Jonah's Summer

Jonah had his first piano recital this summer and did a great job. Hannah and Noah also take lessons. Jonah got a hamster from a family in our ward that thought they had two girl hamsters. They found out one was a boy when they had a litter of 5 babies! While we were waiting for Jonah's hamster to be old enough to leave it's mom, the hamsters had another litter! By the time we took home Jonah's hamster the family had 17 hamsters! They really multiply. Jonah was thrilled to have his very own pet. He named him Jorge (after the Yankees catcher ) Amare (after the Suns forward) Larson. We left Jorge with friends while we went on our trip. The day we returned home and picked up Jorge, he died a few hours later. It was very sad. We had a funeral in the desert behind our house. We talked about the Plan of Salvation. Our bodies are dead but our spirit lives on waiting for the resurrection. Two weeks later Scott surprised Jonah when he brought home a new hamster he bought in Flagstaff when he went there for meetings. This new hamster (I need to take a picture of the new one) Jonah named Cano (after the Yankee infielder).

4th of July

We had a great 4th of July with our Drawe cousins. Amy had her 20 year high school reunion over the 4th weekend and we had fun hanging out with her and her family. Esther loved being with "her babies", Walker and Wyatt, Amy's twins that are 18 months. She loved being in charge of them and making sure they were okay. Jonah and Hannah went on the lake with a friend of the Drawe's one day and we lit fireworks in our cul de sac before we watched the fireworks. We love having family visit! Come to Page!

Noah's All Star Baseball

Noah was on the 10 & 11 year old Page All Star Little League baseball team this summer. The regular season ended June 15 and then they could start practice for the all star team. Noah had two weeks of two a day practices to get ready to play teams in Flagstaff the last weekend in June. We had so much fun last year when Noah played in Flagstaff , his team won 5 games before being eliminated, we knew we would have fun. We stayed at a fun hotel with an indoor pool. Noah's team lost both of their games so they were eliminated but it was fun playing other people and in another city. Noah did great. His first game he was the lead off batter which he had not done in the regular season so I was so nervous for him. He singled in the first at bat and for the two games he was 4 for 6 with 3 of the 5 runs. After the first game I asked if he was nervous and he said "No". I think parents are worse than kids in taking the game too seriously. He was a little sad leaving the tournament early but is looking forward to next year. I love that Noah's siblings are his biggest fans. Ezra, Jonah and Hannah know every statistic and player on his team and love to go and cheer for him. Noah's name was in the Flagstaff paper the morning after the first game, even though they lost it is fun seeing your name in the paper. Noah played 2nd base and was #3.

Hannah's Summer Preschool

This summer Hannah found a creative way to earn money. For six weeks in June and July Hannah held a preschool at our house. She printed up fliers and the course description for each school day. I passed fliers around at our swim lessons one day and she had 5 parents interested right away. This is a picture of the class getting ready to go for a hike in the desert. Hannah's friend Tiana came over that morning to help with the hike. The class was on Tues. and Thurs. from 10:30 to noon. We had several other parents want to have their kids attend but I thought 5 was enough for Hannah at one time. She had different crafts and activities each day that went along with her theme of the day. It was fun. Hannah is very organized and does well with little kids.

Primary Activity

We had a great primary activity the end of June. We had the kids sitting at one of the stake pavillion tables and told them the story of Lehi's Dream. They sat so quietly, looking at the pictures and listened better then I have heard them in church. We then acted out the story from the Book of Mormon. The kids walked across a beam that was the straight and narrow path while holding on to their iron rod. My counselors and I had water guns and were spraying them while they crossed, just like the fiery darts of Satan trying to get us to fall off the path and let go of the iron rod. They made it to the tree of life, Heavenly Father's love, where they could pick off a fruit (in our case a heart shaped cookie). We also had a slip and slide to show how easily it is to get off of the path, but that was at the end and they just had fun getting wet. I love being in Primary. I had an amazing experience as I watched the children listening to the story. I really gained an insight to how much they are loved by our Heavenly Father and Savior. Each one of them has divine worth and is individually cared about. It was such a humbling experience to feel that love. Writing about it does not do it justice to the strong Spirit that we felt that morning. I am so thankful to have a Heavenly Father who loves me and wants me to hold to the iron rod and endure to the end and return to Him.

Summer Fun

Our kids get so creative during the summer when it is too hot to play outside in the afternoon. The boys invented golf hockey in the basement. Jonah is the goalie with his baseball helmet and protective wear. It got pretty rough. We always have friends over and they love to play games. Yesterday Noah and his friend designed an 18 hole miniature golf course in our basement. They charged $1.50 for one round! Hannah, Noah, Jonah, and Ezra spent 8 days at a golf clinic which finished with a tournament. This was Ezra's first year and he already has a great swing. Jonah and Ezra's group the 8 and under everyone gets a trophy. They love the trophies, they are a little bobble head golfer with a golf ball for a head. Hannah took first place in the 12-14 girls and Noah took first place in the 9-11 boys. Noah shot a 48 on 9 holes! Noah was at baseball practice so he couldn't go to the awards show. Hannah, Jonah, and Ezra are standing in front of the tournament scores. For Father's Day we always make Scott a giant cookie and each child gets to decorate a portion. The last picture is of us burying a dead bunny. The boys found a dead bunny on the sidewalk by our house. We have about 20 rabbits who live off the grass in our front yard so we attract coyotes as well. Scott dug a grave and the boys said goodbye to the rabbit.

Summer Swim Lessons

Ezra and Esther took swim lessons in June. Esther loves to swim and Ezra can jump off the diving board. Jonah and Noah do not like swim lessons so I did not sign them up this year. They say they can swim in Grandma's pool and that is enough for them! They both had two weeks of basketball camp while Hannah had a volleyball camp.