4th of July

This year for the 4th of July we tried something a little different.  It was definitely an experience and a memory we will never forget...but not something we will probably ever try again!  We decided to be a food vendor at the Plain City 4th of July Celebration.  Only those who wanted to give up their usual 4th of July traditions participated and we were pretty sure we were set up to make a fortune!  Grandpa and Grandma, Alex and Kacey, Clint, Heidi and Maddie, and our family chose to participate.  We set up shop to sell cotton candy, popscicles, pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, drinks, chips and ice cream bars!  We were very brave for our first plunge into it.  It took a ton of work on everyone's part.  We spent months talking and planning and shopping...and the whole day before setting up. When our big day arrived we were very frustrated to find that there were tons of other food vendors.  We had been assured that we would be one of only a couple!  Needless to say...after a very long, hot but pretty fun day we were excited to be done.  The moment of truth awaited as we went back to Grandpa and Grandma's house to find out if we were in the hole, had broken even, or made the thousands we were hoping for.  We had big plans to take the money and rent a huge cabin at Island Park next summer.  Well......we made enough to give each of the kids that helped $15.00!!!  Not what we were hoping for, but we were so grateful that we had not gone in the hole!   

Even though it was not as successful as we had hoped, it was pretty great to see us all work together to accomplish something BIG!  It was a big undertaking and we did a good job even if we didn't make our millions!  We will just have to save our pennies and find a different way to get us that great cabin in Island Park!!

Kade's Soccer Season

 Kade has played competitive soccer since he was 5!!  I know, crazy parents, but that boy loooves soccer.  He has been on 2 different teams and he loves to play.  He plays the mid position and he as a great team.  They just finished up their spring season in first place!!  Yahoo!!

Kade has learned a lot of life lessons through soccer.  He has learned that he gets different results when he tries his best verses giving something a half hearted effort.  I appreciate his coach.  He always tells the boys that he doesn't care so much if they win or lose (although from all the yelling from the sidelines I'm not sure I completely believe this) or if they are the BEST player.  He only cares that each boy gives his BEST EFFORT.  Kade has put this to the test and has seen the results.  I was very proud of him a few weeks ago at his last game.  He got a little tired and lazy on a game earlier in the season and he paid for it by sitting on the bench for a bit.  The last two games, and interestingly the two hottest games of the season, he really gave it his all.  He scored the first goal of the game and and had the assist for the second goal! 

That is one thing I think makes it worth all the time and effort put into supporting kids in sports.  They learn lessons that hopefully will go way beyond the actual sport itself.  I have seen them learn determination, drive and a desire to set goals and work hard to accomplish them.  It's also been fun to watch them interact and be a part of a team.

Good Job Kader...you are awesome!!! 

Kade's Scout Camp

Kade spent a week at his first ever Scout Camp.  He and his troop went to Camp Loll.  His Dad went for the first two days with him.  He loved it.  He found out that he is really good at and really enjoys archery.  He came home dirty, smelly and with several merit badges completed!  Success!! 

Kylee Graduates from High School!!!

Wow!  I'm not sure when this happened...I guess in the last 17 years...but I cannot believe that we have a child old enough to graduate from High School.  I guess those sweet old ladies that told me over and over all these years that before I knew it my children would be grown, were right!!  It really is exciting because Kylee is so excited to move into this next stage of her life.  She has had a wonderful High School experience and is now ready to move on!! 

The teacher she is standing with is Mr. Parker...her favorite teacher ever.  If you can believe it, he was her CALCULUS teacher. Who likes their calculus teacher??  He really was so good.  He made what could have been a terrible class a lot of fun.

We are soooo proud of you Kylee!  You have set a great example for all of your younger siblings coming behind you.  You really did make the most of your High School years and we are proud of the beautiful young woman you have become!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Kylee's High School Graduation Party

A few days before Kylee Graduated from High School we threw her a graduation party.  Camille and Rohn and their family was here so we had quite the crowd.  We had it on Sunday in place of our usual Sunday dinner.  We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and had her favorite...4 layer pudding for dessert.  Our house was busting at the seams but it was a lot of fun.

