Family Pictures

I know I am way behind on my blog and I do not really have an excuse other than I have been really busy with school, soccer, and kids!

We had a great Thanksgiving (I promise to do posts about that and all the other stuff I missed putting on here).

One of my favorite things this past weekend was doing family photos.  Here are some of my favorites!

First we started out by the old broken down house near our house.

 Then we moved onto the park

 And lastly to Hesperia Lakes, which turned out to be my favorite spot.

 This is my favorite of all the family pictures.

 We also did individual pictures of each of the kids.

 and one of Mike and me.

 But my absolutely favorite picture of all was this one.  It took me a little convincing, but Mike finally gave in (the kids were all for it!).

I am so glad that my husband has a good eye and is patient with me and all my crazy ideas!

Crazy Weather

We have been having some crazy weather in our area.  The last few months we have had this ginormous dust devils.  Many of them coming very close to our house and through our yard.  Here are a couple of pictures of them.  These were both going at the same time just out behind our house.

We have also had some monsoon type weather, although we have had little rain at our house, we get to enjoy the benefits of the beauty.  After soccer practice there were these amazing rainbows... double rainbows to be exact.  When your dad is a photographer of course a photo shoot is in order... silly or not!

Beautiful weather like this reminds me so often of how blessed we are.  Our Heavenly Father provides this beauty for us throughout our lives.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is Mike's birthday!  Here is a look back through the years.

 

We love you and hope you have a great day!

No longer a Cub Scout

With Kade turning 11, he is no longer a Cub Scout.  He was able to earn his Webelos badge and his Arrow of Light.  The Arrow of Light is like the "Eagle Scout" of cub scouting.  It is the highest honor you can receive as a cub scout.

There is a special ceremony for Arrow of Light (it can be done in a variety of ways).  The Cub-master put together a program.  In all Arrow of Light ceremonies, the cub scout crosses a bridge of some sort into the Scout troop.  Here are some pictures of Kade's ceremony (sorry the pictures are not very good, they were taken with a cell phone).

Being congratulated by a "wolf" scout- Jace.

Reciting the Scout Oath, Law, Promise, and Motto

Crossing the "bridge"

Changing of the uniforms

The entire Pack with the 2 new Scouts.

We are so proud of you Kade and look forward to seeing your scout troop adventures!

1 year of Grad School..... DONE!!!

Today marks the last day of my first year of grad school.  The program I am in is Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology.  It is a total of 18 classes, plus a year of Practicum.  Practicum is similar to an internship (unpaid of course).  It is possible to complete the program in 2 years if you take 3 classes each semester (Fall, Winter, and Summer), along with the practicum classes and 600 clinical hours. 

So far I have been able to keep up the pace of taking 3 classes each semester, along with starting at my practicum site a semester early.  I have logged just over 125 clinical hours.  If I can keep up this pace, I am slated to graduate in August of 2014.  Although if I hold back and slow my class pace, it could be December of 2014.

This next year is going to be a rough one, with mommy pulled in lots of directions.  Once we can get through this next year, I think things will be a little easier!

First Day of School

Today is the first day of school.  I love summer time and being able to sleep in, but as my sister in law put it, I think I love my kids more when they are in school.  I think the feeling is mutual.  That they love me more and each other more when they are not with each other 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Cheila is starting her Sophomore year at Southern Utah University.  She recently changed her major to Education.
Hunter is a Senior at Cottonwood High School (she starts in a few weeks).
Madison is a Junior at Serrano High School (I did not take her picture).

Abi is in 7th grade and Kade is in 6th grade, both at Quail Valley Middle School.

 

Jace is my one and only elementary child, in 4th grade at Vista Verde. Jace has the same teacher for 4th grade that Kade had for 5th grade.

Hoping for a fantastic school year!!