Braydons 8

After years of waiting Braydon has finally turned 8. He is so happy that he will soon be baptized, however, seeing as how Daylon is gone he has to wait. We are planning on going back to Idaho this summer where he will be baptized and confirmed. This year I gave him 2 options: have a birthday party will all of his friends or have a friend sleep over and I would give him 100 dollars........well of course he chose the 100 bucks (really if you think about it I still won out in the end). He had his sleepovers (we ended up having 2 one Friday night and the other Saturday) over General Conference weekend. I also took him, with Ethan and Kerstin, to Benihana. Braydon had a well thought out plan on what he wanted. From all grand and great grandparents he requested money.....why you ask. His goal was to buy himself his very own mini laptop. He had made it...with a little help from mom and dad and got him a little hp mini. He also got a "big" amp from his dad and I, a CTR Man tie from Ethan and a playmobile set from Kerstin. We ended his Birthday by enjoying a cake from Cold Stone Creamery. My baby boy is almost grown up......tear.

Good News and Bad

Daylon has left for a deployment once again to Qatar, a very small country in the Persian Gulf. He is doing his regular job but is also doing ababs. He is flying with fuel to refuel planes. This, so far, has taken him to Iraq several times. He is fine but says it is hot and humid and his dorm room smells of mold and mildew. He left September 14th and should return home mid January. We are over halfway through now and other than being apart everything is well.

On to the good news we are expecting our 3rd baby! And FINALLY we are having a GIRL. We are all very excited. Braydon and Ethan can't wait to have a baby sister, I just love buying dresses and I can't wait for her to have Daylon wrapped around her little finger. She is due either February 28th or March 3rd, the doctors can't seem to make up their minds. Over lots and lots of e-mails her name is, unofficially, going to be Shyann Makenna Deeds (however, I am a woman and do have the right to change my mind).

School Days

The boys have once again started school. Ethan is returning to Kings Career Academy for his second year of preschool (he is really bummed that he isn't old enough for Kindergarten) and Braydon is returning to Rilke Schule German School of Arts and Sciences for his second grade year.

Seeing as how it is already way past the 1st quarter I will do some filling in. Ethan is doing very well he has even mastered writing his name, well as much as a 4 year old can master such. Braydon received all 1's and 2's on his report card (German grading) a 1=97-100% and a 2= 92-97%. He is also reading above grade level and has gotten over 25 sprachmeisters. We are also hosting a German intern for 6 months. Her name is Kerstin and we enjoy her very much. I really enjoy that she drives to and from school every day so I only have to take Ethan.

Nauvoo

While we were in Iowa Daylon and I took the opportunity to leave the kids with papa Terry and head 3 hours to Nauvoo. Neither Daylon or I had ever been there. I booked us a room in the Woodruf hotel and even spent the extra money to get the room with a view of the temple and a 2 person jetted tub. We were very excited. On Monday we watched a play (High Hopes and River Boats) drove around to see the sights and then went we a Outdoor program at night that included Vocal Point (an acapella group). The whole day was wonderful but I have to admit the humidity was AWFUL! The next day we went to the temple and then decided to take a very quick trip to Carthage. Nauvoo has such a beautiful spirit about it the town is absolutely gorgeous. We hope to make another trip to Nauvoo (and take the kids too) next time we go to Iowa.

IOWA part 2 (Daylon's Camera)

Can't go to the Mid West w/o having a turkey leg.

Camel and Ostrich races. That is a once a lifetime event for me.

Lilly, Braydon, Cub E. Bear, Gracie and Ethan at an Iowa Cubs game.

Braydon getting a ride in his "dream car" a Chrysler 300.

Braydon, Uncle Scott and Ethan at Adventure Land.

Ethan, Pop Scott, Uncle Scott and Braydon.

I don't remember what kind of car this is but it had a Bose stereo system in it and I do remember that it costs more than some houses.

The kids with my Grandparents who came all the way from Louisiana to see us.

Of course there was swimming.

These fish will do anything for food! A Koi pond at the Des Moines Zoo.

We couldn't Go to Iowa w/o fishing, however I think we did more sitting than catching this year.

Not very lucrative at all.

IOWA part 1 (Taron's camera)

This is the Eddy, the place we stayed most of the time while in Iowa.

I love this picture.....he looks so innocent, even though we all know he is not.

Out at Uncle Mikes house, he has the fun big boy toys.

The boys with Papa Terry, the number 1 reason we went to Iowa.

We of course had to visit the Science center while in Iowa too.

The Iowa State Capital with its famous gold dome, you can't miss it.

Braydon eating a most delicious watermelon brought by my Grandparents who made the drive all the way from Louisiana.

Daylon and his grandma on his 30th birthday.

Lilly and Ethan "can you say CHEEZZZ-Y"

Gracie and Braydon (cousins)

Scott, my little brother, got to meet his nephews for the first time and it didn't take long to be just like family.

My biological dad even drove up from Louisiana so see us. We had a great visit!

Two days before we left we went to the Iowa State fair parade and the most exciting thing was that Shawn Johnson and Mark (?) were the grand marshals. Every other vehicle was a John Deere tractor.

Pioneer Day and Lagoon

The day before we flew to Des Moines was Pioneer Day. Of course I drug the kids to the Pioneer Day parade that they complained all the way through because of the HEAT and I will admit it was HOT (however it was only preparing us for the soon hot and humid weather in the Midwest). Well when it was over we; my mom, cousin Audra and I drove to Famington to meet the rest of the family at Lagoon. We had a blast, and let me let you on in a little secret....so many people in Utah are celebrating Pioneer Day none of them are at Lagoon. We didn't have to wait in any lines. I went with my older cousins and my mom took the kids to the smaller rides. After a couple of hours of rides we went to Lagoona beach. By this time I have realized that as I get older I can't ride as many roller coasters in a row as I used to, I was done! So while I laid on the ground on a towel feeling like crap my cousins took the kids through the water. We finally got all of the kids out of the water and spent the rest of the day in the park riding more rides. Braydon and Ethan love rides. Braydon, however, who is tall of enough to go on the scary roller coasters wouldn't go (I think he suffers from Daylon and I scaring the crap out of him when he was 4 on Space Mountain). Ethan on the other hand would have rode everything if he wasn't so small! Everyone had a great day. We loved spending time with my mom and all of my cousins. But all good things must come to an end. The next day we said our goodbyes and we boarded our flight to Des Moines, Iowa.I was a little slow with my camera. This is the car that Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf was in.
Leaving Lagoon....they had to run through the water.