Happy Birthdays

Sammie turned 9! Yes my little girl is getting bigger daily. Thank goodness she still wants to be my baby girl. She is such a happy and cheerful child. Her teacher told me she is such a joy to have in her class, she is so kind to everyone. I was so happy to hear that. It confirmed my view of her. She is so helpful with her little brother. And is always so thoughtful to Griffin. She loves to sing, collect bugs, go to school,and play outside with the neighbor kids.

We had a very fun birthday party in our backyard. It was an outdoor movie night. The kids had a blast. Everyone wore PJ's and brought their sleeping bags (yes it was cold). Unfortunately the camera battery was dead so no pictures. Aunt Cheyenne made a beautiful and YUMMY icecream cake. I was a really fun night.

Unfortunately Sammie was sick for her actual Birth Day. It was on a Sunday, and the best part of that is having the primary singing Happy Birthday to her in primary. But since she wasn't there, the primary kids got together and came to our house to sing to her on her birthday. I was so sweet, and orchestrated by one sweet 10 year old named Joe. I was so touched.





























Then only a few short weeks later my awesome boy Griffin turned 13. I am so blessed to have him as my son! He is so amazing and one of the sweetest boys I have ever meet. Ever! He is so good to Cooper, and He is Cooper's hero. Actually he is so sweet to all little kids, he loves to help out with his little cousins. He still enjoys video games, but he has taken up reading. He loves to read, especially books that are in a series. He got to meet Brandon Mull a few months ago, it was awesome. Jr high has been so fun for him. He is getting awesome grades, and making lots of great friends. He loves his Deacon's quorum, and keeps busy with his duties. He loves doing "shut ins", which is when he takes the sacrament to those in the ward unable to come to church on Sunday. I have had a couple sweet ladies tell me how much they love him because he is so sweet.

For Griffin's birthday we did the outdoor movie night again. We planned on watching Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Griffin's choice. The the day of his party, a friend told him they could not come because they were not allowed to watch PG-13 movies. Griffin was really nice and picked another movie, even though the 12 other party guest were allowed to watch. When I asked him why he changed it for one person he said "Because I don't want her to have to miss it, I can watch it later". I am one proud Mommy.

Why Do they Grow UP?

The other day I walk into the bathroom to this scene. Sammie is such a great helper, she wanted to give Cooper a bath because he was dirty. It was really cute, and a bit dangerous. It was also really sad, Cooper no longer fits in the sink for his baths. It was a really sad realization for me. He has been taking baths in the tub for months of course, but this was another sad reminder that babies grow up fast.

LOOK how much we've grown!

Griffin and Sammie - Summer 2011
















Cooper Jaxon at 18 months old and and no more pacifiers for this big boy!









Mamma's boy


I love these guys!

Trek

Griffin had the opportunity to participate in Trek this year. They were only going about 1.5 hours away so the 12 year old youth were able to go.



This is our neighbor Andrea who is a good friend of Griffin's. I asked Griffin to put his arm around her and this was the best he could do.





All the kids were Trekking for a pioneer and had to find a story on the pioneer. Griffin choose Jonas Otterstrom. His name tag had his name and Jonas' name on it. It also had a little bio on him....

JONAS OTTERSTROM

Jonas Otterstrom was born Dec. 7, 1820 in Torehallla, Sodermanland, Sweden, the same year that 14 year old Joseph Smith, received his first vision. He was baptized on Jan. 28, 1854 and ordained a seventy in 1856. The History of the Scandinavian Mission tell how Jonas Otterstrom, who lived at the base of a high hill called Egebjorg, overlooking the city, bore testimony to his customers and others, and thus Gustav Anderson, a good and highly respected man who lived on the top of the hill, became a convert to "Mormonism".

His father died during his boyhood, and his mother remarried. He did not get along very well wth his step-father. When 12 years old he defied his step-father and struck him for hitting his mother. Fearing the consequences, he ran away to the next city where his sister was attending school. He learned the gitter trade (the process of making things from brass). He later took up blacksmithing, in which he was later engaged after going to Utah.

