Corbin's 15th birthday

He's 15!! This was a huge growing year for Corbin in so many ways. We quite like who he is and the fun he brings to our family! We loved celebrating him this day ♥

I made a goal this year to make a music video for everyone and watch it on their birthday. It includes pictures and videos of that person from the past year. It was a BIG success. I loved watching his face while we watched the video ♥♥ (The two songs I chose for the video were 'I lived' - One Republic and 'Thunder' - Imagine Dragons)

Happy Birthday Corbin!!!

Braces off!

After a couple of years, an expander, discomfort, lack of sticky candy, and lots of orthodontist appointments...this kid got his braces off! 

My biggest hope when we started having kids was that they would be blessed with their daddy's teeth. So far, things are looking good :) But really, I love this kids smile...whether it's with crooked teeth, braces, or beautifully straight!

Aunt Mandi had her braces on at the same time. They started a friendly competition to see who could get their braces off first. Corbin won by a month, but mostly because the Orthodontist was worried about his teeth not getting as clean with braces on :) Mandi was amazing to get him a box full of treats. I love the relationship those two have ♥♥

f o u r t e e e n

Corbin is fourteen today! I'm not sure how that many years can go by so fast. There are days that I am so not okay with this, he only has four years until he's 18! What! (We've lived in this house six and a half years and that's flown by.) But then there are days where my heart is bursting because I am so proud of this kid and the kind of choices he is making. 

These last couple of years have totally made those earlier, energetic years worth it. :)  

Corbin has a great sense of humor that began as a baby. He has the most adventurous spirit I know and he's pretty certain he will raise a family in the mountains, surviving off the land. That love of nature has resulted in almost no issues with electronics. He owns a phone, but it rarely causes problems. He might be the only kid I know who begs everyone around him to get off their phones and go outside to play. 

A couple of Saturdays ago, when it felt like April outside, Corbin came inside and asked if we could have a no electronics day and spend the whole day outside as a family. Um, yes!! So we wrapped up any chores and headed outside. We played a variety of basketball games for a good hour. Everyone! We tossed the football and skateboarded around. We went on a long bike ride. Found a rope swing that we all played on. Headed to the park and played. When we got home we collected sticks and wood from around the yard and had a BIG hot dog roast. (the fire was seriously huge) While the fire was going, daddy and some of the kids played on the lawn, they were laughing and have the happiest time. Then Justin took all the younger kids inside to get ready for bed while Corbin and I tended to the dying fire. It was a moment I never want to forget. This kid got us all outside that day and helped create one of the very best memories for our family.

I hope that love of nature and adventure never ends. I just love this kid!

teenage birthday party

As Corbin and I were planning his birthday party, it all seemed so surreal that we were planning this for his THIRTEENTH birthday! He's at the age where most of my memories started. Friends and school became extremely important to me when I became a teenager. 

It has been so fun hearing his stories of lunch time with 'the gang'. Selfishly on my part, I wanted them all to come (Corbin did too) because I wanted to meet each one of them and see how they interact with each other. Especially since girls are involved. :) And I can honestly say that these kids are fantastic. They get along so well and don't seem weird around each other at all. In fact, I was blown away with how comfortable they are with each other. I never had the confidence that they have. 

My favorite is the friendship that Corbin has with his 2nd cousin. My cousin moved to town 1 1/2 years ago and these two instantly became BSCF (best second cousins forever). I. Love. It!!

:: Adeline totally climbed up to an empty spot and started eating the food. Corbin's friend was so gracious and said it was totally fine ::

This party took a life of its own. They had dinner and played a couple of the 'teenage games' we had planned. But wow, then they created their own party, and it was way better than any I could have come up with. They turned up the music and ran around chasing each other screaming and laughing, they played a hilarious version of murder in the dark (again lots of screaming and laughing), and even played truth or dare and would you rather (appropriately), and then they got in groups of two or three and each took turns lip syncing. Seriously! Like I said, they have way more confidence then I ever had. 

It was a blast for me to watch. And I felt lucky enough that Corbin even let me be involved. And also his brothers. He's a good kid.

