Summer in a Nutshell

For some reason, I was under the delusion that I would be less busy during summer and could get so much stuff done.  Boy, was I wrong!  This past summer was crazy!  There is just too much to catch up on so here are some of the bigger highlights.
The three older girls had their annual dance recital.  This year it was "Snow White."  Rebecca and Breanna were jesters and did an awesome tumbling routine, while Katie was the cutest little squirrel.

We made an unexpected trip to Utah in June for the funeral of Richard's grandpa.  What a wonderful man he was!  It was wonderful to be with so much family and make lots of new memories.  (Some memories I could do without, such as lots of car problems, but we made it!)  Here is Richard's parents' family (well, as many as could be there...probably about 65%.)  So fun to have so many of us together.  We hope to get them all together next year for a happier occasion.

Another fun "reunion" was an impromptu get-together of some friends from high school.  It was so fun to see all these wonderful people and laugh together.

And we have multiplied.  We made all our children line up next to each other by age.  Crazy!  How did we grow up so fast?!?!

Uncle Steve came for a quick visit.  The kids had a great time with him in the pool.

Rebecca and Breanna participated in a 6-week Fit Kids Camp.  Four days a week for 4.5 hours each day, they would spend exercising, such as dodgeball, swimming, dancing, etc.  The best part was the field trips each week to places like Polar Ice, Laser Quest, and Sunsplash.  They had a blast!

In July we went on a family camp-out with a few of Richard's siblings.  Despite the heavy rain, sunburns, bugs, and poison oak we really had a good time.

Richard and Mike made a great shelter to hang out during the storms.

A double rainbow ended the camp-out.  What does it mean?!?!

During the month of June, Katie and Breanna got to go to "Bug School" 4 days a week, all morning.  There they learned all about bugs and did lots of fun crafts.  The best part of it was the price...FREE!  And they were fed breakfast and lunch.  As my dad would say, "Can't beat that with a stick!"

 

Richard and I celebrated our 15th anniversary, and what better way than to going to a Batman marathon. I love my husband so much that I will even wear a  cat mask in public for him. We actually got a couple nights away from the kids, and that was wonderful!

We went to visit my Dad and Kay in July.  We love going to California.  The weather was wonderful!  This picture was on my birthday when we went to Ruby's on the pier for milkshakes.  

We spent most of a day at the beach.  Richard and the kids built this awesome sand fort.  It actually got bigger/deeper, and all the junior lifeguards were very impressed.  But when at the beach all day, you really ought to apply sunscreen more than once.  Ouch.  Lesson learned.

We also took the kids to Magic Mountain.  The girls were very brave and went on lots of huge roller coasters!  *So proud.*  Even Katie went on Revolution!  Jonny wasn't quite tall enough, but he wanted to go on the big rides.  We were actually so thankful that we had Megan so we qualified for a line pass.  We waited, but not in lines!  Awesome!  

The weekend before school started, Becca went to her first year of Girls' Camp.  She had a great time and came home with a stronger testimony.  She is really growing up!

 

Hope you had a good summer too!

End of School Year Craziness!

Another school year has flown by!  And the last month of school is always the craziest/busiest of them all.  Lots of fun though.  If I was a better blogger I would have written a whole post of each event, but...I'm not.  So there.  ;)  Instead, I'll just highlight some of the bigger events.
The older two girls were involved with the school choir concert.  They love to sing.  Our school doesn't have a regular choir program, so this was the first time my girls have had an opportunity to be in a school choir.  They each had a couple of moments in the spotlight, so to speak.  Breanna had a speaking part and Becca put together a slideshow for one song and played the drums in another.  I'm sure choir concerts will be regular occurrences in our future.  Can you pick them out of the crowd?

Projects and more projects.  The last half of the year is full of them.  Here is Breanna on her pioneer day, holding her book report on Number the Stars.

Band concert.  I will refrain from stating my opinion on what a goofball the band teacher is, although he didn't even conduct the band once during the concert.  Oh wait...I just did.  Anyway, I'm still quite annoyed with him, so I will just say that Becca played the flute really well.  :)

Rebecca was also on a team, with good friends Cassie and Andrew, for Battle of the Books.  They won at the school level and went on to compete in the District Finals.  They did great!  (Can't locate my picture of that right now.)
TALENT SHOW!  This is always so fun for the kids.  This is our kids' 3rd talent show to participate in a small group with their cousins, Emily and Kacy.  The song was called "Chocolate" and they used lots of props.  It was a little stressful getting things ready and practicing, but they did great and they were a big hit!

Katie's kindergarten class did an act too.  She can twist, mash potato, and shake it with the best of them!  Too cute!

Breanna's class did an act to "Rockin' Robin."  With gloves like that, you know it was good.  :)

The sixth graders did a farewell act too, but the lighting was bad so no picture.  They changed the lyrics and sang to the tune of "Moves Like Jagger."  Sixth graders have to be cool like that.
 Awards assembly.  So proud of Rebecca and Breanna.  They are very good students.  Do you see the stack of certificates Becca is holding? :)

 Last day of school is so hard.  Lots of tears were shed.  This was Rebecca's last day at Falcon Hill.  She will be attending a charter school in the fall and none of her classmates will be at the same school.  She will still see friends at church but it isn't quite the same.

Breanna is lucky to have two really close friends, and one is even her cousin.  She had so much fun this year.

