GRADUATED!!!

Ethan officially graduated from 8th grade-------He's going to High School! (I'm not that old, really......)

Ethan has really done SO WELL this year!!! He's been so responsible at getting things done and remembering when things are due and to turn them in. And, he's really enjoyed his friends this year. He's done so well!!! Not to mention.......he's GROWN!

Ethan with proud Mom and Dad - he keeps trying to tell me that he's as tall as me...
Ethan, with one of his best friends, Tyler

Another best friend, Cody

Kelcie's Birthday

She's 7!!! Kelcie woke up to presents before church....
She got Tangled!!! The kids have been waiting and waiting for her birthday because they knew she was getting it and they loved that movie!

We also gave her a Dolphin pillow pet - the puppy one was from a friend.

That night we got together with cousins. She's opening special cards from her two cousins - they were already at the party the day before, too!

My brother, Eric's, girlfriend always finds the girls the cutest shirts! They spoil my kids!

Since I only had one cake mix and used it on the party, we decided to have strawberry shortcake, aka Angel Food Cake with strawberries.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KELCIE!!!

I can't believe she's 7........

Kelcie's Party

After the Eagle Project, my new project was Kelcie's Birthday party. The day that was good for it was also the day of Fathers and Sons, so initially we decided to do it at night and do a movie night. But, I got to thinking how I didn't want to plan for party all day, and that I have 3 older daughters that are a HUGE help, so we decided to do it in the morning with a craft. So, the craft I came up with was to make sticker books! I got 94 cent memo books and the girls helped me modge-podge scrapbook paper on the front and back. My sister-in-law cut their names in vinyl for the front. Then, I put out flowers, ribbons, jewels, stickers, etc. for the girls to decorate them. They were WAY-CUTE!!!!!!
Then, we had asked each girl to bring some stickers to share - and they did! We've done sticker books at parties before, and nobody "got it" - I'm so glad they did this time. They brought some really cute ones. The girls put all the stickers in the middles and they all had fun filling their new sticker books!

Time to open presents!

And, have cake and popsicles!

It was a great party! I'm not a party person, so I usually do the planning, but let Lafe run the party. This was so fun - the girls were so easy and fun! And, my bigger girls were REALLY HUGE help - can I tell you how much I LOVE having older kids!!!

Ethan...

Here is a picture of Ethan being recognized by his Scout Leader ( one his uncle ) for getting his Eagle Project done at 13! They gave him a whole box of candy-bars!!! Yes, sisters were jealous.....
Ethan also had his last concert of Junior High - it was GREAT!!! It's so fun to listen to them. They play fun songs and have really grown in how they play.

Ethan with his Band Teacher, Mrs. Just. GREAT JOB, ETHAN!!!

One more project - Science

As many of you know that this time of year is FULL of projects - and I think this was the last big one! Jamie had her first science fair this year. She experimented on what material would filter motor oil out of water the best. It ended up being a little more difficult than we expected, some of the materials didn't let anything through and we had to re-think/re-do it. She did great, though!

Peaches

We planted a peach tree a year ago, and we were not expecting it to produce for several years - I had heard somewhere 10 years, but who knows? Well, this year our little tree not only survived the two HARD FREEZES, but it produced!!! And, they are beautiful!!! I think they're yummy - the peel is slightly bitter, but I figure it's the first crop!

EAGLE PROJECT!!!

Ethan did his Eagle Project yesterday!!!!!!! He had a goal of trying to get his Eagle on his 14th birthday in June, and he was doing great towards the merit badges. So, we were looking for a project. Well, our neighbors came over to talk about putting in a block wall, and she just happened to mention this idea she's been working on to put flags on the street lights. She was just getting it through city council and we loved the idea! We also loved the idea that it might be a great thing to support through an eagle project. So, Ethan's project was to earn money to buy flags for this non-profit organization to place the flags on streetlights. To do this, he held a Fun Run! We wanted to do a Fun Run because running is something he really enjoys, so we wanted to incorporate that in. He advertised it and went to different businesses to get sponsors, who then got a sign on the Fun Run to advertise their business. SAturday was the Fun Run - and it was RELLY FUN!!!

Ethan setting up before
The flags at the starting point (our house)

Placing the sponsor's signs along the route

This was the food tent - after the race we had bananas, oranges, and Krispy Kremes - mmmm! We also posted all the sponsors her, too.

Ethan giving a speech (soooo worth it to the mom to see my son do this!!!)

Sign so people knew they were in the right place

And, they're off!!!

It was a 2-mile Fun Run, be we had a turning point if you only wanted to do a mile.

This was the half-way mark - scouts were handing out cups of water to the runners.

Our Bishop and one of his daughters crossing the finish line.

OUr cheering section - the girls gave them a flag as they finished

Ethan with the founder of the organization (aka, our neighbor) and the Councilman that came to represent the Mayor (who incidently, was on a scout thing with his son)

How we all felt afterwards.......

HE DID IT!!! Proud Mom and Dad

Congratulation, Ethan!!! Now, just get it written up before you're 18.........PLEASE!!!!!!

Mother's Day

I had a GREAT Mother's Day!!! Here are some of the highlights:

Ethan had something very specific in mind to give me this year, and it's funny because this is how he wrapped it.....

I guessed it was a HUGE Hershey kiss.....I wasn't too far off!!!
I mentioned this cool picnic table to Lafe, and he remembered and got it for me!!! I just thought it would be so cool and handy to have around! It folds up really nice, too, so we could store it or even take it camping! AND, it fits all of us - we tried it the night before - they couldn't wait :)

I also mentioned that I wanted to try this because my mom has had such great luck with it, and he remembered that too!

And, I've wanted one of these for a while, too! He did good, eh?

There were several little thing, too - they had a blast at Bed, Bath, and Beyond! Fun day - and they pampered me, too!!!

The best kitties!

These kittens are going to be the best kitties for someone!!! They are played with NON-STOP!!!!! Here they are as Prince Percy and Princess Splatter! (the words "poor kitties" did come out as I took the picture!)

VIOLA!

Jamie has finished 3 years of Orchestra playing the Viola. Last night they had a Quad-Campus Performance that was so much fun and so good - they sound so good with so many of them up there! She's really enjoyed it and is continuing in JH. This was just such a cute picture, I had to share!

New Do!!!

Kelcie needed a trim (really bad) and she decided to go short!!! She's thought about it before, but we all thought it would be really fun this time! I love it!

Talin was on the couch this morning watching "Dora" with his cousin. I'm working on the computer nearby and I hear Dora ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Without any hesitation, Talin answered "A Missionary!" Yes, the mommy was tearing up a little......
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Carroll, Jason, Stephen, Kyler, Nathan, Leighton, Mikeum, Grandma and Grandpa Starr, Devin, and Cami for being examples to my little boy!