Sweet 16 and More Family Happenings

"Catching Up" should be this blog's nick name lately!

I just can't seem to stay up to date on our family's

happenings! But, busy is good as long as it means

Mason has stayed healthy and out of the hospital!

The best sister ever is 16!

(Kaitlin's birthday was on September 16.)

Happy sweet 16th birthday to my beautiful, 

fun, kind, caring, and absolutely amazing Kaitlin!!

 Can't' believe she officially has her driver's license now!! 

My first baby is too grown up!! 

I love you for infinity Kk!!

Love❤️, Mom

After we went out to dinner as a family on 

Kaitlin's birthday, we returned home to a surprise party!

Many of her sweet, cute, and fun friends came over 

to help us celebrate this special birthday!

She has grown up too fast! But, I am certainly

grateful to have another driver in the house!

Not knowing we had a surprise party up our sleeves for her,

all Kaitlin wanted to do for her 16th birthday, 

(well besides getting her driver's license), was to

 take a few friends to Lake Powell for the weekend...

And that's we did!

So the weekend after her birthday we road tripped it to 

Lake Powell again!

Kaitlin, Kenna, Kelsey, and Grace  had a fun weekend!

And, so did the rest of us who got to enjoy the warmth also!

The birthday girl is one amazing wake surfer!

I don't think Braiden minded hanging out with 

all these cute girls for the weekend!

Mason either, and he was the official flag boy!

Kaitilin we love you! Happy Belated Birthday!

My heart is over filled with gratitude that I get to call you mine!

Thanks for being the best sister, daughter, and friend ever!

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Next up.....

Preston had foot surgery on September 24

Preston is one tough kiddo! He had surgery on both feet!

No crazy accident or anything, it was something he needed done. 

But, of course he timed it perfectly in between boating season, 

lacrosse season, and snow skiing season.... He plans to be skiing the

slopes in December! We will see!! (I will say it was very odd for me to 

be waiting in same day surgery for a kiddo other than Mason for once!!) 

Preston has been a good sport! One foot in a cast

and the other in a walking boot has been quite tricky,

although I think he's had some fun with the knee scooter!

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Mason received an award at a school assembly for 

always being kind to others. He and one other child 

were picked from his class... so proud of him!

 


Mason continues to LOVE school and hasn't missed a day yet
for being sick!! Woohoo!!

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On the weekend of October 10 we took a trip

down to Las Vegas for a special event....

Our Super Nanny Sammi got married!

(Sammi moved in with us back in February 2010

to play mom while Mason and I were in California

waiting for and recovering from his heart transplant.

She has lived with us ever since. The first year she

was my full time assistant/helper, after that she 

continued to help our family part time, but always

making us her top priority during Mason's 

hospital stays. We will miss her greatly!! She has

become part of our family, and always will be! I am

grateful beyond words for all she has done for us! 

I know it's time for her to move on, am excited for her, 

but am also sad all at the same time! The good news is

 that she won't be too far away, and can help me out still 

some times. Sean is one lucky guy! We love you Sammi!)

Sammi and Sean got married in the Las Vegas LDS temple.

We were so happy to be there for this special day.

Kaitlin was a beautiful bridesmaid, and

Mason and Ammon were two very cute ring boys!

Mason's favorite part was the pool at the reception!

We love you Sammi, 

and you will always hold a special spot in our hearts!

Although we all miss her, Ammon is the one

most heart broken about her new life journey!

Tears are streaming down my face as I write this, 

because Sammi became Ammon's best friend

while living with us. When Mason and I had to

move to live by Stanford almost 5 years ago, I was

sad and worried about leaving all of my kiddos, but 

the one I worried about the most was Ammon. He was

only in preschool and also has his own special needs.

At the time I called it the "biggest leap of faith" I'd

ever taken....but Sammi was an answer to my prayers!

She has been a friend and big sister too all of my kids,

but Ammon believed he would marry her some day!

Good luck with you new journey Sammi!

Thanks again for all you've done for us!