Playing With Her Horse

General Conference Weekend

a bracelet was made for me by gage
mallory enjoyed laying around outside. the weather was perfect.
trevor checks things out on the lap top in between sessions.
gage ate dorritos in our banana chair.
and boston made a friendship bracelet.

Huber Farms

The boys' early release day last Wednesday was the perfect day to head up to Huber Farms in Indiana to do some pumpkin picking.  We decorate our house so early (I have to make Fall last as long as possible) that it seemed like our porch was missing the pumpkins badly.  As soon as they got off the bus, we were off.  We got to take a tractor ride out to the pumpkin patch and each child picked their own. Mallory's has warts all over it, but that's the one she wanted and I think it's cool. Then we bought some golden delicious apples, fed the fish and ducks their food (not the apples), and went over to the other Huber property for the bakery and ice cream.  We wanted to go in their little play park, but they took out the giant pillow jumping thing and so it was a no go.  Spent the money on the entry fee for that on sweet treats and the kids were happy. 

Just to note - Trevor was in more photos than ever before, Boston and Trevor posed together smiling, and Mallory would (mostly) only make silly faces when I took her picture.  

How We Are Spending Our Fall

Boston and his friend Dallin

It's amazing how quickly you can become busy when you add just a few more things to the calendar.  We are in the heart of Fall Ball with SOLL and that keeps us, but mainly Boston, busy a few times a week.  Boston is also running for his elementary school cross country team and he loves it.  I wish I loved running as much as he did.  He has had three meets so far and his one last Saturday was in Bardstown, KY which was called the Hillbilly Run.  We all went to support him and he came in about the middle of the pack.  Trevor started piano lessons (finally) and is playing volley ball at school.  We didn't have all these sports in elementary school like they have here in Kentucky.  It's been great for introducing the kids to new sports and just giving it a try to see if they like it.  Gage is busy with....running away on the scooter and preschool.  The scooter is currently hidden for awhile since we can't seem to find him many times a day and when we do, he is scooting a little too far away in the neighborhood.  Oh, but since the scooter has been put away, he is now taking "bike lessons," as he calls them.  That's me running behind his bike, steadying him and hoping he can stop right.  He is dong fantastic.  Mallory just likes to chase Gage and try to keep up with all these boys.  Good luck dear!

Walk To Cure Diabetes

It was our fourth diabetes walk and it was awesome.  They changed the venue this year to Churchill Downs and that made it exciting seeing the horses before and after we walked.  And, having friends and family donate made it extra special.  I can't believe how generous people are.  I know there are a ton of things that our precious pennies can go to and having a few sent our way was so nice.  I know that they are on the verge of finding a cure and that would make Gage's life so much better.  But, in the mean time, we are plugging and chugging and very happy.  

First Day of Preschool

To be honest when people would be so excited about their little one's first day of preschool, I would think, "It's just preschool."  I didn't get it.  I had never had any of my children in preschool before and I didn't think it was that big of a deal. I guess I was wrong.  It was a big deal for Gage and me (and even Mallory). Although Gage made the cut off for kindergarten this year, he is staying home because he just needs (and I want) one more year.  After Trevor and Boston started school, I soon realized that he would really do well somewhere besides just at home. I have a really good friend who called up the preschool where her daughter goes and asked if there was an opening and thankfully, there was. Gage was soon signed up for three days a week at preschool. He had his first day on Tuesday and with only a short bout of crying, he got through the day with much success!

Our Family Retreat

We signed up to go on a weekend family retreat at The Center for Courageous Kids. It's this amazing camp for kids with illnesses that is supported completely by donations and sponsors. We went for a weekend retreat that was for families with juvinille diabetes. It is in Scottsville, KY which is right outside of Bowling Green. The boys kept asking us what it was going to be like. To be honest, I didn't know. I looked at the website and saw lots of fun things like horseback riding, a lake, a bowling alley, etc., but I just didn't know what would be on the schedule for our weekend. It was amazing. The boys and Mallory just loved it and so did Zane and I. It was jam packed and at the same time, so relaxing. There were 30 families there and many counselors. We had counselors helping us and loving on our kids the entire time. We rode horses, canoed, bowled, danced, fished, made so many crafts, cooked and swam. The boys loved the woodshop the best. You could go in and there were rows and rows of precut wood in different shapes. You could use a wood burner, trace shapes, paint it, glitter that baby up or just stick stickers all over it. Mallory made 5 different things while Boston spent all of his free time there. It helped that our family counselor, Ashley, worked in the woodshop so she kept him under her wing. The boys keep asking when we can go back. A year will be a long time to wait, but definitely worth it.

