Sep 8, 2011

Back to school!

our annual back to school special dinner!

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Ashli got a crown too!
MAILI IS IN KINDERGARTEN!   So far she is loving it!  She is in dual immersion Spanish/English.
Her teacher is Mrs. Arroyo.  So half the time she's there (total of 21/2 hrs)  it is complete Spanish and the other half is in English!  I was a bit worried that Maili might stress and have a hard time cause she doesn't understand, but she is treating it like a game and is up for the challenge!  She seems to love it!  Taking her in to class didn't seem to affect me, but when she was ready to walk in the school by herself, I had a little tug at my heart.  I think 1st grade will be the hardest for me!

 Haeli is in her 2nd year of preschool!  She's had one day so far and loved it.  She is at the same place as last year, so there's not much of an adjustment, just an added day and new kids. She doesn't know anyone in her class yet, so she will get to make some new friends.  She seems to have really gotten big over the summer and is no longer my little girl.  Where does time go?
Ashli had to be in the picture with Haeli!  She loves her big sister!


All three of my treasures!

Summer report

So, I've been a slacker on the blogging this summer, so here's a few pictures to show what we've been up to.
The annual Wilkins lake trip

yea a Kayak ride with daddy!

row row row your boat

The girls always love a trip to the bean museum

What cute little treasures we have

Thanksgiving point dinosaur museum

standing in dinosaur footprints!

playing in the water/sand table


dig dig dig little archeologists

Ashli finally woke up for this part


can we stay longer pleeeeaaaaseee?

awesome double rainbow right over our neighborhood. The girl's were so excited!






In other news, Kevin got released from the bishopric in our ward and our ward was split!  We will miss the blessings that came with such service and the associations of those he got to work with, but I have to admit that it's so awesome having him sit with us in sacrament meeting! Our kids don't ever remember daddy sitting with us and I have to admit that I hardly do either!
This is a poster signed by the primary kids. Kevin  really loved being "over" the primary.  He loved it!

That catches us up a bit!

Jul 19, 2011

20 years!

Twenty years ago I met some of the most amazing people that changed my life forever.  These were the deaf program missionaries in the MTC!  We had a really close district. There were about 17 or 18 of us (including an older deaf couple) and our teachers used to tell us that we were the closest group they had ever seen.  We all really loved each other and learned so much from each other.  
When you serve a deaf program mission, it's unlike any other mission.  Usually, your companion and you are the only two ( with a few exceptions) in the mission. No one else understands what it's like.  You also are transferred a couple of times (thankfully, I was only transferred once) and when I say transferred, I mean you get on a plane and fly to an entire new mission with new rules, new president, new missionaries.
2 weeks ago, we had a 20 year reunion!  Only 8 of us were able to come, but boy it was sure fun!  We often commented that when we think of our mission friends, these are the people we think of.  Isn't that weird?  We were only with each other for 2 months!  It's amazing how the gospel, the spirit and a culture can bring people so close together!
This may just look like people standing there, but actually, it's a few of us  "chatting" (signing)

Here's 2 of my favorite elders.  Brek Bolton and Travis Cook. They made the MTC so fun! They were the clowns of the bunch

This is Anne Minnich Framptom.....she was in a threesome with me in the MTC but then we served together for 9 months and then were roommates for 3 years after the mission.

Back: Sister Wendy Weaver Ormsby, Anne Minnich Framptom, me, Julie Banks Peery
Front: Elder Steven Swain, Brad Houck, Travis Cook, Brek Bolton


It sure was great to see you all!  We'll see what another 20 years brings......not that we have to wait that long!

July!

July has always been my favorite month and yes it's cause my birthday is in it, but it's mostly cause it's FULL of so much fun!  I hardly got any pictures of my birthday, but here are some fun pics of the fun we've been having!
Maili is helping to flatten one of the hot air balloons at the Freedom Festival


Ashli decided that walking was a better route. 

The girls loved the rainbow balloons and the "July" balloons (red, white, and blue)

I love my little family

Here's the girls at the parade!

They absolutely love it...especially the "princesses" and the bands.

Our "street" had a first annual BBQ firework party!  It was a blast and I hope we can do it every year!



My friend Heather made this cake for my birthday!  So sweet!
Kevin made me one too, but I didn't get a picture before we ate it!

For good measure I had to throw in this picture of a little cake I made for my friend Megan


Jun 27, 2011

Rich's wedding

My brother got married last week. I was a great day, a nice ceremony and lots of fun!  Welcome to the family KayLyn!

I made their wedding cake! The bow on top was just for fun

my 3 princesses waiting for it to begin

The cake with the topper.  This topper was on KayLyn's parent's cake

Rich getting ready!

The bishop began

exchanging rings

the two of them with my masterpiece :)



my studly man with his darling baby

love them both!
Hope you had a great day Rich and KayLyn!