Landon's newest word

So, today when Brayden was at school, Landon was laying down in Faith's room as I was trying to get him to take a nap (unsuccessfully I might add.) He looked up at Faith's poster and said, "Hannah 'Tana". Can you believe that! My little two year old boy is saying, "Hannah Montana". He really does love his sister and wants to be like her. They all better watch what they say. Well, I guess WE all need to watch what we say.

Brayden's Kindergarten Adventures

So, today
(well, I guess it is after midnight, so yesterday technically) was Brayden's first day of Kindergarten. He was so excited! He walked to school with his buddy Alex Hardy, the mom's walked with them, although they hardly noticed us. He was thrilled to find that his other friend Conner was in his class. He told me that it was great, because in Kindergarten you get to have more friends than in Preschool. He had no problem going, although even though I enjoyed just having Landon I missed my little Brayden. Every hour tonight he would think of something new about school that he liked. My little Brayden is growing up!

My Creative Little Landon

Landon cracks me up! He decided to make a cake today. He put the laundry basket upside down and then a cooking pot on top and then a package of wipes on that and a pencil stuck in the wipes. He then said, "Happy Birthday" and blew out the pencil!
It is so funny how they come up with these ideas, even at two years old.

Drama isn't just for girls

My litte Brayden is so dramatic. If he doesn't go into drama, I will be surprised. The other day he got hurt because he was standing against something that fell and he fell too. He ran downstairs and said, "I hate myself". He got that from his sister. Anyway, I told him that he should never say that about himself and how wonderful he is. He went to his room and I could hear him saying, "It's all my fault, I'm sorry me, I'm sorry Brayden, I'm sorry Brayden Ward. If I hadn't been standing there you wouldn't have gotten hurt." He had such a dramatic tone in his voice that I couldn't help but bust out laughing.
Yesterday, Landon hit him in the stomach and he told me I had to take him to the hospital. I picked him up and carried him downstairs to the couch and gave him a pretend shot and gave him "CPR" that results in my tickling. He said, "No, mom, really, we need to go to the REAL hospital." I told him I didn't think he needed the real hospital and that he would recover. Well then he burst out into, "You don't want me to live, you just want me to die!" Followed by, "I don't have a mommy, someone forgot to give me one, I have a killing machine who wants to kill me. You're just a killing machine!"
He makes me laugh!

Brayden's Kindergarten Assessment

Brayden is so excited to go to Kindergarten. We went to his assessment today and he did really well. I had to laugh because he told the teacher that the math problems she gave him were not hard enough. She asked him what 7 take away 3 was and he said "4, and do you know what 20 take away 9 is, 'cause I do, it's 11." Then he started telling her what 3 + 9 was and what 5 + 4 is. It was just funny. Then she told him he was smart and he said, "I know, I practice math on the computer." It is good to see him talking to his teacher so well the first day though, last year he was pretty shy at first.

A beautiful experience

Today Faith and I went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication. It was a special experience to share with my beautiful daughter. They talked a lot to the children there and how special it is that they are worthy to enter the holy temple, and how we as parents want with all our hearts to see our children stay worthy so that they can always enter the temple. It is true. I can't wait for the day that all my children can gather around me inside the temple. This was the 5th temple dedication I have attended, and the second I have had the opportunity to attend with my lovely daughter. It is such an amazing experience and only further strengthens my testimony of the sacredness of temples and how blessed we are to have them on the earth today. I never can get through the whole song "The Spirit of God" without tearing up and crying.

Mother Daughter Activity

Friday night we had a really fun mother/daughter date for Achievement Days. We did each other's hair and makeup and nails. Faith turned out to be a pretty good makeup artist. The nails needed a little work, but it was a really fun night!! I am so glad I have a daughter! A lot of drama, but so much fun!

