And now it's time for a breakdown....

...of the last few months of goings on in our family. I obviously have not been a faithful blogger of late, so I thought I'd try to play catch-up.

We had Easter in Georgia with most of the cousins.

Chris kept the boys in formation after a visit to Steak and Shake (YUMMY!)

Nathaniel learned the art of tree-climbing.

The boys had some fun on Pa's tractor.

We visited the Flint River Aquarium near Albany, GA, where Chris' sister Aimee lives. The kids really enjoyed all the animals, especially these giant fish.
Lindsey was happy to zoom all around on her cousin's 4-wheeler. She had no fear, which was a little scary!
Bradley loves riding horses at Pa and Two-E's. Looks like a handsome cowboy, huh?

Super Brave Bradley

My little Scootie had an adventure a few days after we arrived in Georgia. That Sunday afternoon, we were at Chris' parents, out in the country. Chris and I were exhausted and taking a nap. Suddenly we heard Nathaniel come running in the house, yelling, "He looks awful! I can't even look at him!" I of course freaked out, and Chris calmly went outside to find that Bradley had somehow (no confessions were forthcoming) been hit in the forehead with a wooden swing. The gurgling, bloody gash sent me into hysterics. We left for the ER, which was a 45 minute drive. The boy was crying a lot at first, but he eventually calmed down and took everything in stride. He just made me laugh during his ER visit . . . he was laid up on the bed looking very cool, but still with a little pout.


The doctor came in and gave him 4 stitches, and he didn't move a muscle. He was just a perfect patient, while I had to go out in the hallway to settle down. He was absolutely thrilled when the doctor came back in with a popcicle!
Even though it majorly stressed me out, once all was said and done, I had to admit it was a pretty cool little wound. And he has an awesome scar!
(By the way, he managed to pull out 3 of his 4 stitches by the next afternoon. Tough little guy!)

It's Great To Be Eight!!!

I for one cannot believe I am old enough to have an 8 year-old! Seriously, it is just mind-boggling to think that my baby boy is 8! In celebration of his special day, he had a few requests. He wanted to have dinner at Los Hermanos, including the ice cream they give out for birthdays.

Lindsey enjoyed the ice cream as well.

Then, he wanted us to all go bowling at BYU game center.

Check out Mr. Studly waiting for his ball!

He gives the ball a hurl . . .
. . . watches its progress . . .

. . . a little nervous anticipation . . .

OOOOH!!! Not what he had hoped for!

Bradley gives it a try, with the handy little ramp they have for kids.

Even Lindsey bowls a few frames . . .

. . . and gets a congratulatory hug from Bradley!

Ah, the presents . . . every birthday's highlight. Nathaniel was pretty happy to get an awesome new set of scriptures and a sweet case.
And of course he was double-thrilled with his new Zelda video game.


That is one handsome boy. I'm so proud of him, so proud to be the mother of such a special Spirit child of Heavenly Father. He amazes me every day, and has since he was born. He is so good and so genuine, not to mention smart, thoughtful, and loving. When I grow up, I want to be just like my son.

Cub Scout Olympics

So, Nathaniel turned 8 just in time for the Cub Scout Olympics. He had a fantastic time and participated with the other boys in various competitions. Here are a few highlights.

Check him out getting set up for the softball throw. That is MY kid -- he's got his mother's arm!
Getting ready for the 50 yard dash.
He is pretty darn fast, I have to say.
Standing long jump!

He's got some pretty good air, there!

At the end of the day, he was pretty happy. He had a lot of fun, thanks to the great leaders who put together an awesome activity. He's really excited about being a Cub Scout.

Baptism Day

Wow. All I can say is wow. I have been to many baptisms over the years, and all have been spirit-filled and amazing, but none have compared to the one we experienced together as a family. Nathaniel was baptized on June 2, and it was a truly special experience. I knew going in that it would be wonderful, but I was not prepared for the overwhelming Spirit I felt as I watched my own little boy, dressed in spotless white, enter the waters of baptism with his father. Just witnessing him taking this first step on the path to his own salvation was such a reaffirmation of the fact that he is God's son, with eternal potential. The Spirit testifed to me just how much my Heavenly Father loves this boy, and it increased my love for him, which I never even knew was possible. I am so grateful for this experience and pray it will be a special memory for Nathaniel throughout his life. All dressed in white.
After the baptism, with dad.


Lindsey says, "MY Daddy."
My wonderful angels. How I love them!!!
A very happy young man. I'm so proud of you, Nathaniel!