1st picture with his daddy!
It's amazing how much they grow and change each day and each month, especially the 1st year of their life!
He is such a happy boy. Some of his favorite things to do are: making noise-whenever and however. For example my parents have these metal chairs on their tile floor and Brayden stands there and shakes them as hard as he can so that it is as loud as he can possibly get it. The louder the better to him-all this is done with a huge grin on his face! teasing his sisters- I swear the kid came out of the womb knowing how to tease. I think it actually does travel in the blood. My dad and husband both love to tease, but as Mattie tells you that Papa (my dad) teases her because he loves her. So now she believes anyone who teases does it because they love you. Good thing because Brayden LOVES his sisters A LOT! Daddy time- he loves to do whatever daddy is doing if it's cooking in the kitchen ,wrestling on the floor or watching football he is there. He loves to throw the football back and forth to daddy. Yes he is only 1 and he loves to throw the football.I am so happy to have this little man in my life! He makes me smile, laugh, enjoy life and some days makes me want to pull my hair out but it is all worth it! I'll post pictures from his party next time because I have been doing this for a while and my kids are off playing with the horses and I want to watch.
Enjoy the pictures from the past...also a post about my birthday can be read here.
Kylee entertaining...as always!
Kylee at 1 month old...next week she turns 3!
Mattie enjoying her new baby sister...they are SO dang cute!!
Mattie when she was about 2 and had a bad sunburn on her face...and next week she turns 6!MORE POSTS TO COME! PROMISE!!
SO delicious!!
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As I read this post (and while I'm typing this) I can't stop the tears. I feel the spirit so strong whenever I have heard Nancy or anyone else speak about Quinn. Nancy pointed out some things I needed to hear. Remember the little things-take time to enjoy the joys in life. I remember attending Quinn's funeral, I had just gotten home from my 18 month mission for my church. I didn't know Nancy or Greg but I was in their ward and I know this might sound funny to some of you but I felt like I KNEW Quinn. I still to this day remember the amazing spirit I felt as we celebrated her life even though it was cut so short. She may have only lived shortly in this life but I can tell you I KNOW she has touched and continues to touch so many lives. I want to thank Nancy for her amazing strength and inspiration. She reminds me what I need to always remember-enjoy today! I know that whenever I think of Quinn (or Nancy for that matter) I will think of the little joys in my life...like drinking a fresh squeezed lemonade outside while the sun beats on my warm skin and I look back at pictures of the JOYS in my life and looking forward to the ones in the future. Thank you Nancy!!
We are so proud of Mattison and her great job and completing kindergarten. This is no ordinary kindergarten class. They are required to do a lot of big stuff. A lot more then I was asked to do in kindergarten. She had to memorize and assigned poem EVERY month, 10 spelling words a week, 10 NEW phonograms and review 10 phonograms a week (the 10 spelling words and 20 phonograms were tested every Thursday and then again on Friday for those who did not get 100% on Thursday's testing.) Mattison has great memory so she excelled in both these areas. 
FYI-that was a special group of students!
< This is the principal (in black) presenting Mattison's teacher Mrs. McGinty at the end of the year awards ceremony. I LOVE Mrs. McGinty and would love if she taught more of my children!!She turned 5 in Nov. and she was reading by Dec. which is just amazing. Here are a few photos from the play that Mattison and all the other kindergarteners put on for their parents and grandparents (and any one else who could come). This is Mrs. McGinty again, this time she is in charge of directing all the students.
Mattison has already asked to go back to school and she has only been out for 2 weeks. Oh boy this is going to be a long summer. :) Oh well we will just spend a lot of time swimming and enjoying time as a family. She reads by herself for at least 15 minutes a day. She is reading "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (thanks Aunt Ashley!). We are so proud of you Mattison and all you accomplished!!
Playing with friends.
Flirting with the ladies!
and so much more!! Then we crash hard!
Played the recording of Tausha and I singing for my mom. Then packed up all 4 kids again to take them home. Fed them lunch and put them all down for a nap. In case I didn't mention I am doing this all alone. :) Then while the kids are sleeping Ginny comes over (actually Jakey woke up just before she came and she put Brayden back to sleep after we left) so that Billy and I could go to an appointment that we had. Thanks a million Ginny!! Then straight from our appointment we picked Mattie up from school and went home. Kylee just woke up as we are walking in the door. So I have some play time with the kids then I let them watch "Princess and the Frog" for a little bit while I read blogs. I read a blog post from 
and I also made hot fudge from scratch.
Fresh cut tomatoes!
Fresh cut onions! There was lettace too but I didn't take a picture.
I KNOW! I told you I was domesticated yesterday! I also kept my kitchen clean while I was cooking. Miracles do happen. As you can see my dinner guests were very happy. Billy was here but not in the picture because he was helping with Brayden at the time. Thanks Babe!! 
So then the next night I was out at my friend Amanda's house until after the girls were in bed. So I went in to check on them and this is what I saw. Apparently Kylee just does better if she is sleeping near someone or a big fluffy couch cushion.
I once again was ok with this sleeping arrangement because it meant she wasn't in my bed with me. Mattie may not agree. :)
So why do I even waste the space in the girls room with this mattress when this is all it is...a space waster. It is always like this. She doesn't even take naps in her bed, she takes them in Mattie's bed while Mattie's at school. The other day I put Kylee down for a nap earlier than usual because I knew it was better for her to be safe in bed than me beating her. hee, hee By 11:30 am on this particular day she had poured 1/2 gallon of water all over my kitchen floor, had to 2 pee accidents on my carpet, poured a bowl of popcorn on my carpet and shattered a glass jar on the kitchen floor. Yes, it was definitely time for nap (even if it is in Mattie's bed). ha, ha