Kay's 17th B-day Party

Kayla's birthday fell on a Friday this year....that means Friday Night Football here at Bingham.  She loves being in the Student Section cheering on the team.  At half time, they brought her out a plate of cookies and....

This poster with balloons attached.  She is well loved and well cared for at Bingham. 

After the game, the party moved to our backyard.  Kay is always happy when she can swim on her birthday (with the help of the pool heater).  It's hard for me to believe that this is Kay's last birthday at home.  She is soooo busy and having such a great senior year, that I don't have much time to think about it all ending in June or her going away to college in August.  I'm not one to try to 'hold on' or wish certain stages 'wouldn't end' so I will just continue to enjoy the journey along side her.  (Hope her roommates throw her a great 18th b-day party next year) 

This was the crew that was left after midnight when I thought to go grab a picture.  We love these kids and appreciate the joy and goodness they bring to Kayla's life.  Love you lots KayJ La!

Kay's 17th Birthday

Happy Birthday to this beautiful girl!  Can't believe it's been 17 years since she came into this world with one small practice push.  She is a joy and a delight to be around and adds her positive vibes to everything she does.  She is smart, funny, courageous, kind, and humble.  She is keenly aware of needs around her and does not hesitant to stop and help.  She desires to spend her life serving others. 

Love you Kay!

 Here are a few of the fun gifts she received.  Froggy Fresh pajamas - possibly her comfiest outfit.

Her own Adventure Hammock, which she can take to Hammock parks and chill in during the summer.

A Massage Certificate which she can use to destress and unwind as she works on college applications and gets ready for Tru Blue.

And a new Lokai bracelet from Lindz.  Her last one is still enjoying life at the bottom of Lake Powell.  Happy Birthday girl!  

Aubs - Twice Visited

 Today I got to have lunch with Aubs. So fun to be able to visit with her between work and class.  We chatted, laughed, ate Pita Pit, and I dropped her off at her next class.  Unbeknownst to both of us, I was driving away with her keys in my car.  That meant that later that night, Robert and I got to visit her together to deliver her keys back.  More laughs, more chatter and maybe a tear or two.  We are so proud of this girl.  She is strong - emotionally, physically, & spiritually.  She is hard working, dedicated, independent, thoughtful, and kind.  She sees the good in the world around her and strives to add to it.    Love you ROYAL Daughter!

Jordan's Photo Shoot

The girls like taking pictures of Jordan a lot more than he does.  He tends to avoid direct eye contact and run when he sees the camera.

Today they were able to catch a few quick glimpses of this handsome boy.  I like how they tried to catch his good ear side.

There's a good one of Jordan checking out the backyard chairs

Posing with one of his favorite friends, but he just can't bring himself to look up at the camera.

Final 7's Game

Final Super 7's Fall Lacrosse Game.  It has been so fun to watch both Kay and Lindsay play this fall season.  Kay had some great goals and Lindz blew us away with her defense.  She has serious intensity when it comes to defense - Aubrey will be so proud.  I'm so glad we still have the entire Spring Season to go.  I'm not ready for this to end yet.

Win or lose, the girls always feel better when Kay flips for them at the end of games. One final flip for this season.

Homecoming Dance

The final activity of the week is the Homecoming Dance.  Kayla was asked to the dance by Skyler, who was also named as the Homecoming King.  In order to ensure he could ask Kayla before anyone else, he asked her over the summer, before school had even started. 

He's a great young man and we appreciate his kindness and patience in helping Kayla to fulfill all of her responsibilities on this busy day and night.   Instead of spending the afternoon doing a fun day activity with their group. they set up and decorated the gym for the dance.  Instead of enjoying pictures at Wheeler Farm and a nice meal at a great restaurant, they left pictures early, raced to the school and had cold pizza in the SBO room.  Instead of going out after, they cleaned up the 'Drops of Jupiter' and the amazing sky of stars they had created on the gym ceiling hours earlier.   It is such a privilege for her to be able to help plan and put together these awesome activities for all her classmates  and we sure appreciate Skyler's willingness to help with that.   He was such a great Homecoming date for her.  Thanks Skyler!

Homecoming Week

Kayla's last and Lindsay's first Homecoming Week at Bingham.  This week is packed full of activities and fun events...here are a few I got to see.

The Opening Assembly had the traditional 'Pick & Ax' ceremony.

                                          Kay played in the Powder Puff Football Game

Fun night to watch the girls out on the field. 

Kay showing off her quick moves with the flag tackle.  (She's in the shorts and orange cleats)  Enlarge for better view

Followed by a few dance moves.  Love that girl!

Annual Homecoming parade - in the rain

Brenna and I sat through it so we could cheer on the Senior Class Officers.

