My Brayden is getting bigger

It just hit me that my sweet little Brayden will be heading off to Kindergarten in about a month. I suppose it isn't really that different from preschool here, but it is still a big step. It is crazy how fast our children grow up. It is so fun to see them grow, but if you are not careful it just passes right by you. They just don't still little very long. Anyway, I thought I would post some of his preschool graduation pictures. He was so excited to show off what he had learned and he was just so happy and so proud of himself. When his Daddy arranged to work from home so he could be there, Brayden cheered and jumped for joy!

Brayden's prayers

So, last week Doug's Aunt Maureen passed away and it was the first funeral that Brayden has been to. He was very fascinated by it all and has been asking nonstop questions about the plan of salvation. A few days ago when he was saying his prayers, he said, "Please bless Grandma Ward that she will be able to see her sister again someday." Then yesterday he said in his prayer, "Heavenly Father, please bless that Jesus Christ will come back down to earth and that he will bring Maureen with him so Grandma will be happy." More and more my kids prayers are to bless other people and less about asking for things for themselves. I love that! There is nothing more sweet than a sincere prayer of a child.

Memorial Day fishing

On Memorial Day this year we went fishing with Grandma and Grandpa Ward and the Ahern Family at Payson Lakes. It was so much fun! The kids each caught thier first fish. Landon loved watching everyone catching fish. He was very enthralled with the fishies. Of course when it came time to eat them, he wanted nothing to do with it. Faith was casting and reeling her own fish in, and Gavin was reeling them in like crazy. Landon fell in the lake while trying to fish, but what is fishing without a little adventure. His cousin Brittany warmed him up right quick and he was good as new in no time. You'll notice in the pictures how we kept taking our jackets off and then putting them on again, what can I say, it's Utah my friends. It was a great day though. We had a lot of fun. Nobody wanted to go home, but they all slept like babies once we left.

Disneyland - April 2009

Well, as if Florida wasn't enough, we had a great family vacation to Disneyland during Spring Break. Because Doug travels so much, we were able to get a whole week long hotel stay in Anaheim for free! The kids had such a great time! Landon, who was not yet 2 at the time learned how to say "Mickey Mouse" and he knew exactly who that was. We had an amazing time riding the rides together, swimming at the hotel together, and enjoying each other's company. What made it even better was the fact that from Anaheim we drove to San Jose where Doug was working the following week, and the kids and I enjoyed a week of relaxing in our fabulous suite, swimming in the pool and going to the beach. The kids loved the beach as much as I do. We went to Newport Beach and Santa Cruz beach and found seashells, played in the water and the sand. It was so nice to spend a week riding rides and being together, and then when we were completely worn out, to spend another week relaxing in the sun (because Utah has none in April.) It was a wonderful trip.

FLORIDA!!!!!

This February we had the unique and wonderful opportunity to celebrate 10 years of marriage by going on a fabulous vacation to Florida just the two of us. The first three days we were in Miami where Doug was working. I went and had a day at the spa the first day, spent the second day at Miami beach (North Beach not South Beach where the topless women and gay men are)

The third day I went and got a manicure and pedicure. It was wonderful and relaxing and every night I got to go out to eat with my wonderful husband after I picked him up. Next, we drove down Alligator Alley (so weird to see Alligators off to the side of the road, and stopped at Bonita Beach on the East coast of Florida. The water was so clear and beautiful and the sand is white and so soft. I wish I could visit the beach every other month, it was so relaxing and fun. We went to Busch Gardens and then spent two nights in Orlando and went to Universal Studios. It was so much fun to go on roller coasters together and laugh together. We finished up the vacation in Daytona Beach, with our hotel right on the beach, and while we were there, we visited the Daytona race track where the Daytona 500 had been just the day before.

Elder David Lewis, serving the people of San Bernadino, CA

I am so very proud of my brother for choosing to serve a mission. I love to get his letters each week and see how he is growing. He loves the people there and I know he loves preaching the gospel. It is neat to see his testimony grow and also know the service he is giving to others. A few weeks ago I asked him what the most important thing he has learned is, and he replied that it is to always be obedient so that you can feel the influence of the Holy Ghost, and that prayer and studies make a big difference in knowledge and how your day can go. Every night my kids pray for him and they all look up to him. They love to tell their friends about their uncle David the missionary. Gavin and Brayden sent him pictures of what they will look like when they go on their missions, and all the kids sent him a letter and a handprint so that he wouldn't forget them. He is such a good example and we love him.

Summer

We have had a great summer. It was great to see a lot of our wonderful friends in Arizona. I wish there had been more time to spend with all of you. We have had fun swimming in the backyard, we enjoyed a couple of camping trips. We went to Payson Lakes and camped there. The kids had a great time exploring, gathering firewood, fishing and swimming in the lake. We also went to Goblin Valley and went hiking. We explored caves and hiked to a spot overlooking the valley. Gavin and Doug went to the top of the mountain by our campsite and the kids all said that it was the best trip ever. The only down side was the group of fire ants that attacked Landon. We went to Lagoon with two of my brothers and everyone had a wonderful time riding rides and being together. Brayden was disappointed because he wasn't tall enough to ride the wicked and the other big roller coasters. Maybe next year! Faith's big highlight of the summer was seeing Miley Cyrus at the Stadium of Fire. We really had a lot of fun and the fireworks were amazing!