S'mores please

We love doing fire pit together as a family.

 

Our trademark foods are S'mores with Hershey Chocolate, S'mores with Reeces Peanut Butter Cups, and
roasted Starburst.  If you know of other great creations we should add to our repertoire, please let us know. 

It was getting a little too smoky for Aubs, so she got her goggles

Brenna checking if her starburst was done.

Yep, I think it's done.

M'mmm good.

R is AZ bound

A weekend conference in Scottsdale took Robert down to visit Ally and the kids this weekend.  The car rental let him choose any car on the lot, so he went went this one?  After driving around a bit, he wished he had chosen something a little more kid friendly to get in and out of.

Back with Miss Saybria May.  I know there was some serious wrestling and lego building and eating going on, but I don't think he got pics of that.

We love these kiddos and love being able to see them as often as we have. 

Pool is Open

YEAH!  It's got to be one of our favorite times of the year - our Pool Opening. We were never looking for a house with a pool, but now can't imagine living somewhere without one. Let the FUN begin.

 

 

 

Too much Sun

First full day outside brought some sunburns.

And sensitive skin.

It was not from a lack of having sun protection products available, maybe just lack of using them often enough.  

Stitches 4 Lindz

 

The culperate for tonight's visit to Urgent Care - a new set of kitchen knives.

Lindz was cutting an apple and ...ouch..she cut herself.  I quickly left the room for Robert to take over.  I called out from the office (while cruched over and covering my face), "Do you have to take her in?"  He grabbed his backpack and keys and off they went.  I really do better (not THAT much better, but a little) when it is not my own childs blood. 

A good cleaning of the wound and 4 pretty blue stitiches, and she was good to go.

A big thumbs up from our rock star.

Zoo Day

My last Kindergarten Zoo Day.  The sadness is starting to set in.

Brenna with the Rhino. It almost looks like a TV screen behind her versus a window,

Her friends Oakley and Brayden with the Elephants.

Our last stop was Brenna's favorite - Giraffe's.

She could have stayed there all day watching them eat and wander around outside.  It was a fun day to be together at the Zoo.

Teacher Appreciation

This morning we made Banana Bread for Mrs. Lyfferth

And pretzels and chocolates for Mrs. Harris

We have been blessed with really good teachers who love and care about the kids.  Both Lindsay and Emily's teacher's will be leaving after this year to support their husbands in their new careers and schooling.  Mrs. L will head to Arizona where her husband will go to Dental School.  We already have plans to visit her when we are down there.  Mrs. L, who looks alot like the Disney Princess Ariel, says that if she were a kid, she and Emi would be best friends.  Em is hoping to get to run a 'Dirty Dash' race with her before she leaves.  Mrs. Harris will be moving to Florida and then Hawaii where her husband will be stationed with the Navy Diving Team.  We'll just hope that maybe we can go visit her as well.  So grateful for these fine ladies who teach and love our kids!

Emi's Art Show

It's the girls last week on track, which means there are tons of activities going on at the school.  Emi was very happy to share her art work at this years show.  Above is her 'Pig Edition' of Andy Warhol.

Her Picasso

Pointillism and Pottery

And her Jackson Pollock.  Beautiful.  These art pieces went from the school hallway to our frig.  Thanks for sharing your Masterpieces Em!

Robert is 37

Thirty -seven. He caught up with me for a few months.  This probably wasn't his best birthday, may be even his worst.  After months of work, widdling down lists, and worrying, he started 'Reduction in Force' Layoffs today.  He will finish up tomorrow.  He wasn't in much of a celebratory mood so we tried to keep this pretty mellow.  He was happy to get our Wedding Video on DVD, after not being able to watch it for several years without a VHS player.

He also got an electronic Scrabble game that we busted into right away.  We're thinking good thoughts for next year, maybe a trip or something.  We love you Bub!  Happy Birthday!

Bingham Cheer Tryouts

Aubrey has wanted to be a Bingham High School Cheerleader for a long time.   She has talked, dreamt, imagined, and worked towards this goal for several years now.  After being placed on the Varsity Squad as a Sophmore, there was just one thing that stood between her and her lifelong goal --  her personal commitment to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and standards taught in the "For the Strength of Youth" - namely keeping the Sabbath Day holy by not participating in cheer competitions on Sunday.

After several meetings with the coach and the high school administration, it was determined that she could not be a part of the Varsity Squad, not this year and probably not ever.  In the last 8 years that the school has been traveling and participating in Saturday/Sunday competitions, they have never had a student approach them on this matter.  This year, they had not only Aubrey, but another girl, Abbie, came forward as well.  The school administration agreed to open up dialogue and discuss the issue, but for now, Sunday participation is required.

  After fasting and praying throughout the week that Aubs would have an opportunity to be a part of Bingham Cheer, we witnessed a miracle when the coach agreed to include Aubrey and Abbie on this years  JV team.  Cheer teams are divided up into stunt groups.  This years JV team consists of five 4-person stunts groups, with Aubrey and Abbie as rotating alternates, #'s 21 and 22.

This experience has been such a testimony builder for Aubs and our whole family, and has been a strong reminder of the how the Lord blesses us with 'tender mercies' as we go through trials. Though she often felt very alone in this experience,  she was buoyed up by the faith and testimonies of others, including her newest friends in Arizona.  She was also blessed in finding poignant scriptures, teachings of the current prophet, and aspects of her own patriarchal blessing that confirmed to her heart that what she was doing was right.

Dog Sitting

While babysitting Tyndlee, we also got to watch Boston Junior for a few hours.  Brenna and puppies are hard to separate.  She loved every minute of it.

Miss Tyndlee

Babies. We love babies and taking care of babies.  We've had some practice over the past few weeks with Saybria and this weekend we got to watch Tyndlee, who was a 2012 Leap Day Baby.   

We loved her, fed her, changed her, bathed her, cuddled her, walked her, wrapped her, photographed her, and loved her some more.

There is something about serving others that brings an increased love for them.  We have felt this many times throughout our lives, and we felt that this weekend.  We love this little girl and we love her family and we are grateful they entrusted us with their precious bundle of joy.

Love you Miss Tyndlee!