The best program ever

We got some wonderful family pictures taken. I love how they turned out and I cant wait to do some more this year. It had been way too long. 

So we have been taking Owen to a tutor in SLC for the last 2 months. 

He was having  trouble in class: not focusing/not staying on task/getting frustrated/falling behind

We talked to the teachers and  decided we were not going to do medication but we needed to do something or his school work and future school work was going to go downhill fast!

We checked out a lot of programs and finally found one we are so grateful that we found her when we did. 

Its called Brainlinking this is the website http://www.brainlinking.com/

It has completely changed our lives and Owens for the better!

It is a 4 month program we meet with Miss Pat once a week and do the exercises and programs at home the rest of the week. He does physical therapy type exercises along with a reading program and a brainbuilding program on line that help with focus,memory,brain speed

It was not cheap but we were willing to put out a little money to have him get these skills now rather than back peddle when he is in high school.

We have seen such a difference in his attitude, self esteem, and his grades have gone up drastically. 

When we started 2 months ago he was reading speed level on a beginning 1st grader  with a comprehension level of a 4th grader...crazy right? But now he is almost to a 3rd grade reading level!!!! Amazing!!! 

Thank goodness for other options and wonderful people who care about getting children to where they need to be so they can be successful in life!

This guy is still surviving the Hamilton family and daily dose of a little too much love from Owenator

Its working again!

So for the last longest time the blog has not been letting me post so here is a few photos to get us back on track.

 We actually made it out sledding a few times although it never lasted more than 15 min it was so bitter cold!

 This big guy is getting baptized this year and is in the CTR 7 class at church. Whoa he is getting big!

 Sledding at great grannys of course with the 4 wheelers and dogs chasing everyone

 Jeremy braved the climbing wall at Trafalga something I would NEVER do but he did it like a champ!

 Owens Halloween costume I think his face turned out really great but it only lasted about an hour then he sweated it all off at the church party. 

 We went to California for the fall break and It was WONDERFUL! A full week of nothing but our family enjoying all that southern California has to offer. Seriously cant wait to do it again!

Jeremy and Owen went on the Manta ride at Sea World and Owen said it was TOO FAST!

 We had breakfast with Shamu something everyone should do at least once in life! Awesome food too!

 Disneyland was great too Owen loved almost every ride  and being there in October was the best, weather,rides and wait times were not bad at all and our hotel was close enough to walk everyday. 

Here's hoping there is a lot more of these family vacations in our near future!!

More catch up posts coming up!

Put me in coach!

 We have been playing lots of machine pitch these past few weeks. Owen didn't really like all the sitting in the dugout but by the end of the season he was loving it!

 The machine was not very reliable at a steady pitch so there was a lot of swinging but not much hitting unless the coach pitched it to the boys himself.

 Owen has a spanish tutor for this summer to help him not lose all those great skills. She asked him to make his own spanish flash cards and this was his drawing.......Stewie anyone??

 We have played in the pool a lot with friends and tried to stay cool in the heat.

 We made the yearly trip to Payson lake before it got too hot.

  Love that Owen's feet aren't  touching the ground, dont hate me because there is a sharp stick in his hand :(

 We added new members to the family!! Kash is the cutest baby cousin with the most hair :)

 Owen had a minor disagreement with a stump in our backyard and this was the outcome. He asked me if he was going to have brain damage from it.....I may have laughed a little but I assured him he would be okay.

 We have been fishing with his new pole

 Owen calls this his official bike riding costume. Only this kid would want to wear a giant helmet and gloves in 90 degree weather!

My family had a big badminton tournament on the 4th of July as you can tell Owen took it very seriously!

A Camping Birthday Party

When Owen said he wanted a camping party for his birthday i immediately looked on my go to site PINTEREST to see what we could do. This is my version of the invite he liked the best.

 Jeremy and I took him to Toys R Us and after about  1 1/2 hours there we made it out with with this army guy set.  

We got the backyard all ready for the party which of course included using the four wheeler for a target practice game. I love these boys!! 

 wormy cupcakes

 The table mostly set up. Owen came up with the BEAR BLOOD PUNCH idea.

kinda like tigers blood but more gory somehow...

everybody got a compass and goody bag with treats 

I think everybody had a good time & Owen said it was his favorite birthday ever!

Jeremy's parents and sister Jennilee came over that night for a BBQ and more presents.

As soon as i got all the candles lighted on his cupcake and before we started to sing he blew them all out!

Silly kid!

We are so proud of  our little man and cant believe we really have a 7 year old kid!