Back to School

I thought I would post a few pictures of Faith and Gavin on their first day of school. They were both pleasantly surprised to find out that they each got the teachers they wanted. They started to get nervous Wednesday evening, but thank heavens for the power of the priesthood. I took the kids over to Grandpa's house and he gave them each a blessing to comfort them. They went to bed feeling excited and woke up with that same excitement, in fact, Faith (who we have to pry out of bed in the morning) was up at 7:00 on Thursday and couldn't wait to go to school. They were both pleasantly surprised to find good friends in their classes, and I was very grateful! They both came home happy. Gavin came home and when I asked who was in his class, he told me a few boys and then said, "and the girl I sit by is really pretty." He is growing up. I can't quite believe I have a 4th grader now, or that my little Brayden starts Kindergarten in a few days. He is so excited! He really wanted to go on Thursday with the older kids.

Teaching my kids to cook

It is an interesting experience teaching my kids to cook. I love that they want to learn how to develop new talents and have such an interest in learning new things. It is fun to see them cook though. Faith made breakfast a couple days ago and Gavin made dinner yesterday. They were so proud of themselves. I love being a mom!

Church

This past Sunday Faith was the reverent child in Primary. What this means is that they stand in front with a picture of Jesus as the kids come into Primary and then they have the opportunity to share their favorite story from the scriptures and then share their testimony. She got a little nervous, but it is always neat to hear your child share their testimony. It is a special thing.
Along the lines of church, a few months ago Gavin was struggling with wanting to go to church. He told me he didn't like going to church and then he said "Do you think Heavenly Father would help me want to go to church again?" He has been praying to help him to like church and thanking Heavenly Father for church, and a few weeks ago he told me that he really likes church and is happy when we go. He definitely believes in the power of prayer, and that is wonderful to see.

Pictures from our camping trip

Camping, swimming, fishing, boating and lost keys....good times!

We had a great time camping with our fantastic friends, the Hardy's! The kids all love the outdoors, so they were in heaven, and having their best friends with them just made everything better. We went up just past Strawberry Reservoir at Aspen Grove Campground. We rented a boat and had a lot of fun taking the kids out on the water. Doug tried to get out with the kids on an island, but there was a little problem with that, he left me to drive the boat back. Wow, bad idea. I freaked out! Faith turned out to be a better driver than me. She actually did really well. Still, we all had a lot of fun! It is always funny camping, because even with it being 102 degrees during the day, it was freezing at night. Thank heavens for warm sleeping bags, and lots of kids to cuddle with.

My Brave Little Brayden

A couple weeks ago we went to Lagoon, and we had a lot of fun! We got soaked on Rattlesnake Rapids, and then got right back on and rode it again. Brayden cracked me up. He wanted to ride anything and everything. His favorite ride was the Wicked! Straight up and straight down and he loved it! He wanted me to take him on the Catapult! If you don't know what that is, look it up on Lagoon's website. He had his arms raised up on all the roller coasters and there was nothing he wouldn't do. Crazy, wonderful, funny kid. We went with our wonderful friends, the Hardy's. The kids loved having their best friends there, as you can see. Gavin went everywhere with Shaylyn and rode just about every ride with her. I love the picture of them holding hands.

Like Mother like Daughter

Lately Faith has been excercising with me in the mornings, and it is so much fun! It makes it so much more enjoyable. Brayden and Gavin will join in sometimes as well. It just reminded me of when I was a little girl and I would excercise with my mom. I would put on my leotard and my headband and of course my leg warmers and we would put on Jane Fonda's 20 min workout.

Off to Kindergarten

I can't believe my Brayden is getting ready to go to Kindergarten. When we went to register him for Kindergarten today, he grabbed his backpack and put it on. I explained that he wasn't actually going to school yet, but he wanted to wear his backpack to show his new teacher. He can't wait to go to Kindergarten and go to his red classroom. He was so excited to get Mrs Nybo, who was Gavin's teacher (it seems like forever ago that Gavin was in Kindergarten). They grow up so fast.