Zachary gets his Bobcat for Cub Scouts

Zachary received his first advancement in Cub Scouts...Bobcat

While doing the Cub Scout pledge he tries very hard to position his fingers. To get his Bobcat he has worked on the pledge and learning what an Akela is; a leader/someone in authority.

When he is given his Bobcat pin Dad turned him upside down. Zachary got a big kick out of that.

Another boy received his arrow of light and Zachary got to help with that presentation by representing the Bobcat.

After the meeting part was over it was time for some fun on the slip n slide. The kids all had a blast playing in the water. It was a great family day.

Max had fun. He can't wait until next year when it's his turn to join Cub Scouts.

Max-Man turns 7!

7!7!7!7!7!7!7!

This year it is really hitting me as the kids each celebrate a birthday how fast the time flies. I really truly can't believe that Max is now 7! I can remember when he was born. He was such a long labor and didn't really want to come out. Then all of the sudden we had a sweet 9 lb 12 oz little sweetheart. I wish I had a newborn picture of Max but....we used film way back when. So no digital picture to upload. At least his scrapbook has some.

He was a great baby. With Ryanne 2 and Zachary only 15 months when he was born life was pretty much a blur. He did find a partner in crime in Zachary early on.

Max was such a great teacher. He taught his older brother how to do everything from standing, walking and stealing muffins.

He was always very curious and got into everything!!! Just as a baby should I suppose.

Now he is an amazing 7 year old. He is doing great in school, loves video games, playing, swimming and football. We love you Max-man and are so grateful you are our son.

Humpty Dumpty!

Michaels Hospital Adventure!

I can call it an adventure now, but then it was devastating. On August 3rd (Matts birthday) the kids were outside in the backyard playing. The 2 major rules are no touching the pool gate and no standing on top of the playhouse. Well Michael was standing on top of the playhouse blowing bubbles and fell off and hit his head. I asked him to stand up and walk to me and he couldn't. He was really wobbly on his feet and was in alot of pain. I thought it was just a bump so I put ice on his head. Then his nose started dripping blood. Just the right side. That wasn't right so we took him into the ER. After a couple of hours and a CT scan we found out that he had a large skull fracture and concussion.

Because they were worried about swelling and bleeding in the brain they transferred him to Cardons Childrens Hospital PICU for overnight observation. He was so tired, poor little guy. They had to wake him every hour to make sure he was responding. The IV was tramatic for us both. But he braved it all.

After the next mornings CT scan showed no bleeding or swelling we got to take him home. After all the poking and tests Michael went home with lots of toys. The nurses and doctors who treated him were wonderful. They really helped to ease our worries as much as they could.

Then the day after we brought him home we ended up in the ER again because Michael fell off the bed and hit his head again right on the fracture. We seriously thought of strapping him to a chair. For days following the hospital it seemed that he kept having head accidents. We are so blessed that he is healing great and doesn't seem to have any complications.

Ryanne Swim Team

Ryanne 2010 Swim Team

Ryanne did swim team for the second time this year. She had a blast. 8am practive monday to thursday. She did really great at the meets. She is a bullet with the freestyle and breaststroke. We are really proud of her. She is an upcoming athlete. A couple of days before the last meet we got a great camera and were able to take some great pictures of her. How fun to get these pictures in sequence.

Done. Looking for the results! She did awesome.

We told her to pull up her swim cap so she didn't have the mad smile from the cap. What an awesome girl she is. I am often in wonder on how blessed we are to have these wonderful children.

A Week of Family! Vacation Time!!

This year we went on a family vacation to Kansas. It was so fun to see so many family members I haven't seen in over 10 years. Too long. It was so fun to spend time with Damon (my brother) and niece/cousin Amanda. We visited the Show Low and Albuquerque, New Mexico Temples.

And of course we had to take our tourist pictures next to state signs.

During our trip we stopped at a bunch of sights along the way like the Dalton gang hideout and Dorothys house. We got to play, stretch our legs, and go through the underground escape tunnel.

I don't think Matt know how much the kids take after him! Scary thats our little girl.

Coundn't pass up the munchins! Zachary make the cutest munchkin.

We Also detoured to Oklahoma to vist Michael "Moose". Moose isn't so Moose anymore. Slim, trim and no more curls. He looked great. Although it was only a short 1 day visit it was really great to see him. Hopefully we can see more of him this winter.

I have to be honest I hate having my picture taken. It was amazing spending so much time with my brother. Funny how when you are younger you play all the time, middle school age it fight time, now later in our life we are best friends. I love him and am so thankful he opened his house to us. I can't say enough how fun it was spending time with all them. The cousins had a blast.

Uncle Aynard had a late 4th of July party. It was so much fun and I can't believe the firework show they did. It was amazing. The kids enjoyed the dunking tank.

Max had to take his turn in the tank.

We spent some time with Jody and Sam. We got to feed the horses, look for eggs, and play with Ella their dog. The boys tried to chase and catch a chicken but gave up pretty quick. They did love feeding the horses.

The Beard side of the family.

The last night there my cousin Joe had a little family reunion barbque and swimming. It was so emotional to be with family. And fun to watch us all as parents and our kids running around. It brought back so many great memories

By the end we were all done so we stopped and had some fun at an abandoned building and took some pictures.

What a great trip we had. I am so glad that we were able to go and spend some much needed time as a family and visit family as well.

Happy Birthday Michael!

Happy Birthday to our little man! You are such an amazing little boy. It's hard to believe you are already 4. Where is the time going. There are times I wish the day over and mostly wish that time would stop so we can enjoy you more.

I had to add a picture of me the day I went into the hospital. It's really is hard to believe that I was that big! Even nurses were a little amazed. I was worried that something was wrong with the baby because my fluid level was just about double the amount it should have been. That plus a 9lb 11oz baby made for a really HUGE belly. And just so I didn't forget it was big everywhere I went people were eager to share with me just how big it was.

Then came the reward. Our beautiful little boy Lawrence Michael Garn. You were such an amazing little baby. Everyone loved you. Neighbors would come often just to hold you. Ryanne, Max and Zach loved having you. They would share holding you and help me to take care of you. You were a gift from God to us. We love you little man.

Dad made a laker fan out of you while in the hospital.

Peaceful sleeping. This was your temperment as a baby. Always happy and easy going. I think you knew from early on that you had to go with the flo and have patience.

Now you are a handsome little boy who loves guns, light sabers, bugs (who you call garn kids), pizza, gatorade, swimming and taking LONNNNGGGG showers. We love you and are so glad that you are our son.