May

In preparation for The Big Trip, we decided to take the trailer out one more time to make sure everything was working right and to ponder any other useful things we might need for it. So when the kids had no school due to student-led conferences we headed east of Portland to McIver State Park. We were so excited that there was only rain the first night and the rest of the 48 hours was sunshine! Look! Mike even needed sunglasses!

If there is a campfire, kids must play in it with sticks:

We found a boat launch that Mike freaked the kids out by driving partway into it, an empty fish hatchery, and a great view of the river:

Mike prefers to spend camping reading a book:

Nicholas turning a stick into a weapon (of course):

Zach has a few weapons of his own:

David enjoying the sun:

So after we come home from camping, Zach and Nicholas got on a real big kick of reading Calvin and Hobbes and Garfield comics. One day after school I told them to go outside and enjoy the sunshine and this is what they did:

Off to the beach!

Some girlfriends from church went in on a house in Manzanita, OR for the night and we had a great time! Walking the beach (even though it was cold!) eating yummy food, staying up way past my bedtime, and doing some shopping the next day:

Shelly, Leslie, Mindy, Sydette, Robyn, Beth, and Jessie.

(standing) Holly, Beth, Olivia, Rockelle, Mindy, Shelly, Leslie, and Sydette

(front row) Suki, me, Robyn

David's first self portrait! (age 2 1/2):

Mike got his braces off after 18 months instead of 24!

It was cute: the orthodontist gave him sparkling cider, balloons, and bag of popcorn to celebrate.

Brooke's friend, Sarya, came over one day wearing the same dress Brooke had! (Both were hand-me-downs from the Browns) and so we had to do a photoshoot.

Nicholas participated in the annual Pinewood Derby race and came in 3rd place:

He was very excited to decorate his car as an Oregon Ducks fan.
His car winning a race:

Nicholas' 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Rooke, had the kids put on a Dr. Suess performance. The show was little snipets from several of his books. Nicholas is in the front row towards the middle in a green shirt with a Yurtle the Turtle hat:

Here he is as the south going Zax being stubborn with the north going Zax:

(Notice the competitive "Ducks" and "Beavers" clothing to add to the tension.)

And at the bottom of the pile of Yurtle the Turtle:

And one last unrelated picture of Brooke and Zach making "diaper clothing" one lazy Sunday morning:

I laughed at their creativity so I decided to post it!

April

Mike and I decided to celebrate our 14th anniversary by going to General Conference in Salt Lake City. We were last there 3 years ago and it was so nice to go back. In the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

On Temple Square.




We had tickets to watch conference in the Conference Center 2 of the 4 sessions and Mike also had tickets to go to the Priesthood Session and I hung out with my friend Tiffany who lives there in Utah.

We enjoyed a beautiful 70 degree evening on Friday, and then it SNOWED on Sunday morning! I love how the snow looks on the temple and the trees in this picture.

The 1st Presidency is walking into the room right before the meeting starts in this picture while everyone stands. I love that powerful feeling!

Sunday afternoon, my brother, Luke, drove up to SLC to bring us back to Provo so we could have dinner with my 3 Provo brothers. This was my first chance to meet my new niece, Lily! (She belongs to Jon and Lauren.)

My 3 Provo brothers: Luke, Jon, and Aaron.

One last picture in front of the Christus before flying home.

Brooke is still enjoying gymnastics! She is in her 7th of 8 months of it. She's getting good at flipping over the rings -

Her teacher, Rebecca Gerber, helping her flip over backwards on the low bars.

Brooke hanging by her knees.

And doing a "cherry drop."

I chaperoned the 4th graders on a field trip to the Tillamook Forest.

The kids were allowed to climb up the look out tower at the forest.

The kids were divided into groups and did skits about the forest. Nicholas is on the far left and their skit was about the firefighters in the 1950's who saved the forest!

Nicholas is demonstrating that firefighters have strong muscles!

Nicholas and I at the Tillamook Forest.

This group of 4th graders.

Brooke Turns 5!

We started the party with a craft of decorating foam picture frames.

Sarya and Brooke concentrating on their picture frames.

Sydney and Charlee.

All the girls with their finished product.

Then on to the pinata!

The girls took multiple whacks at it, and then Mike helped to get it open.

I noticed girls are much more delicate at picking up the candy than boys are!

Brooke's good friends: (standing) Sarya, Paige, Charlee. (sitting) Briana and Sydney. Brooke in front.

Cupcakes for the party.

Girls and cupcakes!

The birthday girl on her birthday before church.

Brooke was so happy to get the unicorn pillow pet! She also got a Strawberry Shortcake word search and a "Live Out Loud" CD.


Zach promotes to Blue Belt!

Zach at his 2nd karate promotion. (He's the short blond kid in the middle with the orange belt. Did I just call one of my kids "short"?)

Zach (on the left) demonstrating some blocks.

And some punches.

And sparring! (My least favorite part.)

Zach did great and is now a blue belt!

Zach and mom after he received his new belt and certificate.

Zach wanted his picture taken with this cute waterfall on the property.

Science Fair Projects! (Will this month ever end??)

Zach demonstrated how strong magnets are. He tested how a magnetic field went through different household objects.

Nicholas' Science Fair project was a survey to all the kids in the school in the higher math classes. He wanted to determine if children whose birthdays are between September and December (therefore, older in their grade) were more likely to be in the higher math class. He discovered older kids were 10% more likely to be in the higher math class. This won him 1st place of all the 4th graders in the school. Here he is at the District Science Fair with his math/reading teacher, Mrs. Dow.


The traditional Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma's house!

David and Brooke go after eggs like crazy!

David finds one on the swing.

Another in the ivy.

Look at his goodies!

Brooke is on the hunt.

She's even willing to climb a tree to reach an egg!

Grab and run! (Her face is painted as a bunny from an Easter party at Grandma's church that morning.)

Zach's turn!

He's up a tree too! Nicholas did the egg hiding instead of the hunting this year. After the hunt, we enjoyed a yummy ham dinner by Grandma too.

And just a fun picture to throw in: Brooke stacking dominos with her buddy, Gavin.

If you made it this far you deserve a prize! What a busy month!