A little bit of Gloating

As I have looked back at this past year, I noticed a trend, and this trend is going to be very hard to keep the momentum going upward.  Not so much for myself, but it's my kids.  They will need to be the President of the US to outdo what my nieces and nephews are now accomplishing.

Here is a quick rundown ----

Kelsey has been the lead in I don't even know how many plays at UVU, including Charlotte's Web, and has only one more year to finish her Bachelors.

Linsey graduated from Salem Hills HS last year Valedictorian and received a full tuition, everything paid scholarship to Utah State.  (Go Aggies!!!)

Jaclyn was just crowned Miss Hinckley and I am sure she is in for a year full of incredible, life changing experiences that come along with this prestigious title.

Jace has just received an awesome, full tuition academic scholarship to UVU and is trying to figure out his next business move that will be right for him.

Josh was voted in as Studentbody President in Fillmore.

Devron, aside from breaking every girls heart in Delta, was just voted in as the Studentbody Vice President.

Jake won 1st place in the Science Fair in their school and went to regions where he took 1st there as well.

Jeremy is busy being the best looking guy everyone wants in the whole state of Minnesota!!!

In addition to what has already been mentioned, each one of the boys have become Eagle Scouts and are now officially part of the Eagle's Nest!!!

Congratulations to all of you guys (and gals) on your accomplishments over the past year.  My kids have big shoes to fill, and I hope they can learn from your examples.  Thank you for being the role models that everyone can be proud of.  We love all of you guys and are so happy to be part of your family!!!

Happy # 6 to my Sweet, Sweet Bella!!!!!

Caution: Picture Overload!!!!

Today is a very special day for Bella.  It was 6 years ago today that I went into labor in K-Mart while trying to buy packing tape so I could box up my kitchen and move in 3 days!!!  My water broke and I was right by the tape, so, I still needed the tape and I picked up a Twix while I was there.  When I got home, I called Jeff to come home from work, and while I was on the phone, I needed to still hook up the water, power and gas at our new home, so I made a few more calls.  When we finally made it to the hospital, I was in labor about an hour longer and I had this beautiful baby girl.  

I never knew red heads were so popular.  Everywhere I go, I get comments on their hair, "Do they have a personality to match their hair?"  My response -- "YES"

Bella, you have been such a blessing to our family!!!  We love you so much and are so proud of the things you do.  We hope you never lose your zeal for life and are able to always make people happy around you.  You are a very special girl and have blessed the lives of everyone that knows you!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET, SWEET BELLA!!!

What makes a kid happy???

What would it be like to be this content with the simple things in life?

My Baby Boy!!!

HOLY COW!!!!!  Where has all the time gone?

This is my baby boy who is growing up.  I can't believe how big my kids are getting.

Compliments of Grandpa and Grandma Kendall, Ryan received his first suit.  He has been begging us for one, and I just couldn't justify it because he is growing too stinkin' fast for me to keep up with.  Grandma decided that since he was asking for one, we better oblige since the time is most likely to come when he will not want to wear a suit.

Doesn't he look handsome!!!!!!!

I LOVE this kid.

Dance Competition

Let the competitions begin!!!

Last Saturday, we had our first competition for our little girls.  Crazy!!!!!  Anyway, it was really fun and they both had a lot of fun.  I have definitely got two budding stars that really enjoy dancing.

"6 Little Ducks"

"Rockin' Robin"

"April Showers"

"Under The Sea"

I just liked the concentration on Ali's face.  

I really am enjoying this part of the whole parenting thing though.  I think this is kind of the icing on the cake.  I LOVE watching my kids get involved in these things and enjoy what they are doing.

Bike Rides and Picnics

A couple weeks ago, on the ONLY decent day until yesterday, the girls and I decided we had better go on a little bike/scooter ride and have a picnic in the park.  I just LOVE days like this.

Here we are, trying to get all of us in the picture --

After we were finished, Bella told me that we should do this everyday.  My response -- Um, let me think about that for a minute, oh wait, the answer didn't need a minute to come to me, uh -- no, that won't happen.  BUT, it was very fun, and if I were a good mom who was very, very, very devoted to making my kids 100% happy all the time, I just might do something like that, but I'm not, so I won't.

Easter Vacation

Over Easter, we took a trip down to the great town of DELTA!!!!  If you have never been there, you might consider yourself lucky, but for the few of us who come from there, we might disagree.  Every time I go down those lonely roads, I have a whole bunch of memories come flooding back to my mind.  I could really get started on some reminiscing, but I will leave that to a separate post ;-)

This Easter was really no different that most in the past, the dreaded chore of coloring the eggs, getting disgustingly sick on candy, going to the egg hunt in town, and only coming home with not a lot more than what we went there with, you gotta hit Quality and their grocery give away, only to be slided with that one, paying a quarter for cotton candy that everyone finds absolutely disgusting, each of the kids getting a helium balloon that only causes problems once we get back home, and of course, the horrible, rotten, never good weather that is almost a certain fixture come Easter!!!!

Since we usually go to the sand hills (come hail or high water none-the-less) and roll the easter eggs down the hill and get the ever uncomfortable sand in our eyes, and freeze our little keesters off, and end with a wiener roast, where the main ingredient on our buns is sand, we actually decided to buck that idea (since there was a coating of snow all over when we woke up that morning) and stay in the nice home, protected from the elements, and still have a wiener roast,

just in Mom and Dad's fireplace.  I think we are all converted to this kind of a get up come Easter.  We have been spoiled and now we can never go back to the way things have been for my entire life and longer.

As you can see in the back ground, there was lots of basketball, conference, and of course doing Grandpa's hair just as pretty as possible.

The kids played lots of card games and Back Gammon.

Then, Easter morning, we were able to find our "baskets" and the hidden eggs all over the living room.  However, I do believe we could not find one of the eggs!!!  UH-OH :-(  Grandpa and Grandma are not going to be very pleased in a few more days.  I really hope they will forgive us.

Grandpa made his famous pancakes with an endless plate of bacon and sausage, YUMMY!!!

And, of course, ice cream and whipped cream on the top.

Can I just say, we LOVE going to Grandpa and Grandma's house.  Thanks Mom and Dad for all you do for us.  We sure do love you!!!