Awesome Parents!!

Back in February my parents received an amazing award for their scouting efforts, The Silver Beaver. The Silver Beaver Award is the highest service award the the Trapper Trails Council can give. Adult leaders that receive this award are recognized for playing a significant role or impacting the lives of youth that are in the Trapper Trails Council. I am so proud of my parents!! This is such an amazing award and its such an honor for them to be recognized. Not only were they honored but they were able to receive the honor together. I'm gonna post their scouting history that was given when they received the award.

Bryan T Stephens
Bryan has been an adult Scouter for over 31 years. He has served on Family Camp staff, NYLT, and on 7 Wood Badge courses. He has served as District Chairman, and chaired several planning committees for the Council, for 2010 Jamborall and 2012 Scout-o-rama. He has taught at Commissioner's College, Baden Powell University, on District Training committees, and in his unit. He is a natural leader who lives and exemplifies the scouting values.

Jeanette K Stephens
Jeanette has offically been an adult Scouter for 12 years but served many years before that as a Scout leader's wife doing all the committee work. She has been to Wood Badge and served on five Wood Badge staffs. She helped chair a 2010 Jamborall committee and the 2012 Council Scout-o-rama. She has been on Emcompass staff, Baden Powell University staff and instructor, and served as Assistant Council Wood Badge Quartermaster.

AMAZING RIGHT!?! Way proud of my parents!!!

Disney On Ice

We had the opportunity to take Jayanne to Disney On Ice- Dare To Dream. And it was so good. I absolutely loved it!! We were able to go with Brett, Casandra and Milly. Jayannne was so excited that Milly was there with her. They sang along to the songs and danced together. It was super cute! Jayanne's favorite part was when all the princesses came out at the end and danced with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. But she really loved Rapunzel too. She was dressed up in her Rapunzel dress and Milly was dressed up as Cinderella. Jayanne was so excited when Milly brought her a crown and a wand that she could have. It was so fun to have a night that was just about Jayanne and that she didn't have to share the spotlight with Jackson. I only have pictures of when all the princesses and princes were dancing but the whole thing was amazing.

Yes I took a picture of the sign. I know i'm a geek.

Such A Good Daddy

Brian is such a good daddy. They kids absolutely love him. Jayanne was especially excited when he agreed to paint her toenails. He did a pretty good job too.

Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam!

So Jayanne is now a sunbeam. I can't believe that she is old enough to be in primary. She absolutely loves it. She loves her teachers and gets excited every time she sees them anywhere. She loves to come home and sing all the new songs that she is learning. After the first day of being a sunbeam she was really upset because she didn't get to play with playdoh or bubbles like she did in nursery. But she loves it now. She even has got to do a talk and loves to volunteer to say the prayer or help with the songs.

Winter Fun

Not a lot to say about this except Jayanne loved to play outside in the snow!



Brian made a hill in our backyard that Jayanne could sled down. She really loved it!

Jackson even got to go down.

She loved to help Brian shovel the snow!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Brian had to work this year so it was just me and the kids. We went over to my mom's house and had our traditional tacos and rootbeer floats. (As kids we would always go over to my Grandma Knighton's house and had tacos and rootbeer floats with all the cousins.) We ate, played games, did some sparklers, and watched movies. Jackson didn't make it to midnight but Jayanne did. It was a lot of fun.


We did the sparklers at like 7 since it was so cold outside and we didn't think any of the kids would last till midnight but they all did.

Movie Time!



Grandpa got all the grandkids sleeping bags and blankets to curl up in as they watched the new Tinkerbell movie, The Secret of the Wings.

Happy New Year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I really enjoyed Christmas this year. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact the Jayanne was into it a lot more. She was way excited about it and it just rubbed off on me. Plus it was Jackson's first Chirstmas and that is always so fun. I also love the spirit that comes with the time of year. We tried really hard to keep reminding Jayanne the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it. And although she got the answers right, I'm not entirely sure she understood it completely or the significance of it. But we are workin on it.

Jayanne's Christmas Countdown chain.

Christmas Jammies

Jayanne was so good to help Jackson with his presents.

Jackson kinda got the hang of it.

Princess Jayanne

And her castle

A sign that Christmas was a success.

I think one of the greatest moments for us was when we woke up Jayanne (we had to so Jackson could be awake at the same time cuz we knew she wasn't gonna wait for him to wake up once he went down again.) We told her that Santa had come and she looked at us and said "I don't want to talk to him." Rolled over and went back to sleep. It was so funny. She finally got out of bed when we explained to her that he wasn't here and she didn't have to talk to him. That girl kills me sometimes.