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!)

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Mary Poppins was "practically perfect"!

Saturday night we headed into Salt Lake City 
for a night of fun.  

(I didn't consult the BYU or Utah Football schedules before buying tickets... oops...  sorry honey.)

Anyway, we all LOVED the show and were definitely not ready for it to end.  The music and magic were definitely worth the 3 hours!!  It was a great way to spend a family night out... 
some of us were VERY tired when it was over! :)

 

(Oh... and don't worry about Kelly - the BYU/Utah game was rebroadcast from 11pm to 2am.  We didn't turn on the radio or the tv when we got home so that he could watch it and be surprised like everyone else!!  and he did.)

BFF's!

This summer Kimbel's "bestie" came for a much-anticipated visit all the way from Singapore.  Kimbel had been counting down the days and when Mady pulled up on Wednesday evening there was so much HAPPINESS!!

 Mady and Kimbel picked right up and chattered non-stop through their "sleep" over.  Not a whole lot of sleep though!!

 Thursday I took them on a date to the spa where they got matching zebra toes and they giggled and played with the massage chairs until they were almost obnoxious!!

We loved every minute of Mady and can't wait til next time!!

Okay?  Emily?!

We love you guys.

...and off they go!

I do NOT like back to school!

I know, I know, most moms whoop and holler

when the school supplies appear in stores...

not me.

I like my kiddos close ~

going to the pool.

staying up way too late.

crazy summer projects.

family reunions.

I love summer.

...and I don't love that they are growing up.

But.. ready or not..

here we go!!

 So, this year we have a 

Junior,

a junior-higher,

and 5th and 2nd graders.

 And they are all looking pretty dashing for their

after-school photo shoot!

 

Oh, how I adore these amazing kids! :)

kimbel's best day

I have been meaning to post this for awhile...

I decided it is MUCH easier to take the kids school shopping 

ONE AT A TIME.

They look forward to their "Mom" time and I get to worry about what each one NEEDS! :)

Anyway, Kimbel and I headed out a couple weeks ago to her 

favorite place... the mall!

We walked in and right into

President Uchtdorf!

Kimbel was a little starstruck and said,

"He looks so different...

I have never seen him in normal clothes."

We exchanged smiles and went on our way.

Definitely the highlight of the day.

(And that is saying something...

after the damage she did at Justice!)

Braithwaite's '11

Here are a FEW highlights from our

Lava Hot Springs Camping Adventure...

Let's see.

hula hoops.

tubing the Portneuf.

rest and relaxation.

yummy food.

the pool.

the twisty water slides.

the speed slides.

dave's graceful jumps off the TOP platform. 

lots of food (is garlic a vegetable?)

some spirited games of ZIM-ZAM.

flashlights. glow sticks.

treasure hunting.

treasure finding.

more r & r.

yummy food.

I didn't take nearly enough pictures

(I think I was too busy enjoying it all!)

We had a great time.  

See Grandma, we DID have fun! :)

So... where are we going next year?

temple time with the girls.

 While Shir was in the states we met up for a session in the beautiful Draper temple.  

A gorgeous day with Shelly and Shirlee.

Madison and Makenna tagged along and did baptisms.

Fun girls day out.