~First Day of School~

 My big 1st grader

 My ultra big, almost too cool for pictures, 5th grader

 Brothers forever

Brooklyn insisted she get a 1st day of school picture too....next year, it could be her having a 1st day too  (sniff, sniff)...then again, maybe not!!!

Top 10 things from Summer

Here is my Top 10 List from our Summer Vacation just to catch everyone up!!!

1*Kindergarten Graduation (not technically summer, but it did start us off!!!)

2*Jackson's Team winning the baseball championship!!!  Go Indians!!  I love watching him play baseball!!!

3*Kaden playing his 2nd year of T Ball!!!  He even switch hits....who knew my kid could even do that!?!?!?

4*Bear Lake...we go every summer and this year didn't disappoint!!  And boy oh boy did our sunburns show it!!!  OUCH!!!  Lots of memories from that!!!

5*Our sweet rat terrier Molly had to be put down...this one is a sad one but still made our summer memorable...we'll miss you girl!!!

6*We celebrated 2 big birthdays in July!!  Jackson turned 10 (say what?!?!?)  and Brooklyn turned 4  (sniff, sniff)  We had a great "Nacho ordinary birthday party" with nachos, margaritas, and a pinata!!!  So fun!!!

7*Relay for Life    We again participated as a family this year...this is one of my most favorite activites that we do together!!!  Cancer has touched us in many ways and I believe us showing our kids how our small contributions can make a big difference is HUGE!!!

8*We got to see some of my extended family this summer on a quick weekend trip to Twin for my cousins wedding...loved seeing my Uncle Randy from Seattle!!  We just don't see him enough!!!

9*We sold the Dodge and purchased the Honda Odyssey....which we lovingly call the Silver Bullet)    sorry no pics of this

10*We soaked up many warm summer days on hikes, park trips, and just being together!!!  

We are a blessed family and can't wait for many more awesome summers to enjoy together!!!   Bring on Fall!!!!

 Kaden and his sweet teacher Mrs Westwood....he insisted on wearing his suit for graduation and I think he sure looks handsome!!!

 Me and my soon to be 1st Grader!!! 

 Jackson with the Champions!!!

 Kaden making a great slide into home plate!!!

 Playin in the sand!!!

 Brooklyn

 Kaden

 Jackson

 Alli soakin up some rays!!!

Kaden bein a beach bum!!!

 The kids with Molly on the day we said goodbye

 The birthday girl!!!

 Alli are super cool tween!!!

 Brooklynne M havin a wack at the pinata!!

 Even the big boys gave it a try...this is Eben

 Sweet cousins....bestest friends

 Brooklyn and Brooklynne

 Emily and Alli at the Relay for Life

 Brooklyn in her princess gown....the theme this year was Once Upon A Cure

 Mommy and Brooklyn walking laps

The big ole Stockwell/Miller/McMichael/Yearsley clan!!!

~Pie in Face~

Jackson participated in a pie eating contest during the Family Fun Weekend a few weeks ago.  Although he didn't win the contest, he had a fantastic time getting super messy!!!!

Look at that smile!!!  Can't beat it!!!  He had whipped cream everywhere!!!

Our Family Motto.....

We have this motto hanging on a sign in our Family Room!!!  It's exactly what I want the kids to know growing up in this family...that no matter what we start and end with family and that our family is made up of love. 

We're sending everyone a little love today!!!  Hope you're enjoying your summer!!!  We sure are!!!  And we're enjoying it the best way possible...together.

~~Finally an Update~~~

Well the stars have finally aligned just right and I'm able to update this blog after so long!!!  Between being busy with work and family, our computer was out of commission for a little while and then Blogger was down, but now finally, an update!!!

We've stayed plenty busy this spring so far.  Jason's parents and sister Jessica stayed with us for about a week.  The kids just love when they get to spend an extended about of time with them.  Rick and Jess were able to help Jason with some "honey do" projects that were long overdue!!!  And Sue was able to read and visit with me!!!  Thanks for visiting guys and we can't wait until next time!!!

All of the grandkids with Grandma and Grandpa McMichael

Auntie Jess with Alli, Emily and Jackson
Wlhile we were in Boise with Jason's family for an overnight trip we were also able to meet up with my Aunt Cheryl and family.  It was so great for the kids to get to meet her and visit a little over coffee.  The visit didn't last too long..5 kids in a coffee shop is an accident waiting to happen, but we enjoyed every minute we had!!!

Brooklyn and Great Aunt Cheryl

Me and Aunt Cheryl

Also in March we were able to celebrate Allie's 12 birthday!!!  She's so excited for next year when she marks the teenage years!!!  We had cupcakes and presents.  Alli is turning into such a beautiful young woman and we're so blessed to have her!!!

Jason was able to take an extra day with just the girls for Alli's birthday and they spent it doin the all time best girly thing ever!!!  Pedicures!!!  The girls just loved it and Jason loved bein able to watch the smiles on their faces throughout the day!!!  I was bummed I had to work and miss it!!!  I love pedicures!!!

And finally on this update we have Easter!!!  We had all of the kiddos this year and that makes it so much more fun and special!!!  We spent the day before Easter decorating eggs and having a special dinner at my sister's house with her family and our mom.  We love getting together and the kids have such fun together!!!

Look at all of those eggs!!!  Everyone loved unique creations!!!

Brooklyn getting ready for the big hunt!!!

Jackson hunting.    It was sorta like an obstacle course for the older kids becuase my sister has an electric fence on her property too, so they had to crawl on their bellies to get under it at different times.  The adults had some good laughs!!!

And finally Easter Sunday brought some new outfits and some fine lookin kids!!!  I just love when everyone dresses up and smiles nice for pictures!!!

And our family together after church.   We hope everyone's Spring has sprung like ours....It's been an awfully cold and cloudy one so far, so we say BRING ON SUMMER!!!!

Stay tuned for more pics of baseball, kindergarten graduation and summer vacation!!!

Frustrated

I really need to update this blog in a bad way!!! But I can't seem to get my pictures to upload anymore!!! So frustrating!!! Has anyone else been having problems? We've had so much going on lately....birthdays, visits, easter, baseball, and kindergarten graduation....I'd love to update everyone, but it's all so much better with the pictures, so stay tuned....I'll be back!!!

~~Heaven is for Real~~

I just finished this amazing book!!! It's the real life story of Colton Burpo and his trip to Heaven and back. I can not recommend this book enough!! I know Cosco has it, or the library....grab a copy today and experience a 4 year olds perspective as to what Heaven is like. This is a story that will stay with me forever!!

Family Fun Day

A couple of weeks ago we took the kids to a family fun day that was raising money for a new park that is being built. It's called Brooklyns Playgound and it will be an all access park meaning kids with disabilities will be able to play alongside able bodied kids. We love this idea and the best part??? It's being built right around the block from us so we'll be able to play there all the time!!! The kids had a blast that day and were able to run off some energy!!


All 3 girls sliding down

Miss B loved the slide!!!

Emily doing the catapult thinga ma bob

Alli running hard before being pulled back

Run Jackson Run!!!

Kaden's turn

Jackson getting finger printed...this better be his one and ONLY time having this done!!

Brooklyns favortie part was the gals that were dressed up as the Princesses!!! Here she is with Ariel.

Here she is with Cinderella. I really wish I could take her to Disney Land while she is still so in love with all of the Princesses. Maybe some day!!!