Great Grandpa Wall

As I stated in another post, we really didn't want to go to Utah this last summer. We were up there the year before so making another trip was hard to be excited for. When we got up there we knew that G.G. Wall wasn't doing very well. Grandpa Wall went to see him on Tuesday night and asked Dad if he wanted to go as well. Daddy said no, that he would see him tomorrow. On the way up to Salt Lake the next day we got the call that he had passed away that morning. Sad to say, but it was very convenient that we were already there, so we were able to go to his burial.

Dad was sad and I was sad as well. We have been blessed to make several trips up to see him and G.Grandma Wall and they have been down here to visit as well. I really fell in love with them. G. Grandma is the sweetest thing...ever! I will post more about her at another time because this is really about G.Grandpa Wall. He was a good man, the one I knew, I have heard other stories, but will not share. He was very quiet and stayed to himself much of the time. He had a great love for the outdoors and animals. When ever he came to visit, he always looked after Skittles and Emma, when the rest of us didn't pay much attention to them. Skittles especially,(she wasn't the nicest cat). He always wanted to go to the horse races. This must be were Aunt Lindsey and Owen get their love for animals. He will definitely be missed. I know G.Grandma Wall will miss him terribly. I don't want to even think about ever losing your dad! His burial service was small and perfect. He wasn't a social man, so he did not want a viewing or a funeral service. After experiencing this burial, I wonder why anyone would want a funeral. This was so beautiful and just perfect. Uncle Ralf talked about his life and gave a blessing. We all felt the spirit and the peace that was there. The legacy that he has left behind is amazing. I will always be grateful to him for the son that he had, and grandson that is now my husband. We love you Great Grandpa Wall and will miss you.

Jake Turned The Big TEN!

Can you believe, I have a ten year old. If your age doesn't date you, then the ages of your kids will. This year we did a SURVIVOR theme. It was a lot of fun putting it together and the kids had a blast. He also had a family birthday party at my Mom's house. She has a pool and it's become a tradition to have Ethan and Jake's family party there so we can all swim. Jake is in football this year so he got a lot of football gear.
When I look at him...I think, man I can't believe he's ten! I know that I will always think that...where has the time gone. I love looking back at pictures and thinking...so cute! When I had Jake, I had no idea what I was doing or what life would be with a child, but I also knew from the minute he came into this world that I was meant to be his Mom and I couldn't see my life without him in it. I just remember thinking...wow, I never knew that you could love this much. That feeling was amazing and it was the greatest feeling with each child.
I have been trying to give Jake pieces of his life before Dad so that when the time came and he found out that he is was adopted by Brent, it wouldn't be such a shock. That time came a couple of months ago...I was talking to Jake about the family proclamation and it came up that I was alone with him in the beginning...so I told him about his biological father. It was hard, harder for me at least but he took it really well. He was a little sad, but latter on after a prayer I explained that this was not something to be sad about. We were so lucky to found Daddy, and Daddy was so lucky to have us. He has been talking about it more openly now and I am so glad its finally out.
Our next subject to tackle will be the birds and the bees but I think I'll let your Dad do that one. For subjects like these, I am so grateful to have the gospel. I am grateful to know that I can go to my Heavenly Father in prayer for help and guidance to give you boys the answers and comfort that you need.
I am so lucky to have you Jake. I love being your Mom. You bring so much joy into my life and I am so proud of you!

Fun Stuff We Did This Summer

This summer was so busy! It flew by. I still can't believe your back in school already. Here's a few things that we did...

Mom decided to have you guys do some FUN projects. Anything that requires a mess is always a blast. Owen got in on the action as well.....

Here's Owen helping me with another mess. He keeps me really busy!

He's always getting into something and I am always picking up after him. Justin was a lot like this. Him and Riley would scheme together to see what they could get into....

We also had swim lessons. I am so lucky to have a neighbor who teaches, so we just walk out our front door and there we are. Jake is too old for them now but Ethan and Justin took them and really improved. Justin is swimming so good now, he can go on the slide and get to the ladder without me having to get into the pool. It makes it easier on me because I have to look after Owen in the shallow end. I still keep an eye on him but he is doing really well. Ethan is a fish. Luckily all the boys have taken to the water really fast. Owen already floats on his back! We can't wait to get that pool in our back yard....right DAD!

Fourth of July

We usually go over Grandma and Grandpa Wall's house to celebrate the 4th with all the cousins. We had a good time. Dinner is always good, and Grandma goes out of her way to make sure the kids have fire crackers and glow sticks to play with.

We also got a chance to go to six flags. That was so fun! I took Jake and Ethan and Justin and Owen stayed home with Dad. We caught up with the cousins when we got there and had a blast. It was Ethan's first time to ride a roller coaster so I thought he would be scared, nope, not Ethan! He just laughed the whole time, I can't believe I expected anything but:) He's such a ham. I really wanted him to ride the shock wave but it was closed. Jake rode the titan three times. It was so much fun. I want to go back in October when it cools down a bit. Next time Dad will have to come with us.

The kids had a lot of fun this summer...I still haven't posted Jake's birthday or our trip to Destin.

They just played and hung out, did some soccer camps, football camps and got together with friends and family. I loved having them home with me!

Head Trama Part Two

Hopefully the saying of....it comes in three's does not come true in this family. I was talking to a friend on the phone while Jake comes in and says...MOM!!! LOOK!!! I turned around to Ethan with blood coming out of his head this time, so I got off the phone and examined it. Yep, he needed stiches. This time I knew. So I called my dear friend that I just got off the phone with and she took my kiddo's while Ethan, Owen (of course I couldn't leave him) and I went to the urgent care. This summer has been full of events! He cried and I held his hand, but at least I didn't have to hold him down kicking and screaming like a ten year old that I know. Three stiches, and I was able to take them out myself. ( I know, I am amazing:) ) Now they both have things to bragg about. Its all part of being a boy. I just hope that its not part of the other two until next year.

