Are you ready for some football?!!!

This year Corb was adamant about playing football.  So, we signed him up for Flag Football at the local Rec Center.

As you can see...he's a natural!

All those Sundays watching Football with his dad (who has a crazy and insane obsession with the sport)...have paid off!

And it probably helped that Coby was their Coach!  :)

Parents from both sides showed their support each game.  And sometimes...we got in a little fun on the side!  Here's the Pooch and "'Lil Wayne"!

Such a poser!

And Cole refused to sit idly by and watch from the side lines while Jaden and Corb had fun...He he is tackling the Pooch!

And then Nana swooped in a saved him with lots of tickles, hugs and kisses!

And here's our Honey and Rosie congratulating the winner team!  :)

Corb's done really well in Football this year.  I think it may just be his sport.  It really comes so naturally to him and he LOVES playing it!

This is the Place Field Trip with CorbiMac

Today I had the opportunity to go on a field trip with Corbin.  This class was headed to "This is the Place Monument" (The site that Brigham Young decreed home after crossing the plains with the pioneers 200 years ago)

Here's a shot of me and my Corbi-Mac 

 

We hopped on the bus (which I remember being way bigger...) and headed north...or east...or I don't know which direction...good thing I wasn't in charge!!

This is what the sky looked like...and it was COLD!   FREEZING cold!  I wished I worn more layers!

They showed us how the pioneers actually pushed the handcarts.  Here is Corb and his buddy Trey.  SUCH cute boys!

Later we got to see what school was like.  This teacher was NO NONSENSE!  She reminded me of the mean teacher in Pete's Dragon!  In the picture Mrs. Glade (Corb's AMAZING 3rd Grade teacher)  is being punished for speaking without permission. The teacher is making her face the wall while extending her arms and hold books....YIKES!  I think I would have had the most shapely of arms back then....(I was always getting into trouble for talking in class!).  

Today was a great day...cold...but great non the less!  I had such a ball getting to spend the day with Corbin learning about our pioneer heritage.  It was VERY enlightening and so interesting!  I've said it before and I'll say it again...The good Lord knew what He was doing when he put me here at this time...because there is NO way I would have made it.  Coby jokes and tells me that he would have had to leave me on the plains because his "ears" just couldn't take any more of my whining!  :) I think he is probably right! 

Getting into the Halloween spirit

Halloween is just around the corner....

 And since everyone has been sick here for what feels like an ETERNITY...

 I decided it was time to bust out all of the Halloween/Fall decorations.

I decided to go with a Raven Theme this year. 

 
I used all my birdcages and put black Ravens inside.  Even my angle table got a little hint of Halloween/Fall.

And since I didn't want to have to take EVERYTHING down...I decided to try to do things a little more "fall" inside.  Here is the banister.  It was so fun...I've never had a banister to decorate!!

I've really loved having a baker's rack and a little side table to decorate my porch.  It may look cluttered...but it's sure is fun being able to use all the decorations I've accumulated over the years and haven't had the room to put them out.  Most of them are DIY by me or picked up at a local thrift store because I'm too cheap to buy them all brand new.  I really look forward to each season/holiday and feel like I can now really get into the "spirit" of each.  This next year is going to be a HOOT!  ;)

Jack's 5th Angelversary

5 years...

...that's how long it's been since we last held you, kissed your sweet chubby cheeks and heard you laugh.  I hate this day!  I don't think I'll ever get used to you being gone.  I want you to be here so bad and it kills me to know that Jaden and Cole will never actually know you here on this Earth.  Corb has already forgotten so much.  But what hurts the most is that no matter how how I try, I'm forgetting too.  But the pain is always there.  It's not the searing pain it once was, but it's always there lingering in the background.  I try to stay busy and not think about it, but sometimes the grief sneaks in.  And I have to let it in.  It's not that I like to be sad, but sometimes the sadness means that I can still feel you.  That you WERE infact here and that you aren't just a dream.  I'm grateful for your occasional visit.  I pray that they will always remain.

