number 3

 Now that we have insurance for our kids, we are able to get braces for them.  Dale felt strongly that he owes it to Jadon to get braces.  Jadon really didn't want to get braces in highschool because everyone was already done with it.  We told him that we thought he should do it now because he would regret it when he was an adult if he didn't.  We also told him that he could make the decision to get braces.

Well, he decided to do it!  Our orthodontist said he is confident that he can straighten his teeth up in a year so that he can get them off before his mission.  He got them on yesterday and said it wasn't that big of a deal.  Today, because his mouth is bugging him and it hurts to eat, he decided he doesn't want braces!

The Contest

Everyone helped in the process of building the pool

Approximately 3 months ago our family started a contest.  The purpose of the contest was to improve ourselves.  We each had 4 things that we were suppose to work on.  We got 1 point every day for each of the 4 things.  Each person received 1 point for reading their scriptures and 1 point for saying their prayers every day.  The other 2 points were from something each person chose to work on.  The person with the most points, after 90 days, was the winner!  The prize was going to be a mini ipad.  Everyone was pretty excited and motivated.  As time went on, it got harder to remember to work on our goals.  Through most of the contest Jadon, Jaxon and Kyson were neck in neck.  Kyson decided at the beginning of the contest that he would rather get a pool than an ipad so we told him he could do that.  Well, as you can see by the pictures, Kyson won!  The best thing about Kyson winning is that our whole family is going to benefit from it!


This picture was taken the first time in the pool.  The water was VERY cold but they didn't care.  They just wanted to swim!  Jadon and Kierra were at youth conference and that's why they aren't in the picture.

The kids quickly got the idea to put the trampoline next to the pool.  Jaxon was the first one in our family to jump in that way.

Dale read online that putting Styrofoam sheets under the pool helped create a softer bottom so that's what we did.

Kyson was so excited to help build his pool!

We built the pool with the kids inside so they had to wait until the ladder was built before they could get out

Building the ladder

The kids have been in the pool every day, except Sunday, since the day it was full.  The neighbors come over every day.  They are having a blast with it!

Ky and Kierra

Jadon diving in from the tramp

Kierra and Katie.  The first day that Katie swam she had a life jacket or floaties on all the time.  Just a week later, she is swimming like a fish and never wants to wear floaties.

Having a pool is a lot of fun and a lot of work.  The kids spend hours in the pool every day.  It's so much fun to watch them playing together every day.

Kierra in braces

Kierra was 15 when she got braces.  She only got the top braces on so far.  She will get the bottom ones on in about 8 weeks.  She will have to wear them for about 18 months.  The first day that she had them wasn't too bad but they really hurt her the 2nd day.  She said she doesn't like having braces because they cut her mouth and she can't eat apples. 

Easter 2014

The kids coloring easter eggs

 We went to Pocatello to celebrate Easter with Gladys this year.  We always have so much fun when we go to visit her.  She always makes sure that the kids have such a great time.

She set up a shooting target for us.  The kids brought there bow and arrows and guns and had a great time shooting balloons!

Hanging out on the deck after shooting

Kierra

 We always go to Ross Park and play and then eat at Ross Park Drive-In.  We had a great time on the swings, played catch, Frisbee and a game of kickball.

Katie

 The kids love to play on one of those old fashioned merry go rounds.  They spin and spin until they get sick.

 We had a fire in the fire pit and roasted marshmallows and twinkies.  We also played games around the campfire.  It was so much fun.

The kids with their Easter baskets

Kierra in her Easter dress

Katie in her Easter dress

My handsome boys

 Gladys planned a really fun Easter egg hunt for the kids.  Each kid had their own eggs to find.  Jaxon had to go the farthest to find his egg.  They had a great time finding eggs.  There was 4 eggs that never were found. 

The kids with Gladys

We had such a great couple of days in Pocatello.  We had so much fun together and nobody wanted to go home.  I'm glad that Gladys does so much for them.  I'm sure they will always remember there wonderful visits to Pocatello!

Kierra is 15!

 Kierra recently turned 15.  Crazy!  She is a very independent girl.  She does well in school and has maintained a 4.0 the whole school year.  She is very good at managing her grades and talking to her teachers when she needs help.  I love that I don't have to worry about her in school.  She still loves to hang out with her friends and has a lot of good friends.  She is in the presidency of her miamaid class and is great about planning activities for the girls.  She has a fascination with sign language and she is excited to start taking it in highschool next year.  I can't believe that I am going to have 2 kids in highschool.  Yikes!  I'm so pleased with the young woman Kierra is becoming and pray that she
continues to be so great at growing up!

 Kierra chose Olive Garden as her place to go eat for her birthday.  We had a great time together and stuffed ourselves with yummy food.  It was fun to spend the night with just Kierra!

Junior Prom

On March 22, 2014 Jadon went to his Jr. Prom.  He was in a group with 6 other couples.  In the day, they went to Casey Taylor's house and played ping pong and XBOX Kinect and had pizza.  Then they went home and got ready for the dance.  Jadon looked so good in his tuxedo.  He drove the van and took 3 other couples with him.  He said he liked being the driver.



Jadon with his date, Jennica Keyser

They went to Macaroni Grill for dinner and then to the dance.  I sent my camera with Jadon and I was so happy that he took these pictures outside of the capitol.  After the dance, they went to another boys house and watched Frozen.  He said he had a good time.

First Byers child to get braces

Before, what a cutie!

 Kyson got braces on his top teeth today.  He has a tooth that needs to come in but there is no room for it so that is the reason for the braces.  He is our first child to get braces.  Kierra will follow in about a month.  He was very nervous about getting them and told me he wasn't ever going to smile.  I think that he kind of likes them because I've seen him smile quite a bit since he got home and he even went and showed his friends.  Luckily he only has to wear them for about 6-8 months.

After...still a cutie but he's looks older!