12 is a big one!

Bethanie chose Lobster Bisque with salad and bread as her birthday dinner. Her birthday cake(wreck) was a butterbeer flavored cake with a caramel filling. She chose cookie dough ice cream to go along with the cake. 

Bethanie has really been looking forward to this birthday! Twelve is a big year in our church. She will graduate from primary and join the youth program at church. She is also able to attend the temple now. She is very excited!

Bethanie plays the flute in band this year, she still loves singing with the school choir, she has an after school job walking a neighbor's dog, and she LOVES cross country running. She really enjoyed swimming this last summer, and can't wait to get back in the pool. 

We are so grateful for the sweet and helpful girl that she is. She is very good at showing gratitude for everything she has been given. She is a blessing in our home.

Fall Break 2014

It started with a trip to the movie theater, then we took a short trip to Tuttle Orchards. It was a lovely fall break!

Eight Months Old

She has really started exploring everything. She loves to give us all big, wet kisses. :)

A Whole Decade

Sadie is 10! Sadie is a very passionate child! When she is happy, she is the happiest person you have ever met. When Sadie is upset or sad, watch out, she will put all that she has into those emotions as well. Sadie is such a great big sister to Brady, Wes, and Jolie. She also loves to spend post bed time hours chatting with her big sister and catching up.

Sadie says that she wants to be an Engineer when she grows up. She is really enjoying 4th grade right now. She has finally started to embrace the concept of cross country running and sometimes even admits that she likes it. She enjoys singing in the school choir.

Wes, Jolie, and I visited Sadie's school for lunch. We had quite a crowd of girls collect around us. Jolie and Wesley seemed to be celebrities.

First Meet!

It was a chilling 45 degrees!

Even Wesley got to do his first race!

The Story Behind the Song

Brady: "Mom, you know that song about America? The one about the dawn light that was early?"
Sadie: "Uh, Brady, that song is kind of a big deal in this country.  It's our national anthem."
Brady: "Well, I found out what it means today!! These guys woke up in the morning and figured out there had been a war during the night!  They realized that they won it and they were really happy!"

Me: "Yeah, it's a good song, Brady. I think there were just a few details you may have forgotten though."  :)

XC 2014

(Wesley is not officially participating, but *thinks* he is.)