Basement Progress

We finished and decorated the builtins downstairs! Russ did this all on his own (I did the decorating) and it looks professionally done. He did an incredible job and I love how it turned out!

Cowabunga Bay

 My brother, Alex, invited us to his companies summer party at Cowabunga Bay! It was awesome. There was free food, free admission (which that water park is expensive) and not busy. Hallie had a blast, Brooks warmed up to swimming right about the time we had to leave and Stockton loved playing in the kids area. It was a great night!

1st Day of PreK

I have been anxious for this day for months! Brooks is absolutely terrified to go to school. He keeps saying he isn't going to school or he will ask if I get to stay at school with him. He cries about it. He literally has pure fear on his face when we talk about it. It is so sad!

He had school orientation a few weeks ago and met his teachers (unfortunately I had food poisoning and couldn't go). He said it went good but still said he doesn't want to go. It absolutely breaks my mama heart to see him be so scared about school. I know it is for his good and necessary to do but I hate that I have to force him to do something that absolutely terrifies him. And I'm sure he will adjust to it at some point, and end up liking it, but it still makes me so sad to watch him be SO scared. Like legit real anxiety and fear. What makes it worse is I can't walk him into school and drop him off. His school functions in a way where you just open up your car door, the teacher comes to the car and then walks him into the school. I imagine Brooks crying and holding onto the car for dear life while they yank him out of the car and carry him into school. Oh my heart is so heavy having to force him to go to school.

To help Brooks feel a little more comfortable about going to school (and for Russ to be there for me for moral support) Russ came with me to school drop off. We told him that Russ will take him out to McDonalds after school as a bribery to go to school in the first place. Brooks was pretty excited about that!

Well, much to my surprise, Brooks did AMAZING!! There was some fear on his face but he got out of the car on his own, took his teacher by the hand, and didn't shed a tear! Actually I was the only one that shed tears. I was so worked up with worry about Brooks' legit anxiety about school that when it went so well I shed happy and relieved tears. I was so proud of him! Russ was questioning why I was crying because it went so well. Haha! Brooks was so brave! I hope he finds some friends soon and loves school!

Walking in so brave!

His look back to Russ and I showed some nervousness to his face but he pushed through and kept walking into school. Such a big deal for Brooks!

After school Russ picked him up and just the two of them went to McDonald's as a celebration! 

This smile is the BEST!

After McDonald's and showing me all the things he did at school. 

Today was better then I could have ever imagined it! Brooks faced his fears with so much courage and bravery and I couldn't be more proud of him. What a relief to us both that his first day went so well! Way to go Brooksie boy! I love you to pieces!!

Kids

 Golly I love my little towheaded boys! Brooks has a hard time sharing anything with Stockton but Stockton has some rage and gets what he wants and it usually works itself out. Brooks has to share and Stocko gets to play. I sure love my days with these boys!

Rosie

Rosie is such a sweet pup! She is everything I ever wanted in a dog. She hardly barks and does so well with the kids. I never have to worry about her biting the kids or being aggressive. She LOVES me! Everyone in the family could be in one room and I in another and she will be with me. But I adore her just as much! She's my little snuggle buddy and I'm so glad she is a part of our family!

Baptism Pics

I can't believe our baby girl is old enough to get baptized! She is so beautiful, smart, talented with everything that she does, and boy does she know what she wants. She picked out her dress and it is beautiful. She loves anything sleeveless so I wasn't surprised when that is what she picked out. She chose to have her pictures taken at the Mount Timpanogos Temple because that is where "her mom and dad" got married. It was pretty cute! However, we went to the temple grounds on a Monday night to take pictures and the temple gates were up and we couldn't go inside the temple grounds. Total bummer! We took some pictures of her at the temple and then went to a beautiful park across the street for more. I love how they turned out! I couldn't be more proud to call Hallie my daughter! I love her to pieces!