Erin's Birthday

Erin is 15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We just want everyone to know that she did NOT have our permission to turn 15. It's just very close to 16, and therefore strictly prohibited! But, nonetheless, she disobeyed and went ahead and had a birthday........ So, we might as well celebrate, right?

I've been thinking for a while that this would be a fun gift for her - she loves to cook and I figured she's getting that much closer to needing it (ahhhhh!) and would probably love it!

O.K., you can laugh, but when Lafe and I saw this it SCREAMED "ERIN"!!! She LOVES to build things (too bad they don't offer woodshop at her school), and she also happens to love space and science. So, sure enough, she had it built within a 2 days (with Talin waiting anxiously by her door :) ) and we've all enjoyed it.

Here's her cake: Did you know that these kind of cakes turn out MUCH better in an oven that is level? Just thought you'd like to know that, because this is the first time I've made one in a level oven! MUCH easier.

This is the inside - it's supposed to be checker-board, but I've learned it's better to use two exact same cake mixes. For instance, the yellow one was a butter recipe, and the chocolate was regular - the yellow took over. Still really cool, though.

Alright, I guess you can turn 15, Erin. I really liked being 15, and I hope you have a BLAST being 15. Enjoy every minute!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Oh, she also got a CD and a beta fish - pictures of that to come, I'm sure........

Sound of Music Schedule

O.k. - the schedule it up! Because there are two casts, here are the dates for the performance Jamie and Kelcie (and Autumn) will be in:

October 23, Matinee - 2:00pm
October 25, Family Night ($10) - 7:00pm
October 29 - 7:30pm
October 30 - 7:30pm

Prices are $15 Adults, $12 Students and Seniors, $10 Family Night. You can get tickets through me - they are asking for cash only. If you need to write a check, you can work that through me.
All performances are at Higley Center for the Performing Arts (Higley High School)

Family Home Evening

Erin was in charge of FHE last night, and she had a GREAT lesson. They were learning about putting on the Armor of God in seminary, so she thought that'd be a great lesson for FHE. It was so fun - Talin LOVED being the "model"! I loved that she put the whole lesson together, including props!!! LOVE SEMINARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sound of Music

THEY MADE IT!!!

Jamie decided she wanted to try out for Sound of Music, so I signed she and Laura up for the little workshop they do to teach you how to audition. Then, I heard that they were looking for even younger for Gretl - Kelcie got all excited. So, they had her come to the workshop, too. Laura decided not to audition (thrilled that she wanted to do the workshop!), but Jamie and Kelcie really wanted to. So, we prepared and auditioned last Saturday. Call backs were last night and THEY MADE IT!!!!!!! Jamie is Brigita (3rd youngest) and Kelcie is Gretl (youngest). Their cousin, Autumn, is Marta (2nd youngest), too! They double casted the show so they won't perform every night, but on the nights they don't perform, they will perform in a pre-show with another cousin, Kaylee! HOW FUN!!!!! I was so glad I got to watch the process this time of the call-backs - I really don't know how they decide. I was so overwhelmed just watching them! I worried about Kelcie being too little and that she was going to get tired of it, but we've been doing this for two weeks and she's never not wanted to practice, and never said she didn't want to do it anymore - or even complained! I hope that lasts once practices start. She was so cute, though - "Mom, am I going to be in a play?" YES!!! Good luck, girls!!!

Frist Day of School

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!!

Today, the rest of the kids started school!!! They were SO EXCITED!!! I love that. They met their teachers yesterday and have been so anxious and ready to start. Last week, they were all asking when school started because they were SO BORED!!!

Ethan - 8th grade

Jamie - 6th grade
Laura - 3rd grade

Kelcie - 1st grade

She really was very happy - just had a hard time getting a picture without squinting. All of my kids are in school all day this year (except Talin) - I haven't been without a 1/2 day-er since Erin started preschool in Missouri - WEIRD!!!! That's o.k. - I think Talin and I will enjoy the open schedule - even today, I have an appt. at 11am and I have to keep reminding myself that it's o.k. - I don't have to pick anyone up.

GOOD LUCK, GUYS!!!!! WE LOVE YOU and you'll do GREAT!!!

High School!!!

Seriously? I cannot have a child in High School. Nope.
Sighhhhhhh......... O.k., I do. Erin started High School today!!! She has been SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She gets EXTREMELY bored in the summer and annoyed with younger siblings, and would so much rather be learning something! She had a great day - loved her teachers and LOVED seminary!!!!!! I'm so glad she had a great first day. The only thing she was upset with was the Band Playing Test she has tomorrow - really? on the second day of school? Oh well - it's all good.

