She turned 9

Rachel LOVES for me take her pictures every year on her birthday...it is kind of  "our thing."  This year she asked me if she could bring her guitar. She is a genius. I am bummed that i didn't double check my my camera settings ( we were trying to hurry before another freak storm came!) They aren't technically correct, but I LOVE that they show her how she is right now...at 9.

She is still a Taylor Swift freak!

She loves to dress pretty and feminine. (i love this about her)

She is learning the guitar

Grandma and Grandpa Bolton got her a "real" RED Taylor microphone and stand. (the rest of us need earplugs)

She LIVES for her best friend Lindy. Luckily we share a fence, so even when they can't play, you will find them at the fence giggling. It melts my heart.

She is BEAUTIFUL inside and out.

I hate that she is growing up, but love who she is becoming.

Arrow of Light

I swear this boy just started Cub Scouts! I remember how darn cute he looked all uniformed up and feeling so grown up on his first day! Well, he is growing older (they do that ya know) and he received his Arrow of Light! It was such a neat ceremony! His scout masters made it something special that he will always remember! it was CRAZY windy and stormy...but it didn't matter!!!

best. day ever.

  According to Rachel this was THE BEST DAY EVER!!! I don't think I would go that far...but it was pretty fun! After we suffered through the FOREVER LONG preshow - it was a blast! Poor emily wanted to stay awake so badly, but she dosed off here and there! The lady in front of us couldn't believe anyone could sleep through the noise! Rachel (taylor's #1 fan) stood on her seat the entire time singing each song word for word...actions and all! The girls loved making their signs...they were hoping they would win them backstage passes! oh well, maybe next time!  Grandma and dad were troopers and came along! I think they had fun too!:)

                                                  BEST PICTURE OF THE NIGHT! All of us girls had use the bathroom...so daddy held the signs while we went! (he thought it would be less embarrassing if he pulled this dorky face!)  OH! AND THANK YOU GRANDPA for watching all the boys for so long!

TREAT SALE DAY!

IT WAS SUCH A FUN MORNING!

TREAT SALE FOR MARSHALL!

    
 YAY!!!!  The weather was FINALLY beautiful and perfect for a treat sale!  (sorry the pictures are terrible...full sun...YIKES!)  A few weeks ago for family night we decided to try and help raise a few bucks for our friend Marshall who is fighting cancer for the 2nd time this year! He is a young daddy who MUST survive this!!!! He is super positive and will inspire anyone he who crosses his path!

The kids made hand written fliers with their colored markers, and hand delivered them to our neighbors! It was adorable! At 10:30 this morning we had people lining up before I was even ready! IT WAS GREAT! Thank you to SO MANY who came and supported us! This world really does have some fabulous people in it! 

            rachel and sawyer on "sign" holding duty! who wouldn't stop for that???? everyone stopped!

                    Emily on "money" duty!  zach was out on his rollerblades bringing in the crowds!

                                               pink lemonade cupcakes! they were a big hit!
                                                         (so were the lime popsicles!)

                   Cute sam locked himself in his bedroom for quite awhile... when he finally came out he was dressed like this! He said, " i am ready to sell lemonade!" such a stud. :)