Our Own Photo Shoot

While we were in Manti we drove past this old, beautiful, rustic museum. We stopped and took a few pictures...

And a couple of funny ones...

We had a great time while we were gone!!

Nick and the Lamanite!

This picture makes me laugh! Before the pageant starts a few of the cast members walk around talking to everyone waiting on the lawn. This lamanite guy was funny taking pictures so we took one of Nick with him!

Quick Get Away

We have talked about going down to Manti to the Mormon Miracle Pageant for the past few years and this year decided to do it. By the time we called all the hotel rooms were booked but we found a campsite that is located right next to the temple, has a pool, etc. and decided to try it out. We left yesterday about noon and we were there by 2pm.

We arrived, got set up, hung out a little and decided to head into Manti. We wanted to get there early enough to get a good spot to watch and to find a parking spot!! Even though we were there on a Wednesday it was still crazy busy. We put our blankets on our chairs and headed over to some shade to wait the time out. It was HOT!! The weather has been so cool at home that the whopping 95 degrees was as shock! Luckily shade made all the difference!

We traded time between walking around, people watching - always my favorite =) - eating dinner and more people watching. At about 9:15 we went over to our chairs and watched the pageant. It is performed on the hillside by the temple and I think it must be hard to run all around on that hill! It was beautiful and wonderful and we loved it.

Here are a few pictures...

Love This!!!!!

Here's the cover for the New Moon edition for the movie tie-in. So awesome!!!!!

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day to the dads in our lives!! We actually went over to the J's yesterday and had a yummy dinner but I forgot to bring our camera!! So here are pictures from the past, I hope you all had a wonderful day!!

Dan...

Phil, my dad and Grandaddy...

Fran, Dan's dad and Grandpa Fran...

We love you all so much!!

U of U Football Camp

Nick and Dan started football camp up at the Uof U today. Nick attends as a camper and Dan gets to go and be a helper coach. It's a great opportunity for him because he gets to work with the U of U football coaches and learn from them. Brandon and I went up at the end to watch the scrimmages and I took a few pictures.


For those of you who are Utah football fans you'll recognize the coach in the red shirt - Morgan Scalley - he played for the U a few years ago and now works there as the coach for the safeties. Camp runs through Saturday and I'll get more pictures and add them tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Nick!!

Nick has had a really fun 11th birthday and its not done yet! Brandon took him out to breakfast this morning and then to PetSmart to buy a few things for his fish tank. This afternoon when Dan got home he opened his presents, then his Grandma Judy and Grandpa Fran stopped by to say hello and give him their gift. He has had phone calls and texts from Grandma and Granddaddy in Atlanta and Uncle Jeffrey.

Here is picture of Nick with the sign the primary puts in all the primary children's yards on their birthday. This is the last time Nick will get the sign! Next year he turns twelve and moves onto young men's!

Now Nick and Dan are having a Halo battle and then we are going to Chili's for dinner - Nick's choice. Later it will be cake and candles and hooking up the xbox live. Next week will be his birthday party for Nick and 20 of his friends! The party rolls on!!!

We love you Nick!!

Pioneer Trek - Part II

Brandon's back from trek and had a WONDEFUL time! He truly should have been a pioneer! We have always know he was super tough but he didn't just endure and survive trek - the thrived on it! Dan and I were so proud of him - we lost track of the number of adults that were on trek that came up to us and praised Brandon for all his hard work, his wonderful attitude and all the extra help above and beyond that he put in.

A quick overview for those who don't know exactly what Pioneer Trek is. Every four years our stake goes up in Wyoming to re-enact what the handcart pioneers who came across the plains had to go through. Most stakes out here do this. It is only done every 4 years because it is such a huge undertaking!! The youth age 14 and older along with adult leaders spend 4 days and 3 nights on the trail. They are put in families with a Ma/Pa, an aunt/uncle and several children including dolls to represent babies. They have to dress as the pioneers dressed (including bonnets, skirts and pantaloons for the girls!) They only get to bring specific items that fit in a 6 gallon white bucket. They then live the life the pioneers lived walking the trail pulling handcarts with several significant occurances included (Mormon Battalion, Women's Pull, having family members "die" and have to walk behind, having the "babies" die and have to leave them behind) plus fun camp life at night - dances, games, etc.

