My reason for living

wade...Brendan's littlest brother graduates from high school...go snake river(I guess better than anything if you're not from Idaho)

and yes he does look like mic

Kenzie throws te shotput...gets 5th overall!

mackenzie takes a little break at the meet

brianna runs the 400 m and did fabulous...this was for steph since she missed this 1st race!

more kiddos at grad

kenie preparing for the 50m dash at the all district 4th grade track and field meet

moms enjoying the joy school graduation with some down time

kids taking time to pester their mommy:)

Kyle passed year one!!!!

Kyle's joy school graduation pom-poms!

the kitchen view of our new home

The outside of our new home

SEVEN ON SUNDAY

1.this has been one of the craziest months ever. I have had to work on average 50 hours a week with multiple doubles. and this next month isn't looking much better in regards to work schedule. On my days off this past coupl eof weeks have been spent in doctors offices or driving 300 miles one way...so no wonder between working so much and not having any down time that I have finally got sick! with strep n0n the less:) The kids are doing well in spight of broken arms, colds from camping in the rain(which they loved every minute of), andfinally enjoying summer break which is sure to be just as busy! enough about the life of Jess on to the events that have been fun!!!!

2. The 4th grade had a district wide track and field meet the end of may. Mackenzie participated in 4 events...1 running and 3 field. SHe got 2 8th place finishes and a 5th place overall. She did her best especially considering how nervous she was. It was a good teaching moment for me. I told her that I was proud of her no matter what as long as she did her best and finished the race! She did great! It was a good time for us to support her as a family and the boys really enjoyed it and cheering for their sister.

3. Broken arm....the day before school was out last week I got a call while I was out visiting teaching from the school. Well because I wasn't home and it didn't occur to them to call my cell, I didn't get the message until 3 hours after they called at 1 pm. I called them back and they proceeded to tell me she was fine now. No more than 15 minutes later they called me back to come and get her. So I hurried to fix the boys some lunch to eat in the van and headed over. I picked her up and realized that there was something wrong when the assistant said she'd gone through 4 ice packs and had some tylenol. I tried many of my usual sitters with kids my boys age...no one was available and poor steph was in BOISE. So i called someone I wouldn't have normally thought of after I prayed. She was more than Happy to watch my boys and they ran into her home. I know that I was inspired to call someone who would be kind to my children at this time of need. So off to urgent care for kenzie's arm. 3 1/2 hours later got the verdict she had a hairline fracture. Now waiting to go back for our follow-up...she's only splinted right now and shouldn't have to be casted. I picked up my bays later and you could tell all fell into place with Heavenly Father's help. Maybe because I went VT don't know just am greatful for an answered prayer during the broken bone time:)

4. Preschool Graduation....The next day after the broken bone i was in charge of the preschool graduation at my place. Thanks to the moms who willingly took on assignments to help me out. The pompom and caps were spectacular...There's no way I could've done them. The kids sang their little hearts out and My brother did a good job at being the commentator:) you just gotta know Nate to appreciate it! It was a fun year with Joy school but it definitely added more things to do to the plate that was already full. So I think next year we'll pay for the last year of prechool just so I don't have to teach!(I know selfish but worth it)

5. Well Wade Brendan's youngest brother graduated from high school this past week. SO after working 60 hours I took the kids down there on wednesday and drove back on thursday so I could work 18 hours on Friday and drive to Burley to pick them up on Saturday(for those who don't know it's about 300 miles one way for this trip). So after all that It was definitely worth seeing all the in-laws and cousins. PLus I wouldn't have been able to expereince the Hail storm and Wade's fabulous but short speech at graduation! Plus how could I have answered my noys question, " mommy why is everything here PURPLE?" So any snake river fans have that answer for my sweet boys?

6. Kids camping trip with Grandma and Grandpa....The Cox's had a mini reunion after the graduation at city of rocks. From my understanding it rained a lot and the kids loved the rocks. That's all I can get out of my kids. By the looks of them they had a BLAST!!!!And I would make that drive again for them to have that experience and those family memories. But on the down side they now all have runny noses and coughs...plus with my strep we are a pretty grumpy little family right now!

7. Temple...The subject of our third hour combined meeting at church today given to us by our stake president and his wife. the three topics were .1. preparing to receive your own temple blessings 2. always having a current temple recommend and if you don't get one 3. regularly and frequently attending the temple. There was such a beautiful spirit in the meeting and I was reminded about my first experience in the temple. It was on my 12Th birthday and we were finally being sealed as a family in the Chicago temple. Seeing everyone all dressed in white and how happy they all looked made my make a promise to myself that day to live my life so that I can have the blessing of an eternal family of my own. As I reflect up on my life I have found the greatest peace in the temple and have learned more about the Love our Father in Heaven has for each of us. Life doesn't always work out the way we may have planned when we were 12, but the blessings of the temple are always there. I want to testify that although my family may be different than I had originally planned it is still a family that is bound by a priesthood sealing ordinance. The Lord is merciful and I will not believe that I cannot be with my children in the eternities. So to those who are wondering about the reality of the power and peace the temple can bring into your life....test it out for yourself. Become worthy to enter and see what miracles the Lord can do!