August

Well August means school is starting! So we did some clothes shopping for Kade up to the outlets and let the kids have fun at the splash pad too since the highs are still 110+ degrees outside!

    

We met Landon, Dylan and Nickey at the splash pad for some fun the week before school started. The kids had a blast!

The kids and I drove to Gilbert to see our friends the Burninghams! WE went swimming and came back to there house and hung out for a while. We don’t get to see them enough!

 

The kids were worn out! Kade took a few pictures and fell asleep a few minutes later on our drive back to Surprise!

Kade had his first day of 3rd Grade! He wanted to take his teacher an apple.

 

Kamryn still likes to change her outfit a million times a day and make her own style!

I saved 2 lizards this month! IF they get stuck on the sticky pads you put down for bugs just spray some pam on them and within a few minutes they will be FREE without accidentally ripping their tail off!

 

We took the kids to see Planes!

My new friend Nicholette and I made a fun Halloween craft!

 

Everytime we go to Chick-Fil-A the kids have to get a a balloon and they always let it go to Kooper when we walk out the door.

 

Ryan and I went to a Cardinals pre-season game. It was a fun date night!

Kamryn had her first soccer practice of the season. She was refusing the shin guards and her cleats! Luckily she warmed up to wearing them and warmed up to her coaches! She was fine with Ilene the girl coach but the male coach she wasn’t too sure about!

 

After her first soccer practice a huge dust/monsoon storm came in….and as soon as we walked into the door the power went out! So the kids watched movies on the ipad until the power came back on. Looks like we had light because of my flash but it was completely dark!

Then my parents arrived to watch the kids while Ryan and I went on our Anniversary Trip to Hawaii! They brought along their dog Harley and he sure did make himself comfortable!

July Recap

A few things from July! We got Kamryn’s dance pictures back! Glad she wasn’t so afraid of the photographer this time!

 

Kade took his remote control car and taped his iPod to it and made some cool videos!

This little guy keeps us laughing! He loves to dip his chicken in ketchup, honey and ranch! You should try it!

Miss Kamryn signed up for her first year of soccer! She got a new outfit just for practice!

We went to Cabella’s and the kids LOVED all the animals there, especially the elephant!

Happy 5th Birthday Kooper!!!

I can’t believe Kooper would be 5 years old! Sometimes it feels like yesterday and then there are moments when I wake up in the morning and think, was it all a nightmare, did I really have a son that died? And then I am back to reality and it did happen. I miss him so much. He is a special part of our family.  I found this quote and I feel that it is soo true! I can’t remember who the author is.

When your child dies, everything hurts- every part of your mind, your body, your heart, and your soul – every cell in  your body aches from the tips of you hair to the tips of you toes. It’s as if every tiny molecule within you is screaming to protest, “No, no, no this can’t be true!”

I am glad that the pain I felt is gone. I never knew how to describe it until a few months ago when I read this. Every once in a while it comes back but only for a short time. A good cry and talk with God or a close friend or family member makes it feel much better. I know that I will see him again. I know that he is in a better place just not the place I wish he was in. I know that there is nothing I could have done to change what happened. I know that things happen for a reason and he is up in heaven doing work that couldn’t be done here on earth. He is my son. I am proud to be his mom and I look forward to the day that we will be reunited and I can hold him in my arms again!

 

For his birthday we decided to go to the movie Despicable Me 2 as a family and then we went to the cemetery to let balloons go. Luckily the guy gave us an extra one because one popped on the way there!

 

Yes, Kade is sitting in Kamryn’s booster! Kamryn wanted to sit in the back in Kade’s booster!

      Keegan let go of his balloon a little early, so I let him do mine!

        

We ended our night sharing the cake I made for his birthday with our friends the Dunn’s. They just welcomed a new baby girl Mallory into their family and we are so happy for them and the safe arrival of their baby!

Kade’s Baptism

Kade wanted to wait until we went up to Utah to get baptized so that more family could attend.

  

Ryan’s Mom and stepdad Jeff were able to come along with his Grandma and Grandpa Simmons all the way from Montana!

  Kade with our family and my parents. We had lots of family come and we are so glad that could be here for Kade’s special day!

Ryan baptized Kade while my uncle Terry and my Dad were witnesses and made sure he went all the way under the water. Then my Dad confirmed Kade a member of the Church. It was a very special day and we are proud of Kade for making the decision to get baptized. He didn’t make the decision lightly and took his time really thinking about his decision. He is such a special boy and I am so glad he is part of our family!

Had to get a pic with Grandma John since we only got to see her for a couple days!

Utah Part 2

WE went to Boondocks and swimming in Ashley’s pool at her apartment complex and also to the Logan pool while we were up in Utah! The kids had a blast! Kade spent all his time on the Go-carts or playing laser tag so i didn’t get many pictures of him.
       
We were sad to go! The kids love the weather and love to see family and cousins!