Track Update

The time has come....track season is over. There are still regionals and state, but not for Zachery. Yesterday was his last meet. He did pretty good. Palo Verde won, but Centennial beat Spring Mountain. This season was really good for Zach. Last year at the end of the season he had injuries and was just burned out. This year he didn't have any injuries and felt good at the end of the season. He was tired, but not as bad as last year. Now, he is still training with the track team (those who qualified). He says he wants to stay in shape for cross country. I don't blame him, it is more fun to run in a group setting. They ended the regular season with 9 wins and one loss.

More Prom

These are pictures taken by our friend Alex Dietrick! He did a great job. Better than me! These are just a few of them.

Random Stuff

Every Sunday the kids take turns cooking the dessert for family home evening the next day. It was Ian's turn this week. At first he wanted to make lemon bars, but then last night he decided he wanted to make cake. Lucky for me, I had a cake mix ready to go. So we made the cake, frosted it, and then came time for Ian to put the sprinkles on. I told him to make sure he put them all over the cake. The whole family just happened to be in the kitchen during this. Ian just took all the sprinkles and, well, you can see for yourself...........

Uh, yah!

Also, Don and Aubrey went to Knott's Berry Farms this weekend. Don had to go with his school so he took Aubrey with him. On Friday they had to go to the choir and band competition. As they sat there, they felt a rumbling. At first they thought it was a bunch of kids stamping their feet on the floor, but no. They were in the middle of an earthquake. No one even left the building. No big deal for the natives of California. They said they have been having a lot of them lately.

Prom!

Nobody warns you about that moment. When I was subbing this week a teacher told me about how her son didn't go to any of his proms, and at first she was o.k. with it, at first. Now, she told me, she regrets it. She never had that picture or that moment when her son was all dressed up going to the prom. I sat there and listened to her and thought, it's just prom. Then it happened to me, Zach walked out of the bathroom with is tie in hand and asked me to help him put it on. That was the moment! He looked so handsome! I was so excited for him! The boys planned this forever. At times I didn't think it was going to come together. (I think Elaine would agree!) Then it did. It was fun to see the kids all dressed up, girls in pretty gowns and the boys trying to match their date's dress. It was really neat to see. This morning they played human Mario Cart. They loved it. I wondered if this was for the guys or the girls, but I saw on Facebook and heard that the girls loved it! Now they are at dinner at a restaurant at the Red Rock. They will then go to the dance, and then to Blue Man Group! I am sure they are going to have fun. These are some of the pictures I took. Better ones are on the way.

Zach is in the back row to the left.

Zach is second from the left.
The girls!

The boys! I wonder where Trey is???? Oh there he is, the only one in white!

Goofy shot!

Zach and his date Nicole.

Nicole knows all about the blog, so she had Zach take a picture or her and me. She wanted this picture in the blog. Josh joined in. I don't like pictures of myself!

Track Update

Yesterday was the track meet with Cimarron (the school Don taught at for years) and Cheyenne. It was a warm day, but Centennial won again. Zach didn't say too much about this meet. He was pretty sleepy when he came in last night. I know he ran the 1600 and 3200. That is all I know about that meet.

Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day. Aubrey and Ian's school put on an Earth Day celebration, so I went and watched them sing their songs. It was so cute. I just loved it. Zachery's high school is having a battery exchange. At first he told me that he was bringing in his 15 batteries to be exchanged and wearing green, so he could get the extra credit points his teachers were offering. Then last night he told me that Brother Basset (his seminary teacher) told them that they should want to take care of the earth because this earth is a gift to us from Heavenly Father and we are stewards over the earth. (Something like that.) Now Zach says, that earth day is cool! We do recycle and we always try to conserve water. (Living in Las Vegas, water is a huge concern!) We are always trying to do our part!

Here is Ian's class singing.

Aubrey's class sang Jack Johnson's song "Three R's" It sounded great! I still think some dance moves would of been sweet! I just noticed the upside down sign. That explains all the giggling!

Academic Letter

The end of the year activities have begun! Yes, there are only 6 more weeks of school, 5 more if you don't count finals. Now is when things get crazy around here. Award ceremonies, recitals, concerts, class trips, track, AP exams, Prom, finals, and more will fill our weeks for the next 6 weeks. Not only do I have to deal with the kid's school, but I have Don's school to deal with. Zachery kicked things off yesterday. He had his academic letter ceremony. He got his second one, so he received a pin for his letter. I guess they get this for maintaining a 3.5 average. His GPA is higher, but we are so proud of him. He works really hard. The first picture is of him and the Principal, Mr Day. Obviously it is a casual event. It is held during in school and some of the recipients didn't even go because they were in calculus or anatomy and they didn't want to miss class. Zachery said hi to me, grabbed a donut, and ran off to AP English. That goes to show you how dedicated these kids are. Congrats Zachery, we are so proud of you!

