Kate's Birthday

Oh how the last two years have flown! How did this happen? We now offically are counting her age in years instead of months. (sniff sniff) Two is a fun time.

Here are the party planners. They made the cutest decorations!

Our sweet neighbors, whom Kate adores, came and made it a party!

Her first bike, cause Uncle Brian thought she had to have it.

 Grandma and Grandpa came the next day after returning from their trip, what a treat two days of Birthday.

Happy Birhtday Baby Kate!

Summer Goals

This summer we all made the goal to run the "Raspberry run 5k" at Bear Lake. So we printed out the "couch to 5k" training program and hit the pavement. The kids did great! Carter bless his heart tried his best, but half way through training decided to change his goal, he chose to read his first "Diary of a Wimpy Kid book" instead. He still trained with us but he decided maybe next year on the race. (We were kinda worried about losing him in the mass of runners anyway so we didn't push it) He finished his book 3 days after school started. Yay!!

Saydi ended up running two 5k races. (beating her mother in the pioneer day race)


We found out two weeks before the Raspberry Run that the auditions for the "Gifted Music School" were that same morning, so Bree and I had to drop out of the Race. Abby, Saydi and Dave made it and Abby ended up taking first place in her age group. Sorry no pictures:( Bree ended up with a full scholarship to GMS, so I'm glad we stayed home for that.

I am so proud of the kids for reaching their goals. They woke up early all summer and proved they could do "hard things". They were so encouraging to each other and wanted each other to succeed! What a great summer!

Bear Lake Highlights

Ya, so the only thing I have a harder time with than journaling is picture organization. And some how all my pictures from this summer have been completely unorganized. As if blogging wasn't hard enough, it now takes twice as long to find the pictures, so I have been putting it off. Maybe now that the kids are back to school I can get better organized. Ya right! Well, it's a nice thought anyway.

Because the Lake came up so high this year there were a ton of frogs and snakes on the beach. No sand for sand castles, but lots of swampy muck and the creatures that go with it.

And of course the boat rides never disappoint, even though the gas pump went out on this one about a half hour after I took this picture. So we had to tow it back to the cabin, with my kids and my parents on it, but it still made an exciting boat trip. Boy are we happy that Grandpa has two boats:)
And oh boy, we all love the old trusty tractor that gets the boats in and out.

And it seems like every Sunday the lake is always perfectly smooth for skiing, tempting everyone to jump in........but, we end up at our Bear Lake ward instead. And I just have to say how much we appreciate this ward. Every summer, on the big holidays like July 4th, 24th, & raspberry days, they put on two Sacrament meetings. (they pack the chapel and the gym both times) And these dear people are so gracious to double or quadruple their primary classes just to accommodate all of us visitors.

But my favorite thing is that I get all these people all to myself.

Bear Lake is our favorite family hang out! I love that my parents have given us this gift!!!!

Thanks Mom and Dad~~~

Museum of Fine Arts

Last Saturday I took the girls to the Fine Arts Museum, what a perfect day! We had such a great time and a little culture never hurt anyone. I have to admit I didn't have much "art appreciation" at their age, but now I love museums!

The girls made frames and painted them.

End of school stuff

End of the school year stuff. Gosh, every year goes by faster and faster.

We ended two successful soccer seasons. Abby found out she loves soccer and Carter.... well he found out what soccer was a least:)
Sand Springs 5k

Bree's high honors awards night.

And our traditional last day of school, mile high mud pie at Red Robbin....YUMMMMM

Carter graduated from kindergarten. (Dave always laughs at this ritual.)
But he made it through his first year of Spanish immersion.

Dave's Release

So, a few weeks ago our beloved Bishop was called to be our new Stake President. Oh how we have loved him as our Bishop! But this being the case, we knew that Dave's 4 1/2 years as 2nd counselor was coming to an end. What a privilege this has been for our family, YES I said privilege! Sacrifice is what I would usually associate with these callings, but the love and service that has been shown to our family far exceeds any sacrifice we have made. He has loved being in the bishopric and getting to know the wonderful, kind, generous and loving people in our ward. He will miss it I know, BUT there are some things we are looking forward to.....like sitting with Dad during Sacrament meeting, and snuggling with dad on the couch for those after church naps.

The new Bishopric is so wonderful and we are excited for them. Change is good!!!!

Easter

Hooray for Easter egg hunts, and grandma's that keep them happening
Bree dropped out of the hunt this year, but it was nice to have help filling the eggs!

who hid that one......Dave?


Kate's first egg hunt, and boy did she know how to do it.