LUAU...

 Our ward was to have a fun summer picnic-activity... and it ended up that the primary presidency was to be in charge of it. 

So we planned a luau. 

We served Hawaiian haystacks, fruit, rolls, and ice cream sandwiches.. 

We also had beach volleyball to play..

You never know how much stress putting something like this on can bring a person until you have to do it. We planned on about 250 people and had about 200 show.  I was very pleased with the turn out, and ever so grateful for all the help from my family and presidency. 

We involved the activity day girls and they made lanterns that were strung between the pillars, and the boy scouts made awesome milk jug totem poles! 

 We had a best dressed contest and Aubree won! She got a $5 gift card to Baskin Robins ice cream... and No... I was not involved with the judging...

 My mom and Brad were here visiting us that weekend, and were amazing help in setting up, cleaning up and helping to keep track of the girls while I ran around checking on food.. I really wanted to get a family picture of us all dressed up for this, and some how in the craziness, didn't get one...

 We had a few brave young women learn a simple hula dance which they performed. 

They did an amazing job!

It was a great night and fun was had by all... 

Don't worry- I took tons of notes and I know for next time.... 

if there is a next time I have to be in charge...

Back to School! 2013

Every year before school starts Drew is able to give the girls each a Priesthood blessing.

This is a time that is very special to them. They were each blessed with confidence and courage to carry them thru the school year, as well as other individual things they each needed to hear and be reminded of and blessed with... 

The best reminder is how much they are loved and known by their Heavenly Father. They are such sweet girls and I know they each have a great purpose here on earth. 

We are both so proud of them, the good students they are, and know they will do great!

Meet the teacher night and supply drop off... for some reason I only took a picture of Aub by her desk... can you tell she is so excited! She just loves school and is so ready to be back!

The first day is here!

We made yummy french toast to fill their bellies.. and then they were ready and off...

Kara leaves about 7:15 to catch the bus. She had a great first day! She also made the Volleyball team, and we are so proud of her! She is on the B team and has learned so much already. I am excited to see her learn and grow in a sport that her mom loved and still loves so much! I can't believe we have a 7th grader!

Aubree is excited for her last year in Elementary school! WHAT? She is such a mature and responsible young lady and will do great! She is going to give band a try this year and learn to play the flute...

Braelyn is our excited  2nd grader..
She showed a little bit of nervousness the first few days, but has settled into the routine well and really likes her teacher.

And here is our Kindergartner!

Hallie has been waiting and waiting and was so excited to wear her new clothes! She has Mrs. Gibson... whom taught all her sister in kindergarten, so we are all really excited for that. 

 

After school reactions....

Pool Pictures

 Our summer has been so much fun, and the pool has been used almost daily... Which is exciting. We had a few family BBQ's with others, occasionally had  girl-friends over  for an afternoon swim, but other than that, it was just us as a family.  The girls hair is a little lighter- luckily not green- and their confidence in the water has grown so much... 

Aubree does the most amazing tricks off the board, because of her gymnastics abilities, Brae can almost swim from end to end in one breath, and has really improved her strokes, Kara has become quite the diver, and swims very well, and Hallie has gone from not putting her face in at all, to swimming all over the place! 

No one plugs their nose to swim and they all love the water! We have had countless handstand competitions, made up synchronized swimming routines, and you cant forget all the beautiful hair styles that can come from the pool.   As I look back, I wish I had more pictures.... but that just goes to show that mom was in the pool a lot too! 

We first jumped in on May 3rd... the water was about 65 degrees... the warmest it got was 87 in the middle of July... It is now holding around 80 degrees.... We hope to swim most of September which will give us a full 5 months of use of the pool... and that is with no heater but the sun! It has been a great summer!

Rollerdome!

 Last week we used our Nampa Rollerdome Groupon.  The girls did great and had a lot of fun. They each tried to limbo, and I embarrassed them by making them do the Hokey- Pokey... It wasn't too crowded, so there was plenty of room to skate. 

And we only came home with a few bumps and bruises...

Trying to cram in a few more fun activities before we are back in school has been a lot of fun. 

We were also able to take the girls bowling a few times.- however I never took pictures of that...

Kara and Aub got to go to a concert by the Red Head Express with Gma and Gpa... Dad was at work that night- so I took the little girls to Wahooz for mini golf, bumper boats and arcade... it was a lot of fun and they were so excited to each have their own little date nights...

One week left till school -

we are all so ready for it be here