Spencer's Bday and Baptism

Spencer had been staring at this American Flag Cake the whole time he had been at Grandma's and I don't blame him...it looked sooo yummy.  He requested it for his birthday!  So I dug in and made it!

Nothin' like bakin' in Pine Valley!

 

This has to be one of the best cake's I have ever tasted!

 

Grandma & Grandpa Jennings baptism gift to Spencer was this really neat memory book and a special white towel for when he got dressed after his baptism.

Our birthday tradition is you can pick out what you want for breakfast and the kids have enjoyed these berry and whip cream faces!  Grandpa and Grandma Kroff helped make this one happen for Spence on his big 8th birthday.

By far the most special part of his day was his baptism.  He was lucky to be baptized right on his 8th birthday!  It was also special that he got baptized in the same church bldg. that me and his Aunts, Uncles and Grandpa Jennings got baptized in.

I am so proud of Spencer and his strong testimony.  He really does know who he is and that our Savior is always there for him.  I loved watching him prepare for this special day and taking it very serious.  He wanted to understand everything and always had questions...many that I would hear him praying about often. 

This picture just sums up that special day perfectly for me.  That temple was where I was sealed to this man for an eternity.  We will always be together...FOREVER as long as we are constantly using the atonement in our lives.  That boy in Justin's arms right there is my heart!  His spirit is so special and I know he was sent to me for many specific purposes.  He is a strength in our home and it has brought us so much joy to watch him become the age of accountability.

After a spiritual uplift we headed for the mountains with the Kroff's for a "Tie Dye" party that Spence had wanted for years.  I just figured this would be the best way with all the BIG people to help instead a bunch of boys back in Texas.  So, it was FHE with the Jennings to celebrate and Tie Dye with the Kroff's.

Can you tell we had a pinata?  I don't think Alli liked it all.  She disappeared for a while and was really quiet...this is where we found her, hangin' out on Ebony's bed.

 

And the outcome...the shirts are awesome!  I just have to convince Spence he can't wear it everyday.

Great Grandma Jennings

Great Grandma Jennings and Sarah!

 

They wanted to have a sleepover and had it all planned before I heard about it.  I thought it'd probably be best for a picnic but Sarah said I wasn't allowed.  Soooo....a picnic alone it was!  We packed a nice healthy lunch and told Grandma over and over that Sarah can't eat anything else and I went shopping for a bit.

 

When I came back, this is what I found.  Of course Sarah's love is baby dolls just like Grandma.  This woman one of my heroes for sure!  Those hands are always working on something and she's never to old, too tired, to stressed, or too grown up to do anything! 

Scooter Cars and Ebony

thanks to Grandpa & Grandma Jennings!

 

 

What more do you need?

 

Grandparents are the Best!

A massage from Grandma!  Awwwww....

 

Mountain Meadow in July

We got to go teach the kids about Mountain Meadow Massacre with my Mom.  History, whether sad or happy, is so powerful to talk about.  It's lives, lessons to be learned and we have may have planted some missionary seeds to a few other visitors that day.

Family in July

I love that we got to celebrate all my kids' birthdays along with their cousins and have FHE while we were in Utah.  We get pretty home sick when my family have their monthly

FHE and we can't be there.  This was our chance :)

Here's the five sisters in my family!  Love them!

Spencer's Summer with Nathan

Nathan and Spencer got to spend more than a month together this summer!  My sister, Jocelyn offered to have Spence stay with them when we came back to Houston for a while and then we went back to Utah to pick him up. 

 

I missed that kid a ton but it was so good for him to be around a bunch of boy cousins and he absolutely loved that he got to join in on Swim Team with them!

Hiking,Teaching and Learning

Justin has been wanting our family to hike up to the Chinese Canal in Pine Valley, Utah for ages.  We did it this last July!  It wasn't as easy as we thought either. 

We were loving that we could talk about hard work and how rewarding it is.  We also had to really work together as a family and encourage each other.

 

There are so many great things about watching my kids grow older and think for themselves.  We have had the best time lately just sitting back and watching how they work together.

I'm embarrassed to say that it was me saying we couldn't go any further.  We just weren't ever reaching the top and Allison was having to be carried...Sarah was slipping and tripping...it was hot and I mostly could not see how we were going to get the two girls to walk back down this steep mountain side full of pure lava rock.

Of course, my positive husband that never gives up just kept saying "oh, the canal is right up here!"  Eventually he was right and we made it.  Glad we did because I almost had to eat my words of "never give up" and "I think I can" that we kept repeating over and over to our kids.

Looking at this little experience really reflects most of our lives together.  It's just nice to have each other to encourage and keep going...enduring!  There is always blessings that come...always!!!

Our Busy June

 

It's too hard to get her to sit still for a nice clear picture but that's okay.  We do it because it is exercise and fun and busy for her!  This is her first day at her Special Olympics Bowling Team Practice. 

 

We are so glad we our doing this with her.  She bowls every Saturday at 10:00 and plays three games.  She has her own bowling ball and is the youngest on her team.  Sweet Rosy, Heather, Caden and the other athletes have really taken her under their wing and call her "the little sister they always wanted."

 

 

 This little trip to the Zoo wasn't really planned, we were supposed to be on our way out to Utah for a Kroff Reunion.  It's a long story but to put it short our stand-by tickets didn't work out so well and trying to get on multiple flights, getting on a flight and than being escorted off sent Sarah into the biggest, hardest, most terrifying tantrum that we've had with her.  This was our bribe to get her to atleast move on her feet (still screaming) out of the airport.  I cried myself the whole way to the zoo.  It's times like this that I'm reminded why our life is just a little different.

 

 

 All the mornings happenings were soon forgotten and smiles traded the tears!  So glad we did this!

Of all the times we have been to the Houston Zoo, we hadn't taken the time to go in the Bird House...so incredible!  The birds were beautiful and would fly right over our heads, etc.  Love it!

The monkeys were crackin' us up.  We literally stood and watched them for an hour!  So fun!

 

 We finally made it to St. George!  Spent a little time Swimmin' with the Jennings and then headed over to hang with the Kroff's for the weekend.

We drove with Justin's parents up to Provo for the family reunion.  Some ran in the Utah Valley Marathon, some half-marathon and some 10K, the kiddos did the 1K.  So proud of my 3 that ran the whole way.  I couldn't believe that Allison ran on those little legs!  My favorite was when she ran across the finish line with her hands way up high saying "I did it! Yeah for me!"

 

 And...they sleep after a long morning of races.

 

 

 Finshing off with a picnic and games at the park up Provo Canyon.

 

Because we played so much, Justin had to buckle down and work a lot near the end of the month.  He was home just long enough to have one celebration of Father's Day and his Birthday together...our Anniversary was in there too.  I just am so blessed and love this Man!!!!

 She's so grown up!  She's on her way out the door to her very first Special Needs Camp.  The Lion's Camp that she attended is the biggest Special Needs Camp in the Nation!  They had a counselor per 1 or 2 kids!  They went swimming, played basketball, volleyball, golfed, danced, sang, went to art class, science camp, craft time and more.  It was so QUIET at our house for a week!!!

 

My first thought when I saw how she chose to dress when she wasn't home was...maybe this was a bad idea, but I very quickly changed my mind as I heard stories of "the little girl with no legs that's my friend" or "the girl that couldn't see that shared my room."  When she talked about how proud she was of her projects she made and the things she accomplished.  She came home feeling so big and so independent!  It was soooo good for her!

 

I missed her!  I was so happy to see her climb off that bus!  This week was one of the best things we have done for her, for Spence, for Alli and for us!

Allison was really glad to have Sarah home again!