Show Choir State

Afton and I drove up to support Kate as she played and performed with the show choir at state.

She did a great job playing the pieces for the choir.

Kate loves having her best friend in the choir with her.

After, we did a little browsing, and a little shopping at the nearby mall. It was a fun day.

Spring Flowers

I love spring, and I love all of the spring flowers, and I kind of love taking pictures...all these things combine, makes me smile.

I love that they are growing in our yard.

Running, Playing, Dancing...Learning Priceless Lessons

April 2013 Running... Dylan decided to run for Student Body Officer at the Junior High this year, he came up with a bunch of fun slogans, and then we worked on his posters. I think he did a great job.

Unfortunately he didn't win...but he sure had a fun time. He even made this cool duct tape tie, and wrote on it "Vote for Dylan!"

He sure is creative! I am proud of him, and how hard he worked. He's an amazing kid.

Playing: Jocelynn played the clarinet in the band this year. She liked going to the early morning rehearsals (not getting up early, but visiting with the other kids there) but she hated practicing, because it hurt her ears, and it smelled like wood...

I think she's going to try playing the violin next year.

Afton has been in social dance, and has loved every minute. She was practicing with Dylan to get ready for their concert. She was also very brave, and tried out for the Ballroom Dance Team. I say very brave, because she went up against others who have been dancing for years.

She did her best, even learned to do the hold thing, where they flip in their partner's arms, unfortunately she didn't make it either.

Even though all of our running, playing, and dancing didn't turn out like we would have hoped, we sure learned a lot, and that is pretty priceless. I love that my kids are willing to try things they don't know much about, and give it their all, and can roll with the punches that are dealt in life.

Spring Break- Arches National Park

April 5-7, 2013 For Spring Break this year we hung out at home first, and then went down to Price to visit with Nana. We met up with Nana at the Family History Library, where Afton got super bored, and took lots of pictures of herself (:

Then, we went down to the Arches, where we hiked to Delicate Arch...it was beautiful, super windy, so windy we thought we were going to be blown away...

Nana was a good sport. She hiked like crazy with us all.

I believe this is one of the most beautiful places. It really is amazing!

After Delicate Arch, we had some lunch, and nearly got blown away, again.

We then went to Window's Arch (I think that was the name)...

We just spent one day there, and then drove to Moab, and had dinner at Ray's, a place that Nana says you must eat at. It was delicious, we really enjoyed our day!

The Pick

Now that Kate is finally 16, she can go on to the school dances with a date...She decided to ask her good friend, Hunter Hoffman, to the "Chick Pick" and he said...

Their group made t-shirts, went to Salt Lake to go ice skating, which was closed, so they went to lunch, and to the movies, then came back, made pizzas at one of their other friend's houses, then went to the dance.

They had a fun time, and it was cute to see how Hunter was acting, it was his first date, too.

They had a big group, and Kate was sweet to invite anyone who needed a group to join, to join hers. There was a lot of planning, and debating on the activities.

The theme was "Out of this world."

Determination...

I was so proud of Afton, she decided she wanted to run Cross Country this year for Stansbury High. We're not really a running family, and so when she said she wanted to do it, and run 500 miles during the summer...we said "Go for it!". She wasn't able to make it to her 500 mile goal, because she kept getting injured...knee pain...foot pain...shin splints...but she kept at it!

These pictures are at one of her races. She did a great job!

It was nice of both Daniel and Nana to come watch her race!

I'm so proud of her and her determination!

Back to School

August 2012. Time for another school year.

Kate's a junior this year...

Afton is a Freshman...first year of high school!

Oops! I made them late for the bus!

Dylan is off to Junior High!

And my baby, Jocelynn, is a 5th grader!

More fun pics...