~How could I not be proud~

I have the most wonderful fantastic family!!! Toby turned 8 this year and was baptized!!! There were many times I wasn't sure he was going to make it to this special day....So happy for him and so grateful!! Then Kyle turned 13! I can't believe how grown up they both are! Kyle is an absolute life saver in my life....again, grateful!!! Then Lexi turned 9 (although I think she's tall enough to be 12)!! Then Brandon turned 16.....driving?!?! Brandon is a huge help around here too :) Then Lily graduated from Kindergarten! She sure is sweet! Then Jahde graduated from High School!!! Grateful for his example. Dave's birthday is Saturday, and then in August Jahde turns 18!! Where has the time gone? In between the milestones we have a few pics of 'awesome grandparents and family 'Lily getting an award in school' A visit to Hill Airforce Base' Gangsters' A tourist gone bad' Kyle playing violin (he has such an amazing ear)' Lily and DJ getting awards for taking a gymnastics class' Toby getting the Gold Medal in Math (very few ever get this, so it was a big deal!)' Super cute kids in trees' and MONKEYS haha
I recently had a biopsy on a lump on my thyroid. Scary stuff. But I am ok. Can I just express my sincerest gratitude for not having cancer! I kept telling myself I could face whatever was placed before me, but it was usually through tears. It's hard enough keeping up with 7 kids and super busy lives without adding even more meds and hospital visits!!! Yeah, grateful! Dave is traveling to China a lot, and really enjoys it. He serves in the Young Men's when he's home :) I might be bias, but I think we have the most amazing kids in the world!! :) Ahhhh grateful!!!

~months of ketchup~

I have soooo much more to ketchup on, but it's overwhelming, so here is my short n simple update.
Lily turned 6. She loves Panda Bears (thank heavens they aren't too complicated...I've gotten quite lazy with my cake making these days.... junior mints, ding dongs and flavored tootsie rolls). Lily is so grown up. I'm her mom, so I can go on and on and on, right? She amazes me though! She sat down at the piano and taught herself 3 songs.... jingle bells, heart and soul, and Jolly Old Saint Nicholas (which she played in harmony with both hands! She also sings wonderfully, and draws amazing pictures, has such a great eye and memory. She is smart, sweet, talented and beautiful! What a privilege to be her mom!

And Toby is about to turn 8! He gets baptized next month! I just updated his caringbridge..... it's just hard for me to believe where we are, how much we've gone through, and somehow, I seem to be kinda sorta semi-normal? Toby's a good kid..... all my kids are good kids! And I'm so grateful for each and every one one of them!!!
And just to sum up everything....After vacuuming and sweeping the floor today, someone (I wont say who) spread peanut shells all over the kitchen floor and living room carpet. I wasn't very happy about it. I started mumbling and complaining and said something like "Doesn't anyone care how much I do around here, or how many times I have to vacuum and sweep?" and DJ said calmly "No. No one". haha you gotta love it!