Today has been hard for two reason:  Obviously...it's Jack's Angelversary...but having the stomach flu or food poisoning on top of it....is just adding insult to injury!  We have NEVER been so sick in our whole marriage.  And we ALL have it!  Last night we ALL had our puke buckets and made beds on our bedroom floor and spent the night together....throwing up!  Jealous??!! Coby made the comment that the night we lost Jack was probably the last night we all spent the night huddled together feeling so low.  I think he was right!  Today I got a bouquet of flowers from a dear friend (Melissa).  She has always gone over and beyond to let us know that Jack is NEVER forgotten.  So many people have been so wonderful in this area.  And we appreciate it more than we could every express.  I save EVERYTHING...every card, every note, every tender mercy I can fit in a hope chest in our room.  How blessed we have been through this tragedy!  The Lord is good.  So, so good!  He has never left us alone and know He never will.  I am so grateful for all the Earth Angels in our lives that have continued to lift us daily and especially on days like this and show us that Jack mattered...that he still matters.  I am weak, on all levels today...but maybe that's a good thing because I swear I can feel Jack closer today.  So, I'm going to close my eyes and try to remember what it felt like to hold him.  To kiss his soft chubby cheeks.  To hold him and have my chin rest on his soft whispy white hair.  Someday....someday Coby and I will hold him again. Someday all will be made right.  And until "someday" comes....I'll just have to cling to that hope and the memories I refuse to let fade.

Bear Lake with our Michigan Crew

It's that time again...time for the old annual Bear Lake weekend with our Michigan friends!

This is an old picture, because for some reason...we never did get a shot of everyone!

 As soon as we were all awake...which was early since the sun and kids are usually on the exact schedule...we were playing in the water.

 The boys worked together and put in the jetski.

 Colie Poke sat on the beach blanket and contemplated eating the sand...and then gave in and had a few bites!  YUCK!

Bettie sat there enjoying the scenery, the best company and the Bear Lake rays...all the while looking GORGEOUS as usual!

It's never dull that's for sure!  I love our poker games!

Here's some of the "chips" for the poker game.

I love these people so much!  Lance always has some sort of crazy story to tell us about crazy people breaking the law (He's the prosecuting attorney for Rupert, ID).  Bettie is so chill, always beautiful and kind and quick to tell her kids what little shits they are!  :)  Wes and Mandy usually come for the day and grace us with Wes' dry and completely ridiculously FUNNY sense of humor!  Mandy is usually snapping pictures and telling us of their family's adventures in the hoppin' town of Tremonton, Utah.  Natalie and Ian and little Tatam finally made it this year and we couldn't have been happier!  Oh how we've missed them!  Natalie is one of the most kind and genuine people you'll ever meet and we feel so blessed still have her in our lives.  But even better than that is her FUNNY...no, CRAZY HILARIOUS sense of humor that can have you doubled over, unable to breathe, sides sore from laughing charm!

It's so nice to get together each year with them and pick up right where we left off!  I love them and always look forward to our annual little Bear Lake Reunions!

***NOTE***Next year I hope the flu bug's invitation gets lost in the mail!!  WORST stomach flu of our lives!

Have you seen my fork?

"Have you seen my fork?"

My dad used to always ask me this while pulling his neck out!  Quite hilarious!

First day of Preschool for Jaden

I can't believe that Jaden is old enough to go to preschool!  Yikes!!  Where has the time gone??

He is 4 years old and going to a cute little preschool called, "Little Wonders"  His teacher is Mrs. Jennifer.  He goes to school two days a week (Monday and Wednesdays).  She's AWESOME and came highly recommended.  Plus at only $50 a month and literally 5 minutes away...it's GREAT for everyone!  :)  I'm excited to see how he'll do.  But I'm sure he'll love it.  He LOVES to read and learn.  He's constantly asking if he can work in his preschool workbook.  I am sometimes really surprised at the amount of things he already knows without telling him.  What can I say...he's a SCHOLAR!!!

Death by tickling???

Apparently, you CAN die by getting tickled too much!!  Who would have thought?!!  Jadesy is seriously a RIOT and a half!!!  It's definitely NEVER dull...that's for sure!

Corb's 1st Day of School

3rd Grade...ALREADY??!!!

Where on Earth has the time gone??!!!  I can't believe that Corb is in 3rd Grade!!!  This year he is attending a new school!  We will REALLY miss Long View Elementary and the fact that it was a NORMAL school.  His new school is year round...so this will definitely be a change for this house!  But, I've heard really good things about the Track System....so here's to new things!  I know that he is going to do GREAT!  He's already met a few kids around the neighborhood.  We are excited for the new adventure that awaits!  :)  

Happy 10 Year Anniversary

It's been 10 years!!  10 years and I couldn't be more in love this this handsome guy!!

