Happy 90th Grandpa Chuck!

  Over Labor Day weekend we had a 90th birthday party for my mom's dad.  Her two brothers and their families were there along with my siblings and families.  We spent the weekend visiting and swimming.  The dinner party was at my parents church on Saturday.  I had not seen my cousins in 12 years!  We played a Jeopardy game all about my grandpa's life and sang his favorite songs. My mom and grandpa looking at the photobook I made of his 90 year life history.  My mom and I had been working on the book for a year.  It was a huge surprise for my grandpa.  I learned so much about my grandpa by making the book.  My grandma did such a good job keeping family pictures.  We put in pictures of my grandpa's grandparents and parents from the 1800's. 

We will have to throw an even bigger bash for my Grandma Jean in 2 years when she turns 90!

Pretty in Pink

Hannah dressed up Esther so they could match and I was the photographer.  These are only 3 of the 100 plus pics I took.  Esther thought it was the greatest day of her life.  I am so thankful Hannah was able to have a sister after patiently waiting through the three boys.

Summer Highlights

I can't imagine a summer without baseball.  This year Scott and I split up to watch Jonah in Flagstaff and Noah in Payson for the first two games.  Then we all got to watch Jonah's third game in Flag and Noah's 4th game in Payson.  Lots of traveling, but it is our summer family activity.

Hannah, my mom and I went to Virginia to visit my sisters and their families for a week in June.  It was the best trip.  We were able to go to a Civil War site, the Holocaust museum and the National Gallery of Art.  Hannah is old enough to appreciate the history of the area.  We loved staying with Emily and Leah and getting to know their kids better.

We went camping this summer!  Anyone who knows us knows how big of a shock this is. We did not stay in these cabins, we actually slept in a tent!   Scott's sister, Amy planned a great family reunion at Navajo Lake on Cedar Mountain.  It is an area that their Great - grandfather had once owned.  The kids loved it and it was nice to have everyone together.  We are so thankful to have an amazing family.

Esther, Ezra and Jonah got to spend an extra few days at grandma's house this summer.  Esther learned how to swim across the pool!  Why spend money on swim lessons when we have grandma's pool?

Track & Field Day

Esther running in a relay race. 

Ezra in the 4 X100, he was the 3rd leg and took the lead for his team.

Jonah took 2nd place in the 400 meter race!  Each grade has a different day for their track meet.  Esther and Ezra's days the weather was perfect but on Jonah's  there was a freak cold front and it actually snowed during his meet!  Most of the kids were not dressed warm enough but kids don't care about the cold as much as their parents do.

End of School Fun!

Even though the new school year started last week, I am catching up on pics from May.  This is the last day of school where the kids get to play games outside.  Hannah and her friend Marisa came with me to see Esther's class.  Hannah did not have school because she had graduated the night before.

Jonah's class doing potato sack races.

Esther playing sponge-sponge squeeze.

Hannahs 8th Grade Graduation in May

Hannah's Grandma's came to Page to cheer Hannah on for her 8th grade graduation.   It was perfect timing for them to be here, they got to see lots of baseball games too.  I still haven't gotten over the fact that where we live 8th grade graduation is such a big deal.  Lots of the kids mailed out invitations, we did not, so don't fret over not attending.  We will mail out announcements when she graduates high school! There were over 2000 people at the high school football field for the 200 kids who were promoted to 8th grade.  Maybe this is why Arizona education ranks so low, because we get through 8th grade and we think we are done.  I am working on the middle school site council and we recommended an awards assembly for the 8th graders next year instead of a graduation but I doubt if the school board will go for it.  Hannah loved middle school and had a great experience.

Hannah is in the pink dress.  It was on the high school football field and the principle called up their names, one at a time and they received their certificate.  Hannah was one of 22 kids to earn the highest academic and citizenship awards. 

This is the quilt I made for Hannah's graduation.  It's all my love for her in a blanket.  The back is a chocolate brown minky fabric that is so soft.

Hannah's Busy Summer, so far....

Girls camp was the first week in June.  The theme was "Be all you can be, in God's Army".  Hannah with her fellow ward campers and their "guns".

The last week in May Hannah went to EFY with a friend and made several new friends.  She came home on a spiritual high that has lasted the entire month of June.  She can't wait to go back next year.

Hannah's went to Youth Conference in the middle of June.  Our ward went to Moab and went river rafting for 2 1/2 days.

In between all her travels, she went to the Yankees game and with her mom to Virginia and DC to visit Leah and Emily and their families.  I don't think Hannah will have this fun of a summer for a long time.

WE LOVE THE YANKEES!

The Yankees beat the Diamondbacks in 10 innings!  The best game ever.  We love our dad for taking us to Phoenix.

June Dance Performance

Esther was worried about being "modest" in her dance costume.  I assured her her costume was okay because her belly was covered with fabric and she is not in a bikini.  Esther loved dancing to "Under the Sea".  Hannah is always fun to watch and learns more every year.

Busy April & May

I helped chaperon Jonah, Ezra and Esther's classes when they went to the bowling alley to celebrate doing 100% of their homework for the 3rd quarter.  There were a lot of gutter balls for Esther's class until they put bumpers down!

 We watched Hannah on pointe for the 2nd year in Sleeping Beauty.

I helped out at Noah's 6th grade dam field trip.  The entire 6th grade, 200+ students, were at the dam from 8:30-2:45.  Noah's science teacher had organized the 6th grade teachers to each be in charge of different stations in and around the dam that the kids would spend 30 minutes at each.  It was so well organized and the students were interested and engaged in learning.

I have loved having Hannah work on one of her Personal Progress value projects because she is learning to make 10 different recipes.  I love to cook and bake and it is fun sharing this with her.  She made my sheet cake twice in one week!

Noah's first band concert and Hannah's last.  Noah played the trumpet this year.  Hannah has played the flute the last three years and will not be taking band in high school.  It was a hard choice for her but you can only take band at our high school if you are in marching band which practices after school.  Hannah is planning on playing volleyball with after school practices, so it was one or the other.  I don't know what Noah is going to do without Hannah in Middle School.  Hannah makes sure she keeps tabs on Noah and his friends.

Another field trip.  Jonah and his class on their dam trip.  Not all day like the 6th graders.  The last 3 weeks of school are really fun and games, I think it should be spread throughout the year.

Noah and Jonah played on a traveling baseball team.  They had tournaments in St.George 3 Saturdays a month for April and May.  Scott and I would take turns taking them but this weekend we went as a family and cheered them on together.  It has been a good learning experience, they have a good coach who has taught them alot.

We played in a 12 and under league.  Our coach asked Jonah to be on the team after one kid was injured, so Jonah was by far the youngest and smallest but he fit right in with the team.

I am usually behind the camera so I made sure Scott took my picture on Mother's Day.  I love all the cards and things my kids make for Mother's Day, it is better than any present. And I love Jonah, Ezra and Esther singing, Mother, I Love You, with the primary.   At church I was surprised when our Bishop asked the youth to come up to say a few short words to their mothers.  Noah was the first up and it was so sweet to hear him say how much he loves me and what I've taught him.  Hannah also got up and shared her feelings.  I was crying and felt so blessed to have wonderful children.  Scott surprised me with black silk pjs and a gift certificate to get gel nails.  It was a perfect day.

Jonah's 4th Grade River Trip

Some of Jonah's class before we went on the pontoon.

I had a blast being with Jonah and his friends.  Jonah took good care of his mom.

Jonah and Brycen have been friends since preschool.

Jonah and Mrs.Smith enjoy teasing each other.  We were a little disappointed not to see any condors but the view is incredible at Navajo Bridge.