Gage's Racers (again)

At last year's walk

Our family is doing the JDRF Walk that supports finding a cure for juvenile diabetes.  We tend to be low key about Gage's diabetes (for the most part) because we know that he is one strong dude and that life has to go on. But, I know that the money raised for the walk goes directly to finding a cure and we really hope that someday Gage won't have to worry about his blood sugar, have shots, test himself, or just feel tired and sick. So, as a family, we support him by doing the walk (and by not eating candy in front of him!). If you feel like it's your year to help out, you can go here and donate directly to our family team- Gage's Racers.  

Family Reunion in Utah

We didn't know that we were going to Utah until half way in to the summer. The boys had been signed up to go to an All Sports Camp at BYU with their boy cousins back in April, but we weren't sure if we were just going to fly them out or if we would all go. By the first of July we made plans to go out there as a family and realized that all of Zane's brothers and sisters would be there at the same time. So, grandma Betty flew out too and we made it a mini family reunion for that first weekend we were there. Zane's sister did a great job at putting together a schedule for us and the kids. It happened to be the Highland Fling that weekend, so the kids got to go to the parade, eat junk food, and watch fireworks. And, we spent a lot of time in the pool. Half of the group left for home by Sunday and just Kerri and her kids were there with us at Shannon's house for the rest of the week. The boys went to the sports camp and LOVED it. They played soccer on Monday, tennis/gymnastics Tuesday, football Wednesday, baseball Thursday, and basketball Friday. It was a day camp so we would drive them to Provo everyday which gave us a chance to see Devin, hit 7 Peaks, and do all of our church calling shopping while we were there. Also while in Utah we met up with Lacey and her family on Monday as they were coming from Wyoming and on to Idaho to make their new home. I got to get together with my dear friends Kath, Jen, and Emily to celebrate Jen's birthday at Macaroni Grill. But, mostly we hung out with our family, made some great meals, and swam a ton. It was just such a nice trip. We came home Monday night before school started and we are still trying to recover from the 2 hour difference. We'll recover and I won't complain too much.

First Day of School

Trevor's doing the "first day of school" dance!

I feel like I was just writing about the last day of school. So fast, that summer. The boys were excited to go though and that's really all a mom cares about. Trevor got the teacher he dreamed about, Mr. Hudgens, with his two best friends and Boston has the same teacher he had last year whom he loved. So the first day was exciting and comfortable. Trevor came home singing, "I have Mr. Hudgens" over and over again. All was well.

The Celebration

There was a bit of craziness trying to celebrate Gage's birthday on the first day of school.  I think this time of the year might a bit harder than celebrating the ones we have at the holidays.  Even so, we had fun.  I took him to Target to pick out his gift (since we didn't have quite enough time to get him something) and then to lunch at Red Robin with a friend (my friend, not his!).  That night we were ready to celebrate and Gage had fallen asleep on the family room floor and Boston right next to him.  That was quite unusual.  We woke Gage up and had a nice dinner that he had picked out from Coscto (frozen burritos and quesadillas!).   So, it was a bit of a quirky dinner, Gage had super high blood sugar (not a happy camper) and Boston lay asleep on the floor.  But, the highlight was a cake that he helped me make earlier that day full of Swedish Fish.  All day he would say, "I'm not 4," but finally the day after his birthday, he was ready to be 5.  Funny guy. 

He's 5

Today, this one is 5.  I think they are all growing so fast, but don't I (along with everyone else) always say that?  He is a fun kid.  He is so silly and cleaver and feisty.  He makes our world wonderful.  Happy Birthday Gage. 

SD Photos