Beautiful Fall

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year.  I love walking down in the hallow just below our house to enjoy the fall colors.  One morning during school fall break, Kayden and Suki joined me.

Suki loves to go exploring down in the hallow.  She will run ahead on the path, check to make sure that I am following her and then go back to her exploring.  Isn't the pathway beautiful?!?

Kayden and I enjoying our walk and the beautiful fall weather.

Imagine Dragons Concert

It was a cold night, but we LOVED the Imagine Dragons Concert!  Jeremy and Kayden stood in line forever getting hot chocolate and missed some of the opening bands.  But they didn't miss out on the main event.

Cold, but excited....for the most part.  Once Kayden had hot chocolate he was in a much better mood. McKay and Jaxon had seats that were separate from us.  But they had a good time as well!

The concert was very entertaining and we danced and sang to our hearts content!  It was everyone's first concert other than Jeremy and we all loved it!

Flag Football 2017

It was another successful season of flag football and by successful I mean Josh and Kayden had a good time!

 Kayden and all his buddies that he played flag football with.  He always has a great time with these boys!

Team Tropics.  You can actually see their faces in this picture.

Team Amigos.  Josh has played with this same group of boys the last few years wether in soccer, flag football and in basketball.  They have become good friends.

Another Licensed Driver

Jaxon received his drivers license!

 He didn't look to excited about it in this photo, so I made him do a retake...

 Serious stuff.  Let let's try for another one....

There's a boy that looks happy to be licensed!

Football 2017

It's been a rough football season for BYU.  Just when you think they will win the game, it all goes wrong.  I was able to go up to Utah State with my sister Caprice and my niece Rebecca to watch my other niece play some soccer.  While we were up there we went to the BYU vs. Utah State football game.  I thought BYU had it in the bag and then it when down, down, down.

I still had a good time with my niece and sister--even though they both cheered for Utah State and BYU lost.

One weekend I got so desperate for some good luck that I dressed up our Halloween decoration Pirate Pete in everything BYU:

I renamed him Touchdown Pete and hoped for the best.  It didn't work.  BYU still lost.  Here's hoping next season will be better!

Senior Year

Being a Sr. in high school must be rough.  I have never seen McKay take a nap during the day unless he is sick.  Only this school year have I seen him sleep during the day.  Must be draining to be a senior!

Jaxon is a Sweet 16!

Jaxon had a few opportunities to celebrate his 16th birthday this year.  First he celebrated it at Grandma Haacke's house (left) and then the next week at Grandma White house.  He had all his favorite foods including a 5 gallon bucket of BYU Creamery's cookies and cream ice cream!

On his actual birthday, we went to a dental party held by one of the offices that Jeremy refers to.  In the past it was a food truck rally, so Jaxon wanted to go.  This year there were no food trucks though and it was a bit of a disappointment.

 Although the party was a bust, Jaxon had a good time and had a fun attitude.  He even stole my phone for some selfie opportunities.

Little did Jaxon know that when he got home a surprise birthday party was waiting for him.  We had a few of his friends come over (those that could make it) and hide out in the basement.  I sent Jaxon downstairs to get his birthday cake and low and behold SURPRISE! 

 We had cake and ice cream and he hung out with his friends for a while. 

 Since it was a school night we had to keep the party short.

 After the party, we Jaxon opened his presents.  He is getting "too old" to show me that he is 16, but he will still pose for pictures.

His real present was the iPhone that he received when he earned his Eagle Award.  But he received a couple of things that he could put to good use.

A few days after his birthday we went to California Pizza Kitchen for dinner as a family and then got some cheesecake and dessert from the Cheesecake Factory.  It was a fun week celebrating his 16th birthday!

16 Things We Love About Jaxon:

1. His ability to make people at ease.  He is so easy to talk to and carries on conversations with the very young all the way to the very old.  People just connect with him.
2. His laugh.  I will never tire of his giggle.  It is the best when his giggle becomes contagious.
3. He works hard in school and earns good grades.  He got straight A's last year.  High school has been a bit of an adjustment.  More responsibilities.  But he is getting things figured out and is doing great!
4. I love it when he has friends over.  He has a great group of friends.
5. He keeps telling me that now that he is 16 people want him to ask out their friends.  People will come up to him and say, "So-and-so has a crush on you.  You should ask her out."  He gets embarrassed as he never knows what to say.  He is so modest about the matter.
6. Still loves those Spurs!  He is one loyal fan.
7. He makes his bed every day.  I never have to ask him or remind him.  Now if he would just put those decorative pillows on his bed after it was made....
8. He has found that he likes to tinker around in the kitchen.  His specialties are scotcharoos and peanut butter cookies.
9. We went to Hawaii in April and has faithfully worn his EA (lava lava) every week to church since then.  He enjoys the compliments and stares.
10. He is still a good communicator.  I love when we are able to chat one on one.
11. His one handsome boy!  His eyes still sparkle when he smiles and laughs.
12. He is helps around the house and the yard a lot.  Just make sure he has his headphones and a good playlist.
13. Speaking of playlists, Jaxon has an old soul.  He loves the music that I grew up with.  I will often find him listening to Micheal Jackson and other 80s music.  Not sure he likes that I sing along though.
14. He is very polite and respectful.  
15. He is a good friend to his brothers.  He and McKay are especially close, but Jaxon is always showing Josh and Kayden funny videos on social media so they can all have a good laugh together.
16. He still tells me he loves me and says good night to us every night.  He still has his tender side.

Happy birthday Jaxon.  It has been an amazing 16 years and we can't wait to see what is in store for you!