Austin and Scott play basketball

Austin and Scott played their second season of basketball this winter.  Scott was especially excited about it.  Austin was enjoying it, but got a concussion at one of his early games and was a little cautious after that.  They got to play with some friends--Andy McIntyre was the coach, Cini, the Lavulo twins, Christian Waddoups, and Grant Rugg were all friends that were on the team.

Scott with the green undershirt and black shoes

 Scott bringing the ball down

Austin under the basket 

 Scott is number 10, Austin as the green striped under shirt with gray shoes

 Austin under the basket, Scott with the red undershirt

 Austin with the ball

Both boys improved so much.  It was a fun season!

Happy Birthday Austin! Happy Birthday Scott!

Our two big boys turned 8!  Here is Austin--McIntyre friends Cini to the left, Ian to the right.

Here is Scott

Austin on the birthday morning opening his presents.

Austin with his special new scriptures and case

Scott with his new scriptures and case

 Dad giving Austin and Scott birthday hugs.

We love these two boys so much.

Scott:

• Loves to do funny things and make us all laugh
• Really loves to play basketball and loves to go outside and practice
• Is an expert on all things Star Wars.  He reads many books about Star Wars and is familiar with all of the characters and stories.
• Loves Harry Potter, we read the first one as a family, and Scott couldn't get enough
• Excels in school in reading and math (Scott is always going fast, so the penmanship suffers)
• Has been working hard on saying R's since last October and can make all the R sounds correctly--now to form the habit of saying them all the time
• Is very kind to all of his siblings and showing a lot of responsibility when tending younger siblings.
• Has chosen to be baptized and has a testimony of Jesus and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• Is very thoughtful
• Loves to play video games 
• LOVES to read
• If anyone is hugging, Scott loves to jump in and get in on the action
• We saw a plane in the sky flying low--Scott wondered what would happen if he was flying.  He decided he would make this announcement: "I've got some good news and I've got some bad news.  The good news is I am flying this plane.  The bad news is we are going to crash."
• Scott has been excelling at piano and practices 5 days a week, he will have his first piano recital in June.
• We love Scott so much, he adds so much fun and love to our family!

Austin

• Is also an expert on all things Star Wars, Austin and Scott will sit together and devour whatever latest Star Wars book one of them got from the library
• Also loves Harry Potter.  When we finished the first one, he devoured the second one right after.  
• Is an excellent reader, excellent in math, and all around great student (although his penmanship struggles because he is trying to hurry as well)  
• Has shown a real aptitude for piano and is really enjoying piano lessons
• Is a very creative person, he loves drawing, creating, and coming up with lots and lots of ideas.
• LOVES to read
• LOVES to play video games
• Has chosen to be baptized and has a testimony of Jesus and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• Is so so sweet to his baby brother.  Austin is constantly trying to get Logan to laugh, or hugs him and just gives him lots of special attention, it is really sweet
• Is very sweet and thoughtful of others
• Loves to do lots of voices and making us all laugh
• Loves playing with friends, especially Austin Birdsall
• Always has an interesting way of looking at life and different situations

These 2 buddies have a lot in common, they share a lot of the same interests, but are emerging into their own individual people.   We are so grateful these 2 boys came to our family and made it safely here.  We are so proud of the decisions they are making and the people they are becoming.  Life would be very dull without Austin and Scott.  We love you boys so much!!!  Happy Birthday!

Austin and Scott's 8th Birthday Party

Austin and Scott had a nerf gun war for their party, the kids all had so much fun!

All of the kids were given a nerf gun, a satchel, safety glasses, and a bandana

First, they all had to go through training, just a series of tasks to do.

Grandma Packer even came to help!

 Ian, Austin, Austin Birdsall, Grant, Cini

Austin

Scott

 Scott, Lindi, Preston, Ian, Austin Birdsall, Tanea

Cini, Austin, Lindi

For the second part, the kids split into teams.  One team ran through the obstacle course while the other team hid and ambushed those trying to run through.

Presents

Grant and Austin trying to stop everyone from running through

These two boys had such a fun time, it was a great party!

Logan is 9 months old

This little peach is something else.  He has grown so much and added so much to our family!

Logan does not have a shortage of sibling love, they all adore him (although Ty likes to make sure that Logan knows they are on equal ground as far as cuteness)

Scott with Logan

Austin, Scott, and Ty loving on Logan--tickling him, blowing on his stomach and just making him feel special!

Austin playing with Logan, trying to get him to play with this toy Austin gave Logan for Christmas

Logan is sitting up very well, is about average on the charts as far as weight and height.  He loves to scoot around in his funny way--on home videos.  He is a very sweet little social guy with a very pleasant temperament.  The bad news--he is still waking up 3 times per night!  He is still nursing full time, so mom thinks it's time to start doing some nighttime bottles.  Logan eats solids, but doesn't have a full love of them, he prefers milk--especially from mom.  We love you little man!