Here I am behind on my blogging as usual.

I made a goal a few months back to blog

daily or at least weekly.

I believe that lasted a few days.

Life...

keeps getting in the way of all the things

I really want to do.

So... let's back things up here a bit

and rewind to the beginning of August.

Starting with our overnight camping trip

at Hope Campground, near Squaw Peak.

(up Provo Canyon)

... 

I have always enjoyed the outdoors

but my dear sweet husband does not.

(Just one of our many differences. ) 

Also to give the  poor guy a break; 

he works a bajillion zillion hours.

He doesn't have time to go camping. 

:(

So taking matters into my own hands

I summoned my Mother to help me out.

Now, my Mom....

 being the amazing & talented lady she is;

 not only helped make this happen 

she made our camp out awesome!!!!

She reserved a nice spot for us.

She planned and prepared all our food.

She set up a scavenger hunt for the boys.

She brought all the camping gear.

(including tiki torches)

She scouted out a hike for us.

She brought Dan as our male role model,

camp bodyguard and good company. :)

She took lots and lots of pictures.

All I did was:

 Pack over night bags for the boys.

Show up!

Did I mention how amazing my Mom is????

Seriously, she made that trip so awesome.

Thank you Mom!

Now brace yourselves people....

I have many pictures to share.

:)

Yea! We are camping! Yea! Yea!

Unloading the car & set up.

Mom packed everything a person needs
to go camping. It was great!

Instead of unloading the car the boys were
already off doing their own thing.
Don't worry. We ruined their fun and
made them come help. :)

Next they were off gathering kindling for the fire.

Cody is stepping up to take
Trevor's place as Lord of the Fire.

Either Landen is teeny tiny or that kindling is a bit large???

Crew was excited to find this rubber band in the dirt.

He was also excited to find a nice spot to relax.

Okay....
I am so sick of this post.
Have had it open for a week now.
Ha!
Maybe another day???
Sorry, what you see is what you get.
;)

So here we are at the end 

of this not long enough Summer.

The kids are back in School

 and I find it all bittersweet.

I love my Summers with the boys.

Love having no schedules to follow,

no homework (I hate homework!),

but most of all I just love having them around.

Usually! :)

This year Cody is in the 3rd grade

and Landen is in Kindergarten.

They are so excited to be attending the same school.

It's so cute to me how much they love each other

and look forward to doing things together.

Cody's first day of school was last week.

His teacher this year is Mrs. Orr.

He is very happy to have a classroom

in the school and not in the temps.

He was bummed school was already starting again

but now he says he is happy about it and likes it.

Alex & Cody

Rachel, Cody & Alex

Cody & Paige

Cody, Brooke, Paige & Crew

Cody & Alex

Landen had his first day of school today!

So exciting!!!

He has been ready to go for weeks.

I put Landen in afternoon kindergarten

 and does not start until 12:45pm. 

This morning he was ready to leave at the

same time Cody leaves in the morning.

Had his back pack on and all!

He was not thrilled when I told him he still

had about 4 hours until he goes. 

When the time finally rolled around

he was ready to go to school!

We were planning to walk over to the school

with his buddy Luke and his parents.

They were not ready fast enough for Landen.

He says to me," lets just go!" then starts walking away.

He makes me laugh.

No messing around with him. :)

Once we got to school he was totally done with me.

While the kids were lined up outside the classroom 

I was saying goodbye and trying to hug & kiss him.

He was pushing me away and just ready to be on his own.

:( 

This is completely opposite of Cody

 on his first day of Kindergarten.

Every kid does have their own personality!

Walking to school.

Welcome to Kindergarten!

The door to Mrs. Anderson's classroom.

Luke & Landen

Lining up before the bell rings.

On his way!

After school was over and the boys were home.

I asked Landen how it all went?

He was acting a little bummed out and replied,

"it was nothing special!"

Okay????

That was all he had to say about that.

:)

Saturday, Aug. 6th 2011

 My dear, sweet, husband Matt 

baptized our son, Cody.

His baptism was very special 

and very memorable.

{In a cute, sweet way}

Let me explain...

After Matt finished the baptism prayer

then dunked Cody under the water,

his little hand did not completely go under.

If any part of you does not go under water

then the whole baptism has to be done again.

The second time around went perfect.

So Cody can say he was baptized twice.

Later, Matt was telling me what he had 

said to Cody right before they entered the font.

It was about making sure he didn't

let his feet pop up out of the water,

 not even one little pinky toe!

Otherwise, the baptism has to be done again.

 He didn't think to mention the hands too. 

:)

After Cody was baptized we all moved to

 another room in the church where we had 

a little program and then his confirmation.

My Mom, spoke first.

She did an amazing job.

Just like I new she would.

Cody's sweetheart Paige,

sang a beautiful song for us.

So tender and sweet!!!

My awesome Dad confirmed Cody.

It means a lot to me, that my Dad

could be a part of this special day.

F.Y.I.  I have so many great pictures

it is so hard to pick just a few.

So believe me when I say this is 

just a few. I have a about 200 or so.

Here are some of my Favorites...

Cody is showing off his new silver CTR ring.
Love his blue eyes!!!!

My Mom & Matt's parents got Cody a set
of personalized scriptures. 

 My Mom totally out did herself by making
several dozen number 8 sugar cookies to
hand out after the baptism. So yummy!!!

She individually packed each cookie!

I loved this whole idea and wanted to make them myself.
I never found the time to do so. I am so thankful
for my Mom and all her hard work and time to make these.

Brooke looking so beautiful in her dress.

Group shot with my Mom & Dan.

Group shot with Matt's parents & brother Justin.

Grandma Simcox & Landen

Cody received this CTR picture holder & tithing bank
from Grandma & Grandpa Simcox.

G&G Simcox, Cody & Thaxton.

This picture of the kids is too dang cute!
Especially Landen. He knows what he likes. :)
{Thaxton, Crew, Brooke, Landen, Paige, Miley}

Trevor's family with my Dad & Tammy.

Our Happy Family

Group shot with my Dad & Tammy.