Here are a few oldies from a year ago but the memories are like they were taken yesterday. It was the perfect day to be outside so Jer and I decided to have an impromptu park day as she was driving home from work one day. She always loves to spoil the kids and this day was no exception. Her and Hayden stopped by QT for some donuts, cupcakes and ICEEs for the kids and Cokes for us. This right here is Talmage’s first ICEE. To say he was in heaven would be a bit of an understatement. He LOVED it and wouldn’t hardly put it down to play. Jer and I sat laughing at him and all the kiddos.

I love that Jer and I live so close that we see each other several times a week, if not daily. I often think what life would be like without her and it breaks my heart. I don’t even want to go there. The thought is too real. Too raw. It could have easily been reality. It still could be reality although we are all praying and searching for answers so that it won’t be for many, MANY years. I am sitting here feeling so sentimental and grateful for the days when I pull out my camera and document life’s little moments. This day at the park was so special. I don’t think we realized it at the moment how special it really was.

The past year has been a rollercoaster. Many days on a downhill spiral, but in between doctors and diagnosis, Jerlyn, me and each of these kiddos have have become closer than ever before. My kids love their Aunt Jer like no other. They beg to see her and talk to her on the phone. They always get excited when it is our turn to pick up Hayden from school. They trust her and love her and for that I am grateful. The Lord knows what He is doing. He knows what we need and He fosters a way for that to happen. My kids need their Aunt Jer (and so do I!). I will be forever grateful for this last year. I will never forget the moments that Jer and I have shared with one another. Moments that never could have happened without these unique circumstances. I have seen the Lord’s hand in our lives.

My little monkey has always loved the monkey bars. I love watching her do tricks for me–hanging upside down, skipping several bars, climbing to the top, etc.

My handsome Hayden. Oh how I love this kid. I hope he realizes that he can always come to his Aunt Jodi if he ever needs anything. I know I am not usually the fun aunt. I put him to work like he is one of my own, but I also love him like one of my own.

I am so glad I captured Brigham in his goggles. We had just bought these for summer, but of course he couldn’t wait that long to wear them. He wore them for several days and then when it came time to use them in the pool–you got it, they were scratched and broken. Oh well, what do you do?

And who couldn’t love this cute little guy? I know I have said it before, but man I love his smile!

It truly was the perfect afternoon.

Now that’s a ball player right there. She definitely looks the part. This girl is going to be good. She has softball running through her blood and is STRONG. It is amazing how far she has come since the fall thanks to her amazing coaches. I absolutely love watching her play and hope that she stays with this as the years go on. She definitely has the potential to play for many years as long as she works hard and enjoys it.

Below are pictures from her first game, in fact her first at bat even. They get 5 pitches to hit the ball or they are out. After 4 pitches I was getting very nervous for my girl, but then on pitch #5 she surprised me and hit the crap out of the ball. It flew WAY past the second baseman and she scored her very first HOMERUN! I think she was a bit shocked as well since she stopped running at second base. Luckily she listened and kept running and made it home. I wish the pictures weren’t so blurry but I had to remember that cute smile. She was a bit embarrassed as she hates people cheering for her, but as soon as dad told her he would pay her $5 she was thrilled and didn’t care about everyone else anymore.

Meet the Black Bulldogs. They have won their first 2 games with a demanding lead 13-8 and 13-5. Way to go girls! Keep it up!

Brigham had his first game of the season yesterday. He looks so stinkin’ cute out there. I love watching him. We decided to move him up to coach pitch this year to be with a several boys from the neighborhood and ward. He does pretty well for being one of the youngest boys on the team. He had 2 singles and a double which made me a proud mama. In practice he has totally been into it, but he must have been a little nervous yesterday as he spent most of the time in the field chewing on his glove. Hopefully he we relax a little as the season goes on. At least he is having fun!

You can see him on the far right of the picture out in left field chewing on that glove again.

I love the picture of him laughing with Porter about the game. LOVE his smile! GO ROCK HOUNDS!

It definitely was a full house this week and we loved every second of it! We were all excited to hear that some of our friends were going to be heading to AZ for a visit and we were even more excited when we found out they were going to stay at our house. My kids were literally jumping up and down in the kitchen when they found out. 9 kids in one house may sound a little overwhelming but I seriously never felt overwhelmed the entire time they were here. Talk about well-behaved kids. I think my kids could definitely learn a lesson or two from the Morgans.