Coby arranged for us to stay at the Stein Erichsen Lodge in Park City.  As you can see from the picture....(sun spots) we may have had a few "extras" on our mountain bike ride....probably Poppy and Jack!

Here we are at the top of the ride...and guess what...I didn't even fall off and roll off the mountain like a did a few years ago!

Coby caught me trying to loosen that chin strap.....

After a GREAT ride, we got to check into our room.  We were greeted with VOSS water and some gourmet chocolates.  I wanted to share....but they were so yummy...I may have eaten more than my share!  :)  But because I'm a little nice...I saved him the organic granola.  

Here's our fabulous bed they turned down with slippers and a soft terrycloth robe for each of us.  I felt like I was in the movie "It could happen to you" where Bridgette Fonda goes to the Plaza in NYC for a night.  SUPER fancy!

Here's the livingroom.

And if you notice...each of the pillows all had the Perfect "chop" crease in every one!  Cam and Mitchell from Modern Family would have definitely noticed!

Our very own hot tub right outside our bedroom window. (don't worry....it was totally secluded)

Later that night we went to dinner on Main Street at a little Thai place.  It was located in the basement.  I felt like it was one of those hidden restaurants that only the locals know about in NYC.  And it was FABULOUS!  I should branch out more...because even though my Pad Kee Mao is DELIGHTFUL....I'm sure Thai has many more amazing dishes!  Coby got his usual, Gang Karee. (I have no idea how to spell it)

And Here we are heading back home.  It was a FABULOUS weekend.  But like all trips....it went WAY too fast and we were back to the norm much too quickly!  

I certainly LOVE this cute husband of mine!  I absolutely ADORE him and don't know what in the world or maybe in the previous world I did to deserve him!  He really is the most amazing person I've ever met!  I feel so blessed that he chose me...ME!!  He's a keeper for sure!  I love you Monster!  Looking forward to eternity with YOU!

Corbin's Baptism

There he is...my baby...my 8 year old baby!!!

Today he made the decision to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

We couldn't be more proud!

He's such a goofball as he poses for Coby in front of the Jordan River Temple!

Speaking of Goofballs!

I certainly LOVE him!

It was a perfect day for a baptism...even if it was early on a Saturday morning!

Costco did a GREAT job on his cake....despite the picture I drew for them!  :)

We wanted more than anything for our Poppy to be there to see Corb baptized in person.  But I am certain that he was there...standing next to Jack in spirit...proud as could be!  Honey gave Corbin an extra special gift.  She gave Corbin Jim's scriptures and scripture case.  On the inside she put a picture of Jim and a picture of the two of them doing the thing they loved most...eating bananas and milk.

Sam and Corbin are only 11 days apart and we can't wait to see her baptized too!

Corbin and Jordan are certainly buds...and I couldn't be happier since his mom is my sunshine girl!  

My Grandpa Burton was there and even made Corbin one of his famous cards!  I love how much he loves the gospel.  That it's the most important thing because it means that we can always be together forever as a family.  He misses my Grandma terribly, but I suspect that she was definitely there today!

Sommy and Drew gave Corbin an AWESOME backpack loaded with stuff for Scouts.  Inside was a pocket knife...and my dad was giving Corb and our neighbor Carter a few pointers.  

There's my sunshine girl!  I love her more than most in this world!  :)  I think that we had plans in Heaven and have been trying to carry them out in sync since we were big enough to walk!  :)

Here's a few pictures of my fam lounging.  From Left - Both Grandfathers, Boyd and Grandpa Burton, Grandma Bowers, Sommy, Pooch and my mom.  Cute Ambie is holding Ronan near Jadesy babe.

Aunt Ambie holding Ronan.  He and Cole are only 5 weeks apart!

And here's my Grandma Bowers....her picture pretty much sums it up!

It's been a long and exhausting day!  It's been lovely and filled with the Spirit and I can't even begin to describe the feelings in my heart for Corbin.  Coby and I are so proud of him for making the choice to be baptized.  He's such a sweet, tender and kind boy.  I know that he will grow to know and recognize the soft whisperings of the Holy Ghost.  What gratitude I feel knowing that Corbin taking his step is one step closer for our family to be together for eternity!  I feel so blessed for my testimony of Jesus Christ, the Atonement and for my membership in this Church.  I would be lost without it!  I pray that Corbin will begin to rely on the sweet companionship of the Holy Ghost as he continues to grow throughout his life.  I know that it will be a source of strength, encouragement, hope and help.  Love you Corb!