End of Summer Fun

Well however much I wish summer isn't really ending here in Arizona yet, but I thought I would post a few last end of Summer Break happenings.

Brian has been trying to decide what next to do in the back yard and has decided to add an arbor to our fire pit / patio. I am not sure I want the area enclosed, he really want to do it.

What do you all think?

Brian has already started Braxton with driving lessons WHAT!!!

Megan and I have decided to try our hand in beaded watch bands. This is Megans first one and we are patiently waiting for our next shipment of beads to come to make us some Halloween ones.

We have been getting a lot of rain and last Sunday went for a walk and got a wonderful surprise.

This Beautiful rainbow.

And last of all Megan finally lost one of her top loose teeth. They have both been loose since April, and finally we got one out now we just need to work on the other one. We might have to have aunt Beth come for a visit ;)

Back to School Again...

I know it seems like only yesterday we were getting out of school for summer break and now we are back. Every year we have lived here in Arizona the school year beginning date gets earlier and earlier. My greatest fear is that next year we will be starting in July!!!

SOOOOO....

Here is my cute little 2nd grader,

who was totally excited to start school up again:

and my I'm to old for this, hurry quick before other kids see you 6th grader:

Hopefully this will be another awesome year!

V A C A T I O N

Well another summer is almost over, as we are starting up school again on the 4th of August. I thought I had better get our summer vacation posted before I have to go back to work only to discover that half my pictures have been erased. AHHHH, but here is what I was able to salvage of the fun we had:

EFY at SVU

Isn't this the most beautifulest building? I feel in love, but I am a sucker for the old Victorian style. We tried to get to the top room of the highest tower, but it was locked =(.

We had a lot of fun directing EFY this year, it was probably our most favorite year ever. The kids and counselors were so much fun.

We also got to try for the first time FRIED PICKLES, and all I can say is YUMMY!

After EFY we headed to RFL with my family to do a little camping. The kids enjoyed playing in the water every day, unfortunately all the pictures of us playing are gone and all I had left were of us playing in the river.

Then to finish off our 3 1/3 week adventure we spent a few days playing with the Manwaring Clan:

Braxton made 10$ doing a handstand for Grandpa.

Then grandpa taught Braxton to drive the lawn mower. Braxton thought it was all fun, but really Grandpa got his 10$ worth of a fully mowed lawn.

And, little miss I can do everything you can do DID IT TOO! all by herself.

The kids and parents too just enjoyed hanging out with all the family.

We had lots of fun playing with all our family this summer. Thanks everyone for making our Summer Great!

Summer Begins

I thought I would start with May,

since it was a very busy and exciting month for us.

We are blessed to have a new temple that is an hour closer for us to travel.(2hrs. instead of 3) The best part has been that we have been blessed to be a part of its dedication. Brian got to spend a lot of time with the youth in getting ready and putting on the cultural event for the Prophet, then Braxton and I along with Brian all were able to be in the Temple for the dedication. I only wish Megan had been one year older and I would have had my entire family inside the temple together. But we are very excited for this new Temple and the new opportunities it has already brought our family.

For the month of June we have been trying to stay busy so that the wait to go on vacation would go by fast. I decided that by the end of summer I want to have a garage sale to get rid of all the junk cluttering our house. I started with the kids rooms and we have super cleaned and de-cluttered their rooms. In doing so I decided that Megan could really use a new, girly bed so we took her only one, sanded it down, painted it white and added a little girly touch.

She loves the new bed, but now we might have to do the same to the rest of her furniture so that it all matches.

We have also been having our yearly swim lessons and both my kids have really become little fish in the water.

Megans biggest feat this year was jumping off the diving board all by herself.

And, for the first time ever Braxton passed a new level of swimming the first time. His teacher said that he worked very hard. He has really become a great swimmer, I even told him that I would no longer force him to take swimming lessons, but I think that now he enjoys them enough to keep going.

Now we are down to 1 week and the kids will go spend some time with Grandma/pa Williams while Brian and I head to Virgina for EFY. I can't wait!

3rd Ward High Adventure

This week 3rd Ward Young Men went to Sedona. We camped and did day trips around the area we did alot of things from biking, hiking, swimming and caving. Some unscheduled actvities involved dropping tents and a visit from some jedish people. I love being with the Young Men, but I am excited to come home and snuggle with my wife!

FIELD TRIPS

I love this time of year in school because I get to go on Filed Trips!

1st I went with Megan to Colossal Cave.

The Bus Ride:

Getting wind blown in a bus is always the best part!

At the cave entrance:

Inside the Cave:

I think this was the best cave tour I have been on, you really felt like you were caving. We are defiantly going to go back as a family this summer.

Next, Cochise College Science/Math Fair with Braxton:

This is one of the best field trips I have been on. We went to the local community college and went to different mini classes that were hands on for the kids.

We made a cactus:

Played in the Sand:

And learn about conserving water:

Now all the fun Field Trips are over, I guess we will just have to create some more of our own for some extra summer fun.

Easter, Birthday, and Scout Camp

So I have been sitting here all afternoon waiting and waiting for the repairman to come fix my dryer and as I am approaching the 4th hour of waiting, I thought why not up date my poor neglected blog. So here goes . .

EASTER!!!

We had Beth's family here for Easter, so the Easter Bunny was kind enough to give each kid there own color of egg to find. Here is what they woke up to.

The kids looked very hard to find all there eggs. Even Zane got into the action. I think his favorite thing to do was find the kid's bags and grab their eggs.

Next on the agenda was Megan's Birthday. I am sad to admit that not many pictures got taken because mom was not feeling well that day. But, she had a wonderful day which she had planned completely out for us:

It began with presents at a breakfast of crepes, then dinner at Texas Road House, where she had to ride the bull. Then on the weekend she had her best friend sleep over and we ended with a swim at the city pool.

She said it was a great Birthday. I am so glad!

We end with Braxton's 1st overnight scout camp out.

He and his dad had a blast!