Braces!

We have entered a new era..............
Ethan is the first one to get braces..........yesterday! He's been so excited - they've been waiting for a year for him to finish loosing teeth and deciding what to do, so he was ready. He has two baby teeth that don't have permanent ones underneath. They were just going to shave them down ( the only teeth in the mouth where the baby teeth are bigger than the permanents) and let him keep them because they had good roots, etc. But, there's a new way that they've started doing that has worked REALLY WELL and they want to do that instead. They're going to pull those two teeth ( that way they won't give out in his 30's because they're baby teeth and then he'll have to have implants) and insert a little post/screw to pull the teeth together. We saw some examples and it looks great!
Last night, though, Ethan wasn't so sure about this anymore - braces hurt. And those littles wires that poke if they're not trimmed close enough........but, he's o.k. this morning and we'll try and go get those trimmed ( I remember how bad those hurt). His little sisters were jealous - funny, huh? And, Erin doesn't need them - don't know how THAT happened!

Yin Yang

Found this on the couch yesterday and couldn't resist! Doesn't it look like Yin Yang?

P.S. - beware of the next few posts - they are long..........

Utah, Part 3: Centerville

Then........ we went up to Centerville to stay with my brother's family - so fun! First, we visited Wheeler Farm.

Talin and Kelcie in the little Treehouse

Kelcie and Lafe watching the ducks
The whole gang in the "cool tree"! Everyone loved climbing all over it

Especially Ethan....

Proof the quilt got used! We took it for the 4th of July party in the park, and ended up using it so much - very handy!!!

Picnic lunch - so nice in the shade...

Then, we went to the Sweet's Candy Factory - it was fun, but lots of the machines weren't being used that day. They have REALLY yummy salt water taffy!!! Sporting our lovely hats!

That night was the 4th of July Celebration in the Park - they do such a great job! It take FOREVER to get dark up there (don't get me started on Daylight Savings Time), so they had a magician for the kids. After a while I realized I hadn't seen Ethan in a while and this is where we found him! It was high - I'm not sure how he got up there! But, I guess he wanted to see the magician!

Rick (my brother) take a guitar EVERYWHERE he goes! He was playing at the park and Talin asked if he could play it, too. It was so cute!

Saturday night we did fireworks for the 4th! We had TONS of sparklers so the kids were able to get their fill. My nephew, Tyler's, birthday is on the 4th of July so he always gets fireworks for his birthday and is the main attraction! We love that we get to watch. Grandma lighting Talin's sparkler

The kids like to do tricks and see how they turn out on the camera.

Erin burning from both ends!

Tired boy - collapsed on Rick and Teresa

On Sunday, we visited another Temple - we saw 7 of the 10 Utah Temples!!! That's amazing!

Bountiful Temple

The kids with Grandma and Grandpa - it was so fun they could meet us at Rick's house for the fun!

Finally, driving home!!! We always feel sorry for the person in the middle, but I guess they figured out an arrangement - parents love that!

Utah, Part 2: Salt Lake City

Soooooo.......after Provo, we went up to do SLC for a day. Of course, we all HAD to wear our new BYU shirts (LOTs of comments on that one!). First, we toured the Conference Center - it blows me away how huge it is every time I see it!

On top of the Conference Center

LUNCH! Food Court makes it so nice for everyone to get what they want!

Light Rail Train - Talin thought this was SO great!

Talin on the train

All of us on the train - no I'm not asleep...

Then we went to the Planetarium - we had so much fun in there!!! Walking on Mars....

....and the Moon

O.K., call us Math geeks, but, Erin and I LOVED this shirt!!!

Then, we went back to Temple Square

Salt Lake Temple

The kids in the "picture spot" - Talin was not in the mood...

JUMP!!!

Utah, Part 1: Provo

Our big summer trip this year was to visit family in Utah! First, we went to Provo to visit Lafe's sister, Carri Jo - we had a blast!!!

Playing in the fountain at the Provo Temple

Rolling down the hill at the Temple
Provo Temple

We visited BYU - it was so fun to show the kids all the memories we had in Provo!

Had to have a picture with the "Y"!!!

We also went up Provo Canyon to have a BBQ - great time!

...and s'mores!!!

...and sparklers!!!!!

We had so much fun with Carri and her family. The girls never stopped and we really enjoyed being there.