Mutton Bustin' at it's best

Okay, the title might be a bit of an exaaggeration but darn, we enjoyed watching all the little "mutton buster's  at the Cokeville 24th of July Celebration, especially Kaleb!  He's been begging me to ride a sheep for quite some time so I was crossing my fingers that I'd be able to sign him up, along with Kam and Porter, (because they were begging me as well). Anyway, we raced over to the arena the morning of the rodeo and found that they only had one open spot left--Kaleb was the lucky guy since he's the oldest and Porter and Kamryn were left very sad and bummed with the promise that they would be able to give it a try next year. Anyway, Kaleb was pretty much jumping up and down.  I wasn't sure if he'd keep that excitement when he actually watched all of the other 24 participants take their turn.  But, much to my surprise, he just got more and more excited and could hardly wait to head over to the shoot and get on.  One of my sweet nephew's, Bronson, took Kaleb over and got him all prepared for the big ride :):)  Bronson suited him up in the protective vest and helmet which Kaleb thought was pretty much AWESOME!!  Our nephew, Trevor, was kind enough to snap a ton of pics of Kaleb before, during, and after the ride with his nice camera, so I could take a video of him, which I ended up erasing somehow before Kaleb even got to view it :(  Hate when that happens!! Anyway, the shoot opened and here came Kaleb hugging the sheep around the neck and holding on for dear life, I think he stayed on for approximately 2 seconds but he didn't let go, not even when he started to fall underneath and the sheep went down on top of him.  I thought for sure he'd shed a few tears, but, nope, he got right up and calmly walked away with a little bounce in his step.  Our girls, including the other nieces, were cheering their loudest for him, and after the ride when he came back to the stands, they all crowded around him giving him hugs and high fives like he was a big stud!! It was the cutest thing EVER!!  When we asked him what he thought of riding a sheep he said, "it was AWESOME, can I PLEASE do it next time?" I think the following pics are just as good as a video, thanks to my nephew, Trevor, for sending these to me!

How sweet it is to be loved by you!

The twins had their yearly well child visit (actually, I don't think they've had a check up in about 2 years) but hey, that's how we roll around here!  Anyway, being the mean mom that I am, I decided to kill 2 birds with one stone and have them get their school immunizations done at the same time.  I broke the news to them the night before and Porter didn't seem phased by it at all but Kamryn, on the other hand, was worrying and fretting all morning long.  She went around the house telling everyone that the doctor was going to shoot her:)  Oh goodness, it was hilarious but sure didn't sound very good!  When we got to the office and the Dr. asked which one of them would go first, I was surprised when Kami's hand shot up and she went running up to lay on the table.  She hardly made a peep as they "shot her":):)  Porter, on the other hand, started sobbing at the first poke and was pretty darn sad about the whole ordeal.  As soon as he got down from the table, Kamryn quickly came to his rescue and put her arm around his shoulders and said, "here Porter, put your head right here on me, it's okay, you'll be okay."  It was just about the cutest thing I've seen since they were newborns cuddled up together in their crib.  It sounds terrible but I was laughing and just about crying at the same time watching Kamryn try to consol her "Big" brother.   It was a picture moment so I took advantage and I'm sure   Porter will just love these pictures someday of him bawling his eyes out:):)  Wedding video...here we come!

                                                    Before the shots.....

And after.....play by play 

I'm pretty sure I'll remember this moment forever!  One other funny thing to note is when they were born, Porter weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. and Kamryn was 5 lbs. 4 oz.  They have consistently stayed 2 lbs apart all these years and now 4 years later, Porter weighs 39 lbs and Kamryn is 37.9 and she's got him in height by 2".  We'll hope these statistics change when they get a little older:):)  

Birthday Girl, Jordyn!

