A month really?

As I'm looking through pictures I haven't posted yet, I can't figure out how to catch up, it exhausts me to think about it. I'm going for highlights here and hopefully for my own benefit, I'll fill in more details later. We had a wonderful time in Utah. It was too short. We spent so much time with my parents and my family, it was so great. I still can't get over the injustice of the swine flu though. Our very good friend Brittany contracted said illness while we were there which limited our time with her family, how dare she right? Here we go.

Ashby graduated from kindergarten on June 11th. Here she is with her teacher Miss Galie, we will miss her next year.

We had breakfast up in Big Cottonwood Canyon. I love that mountain air.

We went swimming and barbecuing with my Ricks College roommates. Look at all those kids, the five of us have been busy. I love this picture because it illustrates how difficult it is to get kids to do something all at the same time. Thanks again Jill for offering your house and pool. The party is something the girls still consistently say was one of their favorite things about the trip.

Luke and the other little ones were busy with this chair at Jill's house. Isn't is just the right size?

We were able to attend the Oquirrh Mountain temple open house. I remember going to the Bountiful temple open house; I hope this is something my kids will remember for a life time. The view from the temple grounds was truly amazing.

We were able to celebrate Kid's Day while in Utah. We took the kids to the Children's Museum. This was one of the few activities they did together.

Did you know a kiddie pool was so fun? Swimming on Kid's Day.

We try to ride a carousel on Kid's Day, here's Avs.

Here's Ashby. She chose the dragon, man I love the dragon!

They fought the good fight

Ashby was Ms. T for their end of the year Letter People parade. Ms. T has tall teeth,

or is Ashby fighting the good fight for Christianity?

Because of Luke's war injury to his left leg, this was the only means of transportation left to him.

Avery kept out of the fighting this time...

We are heading out to Utah next week, does anyone have any good tips for flying with babies? It's been a really long time since I've flown with anyone as young as Luke and I've never flown this far with a baby before. I'm pulling my hair out to say the least.

I guess I'm a pessimist

I usually consider myself an optimist, but after deciding to write this post, I may not be. I have a bone to pick with "well, you tried you're best, so it's fine." I hate that I find myself saying that to my kids. At some point I guess I might, if I had to and only to make people feel better and only in certain situations kind of believe it. Here's the reason why I don't buy it (humiliation on the line again...) When I was a junior in high school I tried out for the varsity song leader squad. I cheered on JV that year and I liked it a lot and really wanted to be a song leader. The song leaders at our school were good, like really good, like went to competitions and got first place good. It was serious business. I had friends that had been song leaders in previous years and they danced their tails off, it was a joy to watch. So I went to the audition and it was really hard. I thought I held my own though. By that time in my life I had been dancing for almost ten years. I could remember a routine pretty well on short notice. The dance was fast, really fast, but I felt good about it, in fact you could say that I did the best I possibly could. There were a few other things in the tryout, I don't remember specifically, but just more testing of abilities. At the end of the audition I got cut. I was absolutely devastated. I mean I hadn't felt that upset by anything for a really long time and quite honestly I don't know if I have since (that's actually kind of weird). Anyway I was a wreck. I went home and cried my eyes out to my mom. The very, very worst part was that I knew I did my best, there was nothing left to give, I gave it all, but was it enough? Not even close, I didn't make it through the first cut. It just sucks to know that no matter what you do, you come in about 20th place. Such is life I guess, but you won't catch me throwing around the" you did your best" without some serious peer pressure...

I meant for this post to be funny, turns out it just sounds grouchy huh?
This is not a woe is me post either, I was just thinking about it the other day. I often hear you did your best on TV and it makes me laugh.

Oh goodness

May was a busy month. We had a great time. There's a lot to catch up on.

Ashby received the pledge keeper award for her class for May. Every month the teachers nominate someone in their classroom that demonstrates a particular part of the Fairmount Pledge. Ashby was chosen for responsibility. The school sent a letter in the mail informing us of the award and asking us to attend the assembly but to keep it a secret. It was very fun to surprise her at school. She was walking up to the stage so fast I couldn't get a good picture, that's her leg by the podium.

Ashby played in her last soccer game of the season. We will miss it; well I won't really miss carting all the kids to practice every week, but we will miss the games and having a good excuse to be outside.

Avery danced in her first recital. She performed in two numbers. She did a great job. She smiled and kind of looked at the audience and not her teacher. Thanks again Pat and DeAnna for coming.

Pretty little Avs waiting for the show to start. I like this picture because all three kids are in it. Ashby didn't want to go to the recital, but she didn't want to leave at intermission so it wasn't a complete bust.

Avery graduated from nursery school. She was attending at the local high school. The child development lab holds a preschool for a few months every year. She loved it.

It's so fun to watch the girls grow into their own little people. We love them so much. Not to leave Luke out, I don't have any new pictures to share. He's becoming an accomplished scooter. He can get anywhere he wants to go and pretty quickly too. We can't wait for school to be out for the summer. Who doesn't love summer?

A word of advice

to you Luke, I know you're excited about eating, I get excited too, but you need to learn to rein it in, otherwise dating will be really embarrassing for you. Love you son.

(The funniest part might actually be how bad I missed getting the puff in his mouth...it's hard to see what you are doing through a camera ok?)

Teacher Appreciation

To recognize Ashby and Avery's teachers for teacher appreciation day, we did some serious cutting and painting. I swear I saw some notepads similar to these somewhere on the internets, but couldn't find it again, so I just did my own thing. We purchased some 3mm birch from the craft store. I then cut six pieces out of the sheet. The girls painted the wood pieces and drew a picture on a pre-cut piece of paper. We used mod podge on the dry pieces to attach their pictures. Then I drilled holes through the wood and paper (I may or may not have drilled a 3/16" hole in the kitchen table...) I then cut and punched holes in regular type paper. Put it all together and ta-da, a customized notepad. We also included a pen with each one. I was pretty happy with how they turned out. I was frustrated at my inability to find very good rings to attach everything together. The ones I used were a little flimsy, but did the job. I hope the teachers liked them; we sure do like the teachers!

Out with the sad and lame, in with the happy and homemade

This is the sad bag that I've carried all my church stuff in. Church stuff comprises of a 3 inch binder, a magazine, a notebook, scriptures, a small hymn book and a lesson manual; obviously not capable of fitting in a cute purse. I was tired of this 13 year old bag. How do I know it's 13 years old? It's the bag they give to missionaries when they enter the MTC. That means Roger's old. Anyway I saw instructions for this new tote and immediately knew it's destiny.

Instructions for this tote can be found here. I had never made anything with piping or a liner so I was a little nervous. It went rather well though, there was never any cursing or wishing doom upon my sewing machine and really that's the measure of success with a sewing project. It brightens my day to take it to church.

I've also figured out the reason for Luke's week long crankiness, his first tooth. Pictures to come when you can do something other than feel it with a finger.