SCHOOL IS OUT!

Summer Time is here. We offically ended the 2008-2009 school year. Yes, we made it through. This last month was a dozy. Blakely went to Craters of the Moon on Wednesday. She had to be at the school at 6 a.m. and didn't get home until 6 p.m. They hiked and walked through caves. She enjoyed going on the field trip. Katelyn had field day on Monday in 85-90 degree weather. It was hot. She ran her little heart out. I even did the high jump to show off to the first grade boys. The P.E. teacher said I cleared it by a foot(whatever!), I'm just glad I didn't make a fool out of myself.
I have felt on the downhill slide for the last month. So now it is time to play alittle catch up in my life. I still need to finish up my classroom on Tuesday, but other then that we are done. We usually go out to dinner on the last night of school to celebrate, but this year the youth in our stake were invited out to Grouse Creek to a barn dance.(12 and up.) Blakely and I headed out about 5 p.m. It takes about an hour to get there on twisty back roads. The Grouse Creek branch did such a nice job. They had dinner cooking when we got there. They had questions on a sheet of paper. You had to go around and ask 12 people who were not in your ward different questions. If you filled this out you got to put your name in a drawing for prizes. They had a live band and they taught everyone how to swing and do a line dance. Blakely danced almost every danced. She had a great time. We got home close to midnight. Shawn stayed with the other childern. We did go out to eat Saturday night after working the children all Saturday. When asked what the kids wanted to do this summer the reply was swimming. Good Luck to those finishing up school. It's summer Time!

Daddy's Boy

Brady is offically a DADDY'S BOY! For the first year of his life he didn't stray to far from his mommy. When he woke up during the night it was Mommy he yelled and it was my side of the bed he came to. Now we hear,"Daddy" and guess who side of the bed he comes to? It is DAD's. If Shawn leaves before we leave in the morning and Brady hasn't see his Dad he is a little upset. When Shawn arrives home from work, Brady is waiting at the door for him. He wraps his arms around Shawn's legs and yells, "Dad." When Shawn is home, Brady trails behind him. Brady nows has to have Shawn hold him before he goes to sleep at night. I hope he keeps his relationship strong with his Dad always.

Baseball Season is over!

This year we chose to do Declo Rec. baseball. It was nice to have games only on Saturday and to be done by the last week of school. The weather didn't always cooperate this year, but it is nice not having June and some July spent on the baseball fields 5 nights a week. Blakely, Katelyn, and Garret all played. They all did a nice job. Garret would run and jump on every ball. Katelyn did well on pitching machine. Blakely enjoyed being able to have a chance to pitch.

Blakely's B-day Party!

Blakely had a friend's party. She had about 4 of her friends that came over to our house. It is different as your kids get older, the part you play in their party. I was in the background instead of being the director. Blakely wanted Katelyn gone, so we arranged to have her go over to a friend's house. Shawn took the two boys to the father and son camp out(only for dinner.) We enjoyed chicken tacos. I just sat and listened to the conversation.(You learn interesting things when you just sit and listen to a bunch of girls talk.) The girls made hair flowers and bows.(They didn't want to quit.) They played and had fun. I think that the last girl went home about 10:45(the party was supposed to end at 9:30)I am glad friend's parties are only on even years.

Watch out! Blakely's 12!

Man, do I feel old! My baby turns two and my oldest turns 12 within a week of each other. Blakely is now officially 12 as I write this blog. As I mentioned before time marches on. Blakely got to go to mutual with me for the first time Wednesday, because it was a mother daughter activity. We worked together painting a beautiful flower pot. Thursday night we had to go to Wally world to find a white shirt for her band concert Friday night.(She plays the tenor sax.) We decided it was time for the 12 year old present of ears being pierced. She was so brave as the video indicates, even while her sister telling her I hope you don't die. She had her friend Miriam spend the night Friday night and stayed at our house most of Saturday. She was awaken to chocolate chip muffins with a candle. She did have to dust on her birthday however. We went down to eat dinner with Grandpa Manwaring. She got a few shirts and a new fangled dangled 5 in one curling iron that she wanted. It is not working as well as she hoped so maybe that will go back. She will have a friends birthday party this weekend. Blakely is a sweetheart. She is always willing to help even when she growls at you. She is a beautiful young lady and I hope she continues to develop her talents. She has learned this year to enjoy playing the piano finally. She now practices it for enjoyment then to get her mom off her back. She is easygoing and is almost always cheerful. She is a friend to everyone. We sure love you.

Katelyn rocks the halls at Declo Elementary

Katelyn reached her 100 points in AR. She reached it right before the deadline for the fun rock the halls. This is where the entire school lines up in the gym and the kids who have reached a certain amount of points run through the line and give high fives and music is blaring. She kept telling me I can't do it, I can't make it. I would always reply," Yes, you can, just read more." She did it!!

Brady is 2!

My baby is TWO!! Time goes by so fast. Brady's birthday was April 25th. We really didn't celebrate his birthday until Sunday because Saturday was jammed packed. Our family had birthday cake and let him open his birthday present. When asked what he wanted for his birthday he would say vroom! Meaning he wanted a motorcycle. We of course had to remind Garret whose motorcycle is was. Brady is talking more and more. I have been a little worried about him talking, but I knew understood everything we said. His favorite words are ME and Daddy. He is the most lovable little boy. He loves to almost maul you with hugs and kisses. He loves his Dad and his big brother Garret. He wants to do everything Garret does to the dismay of his parents. We often have to remind Garret that Brady will follow him. He loves to climb and be into everything. He sure has his parents wrapped around his fingers. We hope he had a good birthday and love him and hope he makes good decisions throughout his life.

Another Epsiode of the redneck cow adventure

Last Saturday, the family went out to see Shawn who was out working in the barn. He was actually our feeding the cows. We were talking to him when I looked up and see one of the momma cows walking back and forth around the water trough. I see splashing coming from the water trough and decide there is a baby calf in the water. I yell at Shawn and start running across the field and slide under the fence and run out to the trough. Sure enough there is a baby calf in the trough so I grab his legs and try to pull him out of the water. I know that Shawn will be there to help any second. What I didn't see was the momma cow behind me. She was not happy that I was there. Shawn yelled at the momma and rescued the baby. Good thing he came or else I probably would have been in the trough also. Shawn didn't know why I was in such a rush to get the baby cow out. That I wasn't even concerned about the momma cow. Well, I guess it was just motherly instinct because I didn't even think of checking on the momma cow. I learned I better check on the mother cow first and then help the baby cow.