Final post from 2017 - now caught up!

We attended our niece's wedding in Oklahoma where we saw lots of family.

K5 and K4, each with a babe in arms, visiting with their Grand Dad at the wedding reception.

Kids always like staying in a hotel with an indoor swimming pool.

Some family had to travel from afar, so it was a great weekend.

K12 turned 8 years old.

Just one of several birthdays we celebrated in the Fall.

As part of preparing for K7's return home from his Mission in Africa, we ripped out the basement carpet and installed something much easier to keep clean with several boys downstairs. We also had to shuffle some bedroom arrangements.

K9 is 3 1/2 years old, weights close to 50 pounds, and wearing size 6 under pants! Yes, he is huge, but almost potty trained. He is loud and mobile. Our current goal is getting him to sit quietly during family scripture study and during Church. He attends the 3 year old Sunbeam Primary class and does sit still for it, so slow but steady progress!

We had several visits from kids and grand kids. This was hair cutting day.

K9 is a Daddy's boy! Took my hat and glasses.

K11 wanted to play football. Went to the practises and had fun, but did not like wearing a helmet or all the pushing and shoving on the line of scrimmage during game day. His coaches said he kept wanting to leave the game and stand on sidelines, so they let him. I kept my mouth shut while thinking, "If he was your son, coach, what would you say to him? "Get back in there and tough it out..."? Oh well, they were the volunteer coaches, not me. He also went through a brief period at school during the same time where he was slacking off and not putting forth his best effort. He figured out he doesn't want to continue with football, and after a teacher/parent conference, he figured out how to give his best effort again. I am okay with him dropping football and improving as a student. However, K9 really loved that helmet, and with his size and toughness, who knows... 

K6 and K8

Our family was very happy to meet K7 at the airport on the evening of 8 November 2017, upon his return from Ghana, West Africa, where he served a Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

He loved the people of Ghana, he loved the work, and the country, and he grew in so many wonderful ways. But he is obviously happy to enjoy his first winter snow in over two years.