Awards Day!

Aubrey got an invitation to attend the 7th Grade Awards Day.  Yes, I said day.  That is why there is no one  in the stands or any teachers there.  Lame, I know.  Anyway, she did know what award she was getting.  So Don and I headed to the school to give our support.  Well she was awarded for having 100% attendance this year.  Here is the funny thing about this award.....she was absent twice the week before because she went to Salt Lake and Provo with us to drop off Zach.  Yes, we just died laughing.  Well, I guess she just made the cut off.

Here is the reason my children always have close to 100% attendance, they don't like doing make-up work and they don't want to miss anything.  Yes, they would rather go to school sick than have to do make-up work.  This is why Aubrey looks so thrilled here.  She didn't want to be at this award ceremony because she didn't want to miss the period of school she was missing.

This is Aubrey and her friend Katie.  If you have read my blog for a while you have seen pictures of Zach's friend Matt.  This is Matt's sister.  Aubrey and her have become good friends.  Unfortunately, Katie is moving back to Utah at the end of the school year.  This does not make Aubrey happy.  Aubrey will always keep in touch with her, that's the kind of girl Aubrey is.  It will be hard to loose a good friend that she has relied on during middle school.  

One Silly Night......

Then night before Zach left for his mission we were in a very silly mood.  He started doing his Emperor Palpatine impression.  At the time we thought it was so funny.  Ian loved it.  He loves when Zach talks about Star Wars.

Saying Good-Bye.

The real reason we were in Salt Lake was to bring Zach to the Missionary Training Center.  It was great to spend some time with him.  I wish Austin was there.  He wanted to go to the Salt Lake Temple and then go out for pizza.  The next day we had a big breakfast and then headed for Provo.  We hung around the BYU campus, saw some art, and got ourselves some BYU fudge.  (Awesome!) 

Then we drove to the Provo Temple to take some pictures.  Oh, Zach loved that!  He loves pictures, NOT!  It was pouring rain, but we still had to get some picture taking in.

Zach was so excited.  He was ready to go.  He kept asking if it was time yet.  Then we drove across the street to the MTC.  Oh my gosh, talk about emotions.  I am so excited for him to serve the people of Russia.  Then again, I am so sad.  I will miss him!  I know he is ready for this.  I am not worried about him.  He will be an incredible missionary.  I am so proud of him.  Too many emotions to handle all at once!  A friend once said that this moment is "brutal-sweet".  I totally get that.  It is just that.  So, here we are at this moment.  It is so quick!  Too quick, but maybe that is good.  We hugged and cried, he didn't shed one tear.  He was so excited.  The best part of the day was when we were driving up to drop him off and Ian said, "Get ready to tuck and roll!"  Then he jumped out of the car and said, "Peace out!"  That same little boy, cried and cried after his big brother was gone.  Then Zach walked off to his new adventure!

My friend Elaine give us this survival kit.  We totally broke it out.  Yes, it's true....chocolate does heal anything even broken hearts.

There are times I sit and think, did I teach him everything?  Did I tell him I love him enough?  Oh the questions I ask myself.  He has a blog going.  I will update it with his letters.  http://elderzeb.blogspot.com/

Salt Lake Trip

We went to Salt Lake to take Zach up to the Missionary Training Center (MTC).  Even though the MTC is in Provo we decided to go to Salt Lake.  Don and Zachery went to the Salt Lake Temple, while Aubrey, Ian, and I went to the Church History Museum and Temple Square. (Unfortunately, Austin couldn't go with us because he had his last day of mandatory lifeguard training to go to.)  We love the Church History Museum. 

My little Mexican dancers!

Temple Square.

Russian Bible and Book Of Mormon

The tulips were so pretty.  They are my favorite flower!

Goofy kids are always fun!

The Temple!

End Of The Year Concert!

Aubrey had her end of the year orchestra concert.  She was so excited.  She did a great job, but she is really looking forward to being on advance orchestra.  The video is not too good.  I don't do good with that.  It does get blurry, and then it is clear.

She is not too happy about me taking a picture.

Here We Go Again!

Funny how you relive things over and over again.  Like Star Wars.  I saw it when I was a kid, went through the craze again with my brothers, and then again with my kids!  It is the same with Harry Potter.  This month Ian's teacher had the class read the first Harry Potter.  This sparked his interest, and so it began!  Ian is reading Harry Potter!  It is fun to see him get so excited!  They are great books!

Blog Book!

The 2010 Blog Book finally came in!!!!  We are so excited.  One day I was working on it and Austin came in and asked when it would be done.  He told me that he loves looking at it.  When it came in, Zach as excited to sit down and see it.  I had know idea they loved it so much.  It makes all the hard work worth it.

Mr. President!

(*I do not mean  to disrespect the office of the President.  This was just a gag gift that was given to us.)

I am not a very talented person, but one thing I can do is grow chia pets.  I know, it's a gift, I can't explain it!  Anyway, Santa gave Zachery an Obama Chia head.  Zachery has great respect for the President, and therefore respects our current President.  When he got this gift he took it to college with him.  His roommates to not share his love for the current President and therefore wouldn't let him grow his Chia head.  When he came home from college, Ian asked him if he could grow it.  Zach said sure, and I was called in for my expertise!  It came out pretty good!

Poor Chia Obama, his hair went wild.  Ian said he looked like Einstein!

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day was busy.  Zach was giving his last talk in our ward before his mission, so we had company.  I did get some wonderful gifts before church.  I got some lotion and a great tennis ball that says, "Love Ian!"  Then Don totally surprised me by getting me new running shoes to run the St. George Marathon.  Yes, I am running the marathon again.  Don never picks our shoes for me, but let me tell you, these shoes are perfect!!!!  I was so impressed.  I have already used them three times, and they are amazing!!!  He did good.  Oh, and Don also got me my favorite dessert.  Red Velvet Bundt Cake!!!!  Oh my heaven!!!  Sacrament meeting was wonderful.  All of the speakers were good!  It was a great day!

Flag Football

Finally Ian got to the game. (Read below about that story!) He got in a little playing time.  Our team has been in last place.  I mean they won one game, but we really thought we were the worse!  We didn't think we would even make the playoffs!  Well, on this cold, windy day a miracle occurred!  They one a game!  Yes, we have won two games this season!  (As I type this I can hear a choir of angel singing!  Just joking!)  So, now that they won this game they made the playoffs!  Can you believe it?  We have more games!  Ian is so excited.  O.k., lets face it......we all know what will happen this weekend.

I took a picture of the score!  You have to enjoy it while you can!

Father and Son's Camp Out

Ian was so excited for this camp out.  Unfortunately, the wind was horrible and it was so cold.  This is how it is in Vegas.  The weather is up and down during the spring.  It is horrible.  Don and Ian decided to head out and brave the elements.  The older boys had other plans.  They had a good night.  There wasn't much of a turnout, but they had fun.  The next day Ian had a football game.  They had to be at the game by 8:30 am.  I went to meet them at the game.  8:30 am came and went, no Ian or Don.  I thought maybe they woke up late.  9:00 am came, and no Don and Ian.  By half time, I started to worry.  Finally they showed up during halftime and Don told me that the tire on the SUV blew out!  He was stuck on a gravel road and had such a hard time changing it!  Some guys even stopped by to help him.  Once he got that done he tried to get Ian to the game.  Thank heavens they weren't on a highway when the tire blew!  Poor Don, he looked so tired from not getting a good night sleep in the the wind and cold.  Then he looked frustrated with the whole tire and things.  It was quite an interesting father and son camp out.