Merry Christmas!!!

Allias and Kailyn were super concerned about keeping all of our Christmas traditions this year. They kept asking me over and over again if we were going to do the same things we always do. I think they just wanted things to stay as normal as possible since it was just going to be the three of us. They were very happy that we decorated the tree, opened Christmas jammies and a Christmas book, read the story of Jesus' birth from the bible, made cookies for Santa and didn't bring out any presents until after they were sound asleep Christmas Eve. They also have told me several times that going through their stocking is their favorite part of Christmas morning so I went a little crazy this year in the stocking department- it took me three tries to stuff everything in lol and they weighed a ton. I thought I took some pictures of their full stockings but I must have deleted them on accident.
Christmas Eve in front of the tree
Kailyn with the contents of her stocking

Allias with his- he always tells me he feels like their is magic in the stocking because it never seems to end.

Travis didn't get to be here to see the kids open their presents this year so these videos are mainly for him. The kids seriously had noooooo idea what they were getting this year and they were both sooooo surprised it was AWESOME!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Ours was one of our best ones yet!!!

Wise men seek Him still

Duke vs State volleyball

A few weeks ago we went to NC State with some friends to watch the girl's volleyball team take on Duke. Of course Allias had to come and cheer for the Duke girl's. He also recruited these two.
Trav and Allias after the game

K getting her volleyball signed- all the players remembered her (even her name) from the previous games and clinics. I have to agree that she is totally unforgettable!

Sweet Ciara (love love love love this girl) and K

K and her bff E

me and my bff

of course Allias had to take the opportunity to meet and greet with the Duke girls......

We really wanted to get his picture taken with the whole team but most of them headed right to the locker room after the game.

and in case you were wondering Duke killed it- won three straight sets

I want to blog

but.......

I don't really have much to say so let me just share a couple of cute stories with you.

Sunday our whole family was fasting. Our ward meets at one o'clock so I was cooking dinner in the morning. We were having company that evening and I wanted everything to be ready when we got home. I had put chili in the crock pot and there were cornbread muffins baking in the oven and honestly the kitchen smelled delicious. Both kids came through as I was cleaning up whining about how I was torturing them. When I said how do you think I feel it is right here in my face. K looked at me and said "but you are more righteous then us!"


Travis was teaching the kids how to clean a bathroom. They started in my bathroom and he did most of the cleaning with them watching. Then they cleaned the guest bathroom with them doing most of the cleaning and him watching to make sure they were doing it the way he had taught. As we was explaining something to K she looked up at him and said, "Dad you would make a great janitor."


Yesterday I was sitting at the table studying my scriptures and getting ready for Seminary. K looked at me and said, "mom you know who you remind me of?" I asked her who and she proceeded to tell me that I reminded her of the girls in the scriptures who had the lamps and were prepared. I was having a rough day and that sure made me feel a lot better.
Love this quirky little girl!

Wake UP!

One of Travis' cousins (who I consider a dear friend) started a blog encouraging members of the church to get involved politically! I am so excited to read what she has to say and so happy to have been able to spend some time with her and her husband in Washington DC at the Restoring Honor Rally.

Here is a link to her blog- her first post is AMAZING!!!! I can't wait to read more!!!!

http://wakeuplds.blogspot.com/

Volleyball

Kailyn and I are LOVE LOVE LOVING volleyball!!!

She is getting so good too! I couldn't even believe how well she played in her last game. Her passes were amazing! I am super proud of her and super excited she has finally found a sport she really enjoys. She goes by Kay on the court and thinks it is so awesome that she has a nickname. This is the first time I have ever volunteered as an assitant coach on one of her teams and I am having a blast.

We have been to two volleyball clinics at NC State. The first one was after Kailyn had literally practiced one time. It was very cool to see how much she has improved since then.

We had so much fun this time around. We had our whole team and some of our friends with us- after the clinic we went out to dinner near campus and we even stayed and watched the NC State vs Virginia Tech volleyball game.

