I'm back!

Gosh! I can't believe it really has been this long since I have updated my blog.  I really don't have much of an excuse except I'm trying to run a family and a business and now it's summer so it's crazy...but it always seems to be crazy!  CrossFit SouthTown is our home away from home and we love it.  The best part of it is the people, we have an amazing community growing there, I can truly say I know and love each one them.  Josh loves it so much that he is itching for the day that he can do it full time along with me.  (that won't be for quite awhile)  We just celebrated our 1 year anniversary and we couldn't have asked for a more successful year.  We are truly blessed. 

Jace is just getting ready to play football again.  The other 2 boys wanted to play but we decided they can't play until they are out of elementary school.  He has had a summer job the whole summer vacation.  He moves sprinkler pipe.  He leaves early in the morning and goes back in the evening.  He is such a hard worker.  We are so proud of him.  He has earned quite a bit of money and he has been saving all of it.  All summer he would check KSL for dirt bikes.  Finally we went out last weekend to see what size would be best for him.  And this is what he came home with.

I'm still not really sure how I feel about it.  But he bought the puppy and promises to feed and clean up after him.  It's day 3 so far and he has done a wonderful job.  He is truly in love, he tries not to ever the dog along and when he goes to work he asks his brothers to dog sit (even at 6 AM in the morning) It kind of worries me because school starts in a month and the puppy is going to be very lonely.  Hopefully it all works out.

Clay told me he had the very best day of his life this summer when he was finally able to get contacts.  He has been waiting for them his whole life.  He is such an active boy and hates having to worry about breaking his glasses.  The doctor said he is a natural and has never seen a kid so young handle contacts so well.  He was getting them in on his first try after just a couple of day. 

Gage and Clay are best friends, we really haven't had a ton of friends come over this summer cause Jace is working or sleeping cause work wears him out so much and Clay and Gage play together.  We have a big swimming pool which has been the best money we have ever spend.  They play in the pool for hours. 

We did get the chance to go on a family vacation this year over the 4th of July.  Brad and Angie Murray invited us to go to Lake Powell along with Steve and Carlene Eliason's family.  Brad and Angie have a house boat.  We were so excited.  None of our family has ever gotten to go there (except for Josh when he was young) It was a wonderful vacation.  We couldn't ask for better company or better weather.  The kids were either fishing, swimming or boating....and we ate a lot too! Jace and Clay were TOO brave when it came to cliff jumping and after a couple of days Gage was right there with them.  Our favorite was to jump off the house boat!  The boys got really good at knee boarding, and we love the tube too!  Josh and I got a chance to 'scurf' and water ski.  The kids caught so many fish that we lost count.  Here are some of our favorite pictures.

Gage is baptized

Gage has finally gotten baptized.  He had to wait a couple of months after his birthday because Grandpa and Grandma Gunnell were gone to Alaska.  Then Grandma Debbie was gone to Disney land and we didn't want to do it without any of them.  His Grandpa Lynn baptised him and I don't think there is a better person out there to do it.  It was a super special day for him and loved every minute of it.   We are so proud of him to choose this (and yes it really is a choice for our children)  Thanks to everyone that came out to support him, we had a great turn out of friends and family. 

Halloween 2011

Gage is a Army man ( He has to pose every year for whatever character he is, LOL)

Clay is the headless horseman (his very own idea, yes that is a real pumpkin that got very heavy for him, so I would have to carry it for him until he got to the next house.)

Jace wasn't sure if he was going to dress up this year, last minute he decided to be a hunter.  This year was the first year we let him go trick or treating with his friends around the neighborhood.  (I don't like him getting so big)

Eat, Sleep and play...FOOTBALL!

 Gage after one of his games

 Jace getting ready to take out the little red guy

 Showing our support

 Jace

 Gage

 Clay

(he didn't want to play football, but he went to every game and learned a ton about the sport,he loved to watch and cheer on his brothers, he knows more about the game then I do.) 

 Right after Jace's last game...they won about 1/2 of them

Gage after his last game...he was stoked...they had a perfect season!

Clay is playing the Cello now so I will post some pictures of that soon! 

Back to School

I can NOT believe he is going into 6th grade.  Where did my little boy go??

Gage and Clay off to their first day of school

Clay will be in 4th grade and Gage will be in 2nd Grade

Donnell Family Pictures

Football

Football. Not quite sure how I feel about this sport yet.  This is Jace's body after only 2 weeks of practice.  But he is loving every minute of it.  He thinks it's so cool and loves to count his bruises every night.  I on the other hand get more and more sick when the numbers go up.  But I do have to say, the black eye is NOT from football, that one was from soccer.  Jace dived into the pole when he was playing goalie.  GEEZ!

Gage is also playing football and he is a monster out there. ( his dad is very proud)  He often comes over to show us how much sweat is dripping off his head.  To him that means he is working and playing super hard.  He is so fast and loves to hit and knock down boys twice his size.

Clay is not into the football scene, too much running in the heat for him.  Clay has been swimming all summer long.  He is working towards a big goal of making the swim team.  He has worked very hard.  Clay is now getting into the harder strokes, the butterfly and breast stroke.  Swim lessons are over for the summer and he is pretty sad about it, we might have to get him into some private lessons that are offered so he can get to his goal quicker. 

The big pool that we bought this year was one of the best things we did for the kids this summer.  They are in it every single day.  And they seem to really get along when they are swimming together.  The summer is going by way too fast, this is my favorite season and it never lasts long enough.