Katie loved her whole class.  I love that they can have so many "best" friends in kindergarten.

We had two graduates this year.  Rebecca graduated from elementary school.  Can't believe it!  She is growing up way too fast.  I am so proud of her and the young woman she is becoming.

Katie graduated from kindergarten.  Wow!  (They didn't really have a ceremony, just took a picture and sent it home on the last day.  Feel kinda gypped, actually.)  She is reading so well. Her teacher gave her a few Junie B. Jones books and she finished them in a couple of days.  She is a sponge.

I'm so proud of all our children.

But I'm so glad May is over!  Whew!

Mother's Day

I am so blessed.  I really am.  Even though sometimes all I can think about are the trials that I might have or that a loved one is going through, there are certain times when I am overwhelmed by my many blessings.
Mother's Day was one of those times.
The day before, my wonderful husband and children cleaned the house and made an awesome dinner.
(Steak is a blessing.)  :)

My amazing, hard-working husband was so exhausted from doing so much for me that he passed out after family prayer.  He is a HUGE blessing in my life.  (Don't tell him I posted this picture.)

Hello!  Breakfast in bed?  Even before 9am church?  Blessing!  (I couldn't eat very much though, cuz I was still full from the dinner.)

Richard and the kids spoiled me even more with a new video camera, clothes, and handmade gifts and cards (those are my favorites).  I won't post pictures though, as I am in my pj's in all of them.  But I sure felt loved and appreciated.

Of course, FIVE of my biggest blessings ever are Rebecca, Breanna, Katie, Jonny, and Megan. My heart is full when I ponder the great privilege it is to be their mother.  Truly so blessed!

 I can't post this without mentioning my own mom.  I seem to be missing her a lot more recently.  Perhaps because I am realizing more and more how much I really do need her and would LOVE to be able to talk with her.  (I do have lots of other people in my life that help me in many ways, but no one is quite like your own mom.)  Her influence continues to be a blessing in my life each and every day.  I love you so much Mom!

* Make fun of this picture all you want, but it is one of the few I have with just me and my mom.  I am 11 and this was at a Merrie Miss activity. So blessed to have such a wonderful mother!

Jonathan's 4th Birthday

I can't believe my Jonny boy is 4 now!  He was so excited to have a birthday.  All he wanted was a skateboard.  I'm not sure where he learned about skateboards...but oh well.  The day before his actual birthday, we had a regular Sunday dinner with family and Richard decided to make the cakes.  He is really awesome at this.  Check out this cool skateboard!  It is actually up on donut wheels.  :)  Jonny loved it!

Cousin Brandon got one too for his upcoming birthday.  Happy Birthday handsome boys!

The next morning Jonny couldn't wait for his skateboard.  So happy!

Already trying some tricks!

I took Megan and Jonny to the zoo while the older girls were in school.  It was hot, so we didn't stay long.  We rode the carousel and the "train," which is more like a slow-moving tram and Jonny wanted to get off.  Too boring.  But then Dad met us for lunch and played with him in the splash area for a bit.
Later, we took our family to Amazing Jake's.  I don't think Jonny remembers going here ever before, but he really enjoyed it.  He was so excited he got the drive the bumper cars all by himself, even though he didn't really move very much.

Here's cutie Megan with handsome Daddy.

The older girls love all the rides, but especially the Frog Hopper.  They are also great on the rock climbing wall.

We were all exhausted after all that fun, but Jonny still had some presents to open.  Here he is with his new toys on display.  He can barely keep his eyes open, but he's happy!

Happy Birthday Jonny!  We love you so much and are so glad you are part of our family!

Breanna's 10th Birthday

Well, it is now May...so Breanna had a birthday last month.  :)  Can't believe how fast she is growing up!  She had two or three days of celebrating this year!  Here she is on her actual birthday, getting ready for school with some new clothes and jewelry (of course!), curlers still in hair, eating a donut man with bacon arms and legs and a tator tot head.  Breakfast of champions!



I took her lunch to school (chicken sandwich, fries, and frosty from Wendy's).  But the kids all seem to like Megan the best.  You should see the kids flock to her. 

Breanna had her choice of where to go out for dinner, and what does she pick?  Golden Corral.  Yippee.  I think the kids just like to be able to eat whatever they want. 
Here's my cheesy boys at dinner.

And the girls...

Then we headed home to open a few more presents.  Breanna didn't want much this year. (besides a dog...our kids always want a dog, and the answer is always the same. Not now.)  So she ended up with more new clothes (always fun since she usually gets hand-me-downs), a giant teddy bear (cuz why not?), and an itunes gift card (so she can get some new games on her phone).  She was pretty happy. 

The next day was her birthday party.  She was so excited!  She invited 4 cousins and close friend, Desiree, for a sleepover.  (Becca got to have Desi's sister, Cassie, over to join in the fun too.)  Here they are eating pizza (what else????).

Breanna as a glow monster.  :)

The girls had a blast decorating t-shirts, getting pedicures, and watching movies.  They also really liked the cake balls and Dad's famous candy cake.

Breanna got more presents!  Kacy and Emily gave her 2 cute stuffed animals and cash!

Jenny and Kenedy gave more cute stuffed animals!

And Desiree and Cassie gave a gift card to Charming Charlie's.  Breanna is excited to go shopping!

It isn't a sleepover till you have a pillow fight!

Fun stuff!

Happy Birthday Breanna!  We love you so much!