July 2018

We made sure to live it up during the month of July.  We spent a lot of time around here and loved the extra time together at home.

One morning we went to the library for some activities with our buddies Blake and Ryan.

Wayne and I were out of town for a couple days for our work retreat and the girls got to do some fun things with Aunt Amanda and Uncle Ryan.  That included dressing up like cows to get free chick-fila!!

Wayne and Jaymi got out one day with Grandpa on his boat.

She didn't even have to be bribed to get out on the ski!!  Of course she knew ice cream is a given in she did, but she remembered that all on her own.

Wayne was able to get back behind the boat doing some surfing as he is still recovering from knee surgery.

One of the favorite things at our house is when Kaelyn comes and finds us during a veg session on the couch and gives us her best snuggles.  They don't usually last too long because girl has places to go and things to do, but we soak them in when we can.

Not sure where this is, but its a pretty picture Wayne took.

Wayne and the girls did their own little ice bucket foot soak challenge.  I only lasted like 2.5 seconds but they all held it in for quite a while.

One morning while I was working out Bryn drew this cute picture of our family.  I love how we are all holding hands and Waynes profile cracks me up!!

One day I went in to check on Kaelyn and she had set Sophia down on her pillow and was feeding her.  I love it when she does imaginative play like this!!!

Kaelyn trying to stuff the huge cereal box she found in the recycle.  We have the cutest video of her getting frustrated that she couldn't get it to fit!!

One of Bryn's gymnastics dreams came true, she got her very own set of grips!!  

Wayne downloaded an app that tells you what planets you can see in the sky and he and the girls love figuring it out.

We had a fun 4th of July!! Started the day with the neighborhood bike parade and breakfast, rented a bounce house with friends for the afternoon and finished the day off at Grandma and Grandpa Bonners for fireworks and a BBQ.

The girls were all fighting over who got to hold their cute little cousin Dawson.

I love these sweet moments between my girls and their Grandma Amy.  It makes me think of the memories I have of sitting on my Grandma Lois's lap in her rocking chair, reading stories.

The girls and I got tickets to the Hopes and Elite Gymnastics competition that was held up at the U.  It was amazing seeing the gymnasts that are training to one day be in the Olympics and realize how hard they have worked to get to this point.

In true Jaymi fashion she got up on the jumbotron as usual.  

Melia, Bryn and their buddy Emiko made it up there too!

Lunch time hair salon

Both of them even caught shirts/dresses in the tee-shirt toss.

 One of our trips to the park during Jaymi's summer school.

A couple friends and I went for an evening walk and there was the prettiest sunset over the lake.  Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I get to live in such a beautiful place!!

Little miss doing her thing!!

Bryn set some goals to help her prep for TOPS testing this summer and when she completed her chart she got to have a slumber party with her bestie Avery!

These two are the cutest friends ever!  I love that my best friends daughter is Bryn's bestie for life!

After their slumber party Bryn got to spend the day with them at the lake, Kayaking and swimming.

Swimming lessons with our buddy Jordan's sister Kali was one of the highlights of the summer!  She did so good with the girls and they both made some great progress.

Playdate with two of our besties, Mia J and Mia M!!

Swimdates with our buddies Sophie, Elle and Gwen!!

Bryn's cute TOPS team.  These girls are all amazing and it was so fun to watch and cheer them on this summer.  

Of course when Bryn and Maddie got to choose between a playdate at our house or another 1.5 hours of Gymnastics (after a morning of TOPS testing) at Open Gym, they chose the gym.

The Petersons invited us to tag along at an Orem Owls game with them.  Although it rained most the game, we still managed to have a great time!

One Sunday after church we met up with our besties the Peterson's and Newtons up American Fork Canyon for tinfoil dinners, s'mores and fun!  We only lost the group of kids once as they wandered in the forest so we will call it a win!

These three accepted the "Marshmallow Challenge"

Bryn all cozy on the counter watching her afternoon show.

Grandma LaJean came out for the Pioneer Day parade and Bryn, Jaymi and I spent the night downtown with her and got up in time for the amazing breakfast buffet at Little America.  It was a scorcher outside but we made it back to the pool before we melted and had a great time swimming with cousins before we had to check out.

Ricks girls didn't bring swimsuits but we talked Natalie into swimming in her jumper and Avery to swim in Bryns active wear.

That even Grandma took us all to the Days of 47 Rodeo as long as we would wear a cowboy hat!

We got a group of our little Ds buddies together at the beach by our house.  The ducks have made it pretty yucky at spots but the kids didn't mind.

Bryn and her twin friend Violet and cutie friend Quin.  One of my favorite parts of the Ds world is the cute friends their siblings get to make and the bond they will forever share.

Jaymi and Kaelyn got in for their yearly check-ups with Dr. Mitzi.  They both did great and are healthy as can be!

I was so proud of my Saver's haul.  I was able to get clothes for Bart and Wendy's kids and a few things for my girls for an amazing deal.  For $250 I got 1 pair of shoes, 43 pants/shorts, 41 shirts, 10 dresses/skirts, 5 jackets and 3 swimsuits.  103 items for $2.50 per item.  Everything was in great condition.

Our family was featured in an article on the Athlos Academy website - https://athlosacademies.org/special-needs/

This month was kind of a rollercoaster for our family.  We went through our first round of IVF and after finding out that it worked and that I was pregnant, at our 10 week ultrasound we found out that our baby girl no longer had a heart beat.  We tested the fetus and she had Trisomy 13, a genetic condition that caused the miscarriage.  Before all of this happened I had seen this quote and thought it was a beautiful way to remember to soak in the seemingly small moments with my family because time really does go by too fast.  It is also very fitting when we face challenges and hard times, to remember that the pain we are feeling will fade and there will be room for light and happiness again.