Braces, Kucken, Kelsey's YW Medallion and lots in between!

 I woke up one Sunday morning to find that Tom had made these pancakes for the kids!  How cool is he?!?  I just LOVE that guy!

Kelsey and her sweet friend, Amalie :)

These boys are some of Kohler's best friends:  Colt, Aaron, Jake, Braden, Wesley, and Tristan.  They are all leaving on their missions soon (except Colt who was just baptized)  Couldn't have asked for a more fun group of guys for my son to be around during his Senior Year!

This is Colt, one of Kohler and Kelsey's friends.  He got baptized and it was super special.  What a great kid!

 HAILEY GOT BRACES!  WOW! WOW! WOW!

 Awesome Angie helped her and was super patient and cute with letting her mix the impression material and answering ALL of Hailey's questions!

 How cool is it that your dad can put your braces on?  Pretty cool!

 Hailey auditioned for a performance dance team over at Dance Connection 2 and she was chosen to be on the team!  Yeah Hailey!  Now she goes two nights a week for two hours each night.  She is such a super dancer and really loves performing.  We love watching her!

OK - so this year I had some minor surgeries done on my veins.  Now, in November, I have a total of 8 procedures done.  (EVLT = Entrovenous Laser Technology)  Basically, the doctor went in and lasered shut those veins in my legs that were extremely stretched out due to childbirth.  After the surgeries, I go down for lymphodema treatment.  That is what those large gray sleeves are on my legs.  The machine pumps air in them and it tightens up hard like a blood pressure cuff.  It really feels good and helps with the circulation.  I just bring a book or catch up on my emails while I'm in there for 45 min.

Tom is the best father ever!  He loves going on campouts with his boys and Spencer is one lucky dude.  

 While the boys were gone I got the itch to make one of my mom's special recipes:  Apricot Kucken!  OH MY GOSH - it's one of my all-time favs! I think I ate half of this by myself!  

 I took some pictures to send to Kohler in Argentina---I thought he might be missing his home and these pics turned out so pretty with the flowers all in bloom.

There was even a rainbow over the Peterson's home across the street.  So pretty!

The best part about this month was that Kelsey received her Young Women's Medallion.  I could not be more proud of this girl.  She is beautiful inside and out and is such a darling daughter to me.  She makes me laugh, she helps me when I'm down, and she is such a sweet older sister to Spencer and Hailey.  We love her so very much and are so grateful that she is making good choices in her high school experience.  WE LOVE YOU KELSEY!!!!!

Catching up, again . . . last day of summer/first day of school!

I LOVE to throw summer pool parties!  When the last day of summer was fast approaching, I sent out a quick text to some friends and invited a ton of kids over.  When you have a really fun pool, a Hawaiian Shave-ice machine, and great kids . . . it's a no brainer! ha ha

 Hailey and her best friend, Isobel wanted an indoor picnic.  So, why not?  Of course, Panda was invited too!

 My heart broke a little on that first day of school, because for the last 3 years, Hailey has been able to walk to the bus stop with her older brother.  Now Spencer is starting Jr. High and his bus leaves 45 min. before hers.  Life is changing and it's all good . . . but there are small moments when I can't help but wish time would just freeze.

 When did these kids get so big?

Hailey's teacher is Mrs. Alberda and she is SUPER nice.  On that first "Meet the Teacher Night" though, we all thought she looked a little like Elphaba! 

Summer Stomping Grounds

 On our way back to Utah to drive home, I wanted to show everyone the darling little town where my mother grew up.  Rigby, Idaho.  I spent many summers here and this house holds many beautiful memories for me!  I got emotional as I began to think of my sweet grandparents and remembered how kind and loving they were towards me.

This was a maternity home right next to my grandparents home.  My aunt was born in this home and my mom was born just a few houses down the street.

This is the creepy church that Melanie and I would get scared walking past when we were little kids.  We swore we could hear voices singing as we passed by and it freaked us out!  ha ha!

This was my grandfather's medical clinic.  He (Aldon Tall) and his twin brother, Asael Tall were the doctors and it was called "Tall Family Medicine."  Now the clinic is empty and up for sale.  

Of course, I had to stop and have lunch at Broulim's Grocery Store.  The Broulims are my cousins and above is Camille Broulim Ricks and her darling family.  Below is a portrait of my beloved cousin, Richard Broulim who was killed in a car accident in 1989.  I still miss him terribly. . .

Melanie and her kids came to meet us at Broulims so we could all be together for lunch.  It was really fun!

Hailey and Rylie

Hailey and Keegan

Sydne Jade and McKenna

 Whenever I go back to Rigby, I have the most sweet memories of my Grandmother and Grandfather.  They were so kind to me and always treated us with such love.  Their home was a happy place for me to go.  Their basement was an adventure all in itself as my sisters and I would explore the caverns with all my grandparents old stuff stashed away in there.  I remember delicious roast beef dinners that my grandma would host in her beautiful dining room and the music that would fill the house afterwards.  Oh how I loved being there.  Rigby was my summer stomping grounds and I am so blessed that those memories are such a treasure to me.

Butterfly World

A few days before school started, way back in August, I took the Spencer and Hailey to Butterfly World.  It was actually a lot more fun than we were expecting!  There were literally thousands of butterflies everywhere and their colors were so beautiful!

 Look at what landed on Spencer's shoulder!  Hailey was dying all afternoon because no butterfly would land on HER shoulder! ha ha

That's a huge mother . . . what's that all about!   ha ha
It's actually a moth---not a butterfly.  Still - that is HUGE!!!