Gratitude Tree's

We had the cutest family move into our ward back in June.  Heather is in YW's with me and I adore her!  She has the cutest family and her oldest, Stella is Pipers age.  They had us over for smores the other night and Tyson gave a little family home evening on Joseph Smith.  We then did Gratitude tree's and it was the funnest night.

Sumo

The pictures speak for themselves.  I love these goofy kids!

Asher Holland Kartchner

Sarah and Talon had their sweet baby boy this morning at 7:01 am.  I slept through the text!  I was so mad to wake up to the text of "Hey were going to the hospital."  That was at 4:30, I text Talon at 7:15 and said, "Whats the status?" I got this picture in response. I admit I freaked out a bit, I ran into our room and screamed, "Sarah had the baby!"  I wish I had taken a picture of Josh's face!

Sarah and I had decided that if she went into labor while her mom was here that I wouldn't come to the hospital.  Spring came on Thursday, so we didn't end up going until this afternoon. 

 He was wide awake right before we got there!  He slept the whole time we were there.

Josh is beyond himself excited.  He's the proudest Grandpa I have ever seen!  The nurse asked if we were the grandparents and Sarah said yes.  You should have seen Josh beam.  I told him it's the grey in his beard that is giving us away!

 I took a ton of picture.s  He's sleeping in all of them, but isn't he cute?

 Oh, I love him!  It's amazing how you can love someone you've never met. It's that way with all babies!

 I love just looking at that sweet face. So fresh from heaven. I wonder what he's dreaming about?

Piper told me this morning that she called dibs on nibbling on him first!  Since they wouldn't let the kids in the hospital, I got to do that first.  He doesn't like to be nibbled though. He would scrunch up his face and stretch at me.

 Wow, who would have thought we would be here five years ago!  Five years ago I was so worried that we were going to lose Sarah because of all of the trials that were going on in her life.  And yet we've been blessed to watch her grow up and marry a great man and become a mom!

 Yawny face!  So, so, so cute!

 Little toes.

 They were trying to decide whose toes he had. I think we decided it was Talons.

 Awwww!  Cute little family!

I am beyond blessed today! This little guy is going to make me a grandma way before my time, but it's okay. I am so in love with him already. I am so lucky to have him and his beautiful mommy and his awesome dad in my life! I feel like my heart is just bursting today! So grateful for Gods hand in my life and the fingerprints he has left on it. Those that I can see and those that I can't. I have no doubt that Sarah was meant to come into my life and I am so grateful for Gods hand in that.

Reflections

This is JD's reflections entry for this year.  The theme was, The World would be a better place if..... A few weeks ago we hiked Johnsons Arch, in Snow Canyon and we saw this cool heart rock down in a ravine. JD decided to hike back out there and take a picture of the heart. When we got there, there was no heart, but there was a peace sign. So he figured it fit the theme and he took about 40 pictures at different angles and this was the one he picked. He converted it to black and white and we turned it in. 

He was so excited when they called him down to the office and told him he was in the top 3 pictures. They don't give them a place, but they do get to advance to Council, after which they can advance to state.  He was so stoked he won $30.00!!!  I'm super proud of him and so glad we can share this hobby!

JD

 When did he grow up?  It's amazing how fast the time flies. My baby is 12!!!  He looks like he's so much older though.  He's going to be a big mountain of a man. He's already 5'6 and in a size 10 shoe!  He will be a gentle giant though.  This boy is so thoughtful and kind. He's amazing with handicapped children and a good friend.  He's the boy who will stand up to a bully and is a leader to those around him.

I asked JD to tell me what I needed to know about him today and he said: I don't know!  He likes Rugby and girls. He loves fishing and hunting, anything outdoorsy. His best memory of this year was being able to go hunting elk with his dad and grandpa this year. He is looking forward to Rugby. He loves running, mountain biking, skim-boarding, shooting and swimming.

He's such a good boy.  He's a good big brother (most of the time) and he is a tremendous help around the house.  He's turned into one of my best friends and I am so blessed to have him in my life!

Tyson Aaron

 Oh this boy has his moms heart!  He is the sweetest guy ever.  He is such a good boy.  He's a lot like his mom.  He's kind of a homebody and he loves to do his own thing.  He's so into Lego's right now and way into mine craft.

I asked Tyson what he wanted me to know about him right now and here was his reply: I like to climb, run and build stuff with Legos. I also like to do karate and it is at Barella Academy. I am a green belt and a junior instructor. I am obsessed with rocks. I like to find rocks and collect them. I want to grow up to be a famous runner, famous rock climber, a Lego designer and a geologist.

Gosh, I love him.  He's my sweet kid who always wants to be with mom and will hold my hand in the car.  He melts my heart.

Piper Hermione

 Oh, this girl rocks my world.  Quite literally.  She is wild and crazy and oh so cute.  She's full of sass and sometimes we knock heads because of it. She is so strong and so beautiful.  I can't even imagine our lives with out her and her spunk!

Piper is enjoying the 2nd grade this year. She loves her friends very much and is very much a social butterfly. I asked Piper to tell me what she wanted me to write and this was her response: I am cute, I am beautiful, I like to color and love my family. I love stuffed animals and watching movies with my family. Her favorite thing about school is lunch recess because she gets to play on the monkey bars with her friends.  Her favorite color is turquoise and she loves Jesus and the Holy Ghost.

She is so excited to be turning 8 and wants to be baptized so bad.  The other day at Jordyn's baptism she kept bugging the bishop to let her get baptized at 7.  I hope she always has that strong desire to do what is right. I am eternally grateful for this girl of mine.  I love her very much!

Blessed

I love these kids.  They are my heart and soul, my whole life!  I'm so blessed to be their mom.

 They are each so unique and so different, but they love each other fiercely, even when they don't get along.

I am so in love with these pictures!  Aren't they the most gorgeous kids you've ever seen?

Jordyn's Baptism

 Aww, love these cute girls!  Piper is the only one left who hasn't been baptized. She kept begging me today to let her get baptized when she is 7.  She is so sad.

 These girls are pretty dang cute.

 Pretty dang silly too!!!

I hope they always stay friends!

Halloween

 We had the Green Ninja.

Cleopatra

 The army guy

It was such an odd year for us this year.  JD decided not to go trick-or-treating with us, because he is in some weird, "I am swearing off sugar" thing.  Tyson went with Kaleb and so we were left with only the little girls to take out.

 That crazy poppa is so good to his girls!

Our cute neighbor's, who just moved in ended up going out with us.  Addie is Elsa and Emma is the flapper girl.  We had a great night!

Halloween at Red Mountain

 We started out the morning with a fabulous parade!

 I don't know how he wears that mask?  My claustrophobia would be through the roof!

 Josh was the watch dog and he dressed up in a ninja costume! Tyson was stoked.  Josh said it was drafty!!!  He kept jumping into classrooms and doing, "Ninja Vanish."  The kids all loved it.

 The 2nd graders did a super cute Halloween program. They learned a ton of really fun songs and jokes.

 Piper had to do a joke.  It was, "Hey Lexie, what kind of sandwhiches do ghost like?"  Booolognee!  Knee slapper there folks!

 Piper and Tristin posing  for pictures during Pipers class party.

A little musical chair action!  Always a good game!

Crazy Hair Day