Okay, here I stand again in the same position I have been in for the last six months or more, being behind on this blog!! It has been a crazy summer for us so far this year and we are loving every minute. I have taken tons of pics and my awesome husband is organizing them for me (one less thing for me to do:)) Anyway, don't give up on us just yet. I promise there will be plenty of updates coming your way. Also, we have had another trip to the ER with a broken arm (stay tuned to find out the story). With camps, trips, birthdays, holidays, and so much more to blog about I had better start getting my brain in working order:) Come back and visit soon.

Traevn's Piano Recital

Last Thursday (13th) Traevn had his first piano recital. He has loved being in piano this year. He looks forward to going each week and getting new songs. It doesn't hurt that he has such an awesome teacher, who truly loves teaching Traevn. In the recital he had the most songs to play out of everyone. He memorized two and then played a duet with his teacher. He was so excited to be able to wear his suit some where other than church!! I can't believe how grown up he looks. We love you Trae and are proud of what you are accomplishing.

Here is a list of the songs that he played:

Singing Along (Behr)

Ode to Joy (Beethoven)

Feeling Spiffy (Alfred-duet)

Thanks to all who came out and supported him, he loved having you all there. After the recital Grandma and Grandpa Graff treated Traevn and all of us to a yummy yogurt at Krave. Thanks!!

Okay, so it has been awhile since I have posted a thankful thursday (or any post for that matter) and I thought that I would share some things that I am really grateful for this week.

*I am thankful for doctors and surgeons that excel in what they do. Brynlei's pins were taken out this week and her arm has healed enough that she didn't need to have a hard cast put on. We just have to do a little physical therapy to get it back to normal. It amazes me how fast little bodies heal!

*I am thankful for experts that are willing to research, study, and dedicate their lives to helping us "normal" people learn about things that completely baffle us. In our case understanding and coping and learning how to help our child with Asperger's Syndrome. It is somewhat of a comfort knowing I too can research and learn the things that my child has to live with and helping us learn how to help him.

*Most importantly knowing that I have a Father in Heaven to turn to when the questions I need answered can only be answered by Him.

*Being eternally grateful for the trust He had in me to allow me to become a mother to my beautiful children. I have loved every moment of being a mother (even the challenging ones). My children have truly taught me more than I will ever teach them. They have helped me to become a better person. They have taught me what Christlike love really is. They have taught me true forgiveness.

*I am thankful for Mother's Day, for a day that I get to honor and reflect on the women in my life who have been such inspiring examples to me.

*Thankful that Nate and I finally had a date night after not having one for a few months. It only took him turning 33 to get one!

*For the people out there who truly love my children and care for their well being.

*For the many prayers that are often sent our way.

*Family, where would we be without them?

*For newborn babies that have such sweet, special spirits.

* The list really could go on and on but just know that I am thankful for so much in my life. I truly have been blessed with so much.

What a weekend!!

Saturday began like any other Saturday with a basketball game. Karter is getting so good and is developing some awesome basketball skills. Then we were off to the Kite Festival to redeem the boys reading times for kites or books (2 Kites, 1 Book). We enjoyed yummy shaved ice and then we were off to get some lunch. After lunch we headed to the splash pad and river at Town Square. After getting our water fix, we just had to stop by our new favorite place Swig and grab drinks, treats, ice cream, etc. On the way home we stopped by to say hi to Grandma and Grandpa Graff who were doing yard work, then we were off to enjoy a night of relaxation and family time.

Yeah right, what's relaxation in this house!! After changing out of their suits the kids went out back to play ball, catch lizards, and swing. Well it was the last one that landed us in the hospital all night. Brynlei and Brekken were swinging and Brynlei fell out. After comforting her for a few minutes I looked down at her arm and it looked a little abnormal. So of course Nate and I ran her up to have Grandpa Graff check it. (Don't worry we left Karter to watch the other kids.) Grandpa looked at her arm and said she needed x-rays. We then ran to Instacare to get some x-rays done. After looking at the x-rays it was determined that it was definitely broken, cracked, etc. Grandpa called one of his orthopedic surgeon buddies and had us meet him at the ER. After waiting in the ER to get all prepped to have surgery we decided that it was going to be a long night and called in reinforcements to help Karter out (Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Abbott). All this time Brynlei is being sooo incredibly tough. We couldn't give her anything for pain until they got her IV in, then she got the good stuff (Morphine). Dr. Smith finally arrived and we wheeled her up a couple of floors for surgery. The surgery went well and she had to have a couple of pins placed in her elbow region. :( She took forever to wake up in recovery, but finally she did after about two hours. She was supposed to stay the night in the hospital but Grandpa convinced the orthopedist that she would be in good hands and he was close by (one of the many perks of having Grandpa as our doctor). Finally at about midnight we got her doped up and all adjusted to sleep semi-comfortably. Thankfully Grandma and Grandpa Abbott had already put the very worried and concerned brothers to bed.

She is doing pretty good considering what she has been through. She has loved all the cards, treats, popsicles, and gifts from her cousins, neighbors, grandparents, primary presidency, school teachers, etc. Grandma Graff brought her some new outfits that would fit over her arm and she was in heaven!!!

Her brothers have been awesome and have been waiting on her and taking care of her like a princess should be.

She gets the pins taken out in three weeks and then gets to have either a hard cast put on or another soft cast.

Thank You to everyone who has been there for Brynlei and us at this time. It is much appreciated. Thank you for all the prayers, cards, gifts, emails, etc. It means a lot to her and to our family. Her school teachers and dance teachers have been awesome in helping us rearrange her schedule and being able to make-up classes.

I will try to get a picture of her arm up this week. It amazes me that we have lived through 4 boys with no broken bones, etc and Brynlei seems to have gotten everything :) (Go figure!) I just have to say that she is the toughest little girl I know. We love you Brynlei!!

Finally.... a boy!!!

My older brother, Jeremy and his wife Shannon finally welcomed a little boy into their family of girls.

Jeremy Jaeger Graff was born on Friday, April 9th!!

Congratulations!!!

Wow, can someone tell me exactly where time goes?!! For the past 2-3 months our lives have been absolutely crazy. We haven't had a free day, weekend, minute to catch up with life. Having 7 people with 7 different schedules tends to get a little hectic at times. With basketball, piano,

t-ball, dance, choir, school projects, vocab competitions, remodeling the house, working, training, spring break, recitals, having family in town, birthdays, baptisms, parties, etc. I feel as though I need to be cloned. I am sorry that I haven't updated (to the few of you who actually care:)) but I am in the works of getting it done and checked off my long list of things to do. Oh, and by the way, I am not complaining at all about our life. I actually enjoy all the chaos that is US, it ironically keeps me sane and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Happy Birthday Karter

Happy 10th Birthday Karter!!!

I cannot believe that Karter is that old (or that I had him a decade ago)!!! He is growing up way too fast!! We love you so much Karter and hope that you have an AWESOME day.

**More to come later. I know that I have promised this many times before but I am working on getting everything organized and ready.