Trying to catch up June and most of July

It's been such a long time since I've blogged I would like to catch up on at least the high lights.  Maybe I'll get done before Christmas.  Ha ha ha.  Or should I say HO, HO, HO.

Al's a Winner!

In June Al received 2nd place in a Business Concept competition he entered for Tooele County.  We were invited to a special lunch where they awarded him there.  He received a plaque and some money.  Wu Hoo!  Way to go Al!

Merilee and Mark are sealed

 On June 9th I was able to go down to Las Vegas with my mom and sister to be a part of Merilee and Marks sealing.  It was so neat to be there with them and share that special day with them.  

 For the 4th of July we tried to find somewhere to go watch fireworks.  We found out they were doing some at the Deseret Peak after a rodeo they were doing.  We decided to tailgate it for this one.  The fireworks weren't that great but we had fun.

Scout Camps

Sam at Maple Dale.  Trying to stay cool.

Ammon's 1st scout camp

Sam went to Maple Dale for Scout camp this year.  Al went with him and said he wouldn't go there again.  Sam had fun, but dad not so much.  Al also went with Ammon on his 1st scout camp trip.  It was here in Tooele.  It was only one night and not so bad.

Swim Lessons

Bella

Joshy

Sam

We gave the kids swim lessons this summer.  Ammon took them too, but I didn't get a picture.  It was fun to see them all improve so much over the summer.  Sam was even able to pass off his swim requirement for scouts.  Yeah!

Matt and Evelyn's Reception

In July we had a wedding reception for Matt and Evelyn.  They had it at the Sky room on BYU campus.  It was a very nice reception. 

Matt & Evelyn dancing

Girls being silly & Gideon thinking they are crazy.

Keeping busy and oh so cute.

Joshy and Holland

Gideon and Alexandra loved playing with each other.

Ammon loved his job

Daddy daughter dancing!

Pretty in Pink

Family Camp out

 

We had a fun and adventurous camping trip with the Sharp side of the family.  It was raining off and on the whole time, but it was nice to be with family in all kinds of whether.  We even got a very wet, and for some muddy, hiking trip.  I think it was quite memorable and a great bonding experience.

Ammon's arrow of light and B-day party

In June we celebrated Ammon getting his arrow of light and his Birthday party.  This ward went all out for his Arrow of Light and got a guy to come to the ceremony.  He did a good job.  He earned it with 2 others in his den.

Ammon crossing over.

I'm proud of Ammon for persisting and getting his Arrow.  It is the highest honor to receive in Cub Scouts.  Way to go Ammon!

We had Ammon's birthday party June 30th.  I decided to combine the family and friend party for him.  I decided it was too much work to do two parties.  I liked doing it this way, but it was a little crazy.  Next time I'll plan for more time.
He had a dress up Star Wars party.  He dressed up as Han Solo, his favorite, and it was fun to see how others dressed up.

Han Solo

Luke

Darth Vader

Obi  Wan Kenobi

 Padme

Jedi

Princess Leia

Anakin

Princess Leia

I even had to get in on the fun.

playing a game Ammon learned at school.

blowing out his 11 tricky candles.

Ammon had some friends come all the way from West Jordan.  He was way excited to see them!  It was a lot of fun.

Life is constantly changing

Kids showing some dance moves

May 25th my was my kids last day of school.  There seemed to be something going on every day of their last week.  My favorite was a dance festival.  It's their school's tradition to every year have a dance festival.  All the grades participate and they learn then perform their dance.  Sam did a footloose dance, Ammon did an 80's mix (where he got his own part and did the robot), and Bella did a fun Disney song.  I was cheering and hooting.  It was so much fun to watch them get up and get their groove on.

The last day of school they had a 6th grade promotion.  It was a fun little graduation like program they do for the 6th graders here.  I don't think Sam was all that into it since he just started at this school in Mar., but it was still fun to go to.  It made me realize how big and fast my Sam is growing up.  I have to admit I don't want him to get older, but it is life.  Now he will be going into Jr. High which makes me very nervous.

Sam just got his "Diploma"

So this past week has been constantly changing.  Other than my kids being out of school, Al got a great opportunity to buy a pizza place.

