Southwest

Jeff took off for Dallas in November for Southwest training.

2 months and lots of craziness later...he now flies for SWA!

Christmas

Christmas was simple...the pool being the main gift
and the boys opening a couple water toys from friends and relatives.
A fun surprise from G & G and Jeff coming home
for 2 days made for a wonderful Christmas!
So thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ...the reason for the season~

Festival of Nativities

Our First Annual Festival of Nativities was amazing!

11 dear friends brought incredible nativities to share from around the world. 

So thankful for Louise, Kristen and countless others who made this event possible.

Already looking forward to next year - what a beautiful tradition.

 

 

Swimming Dream

Jeff has wanted a pool for as long as I can remember.  With the boys getting older too quickly, we figured we'd better take the plunge!  This is their Christmas gift for the rest of their lives;)  Summer can't come soon enough.

Justin was the first one in the pool (perks of getting out of school first)!  Kurtis was the first to dive off the wall.  Nick was the first to jump off the diving board.  Brandon, Jeff & LeAnn are waiting for the water to be at least 70 degrees.

We were blessed to find the best pool guy, the best cement guy
and the best landscape guy!  We are beyond blessed and thankful!!!

First Class Nick

Nick is doing great in scouts!  Finished First Class and working on Star Rank.

 

So Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving - we are beyond blessed!

 

Thanksgiving Feast

Grandma took Justin to his Thanksgiving Feast.

She kept things running smoothly while Jeff & LeAnn went to TX for Jeff's training.

 

Swim Team

Kurtis made the high school swim team!

Grandma took all the boys to the team dinner.  Kurtis gets to ride home with Madison, the beautiful senior swim captain...livin the good life and lovin high school!

First meet was sweet - 2nd in breast stroke!

 

Winter Camping

Jeff and Nick Canoe Camping in November

 

Family Pics

Last minute family pictures before Jeff left for training.

Lake McIntosh was the location and

Mike & Carmen were thankfully the photographers:)

A Century of Honor

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Boy Scouts of America present "A Century of Honor" (http://scouts100.lds.org/?cid=HPSA102613127) which commemorates the 100-year relationship between the Church and BSA.  Hundreds of Scouts participated in the program, featuring scout choirs, historical vignettes and videos highlighting important events, service and achievements from the past century.

Scouting’s most tenured national executive board member, President Thomas S. Monson, remains a champion of the Scouting program and its enduring partnership with the Church in the United States.

“Scouting brings out the best in each of us,” he has said. “You’ve learned much from Scouting. Live what you’ve learned and continue to learn. Help others to hike the trails, to keep steadfast in the paths of truth, of honor, of duty, that all of you can soar together on eagles’ wings.”

 

Braces

Another cute boy needs braces... 

lookin great Nick!

 

Halloween

Love our Trunk and Trick or Treaters

 

Stanchions

Working in the scouting program gives many opportunities to help with eagle projects.

Jerry made stanchions for the upcoming Festival of Nativities. 

 Great work guys and can't wait to see them in December.

 

Happy Day J

Our sweet baby is now in the double digits.

He asked if he'd make it to the triples;)

We love you Justin!

 

 

 

Singers

Justin and Nick's fall singing programs

 

 

Chef Nick

Jeff has been helping the scouts work on their cooking merit badge.

Nick is quite the chef - yum!

 

50 Miles

Jeff and Nick completed a 50 mile bike ride on the Silver Comet today. 

This earned Nick the Cycling Merit Badge and big time bragging rights;)

Jeff, Nick and eight other scouts and leaders have been training for the past six weeks. Distances started at 10 miles and worked up to 25 mile rides. Last night they camped at Rockmart and this morning spent a beautiful day biking 50 miles.
Way to go Nick and Daddy!

