End of Birthday Month

On Monday night, we all went to celebrate Braxton's birthday. At our home when it's your birthday, you get to pick dessert.

This year, Colton wanted the "biggest ice cream ever." Kaydon wanted "diabetes." Jackson wanted a Dairy Queen blizzard. Braxton wanted Baskin Robbins. We kind of REALLY like ice cream at our house!!

This month has now come to an end. Each of my boys is one year older. The first week and a half of school is in the books. The nights are beginning to be get cooler, and darker earlier.

This weekend, we will spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Nef who are coming from California for Braxton and Colton's ordinations on Sunday.

Cheers to another birthday month come and gone!

Braxton Turns 16!!

Braxton turns 16 today! He is in Drivers Ed this semester, and so depending on how amazing his grades are, he just might have a driver's license in a few months!

Braxton was THE cutest freaking baby. He was easy-going. He was goofy. He was silly. He was bald. He loved his big brother. He is still goofy and silly. He's got a whole lot of hair now. And he's not so easy-going any more. Braxton is my anxious boy. All of my boys are anxious (weird, considering I'm their mom!), but Braxton is extra anxious. School is very overwhelming to him. He is not my clean child. He is not my organized child, either. But, he is loads of fun. He says the funniest things. He is my fashion consultant. He is very out-going. He is a great little builder. He doesn't know what he wants to be when he's an adult yet, but hopefully he will at least start making some goals! I love this peanut. We butt heads a lot... a lot more than any of my children. But, I love him oh, so much. I am proud of him and I know he will do great things!

Jackson Turns 18!!

How is it even possible that my Jackson is 18?!

This boy had a tough time coming in to the world! The epidural wouldn't take. I pushed for three hours. They used the vacuum. They put the fetal monitor on the wrong part of his head, which he has a scar from. He had two heads for like two weeks. It was traumatic. He had colic for months and months and months. He didn't like sleeping.

Then, he became the biggest, brightest angel. This boy is amazing. He is responsible. He is frugal. He is cool. He is organized. He is a hard worker. He is a leader. He is loyal and committed to the people around him. He expects a lot of his friends. He wants so badly for them to be happy and healthy and safe.

Jackson is a senior this year. He wants to be an electrical engineer. He also wants to be a husband and a father. He will be the very best! I love this bubba of mine to the moon and back!

Kaydon & The Ladies

Kaydon had his one-on-one with Papa and Grandma last weekend. They went to the BYU Blue Bash. Apparently, a few girls asked Kaydon if he'd like to have a picture taken with them. His response? "Of course, Ladies!"

Such a swooner!!!

Back To School Feast 2017

Yesterday was our annual back to school feast. Because this is Jackson's last year in high school, I asked him to come up with our theme for the school year. He and I went shopping on Saturday for the handouts he would need. We also shopped for our dinner. Jackson decided on the following menu:
- Rump roast
- Homemade garlic mashed potatoes (I totally nailed it!!)
- Homemade pasta salad (I seriously totally nailed it!!)
- Rolls
- Apple cranberry cider
- Warm homemade cookies with ice cream for dessert

The theme that Jackson chose for the year is "Honor." He spoke about how each day, we should all return home with honor. He spoke about the ABC's of honoring the Priesthood with his brothers. He talked about dating and how the boys should always be respectful of the girls that they date and the rules in their homes. He spoke about respecting me, as their mama, respecting each other, respecting themselves, and honoring Heavenly Father. He gave each of them a card with the ABC's of honoring the Priesthood. He had a letter in front of each of us that spelled out "honor." He asked each of us to explain what honor means to us. It was a great conversation and a great dinner!

Besides the usual burping and farting at the dinner table (good times), it was a really great dinner. I love my boys so, so much. I am so stinking proud of them. I can't believe that this is Jackson's last year of school. He is such a good example to me and to his brothers, who adore him!

Kaydon is 15!!

This miracle boy of mine is 15 today! As per tradition, I will be emailing his gastroenterologist an update on this boy who so many thought would die in infancy. His doctor felt otherwise and always fought hard for Kaydon! Kaydon is creative, hard-working, driven, spiritual, loyal, and has so much personality! He will be a 9th grader this year!! I cannot wait to see what this year brings him! Love you, Buddha!

Celebrating 14 Years With Colton

Uncle Ernie wanted to make sure that Colton had the biggest ice cream ever. So, he supplied and we delivered! Jackson and I made THE biggest ice cream sundae of all time. I'm pretty sure it was about 586030 calories. And what?! Colton went outside and told everyone to come in and eat. We sang Happy Birthday to him and he just grinned! Then, I handed out plastic spoons and everyone dug right in.

This cute little nugget, David, came from no where. I've never seen him before in my life and I seem to feed A LOT of kids each night. He was like four years old and he was SO excited to be at a "party!" Everyone, besides Jackson, had given up. Either because they had extreme brain freeze or because they were praying they would vomit! Little David looked at Jackson and said, "Well, guess it's just you and me." Jackson got such a kick out of him.

