We Got a Shed!!!

It's been long overdue, but we finally got a shed! Now Kenney needs to fill it up so I can fill the rest, haha!

Colin's Sealing

My brother Coling got married at the end of August in Montana. He got sealed in the temple 3 weeks later. I knew I wouldn't be able to make it to both ceremonies, so I choose to go to the sealing. It was really weird flying by myself and flying with a stupid mask on. I hadn't ever had to wear one that long before. It was great to see that side of the family because I hadn't seen most of them since Haley's wedding 4 years earlier! Kenney was a champ and took care of everything at home, and I enjoyed a weekend with my famliy.

Colin and Anna

The 7 siblings.  When I posted this picture on Facebook several people said they couldn't find me because they weren't used to me being the short one.  It was awesome not being the 'tall one' because my brothers are super tall!

Logan, he's a little full of himself, but I loved being able to spend some time with him.  He really is a great guy!

He does love baby Oliva though

All the girls.

The sisters with our little brother.

The temple was beautiful.  It was the first time I had been inside the Logan temple and the first time I'd been in any temple since the pandemic started.

All the temples have the best flowers!

I was able to be in Utah for Oliva's baby blessing too.  I'm so happy I could be there.

It was so awesome being around these guys.

My baby brother was not this big the last time I saw him.  He was shorter than me.  I had a good time hanging out with him too!

I got this while I was gone.  Poor Mackenzie was not feeling well when I was gone.  If any of our kids fall asleep we know they aren't feeling good.  Kenney of course handled everything like a champ, and I was grateful he was willing to hold down the fort while I was away.

Branch Talent Show

Our kids love the talent show at church. They did a great job supporting one another and everyone else there. They also really enjoyed Papa Dude helping MC the event. He made dad jokes in between acts. Damon didn't have much of a performing act, so he helped to support and encourage Bentley while she did the splits and a one-handed cartwheel. He also displayed some drawings. Kyler did his Rubik's cube, and Radley didn't have much to contribute. We need to do better for him next year. Kenney showed all the kids how to flick bottle caps and can tabs.

 

 

Damon does not like to be embarrassed, but he was willing to look a little silly to help his sister.  I love him for that, even though he does like attention.

Kyler didn't cut it quite as close as he did with the school talent show, but it was still impressive!

September Beginnings

This is why I keep this blog; the kids love looking at old pictures and videos of themselves and one another. 

We had a branch service activity to clean the grounds around the church.  It had been a while since anything had been done, so there were a lot of full truck loads of limbs and other debris.  The kids were actually a great help, but loved riding to dump the loads best of all.

Mackenzie is always right there as I try to do my workout in the morning.  She's so helpful, NOT!

Random dress up day for the girls.

We're looking for a new dining room table, and these kids have decided they love furniture stores.

Kenney removed 3 different beehives within 2 weeks!  We were able to collect some of the honey which was a nice surprise since Kenney's bees left this year.

That is one supportive Papa Dude.  This girl likes to boss people around, especially at Oma's house!

Mackenzie is really into dressing herself lately, the mis-matching is bad enough, but the socks and sandals is just too much for me!!

She finds the most bright and colorful socks so no one can miss them.  I tried to out different shoes on her, but they are all, "Too tight."

 

You have to listen really carefully, but you can hear Mackenzie count.  I had no idea she could even do it; until one day she just counted to 10.  I guess she picked it up from somewhere because we haven't been working on it at all.

Now that she finally decided to talk, she pretty much tries to say anything.  It's kinda hard to understand sometimes, but most of the time it's really cute!

She does try to be a big helper, even when it's not needed or asked for.  She put all my swimsuits in separate bags and zipped them up!

The kids sang in church one week with there cousins and friend Rafe.  This is one of their final practices.  We are definitely not the musical Keys, but we try (some more than others)!

Friday Night Lights

Friday nights are big around here, and the kids love it!! Bentley was able to attend cheer camp and she would have gone every day if they would have let her. She eats up all this cheer stuff. Thankfully it comes pretty naturally to her because I would be no help to her!! The boys now get to spend the games on the field with Kenney. He was asked to be a trainer for the football team, so the boys are loving that this season!

Bentley with her friend Blair in their Rocket Red

Radley showing his school spirit too!

Damon with some other 5th graders ready for football.

Cheer meeting before the pep rally.

Cheering on big sister when she's on the field

Bentley in the front row second from the left.

Bentley wanted to get a picture with a cheerleader, and she loves Summer.

Damon with Jordan Nation.

And Mark Ramirez

 

Bentley takes her cheering seriously, and she's pretty good at it.

She wanted to make sure she did everything correctly.  She loves this stuff so much!

She was one of the only little girls that was even coordinated enough to do some of these moves, but she did it pretty well!

Pioneer Park

We took our last trip in the water, as a family, to Pioneer Park before next year. We brought Acey with us, and she LOVED it!! Kyler was less than thrilled to be there with us, but everyone else had a good time. Damon and Mackenzie spent most of their time digging a bath with Dad. Radley was catching fish, and Bentley was digging in the sand. It was a really good evening.

Bentley splashing in the back, and Radley looking for fish.

These two usually seem to find one another.

Dad is always a big help

Kyler thinking his life is over

Mackenzie checking out Radley's most recent catch

Taking a closer look.

Bentley just chilling in the splits!

And getting her entire body involved with the digging

Attitude still not improving

Bathtub complete!!

Enjoying the fruits of his labor

Fully enjoying them

Running like Acey!

 

Her fake laugh and then running to tell me about the noise she heard, haha!

Acey loved the room to really run!

Mackenzie wasn't too sure about the sand when we first got there, and she was walking around all funny!