For the Strength of Youth handbook

Well we had another one of those "firsts" again today with my sweet little Lacey BUG! This is how the conversation went when I picked her up from Junior High today:
Lace: So...Mom
Me: yeah
Lace: I guess that there is a dance on Friday
Me: GULP...yeah
Lace: Taylor asked me at lunch if I'd go with him...
Me: EVEN BIGGER GULP..What did you tell him?
Lace: Well..I didn't want to hurt his feelings in front of everybody so I said...maybe
Me: That was thoughtful of you(trying to hide my panic attack)
Lace: Later after lunch I felt the spirit tell me that it wasn't a good idea
so..what do YOU think Mom...can I go to the dance on Friday?
Me: ...well...what does the strength for youth guide say?? Not till your 14 I think
..possibly even 16 :-)
Lace: I knew it...& I'm fine not going & I've already decided to tell Taylor tomorrow.
Me: SIGH...whew

The story was even better watching Ian's face as she told him at dinner.
He shot a few glances at me..in utter disbelief that he was having "this"
conversation with her!:-)
Man I know she is growing up but...it's crazy how fast things just sneak up on you.
I know Taylor has had a crush on Lace for a while (they went to grade school together) so I wasn't surprised..He's a cute boy & has been a good friend to her. I'm so proud of her decision making & her acceptance of the strength for youth guidelines. I'm so proud of her for recognizing the spirit. And listening to the promptings & understanding that her "maybe" should of been a "no thank you".
Anyway just wanted to brag on what a good girl she is. I'm so Proud of her & pray
she continues to let the spirit guide her in her life.

2 babies + teething= TEARS...from them & ME

And this to shall pass...right? My poor babies. I feel so bad for them both. They are breaking their molars & I seriously am exhausted. Kade tries to eat but anything he chews on is just so painful & ends up screaming. So he is drooling buckets & in tears because he's hungry. Chloe has figured it's not even worth trying so she is refusing everything. I've found that yogurts & apple sauce are the only things that don't bring tears. I also tried chicken noodle soup today & that went well.
The downside to these foods is I have to sit & feed them. Spoon feeding two babies is time consuming but the pay off is...I don't have to clean the floor or the chairs or the walls :-) & by me feeding them I know exactly what made it in their mouths verses them "trying" to feed themselves & needing a bath after every meal. AHHHHHH!
I am so happy that these teething days will soon be behind us. THANK GOODNESS for

If it wasn't for Orajel & Motrin I'm pretty sure you would find me curled up in the fetal position sucking my thumb!!

LIVING a life of SERVICE...I thought his speech was great!

Thank you all very much. Tonight, I have a privilege given few Americans -- the privilege of accepting our party’s nomination for President of the United States. And I accept it with gratitude, humility and confidence.
In my life, no success has come without a good fight, and this nomination wasn’t any different.
I’ve been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I have been her servant first, last and always. And I’ve never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn’t thank God for the privilege.
If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you’re disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them. Enlist in our Armed Forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed. Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.
I’m going to fight for my cause every day as your President. I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me.
Fight for what’s right for our country.
Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.
Fight for our children’s future.
Fight for justice and opportunity for all.
Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.
Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.
Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We’re Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.
Thank you, and God Bless you.

Dun...dun...dun...the long awaited saga is over.

Hmmmmm....interesting. I have mixed feelings??
What are your thoughts??? Lacey has asked me several times if when she turns 13 if she could read this series. After reading the final book..my decision is...NO WAY.
In my opinion..to mature for tweens.
I read the first 3 very quickly...& had to wait for the 4th for 8 to 9 months...I was
wondering if the language was the same in the first 3 as in the 4th?? Anyone
remember?

Finally...pictures of the first day of school!!

Bry-ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN!!Yeah!! can you tell I'm a little excited!
Brenner-2nd grade & thinks he knows ALL things
Lacey-7TH grade..look out junior high!!


And shes off..

Brenner in his classroom

Bry playing on the playground

Trying to catch up

I'm trying to get better about finding the time to do this whole blog thing. It seems like every weekend I get further & further being. So this month I am going to try & keep my blog updated.
My Kader bear got his first hair cut!! He had the cutest locks of curls in the back. It was a hard thing to do but now that it's done it's something I probably should of done a long time ago!!

Before

After
What a handsome little man!!
Brenner thought giving Ian a hair cut was hilarious!! He is no longer in denial
about the "thinning" of his hair. He has been shaving it for the last few months or
so. He has lost around 40 lbs. And says "his hair is gone...but at least I'm not
bald & FAT)

A Special day!!

Ian & I were so blessed to have Lacey sealed to us a couple of weekends ago in the
Snowflake Temple!
Lacey is 12 now & in Young Women's! Where does time go? It just seems like yesterday
when she was singing her ABC's & playing with her imaginary friends (honey & Mr.Blue bird). She is such a good girl & we are so proud of her. Ian & I took Lacey to
the open house for the temple in Snowflake when she was 6. It was really cool to be with her in the sealing room & I couldn't help but think that someday we would bring her back & have her sealed to us. It was a special day!! Thank You to all of our Family & Friends who came & supported us.
She was just glowing & looked so beautiful in her white dress. She is a little sponge & soaked everything up. The spirit was so strong. I am so thankful for my knowledge of eternal families. This gospel is true & I am forever grateful to my Savior Jesus Christ & for his example he set for us. I know he lives & I cannot wait for the day that I will be reunited with him & my sweet baby boy Garrett.



Grandpa Stratton & Lace

Amy,Kari,Me,Mom & Lace