We sure love our Colton. He bore his testimony in church yesterday. You never know what's going to come out of his mouth and so I was relieved that nothing inappropriate popped out! He is a sweet boy, who is always worried about everyone else. Here is hoping that he will have another amazing school year!

Colton Turns 14!

Today is Colton's 14th birthday!

Colton has been excited about this day since about September of last year. He has not told everyone who he looks at that today is his birthday about 1,283 times. I'm sure he's been busy knocking on doors, as well, to tell them of the importance of this day! Colton LOVES to celebrate his birthday every year!

Sweet Colton is our loving, sensitive, inquisitive, curious, happy boy. Autism has been a blessing in our home and in our lives. I often wish that we all lived in his world. It is a happy world, where everyone is good and everyone means well. It's so awesome!

I can't wait to celebrate this boy tonight.

Five Months and Two Months

We had some visitors on Tuesday night. Asher is five months old. Anson is two months old. They are complete opposites! Like, completely and totally opposite. In every way.

Asher is thick. He is built like a tank. He is a spaz! He is all over the place. He does not like to sit and be still. He is loud. He spits all over. He laughs like crazy. He flexes his muscles. He is a hoot!

Anson is so thin. He is long and thin. He is chill. He is completely calm. He is rolling over. The same cannot really be said for his big brother. Asher gets super frustrated going from tummy to back. Anson can just sit or lay down and be happy and content. He puts up with Asher until Asher is really over the top - then he'll let him know!

These boys are SO much fun. They are such a blessing in our family. Their cousins absolutely adore them. I cannot get enough of them. Their mommy and daddy are doing so good! Oh, the boys!!

Little Less Wisdom

Yesterday morning, Brax had seven treasure boxes of wisdom removed. This kid has had seven operations - four of them life-saving. He was by far the most nervous about this one!! And, he was NOT happy about not being able to eat. Poor Peanut!

The surgery went well and we got home within a couple of hours. The doctor said Wednesday through Friday will be the worst. Because of the amount of teeth, his right side is BAD. It is so swollen that he can't close that side of his mouth. And, it's going to get worse. Awesome! Jackson is in charge today and tomorrow. If they need me, they will call me and I will be right there!

Peanut asked to keep his teeth, thinking the tooth fairy is coming. News alert: The tooth fairy isn't coming! I'll take more pictures when he says it's okay. I don't want to make him feel bad right now.

Kaydon and Bert Do Lakehouse

Bert rented a little spot on Tuesday for he and Kaydon to go enjoy the lake. They paddleboarded and surfed behind a boat. They had a little part of the lake all to themselves. Kaydon got to drive the boat for a little bit and he showed me video of him behind the boat.

I love Bert. I love that Kaydon has such a great man to look up to and to learn from!

The Carpenter

Braxton has been working this summer to build a studio apartment in Cam's family's shop out back. He has put insulation in the walls, installed drywall, and now is working on the bed/storage area. Yesterday, he completed the framing part of the bed. The bed will be on the top, with a couch, or dresser or whatever underneath. This will be lived in by one of Cam's sisters.

Braxton is seriously good at this stuff. It comes very natural for him. He can build most anything and he really enjoys doing it. Plus, his tallness is a bonus!!

Lots of Wisdom

Monday, Braxton came to work with me all day because he had an oral surgeon appointment in Ogden that afternoon. He was super well-behaved for the first five hours, then he started to do annoying teenager things, such as: wheel himself around the entire office in a desk chair whilst playing games on his phone, search every drawer in my office for snacks over and over and over again, ask 12569403 questions... the list really goes on and on. Good thing he's cute.

He and I headed to the doctor and found out quickly that the boy has seven wisdom teeth. Seven. Not four. Seven. The doctor said, "Well, that's rare." I guarantee you that I have heard those words regarding my children 1839205837 times. For real. Seven. Ugh. They wanted to do surgery Wednesday. Uh, no. So, Monday is the day. Surgery on Monday for seven dang wisdom teeth. You'd think that seven wisdom teeth would equal a whole lot of wisdom. Unfortunately in Braxton's case, that just isn't the way it's worked out. Good thing he's cute!

More Swimming

Saturday, I told Colton that I would take him swimming. Before I knew it, there were six other kids who jumped in to the back of the truck. I had so many children and so many tubes and only so many bottles of water and so many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Everyone was sprayed with sun screen. Everyone swam for three hours. No one was injured. Everyone went home tired. Success!!

And, don't mind the ice in my "cleavage." It was flipping hot!!!!

Friday Night Concert

I had free tickets to a concert on Friday night at the Ogden City Amphitheater. It was a country music concert and I was a little worried about Colton. I stole some ear plugs from my guys and we headed there anyways. Jackson, Braxton, and Cam were good sports, as they are not big country music fans. But, as soon as Runaway June came out - Jackson was sold!!! Cute girls! Colton did awesome! We didn't make it to the last act - Drake White - but all in all, I think he did so good! It was a great night outside, listening to good music!