July 24th

Zach, Angie, Chancie, Trevor, Jeff and myself ran the Milk Run races early that morning. Ang and I ran the 5 mile ( I got fourth in my age group, Ang got fifth in hers- I also got my best time on a 5 mile so far- 44 min) Jeff and Chancie ran the 5k (Jeff got first in his age group and Chancie to second in hers). And the boys did the kid run (1 mile)

Here is some of the crew watching the parade- Monroe

knows how to do a parade!

Jeff and Terol got an adorable Maltese puppy named Tinkerbell and

Skylee, Jeff and Jaston really want a puppy now

Jaston had fun waching the parade and eating every candy that came his way.

Skylee "going fishing"

Jaston and Daddy fishin'

Jaston loves to hang with his Grandpa Johnson

Skylee and Great Grandma and Grandpa Young

She has been waiting to go to Grandma's "faraway house"

for months. We finally made it.

This is how Jaston felt after the parade

and playing at the park- the jump house-

fishing-fun games- and eating yummy food.

This is one of my most favorite places to be- at my Grandma's with all these amazing people- My FAMILY. I know that heaven wouldn't be heaven without these people there. I am so grateful for Heavenly Father's plan and the blessing of being sealed to my family so we can continue these gatherings there :) I really am the happiest I can be when I am near family.

We left Monroe a little early so we could make it back home before fireworks and meet up with Nana and Greg. Skylee sure is loved. We loved watching the fireworks and eating treats with Nana. And Skylee made sure everyone knew it was her birthday and these fireworks were for her.

Jaston is starting to not be so afraid but still wanted to hold

Nana's hand throughout the fireworks. After he pointed up and

said, "Whoa!" (Notice the powdered doughnut traces all over him-

this kid is obsessed with sweets!)

It was a long day for this little munchkin

Quotables

Skylee has been saying some pretty funny things the past little bit so I wanted to document a few before I forgot.

A few days ago Skylee was running to one end of our living room to the other. She would do it a few times then run over and have me feel her heart. She would say, "Mommy, feel my heart it's beeping." I decided it was a good teaching moment to talk about exercise. So I explained that she was exercising and that it was good for her body and helped her stay healthy. So she turned around and did it a few more times came over to me put her hand on her heart and felt it beating and said, "My heart is smiling," and then she ran off. I guess she got the concept :)

Skylee's birthday is today and we started celebrating a little early since her birthday is on a holiday. Needless to say she has been quite spoiled the last week. So yesterday at my Grandma's in Monroe I overheard her talking to my little cousin and asking him for a present. We all gathered around all my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas to eat dinner and my Grandma said, "Before we start we just wanted to take a second and sing happy birthday to someone. Is there someone here who is celebrating a birthday in the next few days?" and without missing a beat Skylee piped in, "I AM!" very matter of fact. It was funny it made everyone laugh.

Then at fireworks last night she was talking to Nana and asked her if Nana had told everyone it was Skylee's birthday and these were her birthday fireworks? Nana said she did. Skylee asked, "Well, did you yell it at everyone?" She said she did. Then Skylee said, "Well, what did they say?" Then she continued, "They will understand, it will be their birthday soon too."
Having her birthday on the 24th makes it easy to entertain and make her feel special but I am afraid it makes her feel a little too special and entitled. (Is that possible?) Yes, not too many people get fireworks on their birthday. I guess as long as we stay in Utah she will be spoiled in such a way...

Miss Skylee is Turning Four!

My sweet Skylee turns four on Suday I really can't believe it. Yesterday we celebrated Skylee's birthday with a few friends and families. It turned out to be really fun. I learned a few things this time around- buying a pinata is definitely worth it (I thought $20 was expensive but after 4 days of making my own I was seriously considering the $20 bucks would be worth it), simple is the way to go, I tend to over-plan and need to calm down and it doesn't take much to please a four year old :) She was in heaven here are a few pics:

All that work... Couldn't decide if I wanted to join in and hit it or cry when they did...

Candy!

The final product Skylee loves red and loves to play Angry Birds so I thought this was perfect

So I have to take a second and tell a little about this little spit-fire girl over the past year or so.

• Thankfully she is starting to emerge from her fit-throwing two and three year old stage


• She loves to tease her brother BUT


• Is also super protective of him


• She is very considerate


• She loves to tell her Momma at random times that she loves her and it makes me so happy :)


• She is doing SO much better in Sunbeams- the first few weeks were a mixture of crying and falling asleep in primary.


• She will be done with her swimming lessons today and the progress she has made is incredible! The first day she would do NOTHING for fear they would make her stick her head under- now she is doing back floats like a champ, jumping from the side and even jumping from the diving board. She now LOVES to do her bobs and stick her head under. This fact alone makes one Happy Mother!


• She has an amazing memory! Just last night she read me a book word for word that I had read her like three times. She also has a great long-term memory and randomly asks- ' Do you member ..." And I have to rack my brain trying to think of what she is talking about.


• She loves bologne, bread and butter, mac and cheese, watermelon, oranges, peas.


• She is getting better at sharing and plays the very best with boys that are just a little younger than her- maybe it is because they are about her size :)


• She is SUPER stubborn and when she sets her mind on something good luck EVER getting it onto something else... Seriously! (I'm hoping if channeled correctly this can be a good quality in the future for her sticking up for what is right... hopefully!)


• She says some of the dang cutest things I wish I had a tape recorder on me at all times. She is creative and very smart.


• We absolutely LOVE our Skylee she is such a blessing in our family! Life wouldn't be the same without her.
  
  

Grandpa and Pirates

The Boulevard had a sale the other day Pirate themed. So me and my mom took the kids down to see Grandpa all dressed up like a pirate. It was funny because a few days before we went to my parents and he was all dressed up to show the kids. It scared Jaston. But we got an invitation in the mail for the sale and on it was a pirate all dressed up and Jaston kept pointing at it and saying Grandpa! The kids loved the store, they did a great job decorating and making it a fun experience.

A New Goal

Tonight I attended a fireside that really struck a chord with me. He (Brother Dan Riding)spoke on the scripture James 1:8 which says: "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." He spoke of how me must try to be the opposite of this- single minded and stable in all our ways. He pointed out that we must be strong and single-minded in all that we do. In every aspect of our lives. He challenged us to go home and look in the for the strength of youth and choose one aspect to focus on that we can improve on and "fake it til we make it."
I did just that and decided there were two I wanted to focus on. I have heard that if you write your goals and tell someone about them your chances of reaching your goals multiply. So I have decided to document here that I am going to begin working on my Gratitude, and on my Family. I am going to work on being more grateful for the things which I have and focus on my small accomplishments. I am going to focus on being a better wife and a better mother by trying to be more positive. I fear I have fallen into the slump of comparing and never being satisfied with myself. I know that the Lord would want me to do the very best I can and be satisfied with that. Satan would want me to feel unqualified. So, now it is documented and hopefully I will be well on my way to achieving my goal.

Summer Fun

Fireworks- Ashley, Sky, Katie, Nana, Emiliy and Jaston

Our traditional walk to the duck pond.

Ended up with the boys seeing if they could throw golf balls across the pond

A bread fight

A water fight

Nana getting thrown in the garbage

My adorable little guy

Slippin' sliding at the park- Welcome home Cory!

Watching the parade

Riding home after going swimming

Katie and Skylee

Daddy and Jaston

Mommy and Jaston

Katie, Skylee, and Emily

Dre, Emily, Jaston, Skylee, and Kayloni with our Frog Friend