Mother's Day message for Layth / Happy 12th Birthday, Douglas! / Martial Arts / Penny the High Priest / releasing the butterflies / sleepover with Aunt Taylor

 

I sent this message (through the Marco Polo app) to Sam on Mother's Day.

Sam sent this message back to me.

Douglas turned 12 on Monday, May 11th.

Grandma (Margaret) gave him some money to buy the Pybricks program for his smart LEGOs.

He also received the "Bop It" toy. I thought it would take him months, maybe even years, to beat all the Bop It levels. He beat them all in seven days! Now what? 😁

I sent a short birthday video to Douglas.

The kids tried out a martial arts class this week. The girls signed up to continue taking classes. Douglas didn't care for it much.

I received this photo from Sam earlier this week, accompanied by the following message: Last night we were listening to more of the Old Testament. Penny put on the outfit shown above and declared, “I am the high priest!” 😂

Sam buys caterpillars now and then and the children like to watch them transform into beautiful butterflies. They released the butterflies this week. These are the "Painted Lady" variety.

The girls got to continue one of their fun traditions this week: sleepovers with their Aunt Taylor.

Their cute cousin, Ivy (pictured middle), joined them for the sleepover.

Dr. Buys and her team meet Layth / "We are soooooo bored!" (Diana)

 We visited Sam's oncologist, Dr. Buys and her team today for the first time since Layth was born. It was a routine check-up, but we took Layth to meet them because they were instrumental in getting Sam through her years of cancer treatments before she could even think about getting pregnant again. We love these amazing women!

Sam and Layth with Dr. Saundra Buys.

Dr. Buys, Sam and Layth, Chanteel Ballard (MSN, NP), Angie (Nurse)

They are laughing because Layth was staring and smiling up at Chanteel while we were taking pictures.

Diana sent this audio message to me when she thought we were taking too long at the hospital.

Happy little Layth snoozing on my side of the bed.

The kids feed Layth while Mom (Sam) is at the doctor's office / Our little lion cub / Lindon Temple with Douglas, Dad (Grandpa), and Sara

 

Sam had to be away from the house for 5+ hours yesterday for her routine CT scan and brain MRI. She left us with two bottles to feed Layth while she was out. Penny and Douglas enjoyed feeding their little brother.

Holding my little lion cub.

Today I took Douglas to the Lindon Temple to perform baptisms for the dead. Grandpa (Dad) and Sara met us there.

Douglas and I started a tradition last month: Costco pizza after a temple trip. Yum!

Dad (Grandpa) gave this Squishmallow to the girls.

Douglas at Taylorsville Temple / Layth meets his cousin, Mary (Stacie's baby) / Spring 2026 piano recital

 

Douglas and I visited the Taylorsville Temple this week to perform baptisms for the dead.

Layth with his cousin, Mary (Stacie's baby). Mary is three days older than Layth, but Layth is much bigger.

Stacie and Sam with their babies.

Cute little foot.

Diana doing the Macarena in a funny voice

 

Jordan River and Draper Temples (baptisms with Douglas; message for Grandma and Grandpa) / Layth turns one (month)

 Douglas and I visited the Jordan River and Draper temples this week.

We happened to be at the Jordan River Temple on the wedding anniversary of Douglas's Grandma and Grandpa Coombs. They married in the Jordan River Temple.

With Douglas at the Jordan River Temple.

We visited the Draper Temple the same day.

One-month-old Layth asleep with his hands up by his head . . . 

. . . like his Dad used to do many years ago.