Tag's Giant Steps Graduation

 
 
 

 Today was Tag's graduation day from Giant Steps.  It is so hard to believe that this year is coming to an end.  This has truly been the best year for Tag and the greatest blessing for our family.  Tag got to be taught by ladies that truly loved him and he reached goals that we never thought possible.  Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for this program.  I love that Tag had the opportunity to grow in an environment full of hope and love.  So grateful for Giant Steps!!  Mimi was able to come and celebrate with us!  For Tag's graduation present he chose Minion swim goggles!  Love this boy!

My realtor

I am not sure if I have ever mentioned Sarah but she deserves her own post!  Sarah was KC and Mike's realtor last July when I helped them purchase a home.  Things went well in that transaction and she asked me to lunch.  We had a great time and decided to work together.  It has been the best business relationship that has turned into an amazing friendship.  We co-market together on Zillow and try to complete deals together as often as we can.  She is such a great person and a blessing in my life.  This picture is right after we signed the papers with Pauline who was buying her first home.  She decided to move from Cali to Utah and we were so lucky to be a part of her new journey.

Tag's First Girlfriend

At the beginning of the year, Tag really struggled when he was paired with Ava.  She loved to dress herself and was a little less than matchy.  Tag loves order so he struggled a bit with her.  She apparantly grew on him and they became close.  Tag wants to invite her over to go in the basement where she can watch him play Wii sports.  Today when I dropped him off at school Ava said "Tag, I love you today!" Seriously the cutest thing!  We are not ones to promote dating before 16 but I will so make an exeception in this case!  Love their cute friendship and budding romance!

Pajama Day

Today is Tag's last day of Giant Steps and to celebrate they get to wear their pj's and watch Moana.  Tag was so excited!  He really wanted to wear his long sleeve pajama shirt but I convinced him to wear a t-shirt.  He struggled a little because the shirt wasn't really pajama's but that sweet boy was willing to wear it!  I am so proud of how far he has come.  I cannot even begin to describe what a blessing this year has been for him.  This program is truly a gift and we have seen progress in Tag that we never dreamed of.  I cannot thank his teacher's enough for the love and patience that they have shown him.  I also cannot thank my Heavenly Father enough for guiding us to this path.  I feel like through this whole journey with our Tag we have been guided to what will be best for him.  I really cannot ask for more.

Cousin Time

This week Tara and her family came to visit.  I was so excited to see her but felt so bad because it was quite possibly the busiest week for me.  I did get to spend some time with her on Tuesday and then we all spent time together on Wednesday.  On Wednesday we got lunch at Village Baker and enjoyed each other's company while Harlee enjoyed spending time with Susie!  Tara seems like she is so happy and I am so happy for her.  Since she has married Grant she comes to visit more often and I look forward to seeing her every time!

Family Picture Preview

Not sure why I do it to myself but every other year I want to do family pictures.  I LOVE them once they are done but getting all the outfits planned is a lot of work!  I want everyone's outfit to compliment each other but I do not want them to be matchy matchy!  This picture shows what I came up with for the kids.  Joey is going to wear a striped button down shirt and I am thinking a navy dress.  We are taking them next Friday so I am hoping that everything comes together. So grateful for Daryk and his photographing skills who is going to take the pictures next weekend!

Someone's Growing Up...

When we were enjoying our girl time yesterday, Harlee asked me how old she needed to be to shave her legs.  She expressed that she was embarrassed by how hairy her legs are.  She definitely comes from a hairy line on both sides and I did not want her to be embarrassed.  I recognize that 10 is a little young but if it makes her feel better than I totally support her.  Here comes Harlee Smooth Legs Childs!

Backyard Project

Joey found someone on facebook giving away free landscaping rocks.  The only catch was that they needed to be hauled away.  Joey is not one to shy away from hard work!  It took a few trips and lots of work as a family, but we were able to pretty up the planter at the top of our backyard.  It looks so good and was so worth it.  What made it even better is that Joey mentioned it would have been about $300 a truck load for the rocks and we got 2 truck loads.  So worth the time and effort.  I love how nice it looks now.

Girls Day

With Luke being gone this last week and my busy work schedule, Harlee had to babysit a ton.  I wanted to thank her by taking her to get a pedicure on Saturday.  I love that I get to enjoy time with her while getting pampered!  After an amazing pedicure, we got swig and went shopping.  I had to find a dress for the Miss Ogden pagent I am going to judge next week.  She is the best shopping partner so willing to tell me if something looks good and get me the sizes that I need.  After shopping we went to Village Baker for lunch.  Words cannot express my gratitude to Heavenly Father for giving me the sweetest girl for my only daughter.  She is seriously a dream and I treasure these times that we get to spend together!