We celebrated Jordyn's 9th Birthday last week and the spoiled little stink pretty much enjoyed a weeks worth of Birthday fun!:):)  We had her family party 2 days before her actual B-Day, she enjoyed packages coming in the mail on her B-Day, I brought in treats to her school class, her teacher from last year brought her a big cookie and surprised her on the playground by silencing everyone with a whistle and then everyone joining in singing Happy Birthday! (how cute is that?) She got to take treats to her clogging class on Thursday, Friday her primary teacher came over with more goodies, and to top it all off, we spent the weekend with DJ's parents where she enjoyed more partying with cousins and fun with grandparents!  Jordyn genuinely loves her Journey Girl doll (Kelsee) probably more than anything else she owns.  She spent   a good hour before her party getting Kelsee all ready for the big moment in hopes that some of her B-Day presents might contain new baby clothes and such:)  Can't you just see the excitement in her face (Jordyn's, that is:)

Continuing the tradition, Jordyn decorated her own cake which she called an "artist" cake.  She wanted several different colors of frosting, sprinkles & lots of candy.  I think she might have eaten a good portion of it before it actually made it on the cake:)   

The finished product!  Colorful, it is!

Jordyn was extra excited because she got to share her special day with her Great Grandma Johnson who's Birthday happens to be one day before Jordyn's!  Jordyn decorated this special candle for Grandma and Grandma gave Jordyn her own drawing pad!  Perfect present for Jordyn!  Pictures like these next 2 are just priceless! 

Morgan spent Sunday afternoon preparing this giant B-Day card for Grandma J.  She went around and asked everyone what things they love and appreciate about Grandma.  DJ was the last to be interviewed and his response summed it all up, "What's not to love!"  We sure love our Grandma Johnson and consider it a great blessing to live in the same town as her so we can see her often!  

Jordyn got 3 new baby doll outfits for Kelsee and she could not have been more excited!  Porter even gave Kelsee a new pair of glasses so she'd be matching with Jord!  

This is another one of my favorite pictures ever!  I love how the 3 of them are so focused on 

Grandma Rose's ever popular, personalized, Birthday card!  

How thankful I am that I have wonderful supportive parents who manage to make it to each of the kids B-Day Parties. It helps that they live only 1/2 hour away!  I'm always sad that we live so far away from DJ's parents that this isn't possible but somehow, every time we head home to Cokeville, they turn our visit in to a big party!!   

G&G Rose surprised Jordyn with her very first set of professional art supplies...a watercolor set, several paintbrushes, First Steps watercolor book, watercolor paper, and a tabletop easel (not pictured because it arrived late)  Jordyn was beyond excited!  She told me she made a goal to read the whole book from cover to cover (all 128 pages) before she began so she's know all of the techniques before beginning.  Well, she did just that.  She spent one afternoon and evening reading each page carefully and pointing out specific things she found interesting.  This girl LOVES anything art and she definetly has a talent for it!

I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture of Jordyn with Grandma and Grandpa Teichert in Cokeville this weekend.  They gave Jordyn a sweet card and a check to go clothes shopping!  Jordyn is a "clothes horse" and loves to shop any chance she gets (which doesn't happen often) so getting her own money to spend is pretty exciting!  A big thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Teichert!

The spread! Art supplies, doll clothes, clothes, headbands, shrink art jewelry making kit, socks, and more!

Jordyn and Mom, Regan took the picture laying down on the floor so it looks a little wacky! 

                                      

Porter getting the "Biggest Squeeze EBER"  from Jordyn after she opened the doll glasses from him! 

Regan and Kaleb enjoying the party! 

DJ, Gram, Morgs, and Kami!   

Porter loving on Grandpa--actually, I think he was all over grandpa like stink on skunk the whole night, jumping, climbing, rubbing his head, head butting him, you name it.  (poor dad)

Pretty Regan! 

The other Birthday girl!  I wish I would've captured the moment where Grandma did her modeling stance! Now that would've been one for the books! 

Morgan and Jordyn 

Grandma and Jordy

These guys are entertaining!! A must see!

Devastation

Besides all the fires, earthquakes, wars, etc., this morning, Porter by accident cut apart Kamryn's favorite picture that she worked so hard to color.  That is true devastation (to a 4 year old)  Porter very confidentlly assured Kamryn that he could "duct tape it back together and it would be all better!"  If only we could fix all of our problems with duct tape...

4 year olds say it best!