Wendy's for Lunch

Got to enjoy lunch with this cute girl today.  Though she prefers McDonald's chicken nuggets, she can't pass up a Wendy's chocolate frosty. 

The LORAX

A few months ago, Brenna and I went to see "Mary Poppins" put on by the Herriman Arts Council.  She loved it and really wanted to be in one of their future productions.  Well, here she is.  Opening night of "The LORAX" - starring Brenna Miller as a Mission Impossible Humming Fish.

Here;s some thoughts from Brenna, "It was really fun to participate in "The Lorax". It was very hard to get all of the dances learned, and perfect in a shorter amount of time than I am used too. It was SO FUN though even if I didn't get the part I wanted or a speaking part at all, I still had a blast! I made a lot of friends and learned that even if you don't get what you want, there is always still great things out of it. I learned that sometimes good friendships keep you going, even when it's tough."

                                   

                                                                Singing her heart out

Comforting the Lorax

Lorax Video Clips

Mission Impossible Humming Fish with a little acrobatics

Small Solo

Dance Sequence with the Lorax

Great Job Brenna!  We are so proud of you!

BHS Pinning Ceremony

Tonight the school put on a Dinner and Pinning Ceremony for this years Student Body Officers and their parents.  It was fun to meet other parents and as we each introduced our child, it was interesting to note the characteristics that were repeated over and over again.  Kind, Selfless, Outgoing, Responsible, Independent, Hard Working.  Such a great group of kids who give so much of themselves, their time, and talents, to unite and support Bingham High School.

Principal Richards-Kong 'Pinning' Kayla.  So I guess there is an 'official Bingham pin' that is created for each new school year.  It is kept top secret and was revealed at tonight

Pinning Ceremony. 

Followed by the official 'Bingham Miner' handshake (which I had no idea existed either)

Kayla then 'pinned' Robert and I and taught us the meaning behind the 'official handshake'.

Senior Class Officers. From L to R - Evan, Giancarlo, Kayla & Jonah

                                                                       Team Huddle

Bingham 2016-17 Student Body Officers

We have so much love and respect for these kids!

Final AZ stops

Ally's church building shares a parking lot with the beautiful Gilbert Temple.  We loved walking out of church and seeing it. 

When this temple was being built we came to visit the construction site.  They have just received an exterior wall that was imperfect, so the worker on site took a hammer to it and broke off pieces for each of the kids to have.  Click on... Gilbert Temple Construction

 President Thomas S. Monson once counseled, “As we touch the temple, the temple will touch us.”

What a blessing it was for the kids to get to touch and keep a piece of that sacred temple and what a blessing it is now for them to be able to be able to serve others through the ordinance available in the temple.

Our final meal together at Barbs before we part ways tomorrow morning.  Thanks for having us Holt's and Bloomers, and thanks for sharing this fun weekend with us.

AZ vs. BYU Football Game

Robert and I are both University of Arizona Alumni (Class of '96 & '97)

Robert also earned his MBA from BYU (Class of '04)

I think it's the fact that our daughter currently attends BYU that put us over the edge to route for the Cougars at today's  UofA vs. BYU match-up.

Welcome to SUNNY University of Phoenix Stadium

This girl did not originally have a ticket to the game, but with Aubrey having to stay back in Provo to take a test on Friday afternoon, she was the lucky recipient of that ticket.  Happy as can be!

We got there in plenty of time to watch warm ups.  Our fellow football fan and future football star Jayden, sat with us. 

Give out one quick 'Bear Down' for any Wildcat fans on our section.

 What a great way to kickoff this football season.  BYU wins 18-16 on a last second field goal.   Gotta love college football!  So glad we got to be at this game with my 2 Arizona sisters and So Cal parents.  Such fun times!

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Barb, Dad, Ally, & Me with the final score 18-16

Kay Arrives via the BYU Flight

Due to Kayla's Student Government responsibilities, she couldn't leave with us on Thursday, so we flew her in Saturday afternoon just before her game. She said her entire flight was comprised of fans headed to the game.  The flight crew even played the Cougar Fight Song before take off. 

Her airport pick -up.  Glad you could join us Kay!

Play Time

Arizona in August means swim time, of course Arizona almost anytime means swim time for our family.  Lindsay had fun swimming with Saybria.

B hanging out with Brayden

Water bottle flipping contests for B and Jaxon

Emi enjoying the pool and the palm tree

 As well as leading an impromptu Yoga class poolside for all the cousins 

  

And dancing in the Apple Core Costume (back from Barb's Roadshow days)

Our large family prayer circle with neighborhood friends

and a late night donut run.....

that didn't go very well.  YUK!