Happy 10th Birthday Jonas!

One decade, 10 years, 120 months, 3,652 days...and countless memories. I can't believe Jonas is hitting the double digits! It has gone by too fast. Much to my dismay, he insists on growing up, but I couldn't be more proud of the young man he is becoming. He is witty, loyal, tender-hearted, obedient, observant, kind, and so much more. It has been fun (and a little terrifying) to see him start to transition from a little boy to a tween. I see him becoming more and more independent. He has always been a little more mature for his age (since he's been raised with all adults), but it's even more so now. Sometimes I am surprised by the depth of his thoughts regarding his faith and life in general. He isn't always certain how to navigate his growth and maturity, but he does it with determination and positivity. He is quick to listen to our counsel (and hopefully that doesn't change when he becomes a teenager) and always wants to make good choices. I'm not sure what Jeff and I did to get such an incredible kid, but I'm sure grateful he's ours.

On Saturday, July 19th, Jonas got to celebrate his birthday with the Tanners. Jonas has been invited to countless friend parties, but he has never really chosen to have one (which I'm more than ok with). Instead, we host a themed birthday party with his cousins. I honestly thought that maybe he'd be done with themed parties this year, but he still wanted one. However, he didn't really want any structured games; he just wanted to swim and have a nerf war. We found a fun "Peace Out Single Digits" theme with tie-dye decorations so we decided to tie-dye t-shirts for our one themed activity. They actually turned out really well for our first time! After our t-shirts, the kids swam and had their nerf war just like Jonas wanted. We also enjoyed lunch, gifts, and dessert.

Sunday, July 27th, was his actual birthday. For breakfast, he wanted waffles smothered in Nutella and syrup. Just like most kids, this boy loves his sugar! That evening, we had a birthday dinner (grilled chicken, Panera Bread mac & cheese, rolls, and a veggie tray with key lime pie/trifle for dessert) to celebrate with all his siblings, nephews, and nieces. I think more than anything, Jonas just loves being with his family so it was a perfect way to ring in the next decade of his life. 

Jonas's Baseball Season

In May, Jonas was approached by two of his friends, Sam and Lane, to join their baseball team. A couple of kids had dropped off their team roster and they needed more players. Jonas has never played baseball, or even t-ball for that matter. I'm not a huge fan of summer sports. With everything else we have going on, a sports season seems a little overwhelming for the summer. However, I was glad that Jonas was invited to play and to have the experience. He jumped in full force! He wanted to do the best he could for the team. We threw the ball in the backyard and went to the batting cages several times throughout the season. I was super proud of how well he did! He was definitely one of the better players on his team. He consistently hit the ball (although he did have a few strike outs), was able to catch balls and get outs in the field, etc. He even got a double play a couple of times! Honestly, I think it was a good experience. He learned how to face down his nerves as he stood up to bat and how to stay engaged in the field when not much was going on. (He really didn't like that part of the sport...the standing around part. I think that's why he prefers basketball...he's always moving.) He was a great team player and was always encouraging his teammates. He actually really enjoyed the season and has debated doing it again next year...but we'll see. Still, his team did so well that they made it to the quarterfinals in the state playoffs! It was an awesome season for the Payson Rockies!

Happy 4th of July!

This year's Independence Day party was probably our biggest yet! I swear I keep hoping to downsize the celebration, but it's just too much fun to have so many people to party with. In addition to the regulars (which include my sisters, their families, Scott, my cousins, and my kids' in-laws), many of Penny's family was in town for a little reunion. Nichole, Ryan, Kate, Tyler, and Sydney were the first to join us. We decided to take advantage of their early arrival to run to the Red Barn. We always have to make a trip for some ice cream at the barn! Over the last couple of years, Nichole's summer trips to Utah have gotten shorter. There is just so much demand on her time...and let's be honest, her kids are older now and have different interests. I kind of miss those crazy summer days with them, but I'm grateful for the time we do get to spend together. 

The rest of the day we just spent at the house. We had rented a large inflatable double slide in addition to the pool and yard games. Everyone just hung out doing whatever they wanted. We played, ate dinner, and played some more. Once the evening came, we lit up the sky! I love that we live in a place where we can do our own fireworks. This year, Danny, Bennett, and Carson had the honor of lighting them off (with some assists from Jonas and Logan). I enjoyed watching the show with the grandkids. (I need to remember to get more pictures next year! I've been off my game. Most of the group photos came from my sisters who were smart enough to take a few.)