A game of chess

This is a common occurrence.  I love to see these two battle it out.  Sam's dad, Richard, is a master chess player and Derek loves to be challenged by him.  What a great way to spend your time boys! I'm proud of you for choosing mind challenging games. (in addition of course to the x-box) :)

Another fun night with the missionaries.  We just had a real simple dinner this time.  Spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread.  Still yummy and great times!  We had the dinner with our friends and neighbors, the Schmuhls, because David was gone out of town and we needed an adult Priesthood holder and because they are great friends.  We have had dinners with the Schmuhls from time to time but I just haven't taken and pictures.  They have been such great friends for the past 22 years we have lived in the house.  Derek and Sam especially.  Sam is like another brother and son.

Derek and his saxophone!

This is something that is very important to Derek.  He LOVES his saxophone.  And he LOVES jazz music.  This coming Fall Break in October, I am going to take the kids to New Orleans, the birth place of Jazz!  I hope you have a great time there Derek!  I am so grateful that my job gives us such incredible benefits so that we can see so many places and have so many memories together.  I love to hear you practice the saxophone.  It is one of my absolute favorite sounds in the whole wide world!

Derek's 15th birthday

 Happy 15th birthday to my kind, compassionate, brilliant, hard working, spiritual, teachable, humble, peacemaker, funny, witty, imaginative son.  I love you so much Derek.  I am so glad that I have been blessed to be your mother.  I try to teach you what you need to know to be successful here on earth and also to return home to our heavenly home.  You end up teaching me so much as well.  You are a great example.  Thank you for caring so much and wanting to protect and love us.  You give me a pleasant surprise every day with your dry wit.  I love the smiles you give me.

 Great times with your incredible sister.  I am so glad you two are friends.  I hope your friendship will deepen with time and maturity as you both gain wisdom with age.  I hope you will always stay in touch with each other and make an effort to visit each other when you have your own sweet families.

 Now. . . . for the presents!!!!!

 Yay for Amazon!

 We still love Star Wars!

 I love you two crazy sweet kids!

 Wonderful birthday hugs, thank you Hannah!

Let the craziness begin . . .

Just a great Sunday hanging out with the guys

So, Sam was outside waiting for his parents to get home from church so he could go inside and his other good buddies waited outside with him.

 Great opportunity for a photo. 

 Three future missionaries. 

 Derek, you look SO glad that I am taking the 789463571 picture of you  . . .

 Koda, we sure do love you

a beautiful addition to the yard

Another beautiful addition to the yard from David's sister, Debbie, thank you Debbie!

P.S. The flamingo in the back ground is a funny tribute to our friends, the Harkers.  David used to LOVE to play pranks on them.  This was one of them.  He put flamingos in their yard.  They have moved and we miss them a lot so this is a memory of them.  A silly one, but a memory.

Saying goodbye to Elder Wenner

Elder Wenner wanted to take his bike apart, actually he used one of David's saws and literally cut it apart.  He had a great time.  Then he punctured the tires but this was what exploded out of it, oops.

Fun time with Grandpa

 You can tell that they love it when I take pictures of them. . . NOT!  :)

Two buddies having a great time just hanging out.  I am so lucky to have such and amazing family.  We can tell that we are loved and they enjoy being with us.  I sure do love my Dad.  I miss him every day.  I wish I could just "energize" us over there.  I would love to have Sunday dinners with them.  I have been keeping a list of dinners that I want to make and freeze to bring to them and share with them.  I hope to do this soon and often.

 I am so glad that the kids can come and feel so much love, and safety here.  Family is a great place to feel this and every one needs to feel love and to have a safe place to go.  Thank you to Aunt Janna she is the central place where we all come.  We love going to all the other Aunt and Uncles houses as well

 I LOVE this picture of these two.  This is how they always are.  Dad is like a kid again when Hannah is there.  She is the medicine and spark that brings him to life.  I love her even more for this.

 Derek and his awesome cousins playing Risk.

 The mass birthday party for the August birthday parties.

More of the two silly willies.  I sure do love these two!