 

 

Sally

Meet Jeff's new baby...Sally! She created quite a stir on facebook for a few days while many thought we adopted a red headed baby girl.  Jeff has wanted this kind of car since high school and given that we needed a third vehicle with Brandon driving, this was the perfect excuse.  Jeff spent months researching and looking at many different Mustangs.  Earl sent this 69 convertible from e-bay.  We've never bought anything from e-bay, but Jeff bid and got a great deal on this baby.  He flew up to VA to pick her up and drove 13+ hours straight to bring her home...grinning all the way;)

The boys love Sally - she's a perfect little/big sister!

 

 

Best Buds

Gabe and Sheri came to visit.

Justin and Gabe picked up right where they left off 4 years ago.

So thankful for good friends!

 

Scoutmaster Jeff

Scouts, scouts and more scouts...

Way to go second class Nick and Scoutmaster Daddy!

 

Tri Daddy

Jeff's favorite triathlon - way to tri baby!

 

 

Junior Babies

Junior Justin (elementary)  Baby Booth Nick (middle school)
Baby Mc Kurt Kurt (high school)  Junior Brando (high school) and
Baby College Brando (dual enrollment - clayton state)

Think we have all the schools covered;)

 

Summer Scout Fun

One of Nick's Family Life Merit Badge Projects

Johnathan's Eagle Scout Project

Scouting fun is never done;)

Bummer....it's the end of summer.

Baseball, FroYo, summer's like a yo yo...

 

Utah

How many things can you pack into a week...

Of course it starts with the adventure of flying standby and actually getting to our destination.  After 8 hours in the Phoenix Airport, we made up a song..."Oh what do you do in the summer time, when you're stuck in the Phoenix Airport?  You sit in a chair, and hope you don't swear" was the favorite line of the day.  Thank heavens for a delicious dinner and fantastic fireworks when we finally made it to Grandma & Grandpas home.  Great Hanson Family Reunion too!

 

Met the Austin Family at Provo Canyon for some fishing.
Didn't catch much but sure enjoyed trying.

Great Grandma and all of Jeff's cute siblings and families came for a BBQ.
Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedules to come hang out with us!

Grandpa Austin's sweet Model A.

Airborne was a boy heaven.
Brandon & Kurtis complete the Ninja Course - Crazy Hard!

All Star Games & Buffet
Lazer Tag with Galen & Paulette and cousins was a favorite.

Basketball Madness in Grandma & Grandpa's backyard.

Lagoon with Steph & kids - so fun!!!

Snowbird (notice "austin pond" behind us)

Jeff made it...barely;)

Who knew you could spend a whole day at Snowbird in the summer?
Endless activities enjoyed with Steve, Steph, cousins, Grandpa & Grandma.

Stop at Brick Oven (boy's favorite) on the way home.
Thank you Grandpa & Grandma for treating us to a fantastic day!

Grandma's new toy, that we get to enjoy too;)

Kurtis said goodbye to Sawyer - sad day.  Love that cousin bond! 
Sawyer wrote Kurtis the cutest note to wish him well at his baseball tournament.

Brandon had the opportunity to work with Grandpa for the week - went to a deposition, arbitration, the court house, and of course out to lunch every day.  Got a time card and paycheck too.  Thank you Grandpa!
Nick & Justin were spoiled by Grandma, Steph and kids.  Endless activities (Cowabunga Bay, Airborne, Thanksgiving Point were a few), movies (Turbo and Despicable Me 2) and playtime together.  Brandon & Grandpa joined in for the Lindsey Stirling and Nathan Pacheco Concert (the boys saw President Monson there), and then there was the "Lord of the Rings" marathon movie week and an endless supply of hot pockets and all the other favorite foods that Mom won't buy.

When we were all together at home talking about our trips, Nick was giving day by day reports, and Kurtis looked at him and said, "Why don't you tell us what you didn't do?"  Hard to miss out on all the fun;)  But Kurtis & LeAnn enjoyed Gulf Shores, Alabama and Kurt played some excellent baseball!

Brandon successfully got Nick, Justin and himself home from SLC, with no adult and a layover in Denver.  As they were approaching and circling ATL, they had to divert to Nashville because of a thunderstorm so they spent a couple more hours there too.  Now that they are expert travelers, we can send them anywhere:)
Thanks everyone for a wonderful family vacation!