Tumbling Two

Last year the girls chose to join cheerleading squads. They enjoyed, but his year they decided to change direction a little. In October they started tumbling with Donna Averett. It's great! They love it and so do I! The time is much earlier than cheer. We get home at 5:30 instead of 8:30 and the atmosphere is so much nicer! None of that attitude and "show" that comes with cheer! (Sorry to any of you cheerleaders out there! Just don't like the drama!) Donna teaches out of her garage. She has them on floor, bar, beam, and trampoline. The girls have made good progress over the past few months. Kess recently learned her front walkover and almost has her back handspring. Sam amazes us with her handstands and almost has her back walkover. They had a tumbing performance last Friday. Real low key. Family and friends were able to come and watch the routines they had put together. It was great to see what they've been learning!

Kess on beam.

Sam on beam.

Kess front handspring.

Sam handstand.

Way to go girls!!!

made me laugh!

This morning Jacob was by my side and Alex started gruntin' and filling her pants. I said to him she's poopin.' He said, "Yeah, I know. I make a CRY FACE too when I poop, but I don't cry." Made me laugh!

Blessing Day

On Sunday we blessed Alex. Erick gave her the blessing with Stan (grandpa), Rick (grandpa), Jarel (uncle), Brant (uncle), & Justin (bishopric & friend) all standing in the circle. She had no pacifier and fussed through the whole thing. Nonetheless still a beautiful blessing.

She was blessed to learn from her sisters and parents, to have the spirit with her, and have good health throughout her life. She was blessed that as she struggled to keep the commandments she would be strong and dilligent in her choices. She was counseled to follow the example of her sisters and cousins, to depend on family to teach and guide her in the paths she should follow, and blessed with the tenderness needed to reach out to grandmas, grandpas, aunts, and uncles to guide her throughout her life. Simple but powerful.

Alex was as equally as beautiful as her blessing. We are blessed to be part of a family with some very talented seamstresses. For this special day we were blessed to have Aunt Tiffini make her blessing dress. It was so beautiful. Everything I hoped for. Its beauty was greatly enhanced by its simplicity. I loved the length, the fabric, the pleats, and the beautiful lace. She looked like an angel. Thank you Tiffini.

It was not only a blessing day for Alex, but a day for me to recognize my blessings as well. As I sat on the bench surrounded by 17 little neices and nephews, I found myself getting slightly aggitated by their busy little bodies in this confined space. However, it didn't take long before I realized wait, what a blessing it is for me to have all these little neices and nephews. These are the cousins to whom my daughter is to look to. Our families love us enough to be there with us on this special day. It is this family, grandmas, grandpas, uncles, aunts, and cousins who will help mold and shape my daughter. I couldn't ask for better examples. If I were to pick a family for my children to learn and grow from, I don't know of a better choice. What a blessing they are to us. For this I will be forever be grateful.

More Blessing Pics

THANKS ANDREA!!!

BIPPITY BOPPITY BOO!

Each one of my kids are amazing in their own way. Tonight, however, it's Kess I write about. Throughout the past few years, she has been such a tremendous help to me whenever I have needed it most. When I was pregnant with Calli on the verge of passing out, which did happen more than once, she would quickly make me breakfast, or took care of the other kids so I could lay down, or whatever I asked. She has been showering Jacob from the time he could walk. She is a great babysitter and is always willing to babysit for me. When neither Erick or I could make the trip downstairs at night, she would tuck the other two kids into bed for us. She takes care of the chickens without being asked. She is INCREDIBLE with Alex. She is very money conscience, considerate of not only conserving her money, but ours as well. She has really gone the extra mile in putting hard work into her school work this year. She has such a deep desire to truly do what is right. She cares about her health and is my best and healthiest eater. It's fun when she pulls out my salad cookbook looking for a new salad to try for dinner. She's quick to do her chores without complaint. And she's forgiving and understanding when her dad and I make mistakes. I love this girl! Last week she cleaned the entire kitchen three nights in a row by her self while I slept. And as if that's not enough, one of the nights she folded a huge batch of Alex's laundry as well. I wonder sometimes if she feels like CINDERELLA. But wait that would make me the WICKED stepmother. BIPPITY BOPPITY BOO!

SLEEPING BEAUTIES!

Longing to be close but too sick to get too close. Poor kid.

Sam's jammies say it all..."SWEET."

This kid is definitely Alex's second mommy. Heck, I think if she could nurse her, she'd put me up for the running for my job.

Yes, even Mr. Tough Guy.

My blessings here are so very obvious. My heart is filled with gratitude for them.

Quilted with Love

My mom is so amazing. As is evident by the photograph, she is amazing at what she does. But what you can't see in the picture is how amazing she is for who she is. Mom came over today bringing me groceries. After taking care of it all, she helped tackle the laundry monster. While here, we took pictures of Alex with her precious baby quilt. Mom makes one for all her grandbabies. Alex is number sixteen. Each of my children's quilt is a treasured possession of theirs. Each hand sewn stitch represents just a portion of the love she has for them. I hope someday my children are able to appreciate how blessed they are to have this woman as their grandma!