Abby and Lori

The first day Abby started kindergarten, she came home telling me about the great new, best friend she met and that they were going to have a great time together.  Well, a few weeks after school started, her friend had a birthday and got a Royal BFF  friendship necklace that came with the Princess Protection movie.  Her friend could hardly wait to bring the other half of the heart to school for Abby.  Their teacher even had to help them put it on.  It was very cute that she was able to find such a fast, fun friend.  They have already had a handful of playdates and walked to school together (with mom of course ) on many occasions.  They are cute little friends!

Calling All Class of '99 Fellow Centennialians...

Today is a very sad day.  I was so looking forward to meeting up with all my old friends and see what everyone doing now and where they are all living.  I really have been looking forward to the reunion for the past five years...I guess mostly after leaving BYU and wondering where everyone else went.  I think we had a really unique class with lots of great friends and lots of fun times.  I decided a while ago that I would try my hardest to make it back, but I guess Robert Burns said is best with, " The best laid schemes of mice and men Go often askew."  I kinda knew in the end I wouldn't be coming, partly because my husband is still a student, so our budget is small, but partly because with David's parents leaving to be Mission Presidents, we decided to go home in June to say good-bye to them.  So, bottom line, now that the tears are over ( I think) ... anyone who reads this before the reunion...please pass on my blog or my facebook or e-mail...and please tell everyone hi for me.  I sure miss you guys...Hope the evening is fun!  I guess I will just start making plans for the 20th reunion so everybody else plan on coming!!!

My Slacking Abilities

Well, obviously I have been a slacker with the whole blogging thing...not surprising, but for those of you who have been bugging me to update and post pictures...here you go.  I justs spent three days updating 6 months worth of pictures and info. So, if you really want to see what we have been up to, you will have to go all the way back to mid-February... sorry.  I think I enjoy reading other people's blogs than actually keeping mine up.  So anyway, kick back, find a comfortable chair... maybe a coke to keep you awake... and read on...

Ward Campout

Here are the three champs...chuggin' away.  However, in the end, the person with the best skills was my hubby...wow honey, I'm so proud of your hidden marshmallow face stuffing skills.

What would a ward activity around a campfire be without a chubby bunny contest?...

The girls and I got to camp early in the afternoon to map things out.  Within five minutes, the girls caught two small frogs, saw a bunny, found lots of sticks and climbed a tree.  They them told me that camping is the coolest thing ever.  They had a really good time.  I asked them if they wanted to go again and they said yet, but only if another family came because they admitted it would be boring if just our family went...after all it's a party when the ward is there.

My calling is Activities Chair.  I must admit (hopefully the bishop doesn't read this) this is the one calling I had dreaded forever I think b/c I knew it was coming.  Partly, I was sad to leave the primary presidency, but I guess it was time.  Anyhow, we had a slow start trying to get the new committee figured out and approving all our activities.  So, my first activity was a ward campout.  We went in blindly to a campsite, but it turned out better than I could have planned.  It rained all week before and started sprinkle Saturday afternoon when everyone was returning, but while camping, the weather couldn't have been better.  We had a good turn out and enjoyed roasting hotdogs and S'mores.

Good-bye Preschool--Hello Kindergarten?!

Meet Napolean.

Here is Abby on her last day of school making funny faces with friends, Matty and Harris.  They got to have an ice cream party to end the year and say good bye to Napolean.  He is the door greeter by day and great jazz musician by night.  He landed the perfect job working at the school b/c they will give him months off at a time to tour around Europe where he is quite popular.  Arlitt is one of the happiest places.  Abby loved going and always got to do fun things, read great books and even try new foods.  I am sad that our preschool days are over.  It makes me feel old.

4th of July Festivities

Our cute garden on the 4th of July.  Our corn was definitely taller than knee high...always a good sign.  We have enjoyed our lettuce and cucumbers, though still waiting on tomotoes and corn to fully ripen.

Lame fireworks...oh well, we enjoyed some fun ones in Idaho.

A small parade around the yard.

The kids also learned a new trick...if they took the wagon to the top of the hill, it made for a fun and fast, bumpy ride down.

Tommy is a family friend who is so good with kids.  My kids love when he comes over!

The kids enjoying breakfast in their red, white and blue.

When we got home from our trip out west, David gave me the okay to host a 4th of July Breakfast.  When the Blackham's used to live here, they had hosted a few and they were so fun, relaxing and then you still got to enjoy the rest of your day.  Anyhow, the past few years our yard has not been up to par.  As I have mentioned before, we have cut down 10 trees in the yard and cut back shrubs/roots that consumed a 1/4 of the yard.  There is still a lot to do, but it looks better and better all the time.  We bought our house from the original owners who had lived here for 50 years and they were older and unable to care for the yard as much and for any of you not familiar with the midwest...instead of watering and trying to get things to grow, it is constant battle to try to stop things from growing!   We knew we had our work cut out for us, but we've learned a lot.  

Lucy

My girls are good at finding cute little babies in the ward to fall in love with and attempt to be their moms by trying to pick them up, help them walk and coo at.  Anyhow, there was a cute little girl named Kaylie who moved a few month ago.  The girls were initially really sad to see her go, but it didn't take long for them to find a replacement.  Lucy is this really cute little redhead and is just now learning how to say fun words like  "Abby" --very cute and my girls love it.