Part Two Utah Reuinon

Utah was a so much fun...hanging out with your cousins, Josh, Luke and Bella. We do not get to see them very often, so we really enjoyed being together. Justin and Josh were two peas in a pod.You guys played in the sand, jumped on the in-ground trampoline (very cool) and rode your monster wheels around the neighborhood. We love hanging out with them. Owen and Bella played together really well for two 14 month old. Sometimes we would catch them holding hands, or hugging! So CUTE! Bella had some really cute sandals that Owen loved. He wanted to wear them one day. It was so funny, so now he has this shoe thing. He loves shoes!

They are so cute together! Its so much fun when the cousins are close in age. We are very lucky to have that on both sides of the family. The kids really do enjoy playing together!

We all met up on at Salt Lake to look around and play together. We went to the conference center and took tons of pictures. It was a lot of fun just being together. Salt Lake is beautiful. I never get tired of it.

The temple is amazing.

Here we are at the visitor center. Last time we went, it was closed so it was fun to see all the new stuff that was up.

Most of the reunion time was spent at Aunt Jean's house. The kids (the dad's too) played some football. It was so fun watching them get so intense. I think Uncle Bryan, Uncle Jeff , Uncle Jared and Uncle Tim enjoyed it a little more than the younger ones. Good Times!

Justin and Owen had fun in the sand box and play house. The football game was a little too big for them.

Off to go do BYU stuff! We gotta do that every time we go there. That's Daddy's college and hopefully all of you boys will go as well.

See one in the making!

The rest of the trip was filled up with four-wheeling at Aunt Chris and Uncle Johns house, fishing in the mountains, playing rock band into the night and just hanging out and having fun.

I had to end with this picture! I love it....how many boys can you fit in one bath tub!

These are the moments we will remember. I didn't grow up with anything that comes close to these memories. I hope that my boys realize how blessed they are to be surrounded by wonderful people..on both sides of the family. Family who loves each other, and at the end of the day, we know that this is what life is all about!

Our Wall Family Reunion Trip Post One

Daddy and I really weren't looking forward to this trip. We were just there last summer, when everyone decided to have a reunion for this summer. We really wanted to go somewhere amazing like Cancun, or on a Cruise, but we sucked it up and planned our trip not knowing that this was where we needed to be and that we would be glad in the end. Family is so important. It's where our roots are and we are so lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives. Yes, there are some who drive us crazy during the process, but we are truly grateful to have such a close connection with everyone. Our first stop was to Colorado. Daddy took us to the Sand Dunes. We started Friday afternoon around four P.M and he drove all night and arrived at two A.M. We parked in a super market parking lot and sleep for a couple of hours, or at least he did. I was terrified someone was going to come knocking on our window, or someone would try to break in so I scanned the parking lot the whole time.

The Sand Dunes were AMAZING! No wonder Brent loved this growing up. We had to cross this river....it was iccccyyyy cold water that was coming off the mountains from the winter snow. It was very wild and sometimes there would be a small stream but not even a few seconds would pass and a rush of three inches would be running over your feet. The boys loved it. Ethan was crazy. Dad said he reminded him a lot like Uncle Bryan (his brother) Uncle Bryan would run crazy and was always goofing off...that's Ethan!

We had so much fun running up the mountains of sand and sliding back down, and running back up and sliding back down and running back up...man I'm tried just thinking about it. Owen had a blast! When we got home we bought more sand for the sandbox. He's out there all the time now. Trying to relive the moment.

















































Dad had so much fun with you boys. I loved watching you race up and down. We will definitely have to go back!

I had this great idea, that if I packed some food, it would save us a ton of money! Right! Nope, after adding it all up when we got home we realized that a couple of meals out was not going to break us. (it was the gas money that got us in the end!) Here's a picture of us picnicking at the Sand Dunes before we headed to Athens. I kept looking for bears. The food was out and I was worried! I know, a little crazy, but I have heard stories!

So, we just got out of heat and sand and to our amazement.....SNOW! Can you believe it! I was so excited and so were the boys! They wanted to get out and play in it so I let them for a little while, but we did not pack to play in the snow. It was so neat to see people skiing in the middle of JUNE! It was beautiful!

Ok, so we get to our hotel in GlenwoodSprings, Colorado and we were goofing off and came up with this video. The boys have me do this skit over and over and Owen thinks its pretty funny....

The next day we head to the bike shop and take a bike ride through the canyons. We did this when Justin was six months old and it was torture for him as a baby so I was a little worried about Owen. He was great! All the kids really enjoyed it. Jake and Ethan rode there bikes the entire 16.2 miles. The view was breath taking. I kept telling the boys to look! Its not every day that they get to see such beautiful mountains and rivers! I love being outdoors! I love nature, I am just terrified of the bears! Another picnic and another worried Mom...Jake had thrown a piece of his sandwich out in the grass because he didn't want it, here's how the conversation went. Mom-Did you just throw that food, do you realize that if you leave food around bears will come and eat it and then when other people stop to rest here they might get attacked by the bear that ate your bread...Jake-(didn't say anything....just looked at me like "what ever mom") I made him pick it up and eat it. Dirt and all. We had watched a documentary the other day about tape worms so he was mostly worried about getting a tape worm from the dirt than a bear:) Here are the pictures from the bike ride.

That night we went to Subway, had Marble Slab ice cream and called it a night. We got up the next morning and headed to UTAH! This is going to be a long one, so I will do a continued post.