Their dad, Roger, and Troy were missionary companions-TWICE-while in Houston, Texas. They became the best of friends and we have tried to stay in touch over the years. We all just wished we lived closer to each other since everyone gets along so well.

They sure made my life easier being here. I woke up to gourmet breakfasts each morning–German pancakes, crepes, pancakes with caramel syrup. YUM! And the best part is that I didn’t have to make it. What a treat that was. I must admit that I was missing this morning when I didn’t have my breakfast made for me.

Some of the highlights from the week were swimming, making our own yummy pizzas and catching up. It was a fun week!

And this is the newest addition to the Morgan family. Miss Ella turned ONE while she was here and is simply the cutest little girl ever. All I wanted to do was sit and squeeze her, but she wanted NOTHING to do with me. I would have thought she would have warmed up to me after a week of staying at my house, but not a chance. She didn’t let me hold her one time. So sad. Instead I admired her from a distance and smiled at her cute wave. She sure loves her mama and dad.

Thanks again for coming. Come back soon!

Just me and my boy hanging out. I love all of the time I have with Talmage while the other two are at school. He is such an easy going kid and is almost always happy. What a blessing he is to all of us. It makes me sad how fast he is growing up. I wish he would stay little forever. His smile is seriously priceless and makes me smile everytime I look at it. I sure love this little guy!

These two boys right here are DOUBLE TROUBLE. They were born only a day apart and they are best friends already. When Talmage just saw these pictures he got a huge smile on his face and said, “That my Luke.” Luke has always been a lot bigger than Talmage, but Talmage doesn’t let that stop him. He has a fight in him that makes up for his size. He has always been a bit of a bully to Luke.

They loved throwing rocks over the side of the ledge and watching them crash to the ground. It makes me laugh that Talmage kept getting the biggest rocks he could find and Luke would grab a couple of small rocks. The two boys threw rocks for over a half hour while laughing and talking to each other the entire time. I loved watching them.

I love that my kids have so many cousins that live close by. We decided to pick Laura’s kids up one day after school just for the fun of it. The weather was nice so we sat at the park playing for hours. Brooklyn and Hailey have always been such great friends and play so well together. Brigham is starting to play more with Morgin and less with Leila which is kind of sad. It means he is growing up too fast. He loves playing with the big boys and Morgin is no exception. They played swords and got completely dirty in the dirt lot being boys. I asked for a picture and they totally posed it up for me. Love it! I love those boys so much!

Leila is a breeze. She will happily play with the girls, the boys or all by herself. I did get a few of the sisters together. It is hard to believe that they are sisters. They look so different yet are so beautiful in their own way.

I should have snapped a picture of Laura and I chatting away, but I didn’t. I am so grateful for our friendship. She is an amazing mother and has taught me so much throughout the years.

Just a couple of random pictures from this month. Brigham has totally gotten into cup stacking. I am not sure where he picked that up from all of a sudden, but he loves it and will spend hours stacking cups in all different configurations.

My kids love to put Talmage in buckets and wheel him around the house. They have been doing it since he was a baby and he has always loved it. Crazy kids! I’m still not sure where Brooklyn got her amazing strength from, but she is one strong girl. I don’t know how she can push Talmage and carry Brigham on her shoulders throughout the house. I wouldn’t trust myself to do that for sure, but she doesn’t seem too bothered by it.

And then there is Talmage playing my ipad. He loves it! He is constantly asking to play my phone or ipad and the crazy part is–he knows how to use it! He can play games and listen to music by himself. It is hard to believe that he is only 2.

I am trying to give Brooklyn some opportunities to learn how to babysit so that in a couple of years she will be ready to not only babysit for me, but also other people. So during Brigham’s baseball practices she gets to babysit Talmage. Practice is at the park next door so I am not far. She can play at the park or at our house. Well, maybe she still needs to learn a few things because this is what I came home to last week after practice. Talmage asleep in a bucket while she sat and played on the computer. Um, yeah, not really what I consider babysitting. He does look cute though all cuddled up with his baby and I do have to hand it to her for actually making the bucket comfy enough for him to fall asleep in.

Aunt Suzi brought flowers to Brooklyn the night before Brooklyn started her new school to wish her luck. I thought that was so thoughtful and Brooklyn absolutely loved the attention. I noticed her on several occasions over the next few days just sitting and looking at her beautiful flowers. Thank you, Suzi, for making my girl feel so special.