wreath

cute little sister peeking from behind the glass

Hannah was "bored" after school.  I gave her this little project I had sitting around waiting for me to get to it and she went to town.  We still need to get the stars to put on the blue but she did an awesome job on the rest of the wreath.  It's kind of bendy in the photo because the wind had just tilted the left side away from the door so the blue looks bigger but really it's all the same size.  I love how it turned out!

14

Today is our fourteenth wedding anniversary.  Yea us!  It's been a good time so far.
It was kind of a normal day.  The kids had school, a half day.  This is their last week of the school year. 

Sierra and I went to lunch with some of the ladies from the ward.  We went to Salsas, it's always good to have a nice long chat.  Love those gals :)

After school Si took Han and her friend Ariel to get pedicures.  The girls had saved up their money to go.  Unfortunately Hannah was disappointed.  She asked for a Mickey Mouse head on her toe and she didn't feel like she got it :(  It's a lot of money to spend and not end up happy.  E and Lu went to play at Webb's and then Miss Jen took them all swimming so that was a lucky afternoon.

This evening we had dinner plans so Sierra took the kids to scouts/YW then she and Lu went to Olive Garden.  She brought them home and put them to bed and they reported a very very fun time.  They rolled down the windows, turned up the radio and had a rollicking fun time!

The Nahoolewas are in town house hunting so we met them for dinner.  We went to Clarke's Landing.  It was very nice out, we ate on the water.  It was fun to see them and to talk about TX and our friends from there.  I hope they buy a house in our ward. 

Happy Anniversary Babe!

Bridging to Brownies

Tonight was our last Daisy night.  It was very nice.  We had a potluck dinner, a meeting and then the ceremony.  I only had my phone with me and the light was strange so the photos are worse than usual.  The girls had a great year.  Lu loved every meeting and every activity.  It was a definite thumbs up.  I was a Brownie when I was in 2nd grade and J was one.  I remember having fun and she liked it too but Lu LOVES it. 

Daisy troop with their fearless leaders

Grace on the bridge to Brownies



sidewalk chalk, zucchini bread, motorcycle rides

after work R stopped by to bring H home.  She is his most enthusiastic back seat rider!

The joys of June are many.  Warm weather is here, but this year it's not too hot yet.  After school Hannah went to Alissa's and Maggie and Daniel came here to play.  All 6 kids had a fun time.  Mags and Lu played with dolls for a long while, then ran in the sprinklers, then I went outside with them and we drew sidewalk masterpieces.  Ethan and Daniel played soccer in the backyard then went across the street and played basketball at the park.

This afternoon I made four loaves of zucchini bread.  It was delish!

Ethan was in charge of FHE tonight.  We played catch with a football, a baseball and then bocce ball.

This morning Kitty and I met out at Sister Ogden's house in Chesapeake beach.  They have an awesome new presidency and we had a good meeting while we "trained" them, they didn't need much training really but it was still good.  There are some really awesome women in the stake who are working so hard to have wonderful youth programs.  I am truly completely humbled as I go around and meet with them and see how strong and valiant they are, it makes me wonder why on earth I am training them.  Crazy.

Air & Space Magazine, pg 12

R is a celebrity! He and some of his co workers were in Air & Space magazine this month.  Pretty cool, even if they were called "hard core nerds" :)

I can't believe it's June.  Girls camp is just around the corner and this is the last week of school.  Today the weather was perfect, we had the windows open and it was really nice.

We had an interesting day.  We travelled to visit two wards, by we I mean the family and I.  The kids were not too excited but it turned out okay.  We visited the Anacostia and Capital Hill wards, it is really a treat for me, every time I go to a new ward I am just so impressed with the wonderful sisters and the hard work they are doing in the YW's behalf, also I love to meet the girls.  They have a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences but each is sweet and cheerful.  It's a testimony builder to see how the gospel is for everyone and to see the hand of the Lord in these young women's lives.

Bub is having a problem with putting stuff away.  It's driving me crazy.  Finally today when he could not find his shoes for the millionth time I told him he was busted. Every time from now on when I find his shoes not in his closet put away he will owe me 5 bonus chores. 

season champs

Today was our last soccer games.  Lu had her game in the morning and it went really well, well they lost but had fun.

This evening was Ethan's game.  They won, which was a nice ending to an undefeated season. 

After the game they celebrated with a dog pile, some trophies and a swim/pizza party at Matthew's house.

Coach Scott and Justin are moving this summer.  The Marines are sending him to Orlando :(  We are very sad, he's been a wonderful coach. 

Between soccer games we went to Katie's graduation party.  It was a full day.

Elms Beach

This was the field trip we've been waiting for all year, the overnight camping trip to Elm's Beach! It did not disappoint :)  We got there on Thursday morning and set up camp.  Ethan set up my tent for me, which was so sweet.  Lots of the adults mentioned how thoughtful they thought that was. He's a good boy who takes care of his mom :)

We had several lessons that day.  One was on photography and the kids were sent off with cameras and nets and told to photograph insects.  They caught a lot and got some good photos.

There was a lot of free time.  We spent it mostly at the beach where the kids fished with nets and skipped stones.  We also went on a little hike and the boys played tag in the tall tall grasses.

After dinner we had turtle races, they were loud and boisterous and a lot of fun.  Then we split into tent groups and made up skits.  Even the parents had to do a skit. 

We had a bonfire on the beach and went on a night hike, which was a teeny bit creepy.  I think around 11pm everyone was in their tents and quiet. 

Bright and early Friday morning the kids were up and we had breakfast, more lesson time, lunch, and then the best part fishing with the net.  The kids were surprised and a little nervous when they were instructed to walk into the water, in their clothes, up to their arm pits to set the net.  They pulled it to shore and then harvested fish from the net.  They caught a lot of fish and put them in a bucket to keep alive until they could take them back and classify them.  We repeated the process many times and they loved it and were soon fishing pros.

The kids were not allowed to swim however many of them "slipped on sandbars" and ended up underwater.  They then had to splash to shore.

It was a great time.  All the kids were so well behaved, so engaged in all the activities, so happy to have outdoor free time.  The parents enjoyed visiting and we all learned a lot.

We came home filthy and wet.  Ethan picked 19 ticks off himself over the 2 days.  I had 2.  I guess he's sweeter than me. 

At night we heard a chorus of frogs that were loud and foxes in the woods and waves crashing on the shore.  It was awesome.