Catching up...

I haven't wrote anything since March, but it isn't because we haven't had a ton going on.  In fact just the opposite.  I can't even believe how much we've done and the milestones we've hit in the past little bit of time.  So here's the rundown in semi chronological order...

Mea turned 7 and Jaden turned 3 in April.  My babies are not babies anymore.  For each child, we celebrated at home with family.  They are spoiled rotten; Jaden's favorite gift was an ORANGE bike and Mea loves her American Girl Doll. For having several years spacing them out they are so close.  Jaden absolutely adores Mea and Mea is understanding and lets her brother tag along.  I love watching them play together and when they are both home, you'll often times catch them snuggled together.

We got a kitten- Mea got it for her birthday, but the boys love her and take care of her when Mea is not here.  Izzy is the name Mea chose after a lot of deliberation.  My vote was for Sasha Striker- but I was out voted :-) 

Jared finished his Ph.D.  We had a lot of fun watching him walk- even thought it was a LONG ceremony for the kids.  Everyone is SUPER proud of Dad.

Mea had her first "real" dance recital.  She has had dreams of being a ballerina, so it was neat to see her shine on stage.  I almost shed a tear at how old she looked in full make-up, but I was so proud of her!!

Jared promised when he finished school we'd go to the beach so the week school got out we packed the van and headed to Biloxi.  It was so relaxing, beautiful and fun.  We have tons of stories to tell- birds pooping on our heads, stingrays, drinking ocean water, but I won't bore you with the details. There were so many really good pictures I had to include them all... 

This digital slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Shortly after our beach trip we got to go New Mexico to visit Jared's family.  The kids love it there.  The boys in the family are in heaven, Mea is getting to be quite the cowgirl, and I loved having extra sets of hands to help out- I almost read a whole book while we were there.  It is so nice to see family.  I had never gotten a chance to walk around the Gandpa and Grandma McCoy's farm until this trip and the scenery was breathtaking.

This digital slideshow created with Smilebox

Jensen turned 2.  He's been more and more independent, verbal, and crazy since.  Everyone who meets Jensen falls in love with him, from his smile, to his strut.  We love our "little man".

 After the parties were through, we have spent the summer recovering!  Lots of time in the sun.  We've worked on making new friends, and enjoying our cousins.  Tyler and Emma are Jaden and Jensen's "best friends".  I hope that it stays for ever.  I got to have a sisters day.  We realized that somethings never change- both the silly things we still do to our love for one another.  Sold a car, got a moped (LOVE IT).  Went to Youth Conference- met some fun ladies. Won the ward Pinewood Derby (thanks Grandpa Decker). Mea got her Library Card....

So Life goes on and on.  We enjoy every minute (okay most minutes).  We are BLESSED!!