Lessons Learned

Had a rough Pack Meeting.  Brady's scout leaders forgot to give him his Wolf.  Brady tried really hard not to cry but then he just couldn't stop so I had to take him out.  Brady has cried lots of times before but I have never seen him so heartbroken.  It tore me up inside when he said nobody likes me and then I started crying which was so embarrassing.  I was ready to be done with scouting; but when I asked Brady if he wanted to continue, he said yes. Then Scott and Kacie came out after the awards and we were all ready to leave, but then Brady wanted to stay and play the games.  We found out that with the change in leadership, Brady was overlooked because they thought he already had it.  The problem is they went from May 2013 to January 2014 without a pack meeting and new leaders that are still learning.  Once they realized what happened they scrabbled to get his Wolf badge, new neckerchief and belt loops.  Then several of the adults were so good to include Brady and help him in the snowball fight which was basically dodge-ball with white beanbags. After the games they gave Brady his awards and he was a little upset about being singled out but then never said another thing about it.  I was amazed how he was able to shake it off and still participate when I wanted to run away.  We can learn so much from our kids! Sure love them!

Another trip to the Kidney Doctor

Kacie had another checkup with Dr. Jenkins today.  Mallory tagged along with us.  They were being silly waiting in the doctor's office.  She was trying to take a picture of herself squishing someone's heart like a grape.  Ha!  The doctor said Kacie is doing well.  She did however show signs of anemia which is being caused by all her problems with her periods and so he wants her to start taking iron.  Sunday she starts her third different pill to see if it helps.  I pray it does, she is so sick of it.

These two were loving the sunshine, it has been days with no sun.  We all hate the inversion.

Cuties!!! 

Just a random picture I found on Kacie's phone.  

She had to get a new one because her power button stopped working.

Interesting Week of January 19th

Our week started out fairly good.  Brady had a rough day at church though.  He kept crying about everything.  In sacrament meeting we were sitting by a couple of little boys and Brady couldn't handle that they were sharing each others cars.  Once he got a hold of a car and gave it back to it's owner he was much happier, but then in Primary he got all worked up again about having to stand up to sing. I've got to find something to help him with this.  After church we went to Ron and Stacie's to celebrate Wanda, Tyson and Ryan's birthdays.  It is always so much fun to get together with family!

 Crazy how much kids are addicted to technology!

Tyson loved the planes we got him.  We gave Wanda a sweater.  We gave Ryan a T-shirt and 10 balloons with dollar bills in them.  He had to pop them to get his money.

On Monday we all had the day off and I talked to Brady about starting a bean jar.  If he can stop crying in Church and school he gets a bean.  If he doesn't get upset about being last he gets a bean.  If he doesn't yell NO! to Scott or I he gets a bean.  Anyways you get the point, once he gets his bean jar filled he earns a trip to Disneyland.  He was so excited about this and we can't believe the difference it has made.  Wednesday at Cub Scouts I was telling one of his leaders and she said she saw a 360' degree turn around.  I'm hoping we finally found something that might work for Brady.  I hope he keeps it up!

So around 1 pm I took Brady and his friend Porter bowling and to Kiwi Loco.  At first it was really hard for Brady to look at him when they were talking in the car but on the way home he didn't have any problems. They had a lot of fun and Porter was so good and patient with him, I just love him!  I hope they can always be friends.  I told Brady he earned a couple of beans for looking at him when he said goodbye.

After a game of bowling they were ready to play in the arcade.

 

Too cute!!!

Tuesday I went with Kacie to Steele's basketball game and then we went to Stacie's so Kacie and Taylor can start working out for track.  They had fun!  Then that night Steele broke up with Kacie.  She was pretty heartbroken.  I don't think any of us could sleep that night.  She didn't go to school Wednesday and I think she cried all day.  I felt so bad for her, she has liked him for two years and we all know it will be better for her and him in the long run but helping her realize that is really hard to do.  It's going to be quite the roller coaster ride for a while.  Luckily we had a busy weekend to help keep her mind off things.  Friday night Mom took Kacie, Mallory, Brady and I to see Jocelyn's gymnastic meet in & then we went to SubZero. 

Bailey Myers, Jocelyn Harley, Mallory Jensen & Kacie

Saturday we went to Brooke and Brittany's indoor track meet in Nampa.  They are running for Utah State. Brittany ran the 60 and 200 meter.  Brooke ran a distant medley and the 800.  They are doing so good. They are both the fastest in their events from Utah State which is really cool!

Kacie's uncles were so good to help lift her spirits.  They were really cute with her!  Saturday night was a Stake dance and Scott and I recently got asked to be in charge of the music and so this was our first one.   I keep praying that Kacie would have fun since this would be her first without Steele.  

And this was Taylor's first cotillion so lots of firsts tonight.
Here she is pictured with a friend from her choir, Gretchen.  She was really good to help her out.

Kaitlyn Houston, Taylor Talbot, Easton Hartley

Mallory, Kacie and Riley Ward

I was so relieved that she had so much fun.  She was able to meet and talk with some new people and was asked to dance a lot! 

Brady's Reward Cake

We were so proud of Brady for memorizing all thirteen Articles of Faith!

The primary rewarded him with a cake all to himself!  He was so happy!

Way to go Bud!

New Years 2014!

Crazy that another year has come and gone.  Today we had a slow start after staying up so late.  Around noon a bunch of us minus Kyle and Kacie went to the rec center to play some tennis, soccer, volleyball and Brady even played a little golf.  It was fun, I sure wish we had something like this back at home.

 That night we had an yummy New Year's dinner and played more games.

On the 2nd we headed back home.  We had a great trip, I really enjoyed it!