Jonas was a loyal and devoted member of the Church all his days. He was a man of great courage, strong-willed and had the courage of his convictions. On the voyage across the Atlantic the family lost one child and the body was lowered into the ocean. They crossed the plains in the Canute Peterson Ox-team company. Jonas Otterstrom and one other man were the only blacksmiths in the company, and they repaired the wagons for the Pioneers. The company arrived in Salt Lake City on September 20, 1856. Jonas Otterstrom and his family went to Fort Ephram, in Sanpete County in response to a call from President Brigham Young to help build up that area. Neighbors said that Jonas Otterstrom had great courage and physical strength, and boundlss energy, for he was a man of action who did not believe in wasting any time.

Unfortunately Griffin was one of the thirteen kids sent home with heat exhaustion. He was really sad, He did love the experience though. He learned how hard it must have been for the pioneers, and if they had heat exhaustion they had to keep on moving...or die. I am so glad he had that experience, and I hope he will have the opportunity to do it again when he is older.

The 411 on us......

So summer is over and the kids are back in school. My House is picked up and all the beds are made, the floor is even vacuumed, I think I deserve a few minutes to sit in front of the computer and give everyone an update on my family.

Griffin received the Hope Of America award in May. This is a really neat award given to one boy and one girl in each 6th grade class. He had no idea he was going to get it. I HAD TO KEEP A SECRET FOR OVER A MONTH! I managed it though, somehow. Jason and I were behind the curtain and we came out when they announced his name. He was definitely surprised. He had completely zoned out and it took him a minute to register! GRIFFIN WILLIAMS, the Hope of America....lol!





This is Mr Cornish, Griffin's 6th grade teacher. He is wonderful. He loved Griffin. He often told me how much he loves Griffin and what a wonderful kid he is. I agree! He said that if he left Griffin alone in the room and had a stack of cash on the desk it would not be touched. He trusted Griffin and gave him a lot of classroom responsibilities. Griffin really loved being in his class. Mr. Cornish really believed that Griffin IS the Hope of America.



At the beginning of the summer Vacation Grace came to visit...YEAH!! It was so nice to see her. Sammie ecstatic! We hung out with Grandma Sue and Aunt Chris, played and had sleepovers with Utah cousins, and played some more! It was so much fun having her. I was ready to keep her.

The best part was the Lemonade stand. The girls begged and i couldn't resist. They even made signs advertising the stand and posted them on the other streets. Their best costumer was the mailman, he came back for a repeat visit.




















Everyone needs a fun aunt that will give you a makeover. Fathers,Grandpas and Uncles may need to look away because Sammie has makeup on in this picture. Thanks Aunt Cheyenne for the fun night of Sammie pampering, she loved it!



So here is a few of the things we did, not too much this summer, but we had fun being a family and just hanging out.

Crazy Hair Day

Today was crazy hair day at the kids school. Sammie wanted a birds nest ........ so she got one. I had to make a dollar tree run this morning before school to get an actual bird. YES Griffin's hair IS crazy, or as crazy as it gets. He is sporting a FO-hawk. He is not too adventurous.

p.s. These flower hair clips were made by Aunt Rachel and myself. Please be impressed with us. We didn't know we had it in us. What do you think Aunt Kayla?

Whats up?

A lot really! I just don't take enough pictures. We have made it through our first Utah winter. It was cold and it snowed, I hate both of those things! The kids loved the snow. Griffin even loved shoveling the walk. Sam was a great cheerleader, as you can see there was not too much shoveling going on with her.




















Cooper has found a new friend...... ELMO. He loves everything to do with him. He is sitting in his Elmo chair watching
Elmo.




















Griffin's new style. It is AWESOME huh!!! Just kidding, this was his Halloween costume, he wanted to dress like one of his Uncles..... I am not saying who, notice the tag on his shirt...... I just wanted to throw this picture in because it is so fun.

Sammie's Hero

Today was "Dress up as your Hero day"
Sammie was so excited because she wanted to dress like her dad, facial hair and all. It was so fun to make my Girlie girl in to a boy.





















On another note I thought I would post a picture of Sammie's Red Eyed Tree Frog Tropical Forrest Diorama.

WHO AM I?A Super cutie, thats who!

There is not much to say. I just had to do it. I had to move fast though. This was the only picture I could catch before he took them off and threw them on the ground. And yes that is a lighting bolt on his forehead. Watch out Lord Voldemort!

Happy Birthday Cooper

Our Baby is 1! And he loves frosting. He did not even touch the cake but the frosting was free game. He is getting so big, and changing so much. He is beginning to mimic words, if you listen carefully. He mostly says DADA, which is really not fair. He is also starting to walk, and finally cut a tooth. Life is so fun at our house.