We were coming home from the store a few days ago when the kids spotted a guy on a Harley all covered in all these crazy tatoos and, of course, the they were all chatting about why someone would do that to themselves... when Porter pipes up and says:  Guys, he's still Heavenly Father's man!! 

First Day of School Pics!

 The kids started back to school 3 weeks ago and sadly, I'm just now getting around to posting about it.  I sent one off to High School, yes people, HIGH SCHOOL!!  Regan is a big freshmen this year and loving every minute of it.  Well, maybe not the gobs of homework part of it but definetly the social aspect of it.  Thankfully, she's a great student and does a good job of keeping on top of things or I might be having a nervous breakdown.  She's in the middle of another Cross Country season which is why she has both a duffle bag and a back pack that probably weigh more than she does!  She hates pictures these days and wasn't going for the idea of a picture at the bus stop :):)  Just kidding.....she did agree to this pic of she and one of her good friends, Cadee Berrett!  This picture cracks me up simply because of the height difference in these girls.  Cadee is just a couple of months younger than Regan and has a good foot on her! 

This picture of Regan and I was taken on Regan's 14th B-Day, just a few days before her first day of High School!  I know I say this a bunch but it's just hard to believe that we are at this point in our lives. I still think of myself as a young mother (ha ha ha)  Actually, I really did until I took the twins to story time at the library and all these cute young pregnant women with 2 and 3 small kids were there in the room with me and suddenly I realized I was the old mother with my tail ender kiddos. :(:(

 

Regan and Lindee & the goof ball brother on Regan's B-Day!  Lindee stopped by with a cute gift and the two were giggling about who knows what (inside jokes) I guess.  It was a total flashback to high school days!  I love that Regan has such great friends who share her same values and beliefs and not to mention, just really good, cute, and funny girls!

 

On to Morgan, the big 5th grader.  After this year she'll have one more year left of Elementary school and then she's off to middle school.

Can I just say how much this girl has grown up in the last little while.  She's recently started to dress up a bit (on occasion) and knows what she wants in the way of hairstyles and such.  She's spending a bit more time in front of the mirror, but not too much. She still has a love for basketball shorts and t-shirts and messy buns but seriously, I get that...I'm a cut off jeans and t-shirt kinda girl!  Anyway, Ms. Anderson is her teacher this year and happens to be Jordyn's student teacher from last year and she is just awesome!!   

Morgan is half way in to yet another season of soccer but this time she's playing in a league (BYSL) so she's spending a lot more time on the soccer field between 2 practices a week and often times, 2 games a week.  She still loves it except for when she plays goalie and gets scored on, then she's not a happy camper:):) 

 

On to Jordyn...

 

Jordyn is in 3rd grade this year and has Mrs. Fox as a teacher.  She's having a great time so far and is super relieved that some of her best buddies are in her class!  She is a social butterfly and loves to be surrounded by lots of giggly girls!  (glad it's not boys, yet..)  She just started clogging again after a summer break and is begging me to try gymnastics..we'll see how that goes.  She spends a good portion of her free time either roller blading, drawing, or reading, oh, and let's not forget, eating raspberries.  Thanks to our awesome raspberry patch that's producing endless bowls of plump raspberries. DJ makes her pick a whole bowl for the family before she gets to eat any because she would seriously eat ALL of them:):)

 

On to Kaleb...

Kaleb is a 1st grader this year and has Mrs. Durfee as his teacher.  It took him a good 2 weeks to decide if staying all day at school was a good thing.:):)  He is an awesome little reader, thanks to DJ diligently listening to him read the Book of Mormon readers every single night during the summer!  I've been helping in his class for an hour each Wednesday and his teacher pulled me aside last week to tell me that in all her years of teaching, she's never had a student like Kaleb.   She went on to tell me that he's the most conscientious and careful child and desires to do everything just right.  She said he doesn't pout when he gets things wrong and often he'll tell her he'd better stay in for recess so he can finish up on a paper.  I'm not bragging here, I just want to record this for him to read someday. I love this kid and though he can be a stink at times, he genuinely wants to do the right thing!   

Oh....Kaleb's expressions kill me sometimes! 

Here's to another great school year!!!  I can't believe I'll be sending the twins next year!!

The neighborhood bunch!