Lauren Turns 12

Well, it finally happened.....I have a 12 year old. Again, I am amazed at how quickly your kids grow up. Her birthday was on Friday, so after school she had an interview with the bishop to get a temple recommend to do baptisms. She wanted to go in the Salt Lake temple for her first time, but they didn't have a good time available so we went to the Ogden Temple. Afterward we went to Farr's for some ice cream. She picked Chinese takeout for dinner, so we stayed in and watched her new Hannah Montana movie. On Saturday we rode the Front Runner down to Salt Lake for a short trip and then did cake and ice cream when we came home. On Sunday she got to go to Young Women's for the first time. I can't believe I have a girl in Young Women's! It has been fun to see Lauren grow up. She was so cute on her birthday....she took chocolate cupcakes to share in her class for her birthday treat. She saved one for Auburn because she knew Auburn loved them. She really is growing up. :) Happy Birthday Lauren! I love you!

1st Day of School

The girls started school on August 24th. I can't believe how big they are getting! Auburn is in 3rd Grade this year, and Lauren is in 6th. It's kind of sad because this is the last time they will be at the same school. When Auburn moves up to junior high, Lauren will move up to high school. Lauren is really enjoying her teacher this year.....phew! They are growing up way too fast for my liking, but what can you do?

My girls

Grown up Lauren

Cute little Auburn

5 Months Old

Grant is 5 months old now. He's growing so fast! He flipped over in his bed a couple of weeks ago, and was crying because he kept banging his head on the slats. Poor little guy! He has been such a good baby! He loves to smile at everyone.....especially if you talk to him. He's funny because sometimes he'll sit so quietly I have to check and make sure he's OK. Other times he'll squeal and squawk because he's really discovering his voice lately. His latest trick is pulling up his right foot and chewing on his big toe. He can't help it....it's in his genes.....that's what Brook used to do when he was little. :) Grant is so fun! We just love him!

Starting Cereal....YUCK!

These pictures are a little old.....from early August. Grant was 4 months old so we had the green light to start him on cereal. He seem less than enthused. :) He kept pulling faces like it was really sour. Auburn thought it was so funny so she kept snapping pictures. He's still pulling faces when he eats, but acts eager for more. One thing that he does that makes me laugh is that whenever I change his shirt he gets tickled around his neck. He does it whether you're taking off his shirt or putting one on. He'll scrunch up his shoulders and laugh. :)

Oh, the horror!

Darn that flash!

A Visit...

A couple of Brook's cousin from Germany came for a visit last month. We were so excited to see them because it has been 7 years since we went over. When we went to the airport we weren't sure if we'd recognize them because Lisa was 12 and Katrin was 7 when we last saw them.

Lisa & Katrin

Lisa, Katrin & Brook's mom, Birgitt

Lisa, Amanda (Brook's niece), and Katrin

at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house

Lauren on the Alpine slide at Snowbird

Lisa

Katrin

Lauren loved meeting her cousins

Katrin & Auburn

The girls at Pizza Factory....yum

(they have the best breadsticks)

The girls loved Lisa reading the German Donald Duck comic to them...especially Lauren

The whole crew

Say cheese

We love you and miss you guys. Hope to see you this summer!

A Few Fun Pictures of Grant

I had some miscellaneous pictures of Grant from this summer. He has some of the funniest expressions sometimes. :)

D is always asking to hold Grant.

It doesn't last very long....for either of them. :)

Grant & Auburn at the Front Runner station.

Auburn wanted to go to Salt Lake when Lauren went to Washington

with Grandma & Grandpa Glade.

Grant hanging out in his bouncy seat

Auburn was doing a photo shoot with Grant.
She laughed her head off when she got this shot.

Me & Grant up at Snowbird.

Looks like we have the same expression on our faces. :)

Grant with little hat.

We put it on straight, but when he started moving around it slid sideways.

Summer Swimming Lessons

The girls have had swimming lessons on Fridays this summer. It's been nice to have a scheduled time to go swimming each week. They have loved having lessons again after a few years.

Auburn started out on Level 2. She has done a great job considering she used to be afraid of the water and didn't like to get her face wet and dunk under the water. She loves to dive in from the edge of the pool. No fear!

Lauren started out on Level 1 because she was afraid to be around the drains and filters in the pool. She's had an awesome teacher that has helped her overcome a lot of her fears. This is her with her teacher in the DEEP END! She even got Lauren to swim across the width of the pool! She would work with Lauren 1 on 1 during free time....it's been great.

I'm so proud of both of them. They both jumped into the deep end and swam back to the edge. I know that doesn't sound like much, but it's huge considering where we started this summer. They both made it to Level 3 for next time!!! We only have one week until school starts....next week they're going to take swimming lessons M-F. Hurray for one more weeek of summer vacation and swimming lessons!!!