (because they thought he

would need a lot of one-on-one attention) to being put in a

traditional class setting within the first week of school.

He continued with being pulled out daily for reading, writing, and

speech. After the first half of the year I was called to have an IEP

meeting with the Principal and the teachers that all worked with

him. I have to admit I was a little worried even though he seemed

to be doing really great! They told me that he would be passing

out of speech and that he was at the top of his class in reading

and math! He no longer needed their services. I was pleasantly

surprised! For years I have had therapists tell me that he would

struggle in school, probably learn to read a few years later than the

rest of the kids, and always be in special ed. I always knew he was

smart. They always told me he was gifted in areas most kids weren't

but that he learned very different. They doubted, I doubted.

He has proved everyone wrong and I'm so proud of him!

Congratulations Jaxon! I love you buddy! You did it!