After the clinic all the girls got posters and had the player's sign them. Kailyn brought her poster to me and showed me her favorite player, Brie. Then right before the game started each of the players threw a little signed volleyball up into the crowd and Kailyn got Brie's ball. She was sooooo happy. After the game Brei was sweet enough to let us take a picture. As we were getting in the car we realized that Brei is number seven and that is Kailyn's number too. Way cool!
Kailyn also had the greatest time dancing around and acting silly with Mr. Wuf

Crashed

Every weekend we end up with at least two extra teenagers in the house and every weekend they pool all their money together to get video games, movies and lots and lots of junk food and every morning this is what we see when we wake up.........

Birthday Cake (kind of)

A few Sundays ago we had the missionaries over for dinner. While we were at church we found out that it was Elder Gilbert's birthday. We were totally bummed we didn't have anything at home to make him a cake and since we don't shop on Sundays we couldn't just go out and get something last minute.

After dinner we really wanted to sing Happy Birthday so we decided to get a bit creative. We took a VERY stale doughnut (they were day old when we bought them the day before) and covered it with peanut butter, Reese's Pieces and chocolate chips. Then we stuck in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it up a bit and melt the chocolate.

He was a super good sport and even took a bite! He said it wasn't too bad and even offered to share some with his companion. (sadly his offer was declined).

Happy Birthday Elder Gilbert! (he actually went home this week I think)

Bathing I mean errrr Sleeping Beauty

A few weeks ago just as I was falling asleep Kailyn came into my room because she saw or heard something outside her bedroom window and was scared. This is not an unusual occurrence and I was super tired so naturally I told her everything was fine and to go back to bed.

The next morning I went into my bathroom to get ready for Seminary and found this.........

Wow it has been awhile!

Mom (and anyone else who actually reads my blog) I am sorry I have been such a slack blogger.
Since my last post the following things have happened (not necessarily in this order)

-We decided to move back to Washington!!!!!!
-Tyler moved to Utah (he is living with Bradley and Brittney and is seriously totally loving life out there)
-Kailyn turned 11
-Allias spent a few weeks in California with Uncle Jan
-Kailyn and I traveled all over Washington and Utah visiting friends and family
-We spent countless hours and way to much money trying to get our house ready to sell
-Kailyn, Allias and I went to the Restoring Honor Rally in Washington DC
-Allias quit the marching band
-Travis traveled to Washington for a job interview (and to visit with family)
-Travis got the job in Washington
-We put our house on the market (today actually lol)
-Allias is trying out for the high school basketball team (he is totally going to make the team)
-Our bird Frodo went to his new home and loves it
-We also found a new home for our cat Mowgli- she is doing awesome
-We painted a lot- oh did I say we? Let me rephrase that- Travis painted a lot
-New carpets
-Had a serious adventure hiring someone to refinish our hardwood floors (never take the lowest bid is our new motto)
-I have been so busy packing cleaning and painting that she has had ZERO time to work out
-I am flabby and tired now
-Kailyn started volleyball and she and her team are doing awesome!
-I am the assistant coach for her team (LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!!)
-Grandpa Paul bought Kailyn her first guitar
-Kailyn started guitar lessons and is catching on quickly
-Had to fix both of our cars at the same time
-Our computer bit the dust (my lack of blogging probably has more to do with this then the fact I have been so busy)
-The broken computer was probably- no not probably- it totally was a blessing in disguise
-Realized we didn't go to the beach once this entire summer- sad

I am sure other things happened that I am forgetting and I actually have pictures to go along with many if not most of these events that I may or may not get around to posting but now that the house is actually for sale I may have time to blog again

Look what we found!!!!
Travis and Tyler have been out in the yard working all day. While they were weed-eating Travis disturbed a nest of bunnies. The little furballs scattered all over the place and Tyler chased this one all the way to the woods and caught it. It seriously screamed like a severely wounded baby all the way back to the house.

After they put the little guy back in the grass we found out they have a little burrow back there.

I guess that is what happens when you let your grass grow and grow and grow and grow.............

