Friday, August 14, 2009

Tiffani has her First Fender Bender!

The last day of school, Tiffani and a few of her friends were going to lunch when a guy ran into her. It made me so happy that she was driving the suburban. ( not happy that she was hit) Happy that she was in this big, sturdy, strong car! When she called me she said, "Everything is okay I have exchanged insurance information and I am driving over to the tire store right here to have the tire looked at." I tell her that I will be right there, she says no need mom I am good. I'll see you when I get home. Why do they have to grown up and not need us any more?

She also informs me that his car looks bad!! Once again I am so happy that she was driving the bus (as we call it). I know that she wasn't happy when the Honda died and we told her that her new car would be the suburban.....but I am so happy that she was driving the suburban. Happy that she was safe and that no one was hurt.

Here area some pictures of the damage that was done to the suburban.





Friday, August 7, 2009

Courtney gets her Braces off and goes to Girl's Camp!

Courtney was super excited to get her braces off, she was hoping that it would happen before school got out but it happened five days later. She had a beautiful smile before now it is a gorgeous smile.



Girl's Camp:
Courtney didn't want to go again and then decides that she would give camp one more try as it was going to be in a new place.

The theme: B.O.O.T Camp: Building Our Own Testimonies.
(Some of this text comes from one of the leader that went up with the girls...I figured since she was there her words were better then mine and Courtney wouldn't help me.)

They went to a ranch this year out in East Texas. They stayed in cabins, which Courtney tells me they were old, worn, and disgusting! They were little wood shacks with about 8 bunk beds along the outside walls, with mattresses that were so old they were falling apart. Some of them even had bugs inside them!

Courtney was calling me about every hour asking me to come and get her....I said, "You will be okay...it is good for you. Try and make the most of it, have a happy attitude and then finally don't be a spoiled brat. Oh and stop calling me, weren't you supposed to leave your cell phone at home?" I guess I was starting to get a little frustrated with her.

There was lots of things they could do such as: archery, going on hikes, playing in the lake, canoeing, eating, and R&R (reading & reflection). She got to serve a meal, help prepare the food, had there was even a shaving cream fight!

She also had many testimony building experiences that she will never forget! One of these was about a very powerful night. A tornado warning had been issued, the girls all had to ran to the 'shelter' (a huge steel framed cabin on the lake...with JUST steel frames...not sturdy walls). All the girls huddled together in 2 big rooms crying, hugging close together and singing. At one point the Sheriff told them that this was very serious and that the tornado was coming right for them.....ALL the girls started singing "I know that my Redeemer Lives' very quietly, but very powerful! The stake President just stood, along with the leaders and sang quietly, we then sang "I am a child of God".....Then Pres Dotter offered a prayer and the storm HIT....for about 20 min the walls shook, the lights swung, the thunder and lightening crashed so loud and it rained in sheets!.....then, it was gone! All were OK! Later that night they learned that the storm that had them in it's direct path had parted and gone all around them, but not through. All were safe due to the power of the amazing priesthood, the power of prayer, and the righteous young women who were where they were supposed to be serving their Heavenly Father!

So, despite the stifling heat and bugs and cabins and toilets, she had amazing food, fun and crazy leaders that made camp awesome! I asked her if she would go back again...she said she is done with camp...I asked if she would go one more year so Ashley would have a big sister there like Tiffani was there for her for her first year. She said she would think about it.




Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Courtney has an end of the school party!

Courtney invited a few friends over for a night of pizza, games, swimming and watching a scary movie. Courtney has always hated scary movies until now...I wonder what it is with girls, scary movies and boys. (uhmmmmm?!)

Here are some pictures of the group swimming, funny how all the girls stay together. I wish I would have gotten pictures of the girls screaming during the movie.

The cute little girls having fun!

End of the Year School Parties!

Kylie class had a game day. First they signed each others visors then they played with this huge beach ball. They would hit it back and forth over a volleyball net. They had a water ball fight, ate some snacks, then it was time to go home...until August 24, 2009.


Getting autographs on their visors.

Kylie and her good friend Caroline.


Kylie all wet.

Kylie with her teacher: Ms. Rosa:

This was Ashley's last year of school parties. She will start middle school in the fall, I can't believe it they grow up so fast. For their 5th grade graduation party they went to a party place that had bouncy things, laser tag, video games, a dance area and pizza. They had a great time.


Going through the bounce things.

Ashley and some of her friends.

Ashley with her teacher, Ms. Milner:

Monday, August 3, 2009

Memorial Day Weekend

I can't believe how behind I am.....story of my life!!
We had a such a great time hanging out with friends at their pool, eating hamburgers and playing with babies. The girls were in heaven! Here are a few pictures of the day, not too many of us swimming as the girls just wanted to hold those adorable babies.




Courtney holding Kyle.



Nate jumping into the water.

Cutie Carli!!!

Cute Hallie!

Liz and Josh with Hallie


Later that day we went over to our friends that live in Aubrey, we went swimming and had a BBQ it was a great day with friends.



A New Trampoline!


The old trampoline was falling apart...the girls really love it so we decided to replace it. It is a lot of work as we have a sloped yard and the dirt here is like clay. The dirt is very hard to work with. It took Mike most of the day to get the trampoline even. He was very appreciative of his little helpers.



After they got done it started to rain.....

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Working in the Flower Garden and bunnies

I am so thankful for Mike and his love of taking care of our yard! He loves to make our yard look beautiful and he even has a few daughters that want to help him. Thanks Mike for all you do and girls for helping your dad.







A couple of days later Mike and Ashley are working in the backyard, planting a few more trees and flowers when Mike hit something with the rake, first he thought it was a baby mouse but then realized it was a baby bunny and that their was a nest of baby bunnies. The girls thought they were cute and have loved watching them change every day...then they got big enough to leave and haven't come back...sad for them, yea for us as they like to eat the flowers.



The trees that Mike planted all along the fence.
Most of these trees will bloom flowers in the summer months.
Mike has really wanted a palm tree so he got one hopefully it wont die.


Look at those baby bunnies.
Why do we think that baby animals are so cute...
even when some of them can grow up to be a nuisance?!



A couple of days later: