Dance Festival 2009

Another great dance festival.

A bunch of little white kids doing the Huka, kind of funny.

Liam the dancer!

Memorial Day 2009

Liam, Melissa, Trevan, and I went to the cemetery on Sunday with our grandma. This was the first year that they had the cross and flag out for our grandpa that passed away last year. My grandma was happy to see that his was right below a big tree. They are supposed to be putting his name on the veteran wall at the end of June.

The Cherry Tree

We lost one of the cherry trees last week. We lost a branch when we had a really heavy snow in April and I guess caused the tree to become out of balance. It snapped in a strong wind. Now we just need to figure our where to take it and how to take it there.

Family Train Ride

My dad's friend invited us over for a train ride. It's the same train we went on at Christmas time. I'm glad Gavin liked it this time.

This time, after the main train ride, they pulled out the little Thomas train and let the kids ride around on it. They had so much fun. I even think Liam had a lot of fun even though he thought he was too big for it.

Hope of America 2009

This year Liam was in the Hope of America at the Marriott Center. All of the 5th grade students in the area participate and it's a great program. If you can find the bottom right hand corner of the blue part of the flag, Liam is sitting directly to the right of that corner in a red shirt.

There was a cute 92 year old lady that danced as part of the Golden Girls (or something like that). Then she stayed out and did a solo. She was pretty good.

This was one of Liam's favorite songs "America Rocks".

It really was a great program, much better than I expected.

Good Job Liam!!

Last Pack Meeting for Liam

Liam has attended his last pack meeting as a cub scout.

He finished his Arrow of Light, but his mom was too lazy to get it on his shirt.

I can't believe he is old enough to be done and moving on to boy scouts.

He has even gone on his first overnight campout by himself! He had a great time!!

(by the way, yes I have purchased new "short" socks since this picture)

They really made him work for his last award though.

Then, Gavin helped out by going up and dumping the whole pool of

packing peanuts out. That was the BIGGEST mess ever to clean up.

They were stuck to everyone and they were everywhere. Nightmare.

Liam's 11th Birthday

Liam had a very busy birthday. After school he had a party with his friends at the church. He had 11 friends come and they played speed (basketball), dodgeball, and midnight football. They had cake and pizza and had a fun time. Then we had our families over for a potluck dinner with cake and ice cream. It was a long day for me, but a really fun one.

No Wicked for Us

So, Andrea and I attempted to get tickets to Wicked while it is here in SLC.

You can go up 2 hours before the show to put your name in a drawing

to be selected to buy 2 $25 tickets - sounds like a great deal huh.

Obviously everyone else in the world also thinks it sounds like a good deal.

There were hundreds of people there and they only draw 10 names.
Needless to say, we didn't get tickets. Maybe we'll try again....

Lucky Charms!

So, here we are on St. Patrick's Day.

I go downstairs to switch the laundry and come back up to find this.

Gavin with a broom and dustpan in his hands.

I guess he thought he'd get a little St. Patrick's themed treat all by himself.

Unfortunately it ended up all over the entire kitchen floor.

At least he's taking the responsibility for cleaning it up, right??

Draper Temple Open House

Picture of the Temple through the window of our bus

Grandma Sue and Liam

Gavin, Jim, Jen

Liam and Trevan

Melissa HATES being in pictures

This morning Grandpa Rick, Grandma Sue, Andrea, Chris, Melissa, Trevan, Jim, Liam, Gavin, and I went to the Draper Temple Open House. It was beautiful and a little different than the other temples I've been in. Thank goodness it was very organized (no line issues or waiting) and we got through easily. Afterwards we went to The Pie and got the gigantic pizza again. I love it!!

2 Year Old's Photo Shoot

My sister Jackie is always so nice to take my kids pictures for their birthdays. Since Gavin is a February baby taking outdoor pictures is a bit of a challenge. He was SO EXCITED to take pictures, but quickly realized that it was cold and wanted to go home. He cried and cried, but we got a few shots that will work. I feel for photographers that have to take toddler pictures. It isn't easy!!

Gavin Turns 2 Years Old!!

