The Comfort of a Brother

 Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet. - Vietnamese Proverb

Simple Pleasures

Birthday Gauntlet

12 Times Through

A Time Honored Tradition!

Seth Through the Years

Newborn- 10 days

8 Months- Started walking

1 Year

2 Years

3 Years

4 Years

5 Years

6 Years- Just before Dad left for Iraq

7 Years

8 Years

9 Years

10 Years

11 Years

12 Years

Let's Go Fly A Kite

A beautiful day for kite practice!

Success!

“Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine.” 

―President Gordon B. Hinckley

Campaign Season

Campaign season has been in full swing around these parts.  Brigham decided to run for  Student Body Business Manager.  He decided to enlist the help of his cute little siblings to get the girl vote.  They are darling.   He also did a fantastic skit based on the Old Spice Commercial.  It was hilarious and secured his victory.  Congrats Brig!

No one was more surprised than we were when Katry came home and announced that she was going to run for Freshman Class Secretary.  She was in Student Council her 7th grade year- but I know she didn't contribute much.  She was/is very quiet.  We read over the list of requirements- she had to do a skit and then if she made it past that round- she would have to do a speech.  Well that was the clincher- no way was she going to do that.  Nothing was said for another week or two- then once again she came home from school and  announced that she really was going to run.  Of course, we were shocked, but saw that she was determined and so we got to work.  We decided on our slogan- Life is Short!  So am I!  Vote Katry Redd Secretary!  I know it makes no sense- but I guess that is the point.  So we were going to put her next to something tall- like the Statue of Liberty or something like that. Then we got a flash of brilliance and decided to use her good looking big brother on the poster.  It worked like a charm.  All kinds of people came out of the woodwork to tell her how "hot" her brother is.  It definitely got people talking and knowing her name.  

Then we decided to use Brigham in her skit as well.   Since he had just done his Old Spice skit- we used a similar thing and just added Katry into it.  It was perfect!  Everyone loved it.  She made it past round one and had to do the speech on her own.  Brig helped her write the speech- but she had to deliver it all by herself and she NAILED it!   I was a little speechless as I watched my shy little girl up there delivering a flawless, hilarious speech!  The night before I asked her how she was feeling- thinking she would be super nervous- but she looked at me with a big smile on her face and said- Mom, I've got this!  Afterwards we talked about what a great experience it was to have finished something that seemed impossibly hard in the beginning and we agreed that it had been a great experience.  It was so fun to watch her confidence soaring!  

The voting was today and she found out that she had WON!  These two will be representing their school next year in Student Council. We are so excited that they will have this class together.  Their friendship has changed sooooo much this last year as they went from a lot of contention to best friends again.  It has been beautiful to watch and we are THRILLED!

Birthday Boy

Cute little Kai has turned 4!  He is sunshine and happiness and pure joy.

Everything he does he finds delight in.  He loves to jump out of the car,  he loves to jump on your back,  he is a regular tigger.  He loves to be happy!  

Kai wanted to go to the Zoo for his birthday.  Here Laini is enjoying the monkey.

And here she is covering her eyes cause she thinks she got too close.

This peacock opened up these beautiful feathers- unfortunately, I didn't get my camera out until he turned to the side.  I don't think I have ever actually seen that with my own eyes before.  So pretty.

This Wallaby has the sweetest little baby bouncing around with him.  Too cute!

Lion tamer!

There is no way that Elaina is putting her head in this lion's mouth to get a drink.  No way!

Kai- however- is happy to show her how it is done!

Conquering Tigers!

Petting Donkeys!

Feeding ducks!

This face and hair just cracked us up!

Birthday Interview with

Kai: age 4

Who is your best friend?  Kaleb

What is your favorite thing to do?  Build puzzles

What is your favorite color?  red

What is your favorite food?  corn dogs-cause they are like light sabers

What do you like to do with your family?  play with them

What is your favorite toy?  the Spiderman one

What do you want to be when you grow up?  I want to stay and play with my family

What makes you happy?  everything- opening his arms up wide to include it all

What makes you sad?  mean talking

What is your favorite show to watch?  Ninjago

What is your Favorite book?  The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear

What do you love to learn about?  animals

What was the best part of your birthday?  opening presents and going to the zoo

Where do you like to go?  hotels

What is your favorite treat?  that's easy to tell, big suckers

What do you think about before falling asleep?  umm my birthday

What is your favorite game?  Oh yea- building puzzles and like flicking puzzle pieces

What is your favorite fruit?  peaches

I wish I could bottle him up!  He reminds us to see the joy in living!

We love you Zeb!

Wash N Wear

"One of the great discoveries of parenthood is that we learn far more about what really matters from our children than we ever did from our parents." 

Elder Boyd K Packer