Summer Fun 2011

Now that I have some more pictures to post, I can update my blog. We just got back from a 3.5 day family reunion to Joseph, UT. Affectionately known as "Joseph Smith", Utah by Molli.  She said that was the only way she could remember it :).

The kids were great travelers for the 7 or so hour drive one way and we only stopped once on the way down in Nephi and once on the way back in Filmore. They had a fun Christmas in July provided by Nana and Papa and we had a great time just being together.

There were 24 of us all together in an old renovated church that is now a vacation rental. There were six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a great size kitchen, and a game room that was very large. We were one house away from a park and we even got to go geo-caching and find some treasures.

The cousins waiting to go in the room for Christmas in July

Andrea and Evan

The Old Church

All 24 of us for a family picture

Molli and Jaycen - cousins

We also went to Cove Fort on our way out and enjoyed the tour around. Molli loved taking pictures of the things that reminded her of "Little House on the Prairie."

The day before we headed out on this adventure to Joseph, we all participated in the Iona Days 5k. Michael stayed ahead of the rest of us, then Robert came in with Evan and Hyrum, followed by me, Molli, and Hannah about ten minutes later. I was just glad we finished :).

Just before the 5K

Me, Molli, and Hannah finishing together

Just for fun - we got a message in our mailbox awhile back for the mail carrier who told us to get a new mailbox. Ours had been hit at least two times and was not really functional anymore, so we got a new one. Evan and Hyrum enjoyed playing "Robots" with the box :

It has been a great summer so far and life is good :)

Summer in Full Swing

I finally have a few minutes to catch up on this last day of June. Molli and Hannah have been in summer school for four days a week since school got out and today was their last day. This week the older three kids have been busy with a science camp and they have enjoyed that very much. Today is the last day of that as well. Michael has been taking gymnastics for a few weeks and I think he is having fun.  This weekend we will head down to Salt Lake for the 4th of July festivities down there. July will be less chaotic and slower as swimming lessons and family reunions will take up the majority of the month. 

We took a trip to the zoo at the end of May and it was still

cold enough to wear winter coats (or so the boys thought.)

Hannah had a great time with her dance class.

She is the line leader at their performance.

She was happy to have gotten a trophy.

We had a "girls night out" when Robert took the boys on a father/ son's outing.

The girls wanted matching pajamas. :)

I was in "The Sound of Music" orchestra pit for the past week and a half. I really do look forward to playing my violin for those. Molli and I did a musical number at church the other day. I accompanied Molli on the piano while she sang. She really did do a great job, I , on the other hand, really don't look forward to playing the piano in public.  Life is good :)

Spring Break in Utah

Not too much is going on these days. I was busy with Activity Day Girls for a while, but got released about a month ago. I have been in the Primary Presidency for 4 fabulous months, but got released from that a week later.  I went from having about four callings down to none in four months. Pretty impressive.

Lately, I have been having fun entering contests on facebook and actually won one for a free photo shoot in Salt Lake.  Good thing we went to Salt Lake about a week and a half ago to take advantage of this win, and for Spring Break. We got the pictures taken at Wheeler Farm and here are a few:

I think they turned out pretty cute and a big thanks to Kyra at KC Photography for her skill and patience with my five kids.

For Spring Break Robert got to go to Florida while the rest of us went to Salt Lake and Hyde Park, Utah. Iin Salt Lake, my mom and I went to a play with a friend - A Tale of Two Cities - at the Hale Theater. It was really good. The kids got to spend the night at Aunt Celeste's house with her dog Marty. We also got to take a tour of the Conference Center and Beehive House on Temple Square.

 The roof of the Conference Center

Inside the Conference Center

Another fun outing was to Tracy Aviary with Aunt Andrea, Nana, and "Aunt" Lindsay:

I have another cute picture from Tracy Aviary of Michael behind a peacock, but it is on my phone and I will transfer it some time.  Hyde Park was fun, too. The kids had fun with Grandma and Grandpa for a night while Robert and I headed to a hotel for the one night he was back from Florida and before he headed back to Idaho Falls.

Michael and Molli will start their soccer games next Saturday and Hannah has a dance recital in May. Life is good and Spring is finally almost here.

Happy New Year!

 I figure since I haven't updated our blog since November 30th, then I can still wish everyone a happy new year and all the newness that comes with it. :)

We celebrated Michael's birthday in December and it was his first "friend's" party...everything Harry Potter. I wish I would have taken pictures of their Quiddich game, or their wand duels, but this was the best I could do:

Michael's Harry Potter Cake (Notice Michael is in the picture, too)

Michael getting ready to blow out his candles

 

Michael and crew with their Quiddich brooms

 

We have not been up to anything new. Christmas was here at our house with my sister, Robert's mom and dad, and two brothers.  The kids had a great time and I am thankful for family. 


I gave the kids a challenge to read the Book of Mormon everyday for two weeks and we would go to a hotel here in town with a swimming pool.  They did a great job and continue even now to read their scriptures (everyday is still a bit of a challenge). We went to a close hotel (me, my sister, and the three oldest kids) and even went bowling nearby. 

Robert's grandma passed away a week before Christmas, so he took the younger boys to Orem for the funeral, and then took them to Logan while we were at the hotel.  The weather was aweful or we would have joined them in Logan later.

Here are a few other things we have been up to in the past two months.  I gave Michael and Hyrum a haircut:

                     

Before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After

Before

After

Activity Girls at their sledding activity

Hyrum and Evan ran into each other and Hyrum ended up with seven stitches

Evan ended up with a nice size goose egg on his head

 

 

 

 

That about sums up the last two months for us. We hope to see Robert's sister and her family before they head out on a new job assignment in Korea.  They will be leaving sometime in May, that is also when his younger sister comes home from her mission to Indiana.  Life is good :)