This is birthday party #2 for Gavin and was on his actual birthday. We celebrated with Jim's family the Saturday before because 2 of his nieces have February birthdays too. Unfortunately my camera's battery died and I didn't get any pictures at that party. I'm hoping to get some from his sister.

Gavin LOVES blowing out candles. We actually got him to wait until the end of the song.

Gavin loves the frosting, but could do without the cake.

Jim got to try to get the toys out of the packages.

Gavin loves the new plane

Gavin's new wagon with blocks in it.

Showing his toys around

Grandpa Andy even stopped by for a minute.

Everyone hanging out and eating soup. Here's our one shot of Liam. He spent most of the party in the basement playing. So did Asher, I didn't even get a picture of him (but we did get some video of him screaming, funny).

Gavin and Trevan reading a new book. Gavin thinks Trevan is very funny.

Gavin's 1st Hair Cut

Gavin has cute curly hair in the back, but it was getting just a little too long. There was even a "rat tail" going in the back. Plus, it would get so frizzy. So, we finally gave in and decided to attempt to get his hair cut.

Wow, Gavin did NOT want to do this. It was a complete freak out from start to finish (actually from before we started until after we finished). Nothing could entertain him or comfort him.

Kristina did a good job for the situation she was given. I told her this would work for now. At least some of the length is gone in the back and sides. This is just before bed and he got it a little messy. Our camera died during the cut so I had to wait until it was charged to do the "after" picture.

We each took a turn at trying to calm him down.

Liam's story about his family

OK, we went to parent teacher conference last night. Liam is doing great - good grades, tests very high on standardized tests, etc, etc. But, what we really enjoyed was Liam story and picture hanging in the hall for everyone to see. Each kid in the class drew a picture of their family and then wrote a story called "My Family". Liam drew beautiful stick figures of his family (yes he's in 5th grade - not really into art). And, in his story he told how old his parents and brother were (thank you Liam) and then explained that his mom likes to WATCH TV and his dad likes to PLAY WORLD OF WARCRAFT and his brother likes to WATCH TV and he likes to PLAY WORLD OF WARCRAFT. Wow, we don't sound like a lazy family do we. Brilliant!

Happy Birthday Jim

For Jim's birthday this year we celebrated by eating at delicious

Tucanos on Saturday and then we invited his family over for cake

and ice cream last night. It was nice to have everyone over.

Happy Birthday Jim!!

Gavin enjoying some cake

Jim, Jennifer, and Gavin

Bob and Barbara

Kristina, Savannah, Melissa, and Mason

Liam and Camen playing Guitar Hero

Camen and Naomi

Melissa and Russ

Roxanne

Kristina and Eric

Temple Square 2008

Last night we went to see the lights at Temple Square. First we got to eat at Rubios which is always one of my favorite things to do. We thought that since Christmas was over that the crowds might not be as bad. Well, we were wrong. It was a nightmare to find a parking spot and we ended up in the Conference Center parking lot. As we entered we saw a sign that it was $10 to park there and there was no way to get out. I thought that was quite a lot to park. Oh well, at least it ended our horrible looking for a spot experience and we were close.

We were glad that Jim's parents and brother were able to join us. And glad that they

found a spot to park easier than we did (obviously parking makes me crazy).

The Temple is always beautiful.

We actually got to go up and see the statue of Christ. It is usually too crowded to

get up there. I think this was the first time that Liam was able to walk up there.

Gavin would not keep his gloves on, but it actually turned out to be fairly warm.

It was a great night to be outside looking at lights.

Liam took our picture in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Gavin and Liam posing by the tree.

I LOVE the red and orange lights by the Assembly Hall.

Liam checking out the Tabernacle.

Christmas with Jim's family

We were supposed to get a huge storm on Christmas but it missed us.

So, we were able to get around to visit everyone. It was a wonderful day.

Liam's dad picked him up in the middle of the day so he is missing for this

part of Christmas. I'm sure he had his own wonderful time though.

The family opening presents

Jim's parents Bob and Barbara

Gavin and "B" his favorite blankie

Mom and Gavin enjoying some cake.

Gavin playing with aunt Kristina

Gavin working off some of those holiday calories.

Gavin got a new basketball hoop.

We got it all set up at home.