She's Eight!

Kayla is our sweet mild mannered girl.  She keeps the peace at our house by staying calm, helping out and making us smile!  She easily goes with the flow of things and is happy all the day.  Her true talent is fashion.  Every day she puts together the cutest outfits complete with accessories.  And often times she not only does it for herself but for Lilah, Kate and Mom!  We are so thankful to have her sweet attitude in our home.  We are also thankful she made the choice to be baptized.  It has been fun to see her testimony grow as she matures.

We were all so excited to have our first visitors here in Arizona and just in time for Kayla's baptism.  It was fun to show them all of our favorite things and that they could share the special day with us.  Both Jeremy and my parents came along with Aunt Nikki with Cade, Austin and Kip and Aunt Michelle with Jake.  We had to best time swimming, toasting marshmellows, feeding the fish and turtles and visiting together.

New Fan

Jeremy and his brothers have had season tickets to the Ute football games for years now.  I got to go to an occasional game when there was an extra ticket but never all the time.  I was so excited when I got my very own season ticket for college football, even if I had to move to Arizona to get it!!  At our first game I leaned over and asked Jer who he will cheer for next year when the Utes come in town and play ASU.  Of course he was quick to answer, "The Utes but we may need to sit elsewhere!"  The first game was 110 degrees and with all the people jammed in and the humidity it was really like 120.  No Joke!  Jer just kept looking at me and saying, "I have never seen you sweat so bad in your life!!"  Me neither.  Despite the heat we had a great time!  Next game wasn't near as hot but I brought my personal fan just in case.  It's really fun to go out to dinner before the game, stop by our favorite Herb shop ;) and head over to the game!  And yes I am part Sun Devil!

Thumbs Down!

When I was younger I was a thumb sucker.  I must have been at least 4 before I quit because I remember my mom bribing me to stop.  She tried just about everything and finally picked just the right stuffed animals to bribe me to quit (I called them T.L and pupcake).  So with Kate I was determined to help her stop.  The damage to her teeth alone was worth it to me to help her.  I started when she was two.  I painted her nails with a bitter polish that is made for such a thing.  She went to suck her thumb and it tasted so bad she started to rub her mouth with her hand, which also contained the polish.  She threw up all over her bed.  I got her cleaned up and tried again.  She threw up once more.  Again, cleaned her up, painted it on her and she sucked it right off and went straight to sleep.  We did this every night for a month and I eventually gave up.  Fast forward to the present.  Again, I knew we had to get her to stop or she would soon become the brunt of kids teasing.  This time, being a little older, I could reason with her.  We promised a special date with Mom and Dad to pick out any toy she wanted. Then I painted her thumb and off she went to bed.  She tried it once and decided it was pretty yucky.  And well, she was pretty set on that new toy.  So for a couple of months now she has been thumb free and finally earned her date with Mom and Dad.  I have to say, a little part of me is sad to see the last of her baby faze fade, but some things just can't last forever!

A little brother for Kate?!?!?!!!

Kate has enjoyed these little scarecrows ever since I put our fall decorations out and has treated them like the little brother she never had. She feeds them, dances with them, fixes them up with her doctor kit and puts them to bed at night.  Who wouldn't love a life size pal that will let you boss them around, right??  She does however have a really life adopted big brother, Austin, from the ward.  He and Kate became great pals at our labor day pool party and rediscovered each other at the ward camp out.  He is like the big brother Kate never had.  I love to see him wait for her after primary every week just to say hi!

And yep, that's it. What were you thinking by the title of this post?  Don't get your hopes up, WE ARE DONE!