I adore all these kids and it just makes me all the more excited to hopefully have lots of gatherings here. 

birthday for Corbin

 (I love this picture of all the brothers and daddy working on the poster for Corbin.)

It's been several MONTHS since Corbins turned twelve. But sometimes I still can't believe it. This is such a big event, especially within our church. He has the priesthood, passes the Sacrament, attends weekly young men activities, (luckily with his dad), and will be heading to Jr. High in a month.

I remember when Corbin turned ten, I thought his little childhood was over. It seemed like he was old enough to pack his bags and move away to college. Or that he no longer would think it was cool to hang out with his brothers and family. I had such little faith. In someways, he is the one that keeps family traditions alive. So even though he is two years older. I have a feeling things aren't going to change as much as I thought.

But you can bet we are soaking up this stage of his life as much as possible!!

this growing up thing

 

^^ lots of heart eyes! And Adeline, she looks so tiny ^^

Getting older, it's just part of being a human. The teenage years are upon us...puberty, getting stronger, voice changing, becoming more involved outside our home, mood swings, emotions. These things are bound to happen. I have told myself for a long time that I would be totally awesome during this phase. I would give our kids the right amount of love and space they need. Let them figure themselves out while being there for them along that journey. I'm thinking I may not be as awesome as I originally thought, but Corbin is making this a pretty fantastic process...so far...

One of my favorite attributes of his that has become more dominant in these later years is his kind heart. I think he has always had this, but I let his excitable-full-of-energy self overshadow this kindness.

The other day, I had spent a majority of the day cleaning and getting our home ready to have guests spend the night. Washing sheets, vacuuming, going through closets and getting rid of things. After the boys got home from school, Rudger, for some reason, was extremely upset with Levi. He ran into the room they share and shut the door. After a while I went to go check in on him. I could hardly open the door. He had grabbed everything he could possibly think of to barricade the door. Books, clothes, the desk, sheets off their bed, pillows, toys...everything. When I realized what he had done, I reacted in a bad way. I had to just walk away. I was so angry and exhausted. (it was a bad time to have Justin walk in the door from work) :)   After having some time to myself, I went back to check on Rudger and help him clean it all up. When I walked into his room, Corbin was just finishing putting the last of the books on his shelf. 

I cried tears of gratitude. I think this growing up thing is not bad at all.

(now I can't help but...kind of...laugh to myself over what Rudger did to try and keep Levi out)

corbin and the priesthood

When Corbin was so very little, I often thought, it is going to be so crazy when this boy is twelve and is in young mens, and is going to jr. high, and receives the priesthood, and is passing the sacrament. I always wondered what he would look like and what his personality would be like. I knew that time was very far away.

And now, here we are. And like everyone always says, that time went by WAY too fast.

On Sunday, we had grandparents and the bishop come over. We sat in the family room where the men laid their hands on Corbin's head and Justin gave the most beautiful blessing. Just like that, our little boy, who grew right up, had the Priesthood.

We have had some nights, since his 11th birthday, where he stayed up late with us and we talked about growing up. The challenges, the joys, trials he will face, and choices he will need to make. We talked about the Priesthood and what an honor it is. I hope he remembers this, but most of all, I hope he remembers the spirit that we felt and the love we have for him. This boy is so very special to us.

On Sunday, we gave him a special binder and inside we put some excellent Conference talks (ones we discussed leading up to his ordination), his line of authority, and some extremely special letters from his grandparents and great grandparents. Later that night, he wrote about this day and added it to his binder. I hope this will be something he will treasure even more in the years to come.

Sunday was a really, really good day.

Things to remember for the future: take pictures before daddy changes, check everyone's hair before taking pictures, make sure white shirts are clean so he doesn't have to wear a sweater vest to cover the spill, (and make sure it is a vest that is not too small), have him wear a tie and tuck in his shirt. 

That's not asking too much is it.... :)

growing corbin

This morning I have been pouring over old pictures of when Corbin was a toddler. Those were really good and extremely exhausting days. This kid was full of energy and an excitement for life!

He still has an adventurous spirit, but those exhausting, toddler days are long behind us. That little boy has grown into a fine young man. And as much as I wish for him to be little again, I absolutely love these 'pre-teen' days!