DeVries Drama

Jake is an athlete. He LOVES to compete in ANY sport! He is one of those kids who is just NATURALLY good at everything he tries. We were a little sad that Nate quit wrestling...he was so fun to watch too! He is tall and thin but has quick moves and has learned to use his height and legs for the leverage he needs to win! Jake is more stalky and muscular. He has moves too! It was so fun to see him wrestle his little heart out and be one of the ONLY boys at the tournament who didn't CRY....

What a great kid! It hit me as he wrestled that he is changing and growing faster than I want him to....he suddenly looked HUGE!!! He has gotten so tall and his face has lost almost all of the chubby-cheekness that I LOVED about it as a baby. I am glad to have a happy, healthy growing child, but sad to see that sweet, rambunctious, snugly little boy tun into a big boy. I had to turn my head for a minute and hide my tears while he got ready for his last match. I am pretty sure that he wouldn't appreciate his "mommy" crying at his sporting events!

He came in 4th place, which is unusual for him, but was happy just the same. He enjoyed wrestling and watching his buddies wrestle!!!

Allie's first dance recital.....Great Grandma came to see her dance, along with Lilly, Aunt Chelle, Uncle Gary, Aunt Lycia, Gram and her big brothers...the boys didn't seem as excited to see her dance as the rest of us!

Allie LOVES Chauntel and Karessa, her dance teachers! She REALLY enjoys being a GIRL!!!!!

She has her Daddy WRAPPED around her finger...

He will try to tell you different, but DON'T believe him!!! She OWNS the man...he ADORES her! And I am POSITIVE that the feeling is COMPLETELY mutual! Allie LOVES her Daddy!!!

She is the youngest in her class, but did surprisingly well performing!!! She REALLY liked the backdrop and wanted to get a good look at it...during her dance! We ALL enjoyed watching her boogie!!! WHAT A CUTIE!! She really enjoyed being the center of attention! THANKS Chauntel, Karessa, Shannalee, and Aunt Melody for making her feel so special and doing such a great job teaching a 3 year old with the attention span of a fly an ENTIRE dance!!!!

My Jakey...

He is such a sensitive and thoughtful little guy.. He has this sense for knowing who might need encouragement or a kind word. Jake's prayers are always filled with pleadings for blessings for other people, whether it is Uncle Jared and the people he is serving or his big brother's book report...He likes to help people that he thinks might not be feeling comfortable. I love watching him interact with people (especially other children) with disabilities. He told me the other day that he knew that Heavenly Father gave really special people harder lives to live because it is his way of protecting them from some of the things that Satan would be able to do with them. I am always so amazed at his testimony and his love for primary. I had no idea that he had learned all of that from his primary teachers! One of my very favorite things about Jake is his gratitude for everything. He says "thank you momma" for dinner or tucking him into bed. He knows that I love it so he uses it...I think I will insist that he always use it! I am so thankful for his hilarious laugh and huge smile!!!! I am a lucky lady!!! I love you too Jacob!

Sick kids are never any fun...In fact, it breaks my heart to watch one of my little cuties turn red nosed, watery eyed, pale, coughing, sneezing and aching. Allie started us out this season on the yuck trail....(Thankfully we haven't had the other YET!!!!)

She keeps telling me that she needs to go to the doctors office so that he can make her feel better. She wants to call Brian about 10 times a day to see if talking to him will make her coughs go away...NO LUCK!!!!!

Although it makes me feel so bad for them when they are sick, I am always so torn with my emotions...they like to snuggle up to me and let me take care of them!!!! Even Nate, who has NEVER been a touch and hug kind of kid. They will ask me to rub their face or tickle their back. I am a sucker for someone wanting affection in the form of a snuggle!!! I always tear up and feel overwhelming gratitude when I have a quiet moment with an unusually calm child in my lap. I am so blessed to be a mother and a wife to such incredible spirits!!!! I love my family and thank my Father in Heaven for every minute I spend with them!

Allie and I went to see the witches at Gardner Village 2 times this year...she had an absolute BALL!!! The first time we went on a Friday night with my mom and it was Witches Night Out...she walked around the whole time giggling and saying "Oh....you are SOOOO pretty!!" and "Oooohhh! She's a BEAUTIFUL witch!!!"

The second time was with my friend Jenny Taylor. Allie got to ride the ponies and see LOTS and LOTS of beautiful witches! She was in heaven....we really had a GREAT time!!!

I spent ALOT of time trying to dodge the camera, but it looks like they got me....and here I am playing catch.....