~The Elk Hunt~

This year for the elk hunt, we made a little camping trip out of it.  We had my family all come up, well those that live around here.  The boys went out hunting in the mornings while the girls and kids played around camp.  It was a fun little get away.

The kids had fun doing crafts, decorating cookies, watching movies, playing games, making forts in the trees, going on little hikes, etc.

There were gorgeous views up at the top of the mountains.  The hunt was unsuccessful, but we had fun just getting away. (Mckell took this picture for her school's reflections contest)

~Hunter's Eagle Scout Project~

I LOVE Hunter's scout leader!!!  I had been trying for months trying to get Hunter to decide on an Eagle scout project.  I gave idea, after idea, after idea, but Hunter just wasn't biting.  But his awesome young mens leader grabbed him and they together decided on an eagle project.  Thank You Kirk Jensen!!!!  Hunter decided to help clean the pesky goat heads on the canal road.  They are such a pain and are constantly popping our bike tires and getting stuck in our shoes then tracked home.  They hurt so bad to step on.  Hunter organized the project, set up a plan, did great at leading the group, and we even had donuts and juice afterwards.  It took a couple days to complete, but I'm so glad for Kirk's little nudge to Hunter so we could get this done.

Hunter had an amazing group on volunteers who came out to help.  I LOVE our ward!!!!  Now he is just waiting for 1 more night on his camping merit badge, then he is ready to get his Eagle.  Whoot! Whoot!

~Dinosaur Park~

I LOVE going on fieldtrips with my cute kiddos cause I get to see them interact with their classmates.  The Dinosaur Park with Lexi and her cute classmates was so much fun!

Lexi, Claire, and Felicity

~Lexi's Baptism Day~

On September 30, 2016 this cute girl was baptized.  She had so many loved ones there.  Both of her grandmas gave amazing talks, Hunter and Mckell gave prayers, Garrett handed out the programs, her two grandpa's were the witnesses, and Dave baptized and confirmed her.  It was such a special day, and one I hope Lexi will remember.

The thing Lexi said she remembers about her baptism most was that when Dave dunked her in the water there wasn't a whole lot of water in the font, because there was issues with the drain holding water. So he ended up hitting her head on the ground trying to submerge her all the way in the water.  Darn leaky pipes, lol.

We had a little celebration at our house afterwards.  Our good friend Amity made Lexi these gorgeous rainbow cakes for her baptism.  We LOVE Amity's cakes!!!

Lexi with her Great Grandma Ropelato.  I love that my kids get to know their great grandparents.  It was such a special day celebrating Lexi's decision to follow her Savior.  I am so proud of the sweet girl Lexi is.

For Lexi's baptism pictures, she and I went up to the top of North Ogden Divide for a little photo shoot, just me and her.  Here are some of the pictures that were taken.  She is such a little beauty!

This one is my favorite!!!

~Pirate Day~

My cute sister in law, Cassie, asked if Garrett would like to join her kids in dressing up for pirate day and going to Krispy Kreme to get free donuts.  Garrett LOVES pirates so we jumped at this chance to not only dress up, but get a free donut too.

Easton, Paisley, Grayson, and Garrett.  They are the cutest pirates ever!!!

Lexi had pirate day at school a few weeks later, so I had to throw her cute pirate picture in here too.  It's kind of a funny story about  her pirate day.  Well. . . funny now.  Things have been crazy so I didn't read the note that came home about pirate day very well.  I just glanced at it and saw that it said Wednesday was pirate day.  So we got Lexi all dressed up cute like a pirate.  About an hour into school, I got a call from her teacher saying that pirate day was the following week.  Whoops!!! Lexi was so embarrassed and begged me to bring her a change of clothes.  Mom fail!!!  She lucked out to get to dress like a pirate at school for 2 different days.  Lucky girl!  At least that is what I tried to convince her of, lol.

Mrs. Powell's 2nd grade class.

~Birthday Celebrations~

My kids love celebrating their birthdays with their cousins.  This year we just decided to celebrate her birthday with both sides of the family.

Since Lexi and Jocelyn have birthdays so close we celebrated Jocelyn's too.

The Ropelato September birthday girls (we don't have any September birthdays on the Wangsgard side)  I love that we live by family so that they can join us in these kinds of celebrations.  It makes special days that much more enjoyable :)

~It's Great To Be 8~

Happy Birthday Lexi Lou!!!  I can't believe you are already 8 years old!!!  You are so beautiful, kind, smart, a great dancer, such a big helper, funny, and quick witted.  You bring so much love and joy to our family!

For Lexi's birthday we wanted to surprise her with a new bedroom. She got a new bed, dresser, decorations, etc.  It was so much fun getting her room ready for her surprise.

I was a little frustrated because I wanted to surprise her while she was at school the day before her birthday, but the delivery was delayed until that afternoon.  Luckily she had a friends birthday party that night so I figured we could have it all ready for when she got home.  No such luck, the delivery guys were still not done by the time we were picking her up.  Ughhh!!! So much for the big surprise.  She was still surprised, just it didn't go the way I had wanted.  Oh well, she loved her new room though!!!!  It really did turn out so cute!!!

We surprised Lexi with breakfast in bed the following morning for her birthday.  Then she picked to go to dinner that evening at Olive Garden and then to Lagoon's Frightmares.  It was a really fun birthday.

I love my little birthday girl!!!!

Lexi wasn't afraid of the scary dressed up guys walking all around.  Garrett on the other hand was terrified, lol.  It was such a fun night celebrating our favorite 8 year old!!!

I just wanted to add this picture of Lexi going on the Rocket for the first time.  The kids tried all summer to get her to go on this ride.  She wouldn't even consider it.  But Dave mentions it and she will go, lol.  The things she won't do for her dad, hahaha.  She hated it by the way!!!