Brand New Banana!

BEFORE


AFTER



The braces came off this week...she is a brand new Hannah and sporting quite a beautiful smile, I might add!

SMILE AWAY HANNAH...SMILE AWAY!

July 4th Balloon Festival

Caitlin is beautifully pondering...even at 6:30 AM!


The kids and the balloons...what a great way to start the day!


So many to watch...it was exciting!


Crowd, Kids, and fun, Bowen REALLY did have fun!

Our most favorite one and WOW....Eric needs a new hat!

The balloon festival was a great and early way to begin the fourth of July festivities. The weekend was fun and filled with family, food, balloons, fireworks, sparklers, watermelon, and friends! Hannah even had a bonus of getting to swoon over the Jonas Brothers at the Stadium of Fire with Grandma. Grandma Colleen took Hannah, Zoey, Piercee, and Jocelyn to the Stadium of Fire. It turned out to be quite an eventful night (she parked in private parking and got MY car towed), but the girls had a blast!

I love the 4th of July, it is a great opportunity to remember the sacrifices that have been made, the lives that have been lost, the courage of our ancestors, all for the cause of the freedom we enjoy. What a blessed land we call home! Independence Day is also a time to build relationships, laugh with family and friends, and love each other!

June...in Photos

Whew...June was a busy month! Caitlin, Hannah, Eric and I survived girl's camp. Our stake was able to enjoy a week of camp at the Heber Valley Girl's Camp. This property is owned and has been developed by the LDS church. Over 8,000 acres of pure beauty, in the mountains southeast of Heber, Utah. There is a picturesque lake that includes paddle boats and canoes. There are sand volleyball pits, hiking trails, CABINS, bathrooms with hot water and showers. There are covered pavilions, refrigerators, stoves and sinks for washing dishes. We slept in bunk beds and had a bit of heat to keep us warm at night, we even packed a microwave for popping corn! This is the way I like to do girl's camp, full of amenities. The challenge course was challenging but many girls were successful and felt confident after conquering their fears. We built relationships, character, testimonies, friendships, and self esteem together. I think it was a great year at camp.

After camp there were barbecues, family parties, Lehi Round Up Days, parades, drill team camp, cheer practice, baseball, work, boyfriends, movies and fun to keep us busy. Eric's garden has begun to show signs of life, the rain stopped for a minute so the lawn had to be mowed. Oh, the joy of yardwork, it gives Eric peace. We are all a bit worn out but looking forward to July, love fireworks, family get togethers, barbecues, fire pits, and good times!


Play time with friends!

We all enjoyed an afternoon at the movie!

Courtney keeps us smiling!

Bowen and the "Real Firemen!"

The Lehi City firefighters saw Bowen in his parade costume and let him enjoy being a "real fireman" for a minute!

Willowcreek
7th Grade Cheerleaders enjoying a minute of "togetherness" before the parade!

The cutest cheer group in the whole parade!

Ready, Hannah, Okay!

Lehi High School Drill Team showing off their very fashionable 80's apparel. They looked great. Most of the girls just borrowed clothes from their mother's closets! They danced to Footloose during the parade.

Pionettes & Footloose!

Soooooooo adorable!

Bowen on the parade float!

Smile Bowen, this is fun....remember!

Bowen loves baseball!

Bowen makes a great catcher!

Caitlin and the Pionettes performing at drill team camp!

Drill team camp brings on many hours of dance training, hard work, and good times! We love our Pionettes!

Handsome Man!


Happy Independence Day!

GUESS WHO....?!

Wow...Ashley Tisdale!

Hannah attended the CD promo party of Ashley Tisdale in South Jordan yesterday! Ashley Tisdale was there in person to sign autographs and meet her fans. This was in honor of the release of her new CD. Hannah and her friend, McCall, both got autographs and snapped a picture of Ashley. They had a great time, although the waiting for 2 hours in line to meet her may not have been worth it!

Auntie Inez and Jocelyn took Hannah and pal to South Jordan for the big event. Thanks to a fun aunt and cousin, it made for a great afternoon!

The Best Dad Ever!

Happy Father's Day to the BEST DAD EVER! The father of my children is the best! He loves his daughters and his son. He is patient, even when my patience is non-existent. The dad at our home is prayerful, he prays with his children, he prays for his children and he gives them blessings. He offers a father's blessing, a beautiful gift of which I never had the opportunity of receiving, but I am so grateful that my children receive this priceless gift from their father.

The dad at our home is silly and fun. He jokes with his children, he plays jokes on his children, and he maintains a sense-of-humor when the practical joke is for him. He helps his daughters practice soccer and softball. He even makes a great gymnastics coach. He cheers with a smile at all dance, cheer and drill team performances. He endures squeaky violins and misplayed piano pieces. He teaches the value of good music and shares his love of opera with his family. He yells at his children when they make a mistake on the field or the court, but lovingly reassures them they will do better next time. All four children know how to throw a football, with precision and finesse I might add.

The father at our home makes a great friend. He cooks a mean breakfast and will even clean up his mess. He takes his daughters on ice cream dates and will wake them up at 4 AM to have a sundae and just talk. He makes sure they are happy, even when things are difficult. He has helped his daughters gain self-esteem and to understand who they really are. He is tough and puts a little fear in all teenaged boys who call upon his daughters. He is a protector and assures all young men dating his daughters that "he will do to them, what they do to his daughters." He plays catch with Bowen and continually fixes his bike, because Bowen continually causes damage to such bike. He wrestles with Bowen and takes Bowen for rides in his truck. The dad at our home works hard and has taught his children the value of hard work. He makes everything fun and tells the best stories of his childhood. His children know where they came from and the importance of living up to their potential.

The dad at our home teaches many things to his children, he teaches them the great art of belching, and how to pass gas and shift the blame. He teaches them to laugh and all about Pink Panther movies.

He teaches his children by example, how to walk uprightly before the Lord. He honors his Priesthood and serves the Lord, his family, and anyone in need without hesitation. Thanks for being the BEST DAD EVER!

Happy Father's Day!

Outstanding Girl!

With all the graduation hoopla....I forgot to post news of Miss Hannah and her grand award. Hannah was honored with the "LEHI LION...OUTSTANDING FEMALE 6TH GRADE STUDENT AWARD!" This award was given to her at Lehi Elementary's honors assembly the last week of school. She was so excited to receive such an honor. Her mother already knows that she is OUTSTANDING and apparently so does her teacher and Lehi Elementary School. This honor is awarded to one female and one male student who exemplify good citizenship, hard work in the classroom, good grades, top academic student, service to others, friendliness, and politeness. That is my Hannah! What an outstanding girl! Her mother is proud of all of her accomplishments. She will knock 'em dead at junior high in the fall (her mother is not quite ready for her to begin junior high, however, she will rock)!

WE LOVE OUR HANNAH-BANANA!

Makes a Difference

Photograph is of the 2009 Athlete Prep-Difference Makers! Courtney is the shortest and the cutest one of all!

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12588007?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
Please use the above link to read the article about Courtney!

What a great girl! As a proud parent I want to share with you the article from the Salt Lake Tribune about Courtney and her love she has shared with the special needs youth in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. This is one of the many reasons that she is so special. She makes a difference at home and at work, at school, at church, within her community, on the soccer field and in the lives of all of those who love and adore her! She is going to be a great success and change lives! I am changed because of her and am grateful that she is my daughter.

Courtney also received great news last week, she has received the TH Bell Teaching Scholarship. This will fund four years of full college tuition. Congrats to her and to my checkbook! She is going to be an awesome "Special Education" teacher.

Reach for the stars Courtney...have NO limits! Your family loves you!