Summer-time Fun!

We always have so much fun swimming all summer long! We love when the Roberts (my sister and her family) come to visit....they definately need to move closer!

Happy Father's Day (just pretend)

I know this is so late but I am so thankful for Father's Day and the opportunity we get to honored our fathers! Our family has been so blessed to have such a wonderful dad--Russ is always there for the kids and tries so hard to do what he knows is right. These two girls have really had an adjustment to make since Russ has been bishop and has had to gone quite often. We started our own business when Cami was one and he has been working out of our home since then. He is the best playmate around and will even be Ken when they want to play barbies! He has been home and has taken an active role in helping me with whatever I need help with. I am so thankful we have been blessed and have been able to keep our business because it provides for us but mainly because it allows Russ to be home with me and the kids! Thanks for being such a wonderful Dad!!

I am also so thankful for this wonderful Dad! He is such an example to me of one who serves. Every sunday--even during tax season when I know he has put in long long hours--he and my mom prepare Sunday dinner for us. Not only is it yummy and delicious, but he then sends us home with 2 or 3 loaves of homemade bread. We are in heaven! He also always welcomes us to their home and never makes us feel like we are intruding. I know there have been many times when we have all been over there and he comes home being so tired and sees a house full of people yet he always makes us feel loved. I hope I can be like this! Thanks Dad for all you do and know how much we love you!

Just a little love!

Home-made cards--let me just say they keep getting more and more creative!

Everyone makes cards--I hope Chantz will be just like his dad-- Happy Father's Day!

Dance Recital--(Finally June)

This year's dance recital was so much fun! Near the end of each year the girls start getting tired of going to classes and all the extra practices--then the recital comes and they love dancing again! I am so glad they gain the self-confidence that comes from performing in front of people and doing their best! Chloe did a great number to Beyonce' s "Put a ring on it"

Cami's class performed a fast tap dance to "In the Navy". I am always amazed at how much they improve over the year.

Carlee had three dance numbers and two production numbers. I love to watch her dance!

It's great to have a big family that yells your name (even when we are not suppose to!) Chantz and Clay are always so good about coming to one of the three recitals--not that they have a choice...but they are great about it and its nice when our older kids make the girls feel important! Our "favorite" tap teacher--Jennifer. She has been everyone's tap teacher starting when Chelsey was 6 or 7 and I still love her! We are so proud of these girls and love watching them perform!

Chantz's Graduation 2010

It is so hard to believe that Chantz graduated! I can't believe how fast time flies. When we had our first 4 kids two years apart I had no idea it would seem like things just keep happening so quickly. Honestly....it seems like Chelsey just graduated! Luckily for us it didn't rain and it was actually not bad sitting on the football field while close to 700 students graduated. We are so proud of Chantz--Way to go!!

I had so many pictures and I didn't want to leave anyone out--so sorry for so many collages. We are so grateful for family and friends for supporting us! Since Aly (Dena's daughter) also graduated we decided to combine the party afterwards! It was so much fun and I'm sure our relatives were happy to hear 2 names they actually knew! Chantz was great and stayed awhile before heading out to the graduation parties--he has a great group of friends and they always have a great time!

Clay and Grant --8th grade graduates--Congratulations!
They didn't have the official 8th grade graduation ceremony because of budget cuts---something about renting the chairs cost too much for over 800 8th graders. It's not usually my favorite ceremony since it is outside and you have to get there really early to try to get a seat in the shade....so I wasn't too upset. They did have a ceremony like academic night so Clay was able to participate in that and it was inside!!

Baccalaureate--This is probably my favorite part of graduation. It's on Sunday afternoon and it only lasts one hour. The choir and orchestra performed together "Come thou font" and it is incredible.

May Happenin's--Awards

Clay received the best choral student award for 8th grade--He really enjoyed Choir because of his teacher. Luckily I convinced him to stick with it in High School--I did have to use the boy-to girl ratio to help convince him...whatever works!
He even sang in a quartet on the last concert.

Chantz received the Provost Scholarship to ASU because of his grades and ACT score. We are so proud of him and it really helps to have his tuition completely paid for....especially since ASU keeps raising it!

They always have a scholarship awards ceremony and I'm always amazed at the number of scholastic scholarships Highland students receive. It is definitely tough competition!

This is why---

This is why I never am very good at writing in journals. I get so far behind and want to keep everything in order so it gets overwhelming! I am going to get this up to date if it takes all year--I thought once the kids were in school (sad but true....all of my kids are in school) I would have so much time to get everything done but it hasn't happened yet. Once the kids get home it is crazy and by the time 12pm rolls around I am too tired to do anything productive and so I just look at everyone else's blog thinking I should really work on mine. September is already busy and I haven't even scheduled all the soccer games--I signed them up for the same things I always do...dance and soccer but having 2 football games a week to watch (Clay--freshman and Cassie--Varsity) and losing two drivers...Chelsey and Chantz (both work and go to ASU full-time) has made things quite HECTIC! Oh well---enough with the excuses...I'll just start updating and stop complaining....maybe!