Fun in Photos

Wyatt invited Alex over to play a few weeks ago for the day. Look at the pure joy on their faces. Such good friends. 

Kedzie helping out at camp 

Adam and Ravi trying to get "moon tans?" They're weird and I love them. Adam now lives across the street from us and is a great friend to Ethan. 

The 09 boys playing in the friendlies tournament. So great to have them on the pitch. No spectators on the sidelines. They have fun playing the sport they love. I hope they can get back some of their energy that they've lost over covid. 

We celebrated Lane's birthday at the Bradford's. Alex tried to get him with a whip cream pie. It didn't work, so the boys ate the cream instead and later Alex tried to get in on some poker! He was exhausted that night, as you can see. 

We had a fireside in our back yard. It was by the Bishopric who answered questions for us all. Ironically, two Sundays later they were released as the Bishopric so I'm glad we had this experience with them. Love these youth that don't quit when the going gets tough. 

Love this man. Don't think I would survive on so many levels without him. 

Colorado and California are on fire. This is a "clear" view these days. The sun is masked with smoky haze. It's so sad. I think we have four major fires right now and they aren't controlled yet. It's so smoky almost every day. Some nights the smoke is too much to have windows open.  Praying for rain and for the firemen. 

Ethan spent a few days volunteering at the camp as well and had the chance to ride a horse for the first time in forever. He was so happy and Kedzie enjoyed helping him a bit. Grateful for the opportunities my kids have in our own neighborhood to improve themselves and their lives. 

The DEFY crew. Sam, Triston, Alex, Trindon, Braylon and Mason 

 

Luke invited the boys over to swim and play pool one day. It was great to relax and be with friends. 

Karen and her husband showed up on our door step again on Sunday afternoon and stuck around for an hour or so. It was great to see her and catch up. We don't get to spend much time with her anymore, but we know she loves us and that we love her. 

Here's photo evidence of telling our kids that we are getting a new puppy! It will be a Malshipoo. Diana is giving her to us. Her dog Otis is the dad and mom Zoe is their neighbor dog. We are going to probably get a girl and Diana wants us to breed her! We shall see. But, she's due September 19th and we will probably get her around Thanksgiving, hopefully. The kids were super excited when the dogs announced via text that one of their puppies would be coming to our house! I think we, as parents, are a little crazy, but it will be so much fun. Hoping Wiley will love her too.

Are you kidding me that they are going to middle school? Look that those faces from Kinder and now from pre 6th grade! They are amazing boys and I love them so much. So grateful for their friendship after all these years. Now, let's watch them grow!

 

Soccer plus

Finally Covid isn't in control of our lives. Finally, the boys were able to play a little 3v3 with friends. Finally, they are out and about acting all crazy! I'm so grateful. Although these boys didn't win a game, they didn't give up. They hadn't played soccer in about a year and they had fun, they laughed, they cried, they're better after the experience. So grateful that Ravi didn't give up soccer a few years ago because the relationships he's making are so worth it. 

These boys ended up taking 3rd place. They couldn't beat an ECNL girls team! They also hadn't played together for a while and they were just excited to be playing soccer on the field once again. So grateful for good soccer friends and their families. 

Talking with the enemy! Rapids Central boys!

We have also had some fun with the Bradford's and the Gunn's at DEFY after it opened again. The boys pretend they are ten so they don't have to wear masks. It's so good for them physically and emotionally to be there, having fun and exercising with friends. We love it. We had a 30 day pass that we used well!

The Bradford and Ravsten boys have spent a great deal of time together this summer and it's so great. So grateful for Jina and her family for loving my boys and taking them fun places when I can't due to work or because I have two other kids. She took them to the Lake one day, all day and they had the best time with all of the Bradford's extended family. We are pretty lucky to have them as friends. 

T(rindon) & A with grandma Julie 

B & T(riston)

We decided after ten years it was time to paint the inside of our house once again. We love it and love that nothing is dirty! If it is, it's new dirt or old dirt we've painted over! We've spent many hours on the walls and Travis worked for a week on staining the stair railing. We love it and only have the doors left to paint. A fresh start for our house!

Kedzie has volunteered at The Giggling Life Farm for over 74 hours since July. She loves having somewhere to go every day and a purpose to be with animals and kids. I'm so grateful for Kristi for letting her share in her farm and camp experience. We are now a week away from hatching a duckling!