Some facts about Owen:

* is now 4ft 2in tall

*still loves soccer the best

*still hates pizza but will occasionally eat the toppings only

*recently decided he loves celery and ranch

*hates sandwiches-this kid makes it tough for this mom to pack a lunch :(

* loves recess, math and library time at school

*has gotten some notes sent home about too much talking in class

*loves everything about mummy's and Egypt

*favorite movie right now is Aliens in the attic

*loves to go camping with dad

So its been a while but here is the break down in pictures

 Owen played his first round of Jr Jazz Basketball and loved it!

 Sometimes we blocked our own players........and Im pretty sure he has the biggest feet on the team

 He ALWAYS wanted to be the one to throw in the ball and thankfully the other kids didnt care

 These two are pretty serious about cinnamon sugar toast with cereal 

 We put in a basketball hoop for Owen to practice more and have more family fun moments. The hardest part was digging out the rocks! We had seriously 3 feet of straight rocks it sucked but we did it and owen got to put his hand in the cement! Its cool to watch all the neighborhood kids come and measure their hand against Owen's :)

 Owen is loving having lots of kids over to play pig and horse

 My parents got a new bed and Owen got their old one. Its really nice and huge for the first week this is how we found Owen when we checked on him for the night. He wasnt joking around he was really asleep in the middle of all those pillows!!

 Jeremy and I took Owen up to The Disovery Museum for spring break and he loved it!! Its one of his favorite things when we drive past the hospital and the lifeflight is taking off or landing so getting to sit in this one was like heaven for him.

 My cousin and his cute wife are having their first baby in a few weeks so I made these onesies for the little future rodeo champion

 There is a new bebe goat at grannys house. His name is buddy and he will not get any bigger than this! Love his midget horns and so does Owen!

Stay tuned for a 7 year old birthday party and Coach Pitch baseball pictures!

 Owen had his first Patriotic Program at school. It was MADNESS! He loved it but thank goodness its only every 4 years.

Pretty funny that he's doing the same wave in both pictures. Owen is one handsome kid!!

 One more year and this kid of ours will be baptized....crazy!

Where did our little boy go?

Today Owen had a dentist appointment.
 I went to pick him up from school a few minutes early so we wouldn't be late. Good thing I did because he was in Gym class and bumped into another kid. Yep his teeth were the ones he hurt...nothing major thank goodness I was just grateful it happened on a day we were already going to the dentist.

The dentist is not Owens favorite place, he is usually OK until they ask him to get in the chair then it goes downhill but today....

We got there just on time and the girl decided they would take him back, do the xrays and then bring him to another chair a few minutes later to do the cleaning. I was just about to go back with him but he didn't even look back at me so i stepped back and he went on his own!

Its a really small office so I could hear everything and he did really well with the xrays but then
the Dentist was free and just came in and did his exam
 still didn't ask for me.....

He came back out with a big grin on his face and said" I did it all by myself mom!"

I was so proud of him and gave him a giant hug, they came to get him for the cleaning and I was sure after all that he would say "come on mom "but no.....
Owen got in the chair did all the cleaning and even did the 1 minute fluoride treatment like a rockstar!!

I was tearing up and so proud of our little man!!

No cavities for him and some extra allowance makes for a good end to a Monday :)

Indoor soccer

Owen got a new haircut from Aunt Tiff and he loves it! 

Tiff said he was charming all the girls by showing off his spanish speaking skills....  

yesssssssssssss spanish is taking over his brain!

 We also started giving him allowance. 

I was really nervous and thought it was too much too soon I didnt get allowance until perhaps jr high...

We got this cool chart from the Dave Ramsey Program just for kids 

He has an opportunity to earn up to $5.00 per week I know shocking amount of money!!

He has to check off what he does every night and then we pay him. 

Owen is also learning about Tithing and so far its been a little rough but we have a whole year to work on it before he will be 8.

He worked really hard for about 2 weeks. The first few days he lost money for not doing some things on the list or not listening to mom and dad. 

The first goal he made for himself was some $7.00 toys. So when he reached that amount off to the store we went. I have never seen that boy so proud of himself! 

 These pirates are pretty special to this boy and he is really getting the value of a dollar!

 Indoor soccer has taken over our free time and he is liking it pretty well. The "field" is way smaller and so far he has been injured:

Kicked in the head by ball x2

Kicked in the stomach/privates by ball 1

Jumped over the black edging to sit out and tripped landing really hard on both knees :(

after the knee think he said he only wanted to play outside soccer on the grass and I agree

 This is what happens most of the time for practice. The rest of the team is listening to coach and Owen is running around like a nut!

He has got this funny little victory hand shake he does with his buddy when they make a goal. It includes a chest bump....who teaches this kid these things?? I will try to get it on video next two games then we are done for a month till Basketball starts.