18!!!!

I can't even count how many times I have thought to myself, "when Tyler is 18 I will only be 35"

Well that day has come (this post is a little late I have been without a computer)

Tyler,

I look forward to seeing you accomplish many great things. You have your whole life ahead of you. The sky's the limit!!!!
Soon you will be heading out to Utah and I know you are looking forward to a new adventure. Even though you will be thousands of miles away you will always be on my mind and in my heart.
Remember that we will always be here for you and more importantly you can always rely on your Savior Jesus Christ. He knows you, loves you unconditionaly and only He can truly understand the trials you may face in this life. He will never let you down. I hope you know that.

Being your mother has taught me so much. I hope that I have taught you something along the way as well. I love you.


Happy 18th Birthday Tyler!!!!

More pictures from Trek

Cutest Pioneer ever!
Allias and his "family"

Working hard. He looks a little more like an outlaw then a pioneer in this photo! Getting a massage after a hard day of pushing. What a nice Ma!

"Family Portrait"

They had a family reunion last week but Allias was sick and couldn't go. He was dissapointed. He loved his family and the trek.

Girl time

Girl's night!!! Banana Splits and Lord of the Rings.
(ice cream with only five ingredients- add bananas, strawberries and homemade whip cream, and if you are Kailyn snickers bars for a little added kick and yeah it is pretty amazing)






(P.S. I got a new camera and I am super happy with it!)
I took this picture in my closet with the door closed and the light off. This is the first camera I have ever had that could take pictures in the dark!

knowing

Having a child with mental illness is super hard. Like many things it is one of those situations that you can't really understand unless you live it day in and day out. I don't expect anyone to really know what we are going through. I actually don't even expect them to try. I even recognize that I don't truly understand what it is like for Tyler and that quite possibly it may be harder on him then it is on us.
Despite all of the mixed emotions and uncertainty there are some things I understand with absolute clarity. I know that Heavenly Father knows me and that He knows Tyler. My dependence on the Lord is real. I have been humbled in ways I didn't think were possible. I have cried out to the Lord and sometimes I have just cried. I have had my prayers answered and I have felt the love of the Lord and I have seen the "multitude of His tender mercies" continually. We have been blessed with so many Christlike people in our lives that have reached out their arms and hands in support of my son and my family in the most desperate of times.
I don't know what the years ahead hold for Tyler. Honestly I don't know what the days ahead hold for him. I can only continue to hope and to pray and to love. It isn't easy and I don't do it perfectly. I really struggle to even do it well sometimes but I am trying.
*thank you Kevin for this picture- it is a treasure

Summer so Far

Having no camera is lame. Most of these pictures I stole from other people because my kids just happened to be in the pictures. It will be a little like the game Where's Waldo but I promise you they are there somewhere.
So far this summer.....
Molly got a haircut

As you can see she was in desperate need of one!
Kailyn and I hung out at the pool with friends.


Allias went on Trek (had an amazing spiritual experience)









Kailyn spent a week away from home and then preformed in the Promised Land Pageant (had an amazing spiritual experience)
I used Allias' camera to take some adorable pictures of Kailyn in her Nephite outfit at the pageant but as soon as we got home he left for scout camp and while he was there he deleted them. I am not even kidding when I say that I totally bawled like a baby when I found out. Here she is in her pioneer outfit though. So happy the Judd girls were able to loan her their trek clothes!

I only was able to talk to Kailyn once or twice while she was gone because they were so busy but every time I did she sounded like she was glowing. She told me she started crying when all the children got to go up and touch the hands of the Savior. She is totally ready to do it again next year! I really hope we can all go as a family next time.




Allias also went to scout camp. You would think since he deleted my pictures from the pageant we would have some super fantastic pictures from scout camp to make up for it but nope- he didn't take any (he only took videos of boys being stupid). He hurt his wrist the week before he left so he couldn't swim or do some of the other activities but he still had a good time.

And last but certainly not least we got to be models for a photography group! So much fun. You can see all the pictures here.