 Yum...I think she will need this recipe to take to college.  She looves this stuff.  We had 2 pans and cut them into HUGE pieces.  She was in heaven, especially because there was some leftovers for the next day!!

 Grandpa and Grandma Southwick had given us this BIG present to store for a couple months before she graduated.  They were afraid they would not make it back again before graduation.  She got a very nice luggage set.  She will love it for many years.

 We gave her a laptop which she was very excited about.  This was our black Friday laptop.  We hurried home from Idaho on the day of Thanksgiving and waited in a 3 hour line at Walmart where we could purchase our laptop after midnight!!  It was worth it though.  It will be nice for her to have at college.

We had a houseful of people who love her and are excited for her as she enters this next stage of her life.  I am so grateful for such great family.  Chris and I both have wonderful families.

We are proud of all of your hard work Kylee.  You definately made the most of your High School years and we are excited to see what you will do as you go on to College!

We Love You!!

Quincy's Triathlon at School

Every year at Three Mile Creek the kids have a Triathlon in May.  They team up with a partner.  One rides a bike route, the other runs and then they both complete an obstacle course together.  The route gets harder as you get older.  Quincy is in 3rd grade this year so it was a bit of a challenge.  Her partner was her friend Lexi Parker.  Quincy did the biking and Lexi did the running.  They finished 5th overall!!  That was really good.  There were tons of teams.  These two girls looked like they were pooped afterwards.  They weren't too excited about my photo shoot! 

Brinley's Kindergarten Program

Brinley has been practicing for months at school for her big end of year Kindergarten program. She has been so excited for us to come and watch.  She has been singing the the songs at home...which I love to hear.

 She is on the back row in a black long sleeve dress...yes, it is May and she was super hot.  She insisted that she wear that dress and would not go for any other.  They performed once during the day and again at night and she still wanted to wear it again that night.  Crazy girl!!  She did look cute though!

 It was pretty funny...the boy next to her was pretty wiggly!  I am pretty sure that is why he is next to her!  She stayed stone still even as he began messing with her hair!  She would not even look over at him. She was the perfect person to have to stand next to him.

Very serious and professional!!  She is sooo much fun.  We love you Brinley!  I am just sad that this will be my LAST Willard Elementary Kindergarted program.  We have seen all 5 of our kids do this program.  Most of it hasn't changed a bit!!

Yet Another Princess Party!!

These are some of Kylee's cute freinds.  They are funny girls.  They have spent a good part of their time together having Pricess parties!  They have a theme and usually invovle some type of food (perhaps a tea party), sometimes costumes, and usually a princess movie. 

Kylee and Jessica have become professional at building amazing princess castles out of cardboard.  I wish I had a picture because they are masterpieces when they are finished with them.

I am so grateful that Kylee has always had such great friends...I love that they like princesses and want to have princess parties...and so do Quincy and Brinley!!

Ouch!!

I don't think the pictures do it justice, but this is Brinley with road rash!!  She is soooo competitive...and I mean about almost everything.  This year she has caught the bus to go to Kindergarten with 4 other little kids in our nieghborhood.  She has to be the first in line...at all cost.  So today it cost her the skin on her nose and forehead!!  She took off running so fast to get in line first and accidentally slipped on the sidewalk and fell.  It was a HARD fall.  I was watching from the door and I saw her fall and then saw her get up with blood dripping from her face.  I ran out and carried her inside and we got her cleaned up.  She took the skin clean off the side of her nose and all down the side of her face.  OUCH!!  It looked painful.  Needless to say...she never did make it to school that day!  Silly girl.  And as a sidenote...she still runs to the bus stop everyday to make sure that she is first in line!!