Weekly Update

We got out the Halloween costumes this week to make sure we were set for the holiday and Kamren couldn't wait to put on his new doctor costume. He was so excited that he ran over to his friends house to show them that he was going to be a doctor. I really didn't think he was going to be that excited but he is. He wants to be like his Uncle Kurtis who is an orthopedic surgeon. Kamren put it on right before bed and fell asleep in it. He has put it on several times this week. I love the excitement of children.



Our ward did a canned food drive to help stock up the local food pantries. Kamren had to distribute flyers almost every night. He was so excited to serve. He loved wearing his vest to let everyone know what church we belong to.



We picked up the canned foods on Saturday morning and Kamren was a little sad that there weren't as many to pick up as he planned. He was so thrilled to see some food that he left his bike and ran home with the bag of food. It's so neat to see him love to serve the Lord.



Kevin's birthday was Friday. He turned 33! Kamren made him some toast for breakfast, Ashleigh made the eggs, and Brynn helped with the juice. They loved surprising Kevin with decorations and homemade cards.



Brynn loved singing Happy Birthday to Daddy! I don't even know how many times we sang that song. It was just adorable to see her participate. Kevin chose enchilada casserole(my mom's recipe) and salad for dinner. It was yummy!



Kevin chose a yummy oreo ice cream dessert. The kids absolutely loved it. We took Kevin out to lunch and we loved being with him. Kevin is laughing at Brynn in this picture because she kept say "birday" and trying to sing the song to him.



Ashleigh and I went on a date to the Apple Fest. This is Ashleigh going on the school bus for the first time over to the park. She loved it. Kevin took Kamren and Brynn to the Air Zoo for a date. Kamren loves airplanes just as much as Kevin does.



It was a perfect day to be outside. We've always wanted to experience the Apple Fest and we really had a fun date together. Ashleigh loved getting her nails done.



Ashleigh found one of her friends from the neighborhood and went on a few rides with her. She really enjoyed having Molly with her. We also went on a hayride around the apple orchard.

Kevin's New Office

This is Kevin's old office (cubicle). He has been promoted to an Engineering Manager so they gave him a new office.



It looks like someone is already starting to take it over.



For his birthday this week, I decorated his office. It was fun just to keep it simple but to warm it up a little. We love his new office!



The kids love going to his new office because he has yummy lollipops and chocolate in his new jars. Kamren just finished his soccer game and scored two goals. He got a dollar for one goal and chose to get ice cream for the other. He was awesome during his game. It's amazing how much skill he has this year.



Here's Brynn posing in daddy's office. We just love Brynn in overalls! It's our favorite outfit on her.

My 34th Birthday!

I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. One of my friends was so sweet to offer to watch Ashleigh and Brynn while Kevin took me out to lunch on Friday. We just loved being together for the time we had. Also, my friend suggested that I take a little more time for myself after Kevin went to work so I went shopping and enjoyed some quiet time.

On Saturday, I went to a friends to paint a room in her basement and my sweet husband surprised me with balloons, streamers and cute cards from all the kids. It was such a fun surprise.

Sunday was my real birthday and I was treated like a queen. Kevin was working so hard in the kitchen to make me yummy breakfast and then lunch and dessert for dinner.

After church, our kind friend invited us over for dinner and made yummy vegetable lasagna for us and spaghetti for the kids. Everything tasted amazing and she even had a Happy Birthday sign up for me. I just felt like everyone was so sweet to me. I am grateful for all the emails, phone calls, cards, and gifts that were given to me. I am surrounded by wonderful people in my life.

I have to say I loved the rain on my birthday and I love the fall. This made my my day even better!



This is not a good picture of me in the morning but as the day went on I forgot to take pictures. Kamren made my bed and Ashleigh set the table. I even got the special birthday plate to eat on.



She is just heaven. I just love having my time with her in the mornings. On my birthday I had so much fun just playing with the children as Kevin took care of all the food.



This is the yummy salad I asked for lunch. I love avocados and mangos together. Yum!!



Every Fall we have the tradition of decorating the house. Ashleigh and a few of her friends helped me put up all the pumpkins and garlands around the house. It's beginning to look like Fall here.



Just some more decor on the piano. Kamren loves to play the piano. His piano teacher is very pleased with his progress. He really enlightens our home with music.

The First Day Of...

Brynn celebrated her first day to be with mommy for a few hours while Kamren and Ashleigh were at school. Brynn and I had fun playing with pots and pans, food, puzzles, and babies. It's great to have this quality time with sweet little Brynn. Brynn made sure she grabbed a backpack to take to school because her older siblings had one. It was too cute.



