Builders

Several months ago, we bought the kids new dressers

from Ikea. John built the dressers for Milo and Ruby

(Jonah already had one), but he let Bentley and Maxwell

put their dressers together. They did a great job!

The only problem is that they are using the 4th drawer

in each of their dressers as a "junk drawer." I was hoping

the 4th drawer would give them some extra space for their

clothes. Nope. It just gave them another place to keep "stuff." :)

Miss Orem

On May 16th, Ruby and I watched our friend, Abby,

compete for Miss Orem. She was awesome!

One of my favorite parts was her talent -

she danced to "Try" by Colbie Caillat.

I can't hear that song now without thinking of

her beautiful dance. She was our pick for sure!

Ruby's licorice lipstick.

Abby went home as 3rd Attendant.

Ruby was excited to get a picture with 

Abby and their sparkly shoes. ;)

Camp Outs and Emery County

Bentley and Maxwell each had the chance to study

a Utah county when they were in 4th grade, 

and this year it was Jonah's turn. He chose Emery County.

(And now he really wants to visit - just like his brothers!)

Jonah did a great job on his report and his poster.

He did most of it all by himself.

At the County Fair his board was a big hit -

he took chocolate candy rocks to hand out. :)

The same day that Jonah had his County Fair,

Bentley got to visit Emery County.

He studied Emery when he was in 4th grade, 

and has been waiting 3 years to see the places he'd studied.

Maybe Jonah will have a scout camp out there in a few years. :)

While Bentley was camping, the little kids decided to

have their own camp out in the living room.

I think it was Alton's first sleepover with the other kids. :)

Baseball, Shaved Ice, and Odds and Ends

I think Jonah had a soccer game the night I took these

baseball pictures, but I'm not sure. Anyway, the three

little kids and I ended up at Bentley's baseball game.

They ate licorice and cheered him on.

Some of our favorite friends bought our favorite

shaved ice stand. Hooray! We love our Yuki!

Milo has style,

and Alton likes to see Bentley when we

go to the Jr. High for any reason.

On this day we just missed him.

Jonah likes the rain,

and Bentley and Maxwell like

custard from their 6th grade teacher's

favorite spot - Culver's.

Kindergarten Fan

Alton and I spent most Monday mornings

this past school year with the kindergarten kids.

While I read with them out in the hall,

Alton brought toys from the classroom

to the table where I worked.

He loved kindergarten.

Mother's Day 2015

It was great to have my Mom here for Mother's Day. 

That doesn't happen very often.

My siblings and I got her a Mother's ring.

She has wanted one for a long time, but the stones'

colors made it difficult to find a good arrangement.

(Two yellow, two purple, one red, one white.)

I think what we came up with works pretty well.

Alton loved having Pa here.

He told Pa where to sit, and they read books

and played with cars together.

Grandma and Pa with the kids,

and me with my kids. :)

John got me a mother's ring as well.

Unfortunately, it came with seven stones.

I tried to talk John in to adding a baby to match

the ring, but the ring went back.

A week or so later I got the ring back - with just six stones.
Mine has one yellow, one green, two white, and two blue stones.

Max and Alton tried to go home with Pa and Grandma.
When that didn't work, Max tried to outrun their car.

It's a good thing they get to come back fairly often.
We love having them visit.

Gifts from My Father - Take 2

Ruby's final performance was Saturday evening.

Her dance was beautiful, and she did a great job.

Her teacher mentioned to me that Ruby is one of

a few girls in the class who she knew was sure

of the timing for their piece. We loved watching our girl.

My parents watched Milo and Alton so that the rest of us

could watch Ruby. Cleo got to come, too!

Ruby's Friday teacher gave each of the girls a sweet gift.

What a great year they have had!

Gifts from My Father - Take 1

 Ruby and the other dancers had a Friday morning

performance for local school groups, but Friday 

evening was their first performance for a general audience.

Parents were expected to help either at rehearsals or

during one of the performances, and I got to help

on Friday night. My job was to help keep the girls

quiet in the green room downstairs, and to get them

to the stage for their performances.

The girls were really easy to keep an eye on,

and another Mom was there to visit with, 

Time went by quickly, and I learned that Ruby

CAN hang up her own clothing! :)

I would have liked to watch the performance,

AND help out downstairs, but it was nice to 

know that Ruby had lots of fans in the audience.

Thanks Liz, Greg, Kristina, Grandma, and Pa

for watching her dance!

Baseball

This spring has been busy with baseball, but one benefit

is that the kids have something in common. 

I caught all five boys playing baseball together one

evening. Often, John and Ruby are out there, too.

It's wonderful to find something they can all do together.

The Show Must Go On - Part 2

Ruby was sick most of the week, and by Friday,

all of the boys (but Super Milo) had caught it.

Jonah was up first, then Bentley and Maxwell.

Pa and Grandma were here (sorry parents!),

and got to listen to sick kids up in the night.

Alton got sick after lunch. It was a long day.

On Thursday night (before the mass puking began),

I sat down to plan out our busy Friday.

Little did I know that we would add 4 more sick

kids to the schedule. Ruby had her recital,

and Maxwell had the 6th grade Medieval Faire.

He didn't go to school that day, but did venture

from his sick bed long enough to sit at his booth.

Pa, Alton, and Grandma are in this picture with the banner,
can you spot them?