glimpse of a special day

 We are so proud of you, BJK.

What a great choice, to be baptized into the 

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

 Grandpa & Grandma Braithwaite came...

 so did Grandma Duffin!

In fact, you had LOTS of people who love and adore you!

Thank you, Grandpa & Grandma B., Grandma D., Eric & Heidi & Kaitlin, London, and Lydia, Jared & Niccole, Taya and Garrett, Shelly & Brian, Ashly, Tanner and Hallie.

We loved sharing our day with all of you. 

 And Braden, we LOVE YOU!!

8 is great!

We are so proud of you BJK!

Congratulations on your special day.

(Thanks, Shirlee, for the awesome subway art. 

It's perfect!

Wish you were here.)

unchartered territory.

So. Excited.

Braden is officially a cub scout!

He is so thrilled and has read the Wolf book cover to cover.

Here we go!!

self. portrait.

BJK's self portrait.

I see a comic-book king in the future.

 

Oh, wait... he already is one.

funny boy

...have I mentioned?   I love this kid!

mission control?

How I love this kid!

BJK's astronaut Halloween costume came in the mail today...

and he has had it on ever since.

(he had no idea I was even in the room!)

new bike.

 New bike for Braden!

 It took some practice to get the braking figured out.

No major wrecks due to Kelly's expert training.

 

 

 

Braden did great because of,

or despite,

his sisters constant silliness and cheerleading!

 Very proud.

Way to go, big guy.

BJK Rocks

 Braden did such a fabulous job this summer!

 His teacher, Braydon, always used him as the example of how to do it right!!

(Maybe he just liked saying his name?)

 It was a fun session with his friend, Casen.

BJK ... YOU ROCK!

a bit of catch up...

Hi everybody!

While I am sitting her (impatiently) waiting for the last load of laundry to dry....

so that we can get away for the weekend... hooray,

I thought I would do a quick update..
Here are a few things that have gone on in the
days of the duffins...

 

Happy Mom's Day to me.. 

Braden's life size love note on my closet door!

Love that boy!

 Kimbel's 4th grade UTAH program..

complete with squaredancing! 

With a boy... ick.

 Kenna's 6th grade graduation from Rose Springs.

She was thrilled and adorable and I am SO NOT READY for another Jr. Higher.

 Kimbel's soccer season comes to end... bittersweet.

She is one rock-n-roll sweeper.

She seriously "gets the job done" according to coach. :)

 Youth Conference in Ophir!

I got to stay home while Mr. YM President took his 15 year old daughter and FROZE nearly to death.

But they both came home with stories to tell... it's all good!

 ... and I stayed home and finished up my "project."

300 temple pictures for Girls Camp!

DONE.

Yup, done.

whew.

Hope you are all good -

 off to the next adventure...

including Idaho, California, and Mexico.

Stay tuned.

Super B!

 Party weekend!  Thursday we celebrated a little "which hand" with gifts for the big guy.  We also had a yummy gigantic chocolate chip birthday cookie!  Delicious.

On Friday the kids got out early ~ so we headed down to Thanksgiving Point to the dinosaur museum.  Braden was in heaven and loved it all.

My favorite quote of the day: "Mom, thanks for giving birth to me, so that I could celebrate my birthday."  

Seriously, kid?  Love him! :)

Then on Saturday we wrapped it all up with a Super Mario Party ~ a fun-filled, fast-paced, game-crazy hour and a half.  (I needed a nap after the kids left!)

So, one successful seven-year old celebration?  Check.  Whew.  

Lucky 7 - BJK!!

Happy Birthday, BJK!

Wow - seven years ago we were LUCKY enough

to have a little boy come home!

Life's never been the same.

Love you!!

what I love about Christmas...

Here is the sign Braden made for his door.

"Anyone can come in but Madison.  

Why?  you ask?

Because I am making the present for Madison because I drew her name out of the bowl."

I seriously love this kid.

together we can...

...change the world and 

reach the stars!

We are so proud of Kimbel and Braden!!  

They both won awards on Friday evening at their school's REFLECTIONS contest. They each came up with their own theme and told me what to buy to help them make their posters!

They both won "Interpretation of Theme" and get to move on to the District level.  They were SUPER excited and SO proud of their trophies.  FUN!

It was pretty stiff competition and I had my comfort speech all prepared and didn't have to give it!  We just headed for ColdStone to celebrate!  YAY!

the tooth fairy returns.

okay.  So, I need to preface this post with a little story.


In June I headed off for a week at Girls Camp and left the younger kids in the competent, loving care of their father.  Perfect.  I came home very late Thursday night, 1:30amish, so we could get on the road to CA on Friday.  


I woke up Friday morning (clean and in my own warm bed) with Kimbel face to face.


"Mom, the tooth fairy didn't come.  For two nights."


"Really?  Hmm?"


"I don't know what to do, because we are going on vacation and I won't be in my own bed."


"Hmmm."


"Should I take my tooth?  Or should I leave it here?"


"Hmmm.  Seriously?"


So.. together we decided she should DEFINITELY take the tooth - because that tooth fairy had better get her (or his) act together!!


Happy to report the tooth fairy found us in our hotel in Nevada and Kimbel was rewarded with not one, but TWO dollars, for her patience!

* * * * *

Now to last night.

We went to Jared and Niccole's to celebrate Jare's Happy Birthday!  WooHoo!  Yummy cake.  Thanks!

While there Aunt Nicc caught sight of Braden's loose teeth on the bottom.  Now, I know that she LOVES all things dental.. but I DIDN'T know that she LOVES to pull teeth, too.  (One of those hidden talents that shouldn't be hidden under a bushel... or something like that.)

Anyway.  She convinced B. to follow her to her office (the bathroom) and proceeded to pull out his tooth.  Yes.  I know, I couldn't believe it until I saw it for myself.  No crying during.  Just a little after.  After the realization that it was not part of his body anymore.  Wow.  (She didn't cry either.)

So, after trying to convince him to let her pull out the second loose tooth, but with no success.  We headed home to tuck the tooth safely under Braden's pillow.

And... yes.  Happy to report the tooth fairy was on top of this one. 

Class of 2022!!

Goodbye Kindergarten..

Hello First Grade!!

lucky/yucky

B: "Mom. Tomorrow is gonna be half lucky and half yucky."

Me: "Oh, really?"

B: "Yup, lucky because your are getting older and yucky because it is gonna snow."

Thanks, buddy. You keep my life in perspective. :)

march madness.

Happy Birthday, Big Guy...

Grandma D. started St. Patty's day off with a bang..

and the first Lego set of the day!

Basketball cake and goody bags... check.

Cookies for Kindergarten... check.

hmm..

Jazz jersey for a basketball party... check.

Stick the basketball on the hoop... check.

Little boys lined up ready to drop m&m's... perfect.

Done with all my games in 15 minutes?

Outside for some basketball drills

(with a whole lot of running!)

Whew.

Present time... awesome.

No, seriously.... awesome.

Making a wish....

One great party for a really great kid!

(who knew boy parties are a whole lot different than little girl parties?

No crafts or coloring around here! :)