He was so excited for the opportunity.  He has so many ideas he wanted to implement and make this a great resturant.  He quit his job on Tues. so he can prepare and get ready to take over.  Everything was going good.  Then on Fri. the owner of the building told him that the owner of the pizza place was giving him all the equipment in place of rent since they were 3mo. behind.  Now Al finds out that they were in dept. and that all the assets he thought he would be buying as part of the deal weren't going to be part of the deal.  So basically what Al would be buying is a name, a bunch of recipes, and a quick training.  After praying, and taking it to the Lord, we both decided we weren't supposed to buy the business.  Al was crushed, and it was very difficult for both of us to walk away from.  But we both felt that we were being led by the spirit.  So at the beginning of the week we were buying a pizza place.  Now we aren't.  Life changes so quickly.  It has been such a roller coaster ride of events and emotions this past week.  I'm just glad it's over.  Now the mystery is what to do next.  I feel that God has closed this door, but that another one will open. 
 

A little of this, a little of that. Part 2

At the end of March the kids had to leave their school at Entheos.  This is Sam and Ammon's classes just before we had to leave.  We were sad to leave and it was a hard thing for the kids to do.  We loved Entheos!  Their last day was a discovery recital.  I promised the kids that we would stay till then.  I don't have pictures because they didn't turn out.  Bella did dancing like a star, Ammon did improve comedy, and Sam's class wrote and put on a play.  I love the discovery program and it is what I and the kids will miss the most.  It was a sad day, and we miss the school.  The kids did o.k. adjusting to their new school.  It is actually a good school and some of them have already made new friends.  They end earlier, so that is a plus for my kids.

This is a candid picture I love, that Al took at our old ward house.  I want to print it and hang it.  To me it's like saying, "don't look back, just look forward to the future with faith.  You will have others there to help you".  Or, "families can be together for ever."  I love it, and am grateful Al thought to take out his phone and capture it.

Gideon is now walking and doing quite good at it now.  He started about 14mo.  Here is a video of him walking.

Here's my little sunflower.  Joshy was able to take a prekindergarten class they off for free here in Tooele.  It is a 6 week course that helps them get ready for kindergarten.  He is done now but it gave him something to look forward to.  This is something he made his first day. 

Our new garage door!  We were glad to get this finally as we were not able to open and shut our garage door.  The sad thing is that it would have been a lot cheaper had I not accidently run into it.  I thought I put the car in park, and I turned to look at the kids or something, and the van slowly ran into the garage.  I didn't even realize it was moving till I heard a loud crunch.  Oh Man!  I was soooo upset!  Oh well now it's fixed and it's so exciting to have a garage door that goes up and down with the touch of a button.  We have never had that our whole married life.  The little things we get excited over.

One last thing I would like to add is that Al and I just celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary.  There have been some ups and downs.  But over all it has been great!  I love you Al!  We have been blessed with 5 wonderful children, and we have always been taken care of by a loving Heavenly Father.  It hasn't been easy, at times we have really had to work at it, but that is what makes us grow and love each other even more.

a little of this, alittle of that. Part 1

So I found my camara again!  Yes it was missing for abt. 2 months.  Ammon found it in his closet.  Don't ask why it was there, because nobody knows.  It was fun to see pictures on there from Christmas, Gideon's birthday and discovery recitals.  Oh the fun of pictures.  Now I need to find an inexpencive way to print some of them.  I haven't print hardly any pictures for the past 6 years.  Lately it's made me kinda sad to think that I just can't go to an album and flip through my pictures.  I have to go my computer and turn it on and go to a certain file to look at my pictures.  To even just print the important ones to me would cost a fortune at this point.  Dose anyone know of an easy inexpensive way to have pictures print?  Any suggestions?

Al went all out and bought a bunch of baseball equipment with his birthday money.  He as been teaching the boys some techniques this spring.  They have all enjoyed the bonding experience.  Even Gideon loves to get in on the action.


It was fun to do Easter at our new house.  We hid the eggs Sat. morning.  I had so much fun hiding the eggs in our house because there were so many options.  The kids had fun looking for them.  Gideon found one egg, and once he realized there was candy in it, that was it.  He just wanted to sit and eat the candy.  Later that day we went to Manda's for dinner and Matt & Evelyn's unafficial wedding.  Manda helped us make windsockets, Marnie helped us make homemade tulips using the kids hands, and I did an Easter lesson.  It was so much fun spending time with family.

I don't know what happened to the video.  But it's all the kids and Grandma running around blowing their homemade windsockets.

Like I said, we had a short ceremony for Matt and Evelyn after the Easter dinner.  It was short, but nice. Melodee led us in a song, Al gave a prayer, Mom gave a talk about going to the temple, then Matt's old bishop and boss married them, and it was done.