Flag Football Update

It was a beautiful day in Vegas yesterday! A perfect day to watch some football. Austin did have a game, but he didn't go to it because he had Youth Conference. His team lost. Ian had a game in the afternoon. Unfortunately they lost too. It has been a rough season. I don't think Ian really realizes it. He is just happy to be out there playing. Even at the end of the game he said, "All that matters is that I play good and have fun!" I love this age. Ian did have a really good play! It is hard to put it into words, but when he got this kid's flag it was amazing. We really didn't think he had it, but he did! He was proud of that!

Lucky for Aubrey, she made a little friend while at the game!

Zach's Birthday

So Zach, you just turned 17, what are you going to do?????? Go and run a track meet. That's right, Zachery spent his birthday running a track meet and then recovering. O.k., there was a new episode of "The Office" on. Anyway, here are some pictures at the meet. Check out Zachery's friends. I just love these kids!!!! I just want my family (The Schulte's) to forgive Josh. He is from Boston. Ian's lips are not chapped, he just drank some juice! Oh and Matt, great face!

Casey was home from BYU-Idaho!!!! I am sure he was excited to see her and Rachel at the meet!
Aubrey and Ian cheering Zach on.

Zachery had a great meet. CHS won, beating Mojave and Meadows. He ran the 1600 and came in 5th with a time of 5:18. He is so frustrated. He just can't break that time! I think he did great. In the 3200 he came in 4th. He did great!

5th Grade Track Meet

Every year the 5th graders from different elementary schools go to a local high school and compete in a track meet. This year was Aubrey's turn. Usually, it is always hot on the day of the track meet. Most of the kids come home hot, dehydrated, and sunburned! Well, not this year. See the red blanket???? Yah that's right it was cold and miserable! The wind was horrible. No, I am not talking 70 degrees is cold for us. I mean it was cold. Snow on the mountains and everything. Poor kids. I don't know what is better, being hot or cold? You know it is bad when the people working the snack bar are running out to go and get hot chocolate! Anyway, Aubrey did have fun. She got one second place, two third places, and one sixth. She did the best in the jumping events. Deep down she is a distance runner!

Happy Birthday Zachery!

Yes, Zachery is 17 years old! Crazy. Where does the time go? At one time my friend Jen was getting ready to send her son on a mission (He comes home real soon, like weeks.) and she warned me! She said, once the kids hit high school, time goes by so fast. Boy was she right! I can remember giving birth to Zachery like it was yesterday, and no, not because it was 28 hours or because I was in pain. (Let us all thank Heavenly Father for the creation of epidurals!!!) Time is going by fast, and I am trying to enjoy every minute. In a year, he will be off to college then a mission. One thing is for sure, Zachery is a great kid. We love him very much. We celebrated his birthday yesterday because he has a track meet today and Aubrey has dance. We had chocolate cake and he got a new iPod! Austin took most of these pictures, and let me tell ya, he did a great job! Thanks Austin. Zachery truly lets his goofy, silly side out when Austin is behind the camera! I love it!

17 Things We Love About Zachery

1. His strong testimony of the gospel.

2. How he loves his family.

3. His sense of humor.

4. The knowledge he has of the scriptures.

5. We love that he loves gaining more knowledge.

6. His love of airplanes.

7. He is always a loyal friend.

8. His sweet dance moves.

9. His creativity.

10. His two blogs.

11. Taste in music.

12. How good he does in school.

13. He never gives up!

14. Works hard.

15. How he can quote almost every line from "The Office."

16. No matter how old he is, he still loves the "Star Wars" movies. (Yes someday you will get

the "force".)

17. There are a ton of other things we could add, but basically we love you and we are so

grateful you are a member of our family!

Just Because....

He came home with some roses last night!

Me: Wow, what's up? (Thinking to myself.....What is going on? What happened?)

Him: Nothing, I got them......just because!

Sometimes a girl needs a little "just because." Thank you Don, I love you!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone! It was a great day. First the kids woke up to find their Easter Baskets!

They look a little sleepy.

Then they headed out to the back yard to find their Easter Eggs.

Is Zachery excited, cold, or are his feet hurting from the rocks???

Aubrey was not happy that an egg was hidden in the palm.

Where is Austin's head?

Such Vegas kids!!!! Aubrey was freezing!

Zach avoiding the rocks.

All done. Ian so so excited that he got the most eggs. The teenage boys were just cold and didn't want to step on the wet grass or the cold rocks!

Getting the candy out.

Yummy! Candy!

Here are their Sunday clothes.

Their fun picture!

It was a great Easter. We went to church and it was fast Sunday for us. So all of this candy you see could only be eaten after the fast. Ian could eat it, but the rest of us chose not to. We were fasting for a friend of Zach's who is battling cancer. Don and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate Easter. It was so wonderful to hear members of our ward testify of Christ. It really made us focus on the true meaning of Easter, the atonement. Then we came home to watch the videos the Easter Bunny gave us, Bolt and Bedtime Stories. After that we enjoyed a great Easter dinner. It was a great day!