Sunday, September 30, 2012

Youth Conference 2012

As the Stake Young Mens President, Shaun helped plan and carry out the youth conference this year.  There were a 144 youth in attendance.  We all got on busses at 11:00 pm one night and arrived in Nauvoo 7:30 am. Of course no one got any sleep! We ate breakfast and then went to the different sites.
 Making rope at the Family Living center.
 Lunch time in the park, everyone was so tired by lunchtime that they all just sat around relaxing for a few hours.
 We went to see the Nauvoo Pageant and before it starts the have a fair with all these fun activities for the kids to try, like walking on stilts...
 pulling a handcart....
and dancing.
 Shaun & I even did it.
 Dad with his daughter, awww...
 Seeing more historical sites.
We were walking back from our temple session to the bus (and somehow I forgot to take a picture of the temple.)and we stopped in the garden grove and listened while "Joseph Smith" gave a little of his King Follett talk. It was cool.

Overall even though we didn't get much sleep it was a great experience, we had a testimony meeting that almost every kid got up. 
It was all worth it.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Independence Day, 2012

Gramps kickin back
Don't look Isabelle!
Eric, Isabelle, & Uncle Jeremy
Andy & Rachel
Mitch, Nate & Eric
Linzi made a piƱata to share with her cousins, she used her own money to fill it too.
Eric, Hannah, Isabelle, Aleena, Kaitlin, Linzi, & Savanna
Eric takes a swing
Looking for the goodies
We had an unusually dry summer and the fireworks were banned.  So we only lit a few  snakes. 
Auntie Carrie had fun painting all the girls nails in patriotic designs.
The girls and their colorful tootsies
Hannah, Linzi, Kaitlin, Carrie, Isabelle, Sarah, & Elise
Since we could not light off our own fireworks we went to the city ones.
The kids all had a fun time running around playing with each other.

Hurray for Independence!




Saturday, September 15, 2012

Jeremy & Andy's Families Come for a Visit

July 2012
Jeremy & Olivia, Andy & Rachel brought their families out to see us for the 4th of July.
We had a great visit.
 Sitting around playing games & talking, mostly talking.
 The kiddos playing games too.
 Ian, Savanna, Elise, & Eric playing on the trampoline.
 Joel & Isabelle had so much fun together.
 Samuel & Aaron hanging out with Sammy
Playing duck, duck, goose

Jody & Judie come for a visit. June 1012

Jody & Judie decided to make the long trip out to see us this summer.
We celebrated Judie & Hannah's birthday together
 The boys all decided to sleep in the crowded office, they were packed like sardines.
Christian, Daniel, Ashton, and Zayne is in there somewhere.
Jessica, Sarah, & Keilani playing cards. 
 Ashton walking the slack line
 Jody, Ashton, Keilani, & Jessica ready for the slack line.
 Christian's turn
 We found a fun new game, so we had to try it out with the cousins.
Human Battleship
 This was such a fun game, everyone enjoyed it.


Summer Birthdays

Hannah (13th) and Aleena(11th) decided to do a combined birthday party at the lake this year (and yes I forgot the camera so we have no lake pictures). Hannah of course had it all planned out, she is the party planner. 
Hannah's Friends
 Lily, Brittney, Emily, Kylee, Suzy, Reagan
Emily, Hannah, Taylor
 Aleena's Friends
Megan, Cheyenne, Jamie
Aleena, Michelle
 Aleena's mustache cupcakes
 Hannah's ice cream cake


 Of course we also celebrated Aleena's actual birthday with just the family.
She loves the "How to Train Your Dragon" books
I can't believe she is 11 !