Scout Camp

Today marked the end of a very long week.  Luke went to scout camp and had a wonderful time.  However, I missed him like crazy!  Not sure how I will ever get through his mission! I was so excited to see him but I think that he furry brother was even more excited than me!  He got to do some really fun things at camp: bb gun shooting, shotgun shooting, swam in the lake, slept in a tent, and many other fun things with his friends.  I am so glad that he gets to have these experiences.  I will sleep so much better tonight knowing he is safe in the other room.

Monkey Gray

Gray is our little flexible, climbing, boy!  He asked me today if he could show me what he could do!  He quickly climbed up the wall in the doorway by the pass through.  I could not believe it!  He was so proud of himself.  His smile quickly turned to a crying frown since I took to long to find my phone to take a picture. I think we will see him on America Ninja Warrior someday!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Joel Dave!  You deserve a million days to celebrate what an amazing father you are!  Our kiddos are so lucky to have you as their dad.  I am so grateful to be your wife.  You are so much more than I deserve and I pray you never realize that.  Thank you for all that you do for all of us!  We love you so much!

Daddy Day at Giant Steps

On Friday, Giant Steps hosted a Daddy Day where the kids could bring their Dad and spend some fun time together.  Joey was able to take a long lunch and take Tag.  They built a rocket and launched it.  Joey said that Tag's rocket went the length of a soccer field!  Then Tag got a Minion face paint and they had some lunch together.  I am so grateful for these special times that Joey gets to spend with Tag one on one.  I am so beyond thankful for Giant Steps.  We have seen remarkable progress with Tag and owe so much to this program.  Such a special day!

The Basement Fort

After spending the day at the waterpark the boys came home and made a fort in the basement.  It turned out to be really cool.  They popped popcorn and took an IPAD in there to watch shows on.  I love that they are friends and love to hang out with each other some times!  What a nice relaxing way to end the day in the sun!

Seven Peaks

One of the perks of the Pass of all Passes that the kids got for Easter is that we can go to Seven Peaks Water Park.  We decided to try it out on a day when Tag was still in school since he is still learning to swim.  The weather was kind of perfect and the kids had so much fun going down the slides and relaxing in the wave pool.  After the we sunned out we stopped for In and Out on the way home.  Such a fun time with these cute kids of mine.  So grateful that I have a job that allows me to still be a fun mom once in a while!

Friends Forever

Today was lucky to have Aubrey come over.  They are the truest of friends.  No matter how much time passes, they pick up right where they left off.  Whenever Aubrey is over I do not hear from them at all unless they are asking permission to do a cooking challenge.  Their friendship is low maintenance and kind of perfect.  I was looking through the old blog and have lots of pictures of them together when they were little.  I pray that the books to come will be filled with pictures of them together also.  Love their sweet friendship!

Toothless Grinning Gray

For the last few weeks Gray has been sporting a pretty scary snaggletooth.  It got to the point where he could place it on the outside of his lips-so funny!  I knew that it would not last in that cute mouth for very long.  I was right!  He texted me a picture of his tooth in a baggie while I was running to the post office yesterday.  I love his toothless grin and I love my Gray.  I only wish I could stop time so he would stop growing up!

Harlee's New Bed

Joey and I are needing a new bed in St. George and he found a super cute gray frame.  He picked it up and I really liked it.  But somewhere along the way Joey decided it was a better fit for his favorite daughter.  He was so right!  How cute does she look in this cute bed?  And her little sidekick isn't too shabby either!  It is a welcomed change for her room and fits so much better.  I am so glad Joey bought this bed for us!!

Moving Mountains Soccer Camp

A couple months ago we found out that there was a special soccer camp for kiddos with autism.  It was a free camp where they would learn the fundamentals of soccer.  Tag was excited up until the day of but then he got super nervous.  Once we convinced him that I would stay with him the whole time he warmed up to the idea.  He was assigned two sister volunteers to teach him the basics.  They were darling.  The oldest, Callie has autism and the youngest Ava was so sweet to him.  By the second day Tag was more willing to leave me and enjoy the camp.  I am so grateful for these opportunities that Tag gets to experience.