Kamren was ready to say goodbye to me faster than I wanted but I guess he is growing up and is quite independent. He started second grade this year. I can't believe how big he is getting. He couldn't stop talking about the first day of school when he got home. He really enjoys his new teacher.




Ashleigh loved her first day of school in kindergarten. She used to be really shy but she has really blossomed. She rode her bike on the first day of school and loved putting on her new chocolate and pink backpack. She just smiles when she finishes school. She loves to learn.

Some of our school traditions include:

* A Father's Blessing for each child going to school.
* They get to choose their favorite breakfast and snack for after school (They chose pancakes with sausage for breakfast, veggies and dip and brownies for after school snack).
* Mom makes their bed on the first day of school.
* Mom and Dad take them to school.
* Take pictures in front of our house.
* They get something new that day to wear or use for school.





Kamren's team name is The Green Machines. I love this color green on him. The uniform is quite big but he doesn't care. He had his first game on Saturday and just loved it. He is quite tired from running so much but he really has grown from playing last year.



This is Kamren's first year of piano. He really likes it and practices for a little bit each day. Ashleigh and Brynn always want to play the piano too.

Our Adventure!

The young women in our ward earned a trip to the Amusment Park by working on their personal progress for the year so I decided to take Kamren and Ashleigh along too since it was their last week of summer. We had such a great time being together. The lines weren't crowded and it was a gorgeous day.




Their favorite ride was the roller coaster for kids but they also loved the bumper cars. They got along so well today.



We went by ourselves the first part of the day before lunch because the young women wanted to do all the bigger roller coasters and Kamren and Ashleigh weren't ready for that. They just loved the simple rides because there was no wait.



We couldn't have had a better day. I just loved watching Kamren take care of Ashleigh. They were really working together and making sure each other was having fun. Kamren and Ashleigh loved the water park too but I didn't get very many pictures from them going on all the slides.

Mini Staples Reunion

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We had a blast on the pontoon boat. Kamren and Aaron really bonded. Kamren and Aaron also loved playing legos together and they had a blast playing X Box.



Brynn loved being with her Aunt Kristi. Aunt Kristi was so nice to help the girls make their own bracelets too. She even made a beautiful one to match my Sunday dress.



Lexi and Ashleigh just adored Kimberly. Kimberly was so sweet to give the girls American Girl Doll cards. She also played many games with them. Ashleigh just loved looking at all her jewelry and finding all the treasures in her bedroom. Kimberly even put pink in her hair and painted her nails and did makeup for the girls. I loved watching the girls cousins bond.



Kimberly and I had a blast shopping at the outlets after the zoo. I just love being around teenagers. Kimberly is such a good girl. She truly inspires me to want to be better.



Kamren just adores his cousin Aaron. Aaron turns twelve this week and Kamren is 7. Kamren was the next grandson born after Aaron. We are glad that they love each other so much and they have a lot in common.



Here are all the cousins that we visited. We had a great time at the zoo and having a family picnic. It was fun to watch the boy cousins play together and the girl cousins played together.



Brynn was connected with Kimberly and she loved her ni night. She loved it when Kimberly would hold her.



Kamren went to class with Aaron at church and Ashleigh went all by herself. Brynn just ran into nursery and had a blast. Kamren and Ashleigh loved sitting with their cousins at church.



Since the Olympics were finishing we decided to have some Olympic games for the cousins and then Kristi made us yummy pizza with the Olympic rings on it and yummy chocolate cake with the same Olympic rings. The kids loved the whole celebration of the Olympics.



At first Audrey and Brynn wanted the same things and they let each other know it but then towards the end they gave each other loves and Brynn loved getting things for Audrey. It was so cute.




We went to visit Grandpa Staples old business. The police man came by to see if everything was okay and then the manager came out to see if we needed anything. I guess we looked suspicious taking pictures in front of the egg farm. We love small towns!



We went and visited Kevin's home where he grew up. It still looked beautiful.

We are so grateful that we had this time with the Staples. They took such amazing care for us. The adults had fun playing games and watching the Olympics together. It was a trip never to be forgotten.

Golf Date and Tubing

Our neighbor was so nice to give Kamren his very own set of golf clubs so Kevin took Kamren to the driving range for the first time. He absolutely loved it. I think he's going to love golf as much as Kevin does.



Look at that swing!



The kids had a blast on our friend's speed boat. They just loved going super fast. Kamren and Ashleigh didn't even want to leave. They loved getting a yummy homemade cookie and rootbeer.



Brynn and I went tubing for the first time. We didn't go super fast but it was so much fun.



Kamren and Ashleigh couldn't get enough of the tubing. They did great and always wanted to go faster. It's so much fun to watch them enjoy life.