Brandon was up EARLY (I did ask to make sure they were talking about our Brandon on this one) each morning to help the cooking crew make breakfast, pulled the cart more than his fair share, helped his "family" get into what they were doing and looked out for each and everyone there!! He said he wished they could have gone an extra week! It is so great to know how wonderful your child is but then to have others tell you (especially when they are away from you) is one of those wonderful payoff parent moments.

Here are a bunch of pictures from trek. I know I mentioned how hard it rained at home and we were all worried about the weather up in Wyoming. Well, they were watched over and only had rain a few brief times and even then mostly as they were already in their tents. Such a wonderful blessing! They came home tired, sunburned and so happy from the wonderful experience of not only experiencing a small piece of what the Mormon Handcar Pioneers went through coming across the plains but also they learned what they are each capable of both mentally and physically.

Brandon the pioneer boy...
The group getting ready to start...Walking on the trail with their handcart...A few of the boys taking a brief swim in COLD water... "Ma" cleaning up after dinner... The men "leaving" to represent what happened when the Mormon Battalion had to leave the women on the trail to go help with the US/Mexican War, such a hardship!! The "Women's Pull" showing how they had to work even harder to keep going once the men had to leave... Brandon, "Pa" and some of his "sisters" from his trek family... Brandon and his real-life cousin Jamie. Their trek families camped, ate, etc. together and had a wonderful time together. It was wonderful for Jamie and Brandon to do this together along with Jared - Jamie's brother and Brandon's cousin who was in another family...Now Brandon has to speak in sacrament Sunday on his experience, focusing on the trials at Rocky Ridge and during the Women's Pull. Just before they had to climb Rocky Ridge (one of the hardest parts for the original pioneers) several of the handcart company "died" - including Brandon - and he said it was so hard watching his family have to keep going and work even harder to make up for him. Having to follow behind his family and not help was extremely difficult for Brandon. We are so proud of him!!!

They made it!!! This is Brandon and Jamie's two families together at the end!

Pioneer Trek

Brandon and the rest of the youth from our stake (120 teenagers) and leaders (100 adults) are up in Wyoming on Pioneer Trek right now. What a great experience! I just hope they are able to stay warm and dry - there has been so much rain!! I have a feeling they may look a lot like this right now:

We will post pictures when Brandon gets back Saturday!

Congratulations Nick!!

We are so proud of you! Congratulations on being picked for the Mustang All Star team. Now we get to watch MORE baseball this summer!! Good job!!

School's Out!!

This is why I love summer...
No schedules!!! Of course by the end of August I'll be begging to have schedules and things more organized but for now....ahhhhh, relaxation time. Enjoy everyone!! Now if the weather would just feel a little more summery! Brandon has Trek this week and I think they will experience the wet, muddy side of the pioneer life!

Sound of Music Dancers

This is awesome! Watch it to put a smile on your face! It took place in Antwerp, Belgium. As my family all know I *LOVE LOVE LOVE* the Sound of Music movie!!

**Be sure and pause the playlist at the bottom before you start it.

Field Day at Nick's School

Today was Field Day with beautiful weather and lots of sun at Nick's school. I went down and helped with the dunk tank again this year - it is so much fun! Each class picks six students to get in the tank and get dunked and the rest of the class throws balls and try and dunk them. Nick was picked again this year and loved it. Here are a few pictures from the day of Nick and some of his friends at the dunk tank!

Before the throw... After the throw!Nick and the girls...Emma, Bailey, Lauren and Jenna. Nick and Lauren...
Random pictures...

First Austin...Now Drew...And of course our other Nick...And finally Bailey along with my friend Melanie that ran the dunk tank with me (with Emma and Lauren in the background)...Fun day!!! I can't believe school is almost over!! Where has the year gone? It has been a good one and Nick has loved his teacher this year. Now its time for summer and no schedules!!!

Prom Pictures - Finally!

Brandon got back his pictures from prom of he and Paige and a picture of the whole group they went with. They were so cute! The whole group looked awesome - what a fun night!