June 2012

 Yeah!!! We get to turn the alarm off and relax a bit, but life is still busy in the summer.  We just hope is involves lots of water!!  Paige continues to swim for a local swim team.  She did really well, qualifying to compete in the Meet of Champs for Breast Stroke.  She was even MVP for her age group.

Paige waiting for her race

Paige's shirt as MVP.  Also her medal from Meet of Champs

 Lexi has been volunteering with Girl Scouts at the local Twilight Camp.  She is a program aide, where she is assigned to work with a unit of girls teaching them songs, games, canoeing, archery, and general fun activities.  She has done this the past 3 years after having attended the camp as a camper.  Each year the PA's have a "code" name that they go by for the week.  This year her's was California.  It is kind of weird to have a camp in the evening but with the heat here it makes it nice to not have the sun beating down on you.  The park where the camp is held has plenty of light so they adjust the activities to use the daylight for canoeing and archery and the evening for the others.

Father's day-Ken and the kids with his treat

My attempt at canning pickles.  

Our tomato plants.  Grew big but didn't produce a lot

The before picture.  All clean and excited to go.  Still full of energy

The first week after school is out we headed to Girl's Camp for church.  I was able to go as part of the leadership for the stake.  We had 18 girls from our ward ranging from 12-16.  We go to a Christian camp that is about 3 hrs. North of Houston.  It is a very nice facility with air conditioned cabins even.  This may sound luxurious but it is still wood bunks with foam mattresses.  The girls all have a great time and I love to be able to be there with them.  

Paige made it to the top of the rock wall on the difficult side

Lexi getting suited up to head down the zip line.
  The guy is a worker at the camp, otherwise no boys allowed!!

Me and my girls

May 2012

Paige with the official document stating she is licensed to learn to drive

     May is always a busy month and this proved true with this year also.  To start with Paige marked a major milestone with getting her learner's  permit to drive.  I don't know if I will survive the learning process but we will give it a go.  The DMV closed the local office-not due to insufficient need.  So we are forced to head to other offices.  This was only a 1 1/2 hr wait.  I've been through worse!!



There are always the end of year school events.  We had the jr. high athletic banquet.  Lexi had played both Volleyball and Basketball this year.  We also had the band concerts for the jr. high and high school.

Lexi at her athletic banquet

Lexi at her band concert

L

Paige and friend Jordan before their band concert

 Then there is Mother's Day.  I enjoy the breakfast in bed my kids always treat me to.  I am so grateful to be a mom and even with the many challenges I count my kids as my greatest blessings.  I am also grateful for a wonderful mom.  Every day I miss being able to talk to her and enjoy her company.  I am grateful for the many things she taught me and the example she always was.

My gift from my family-I can show my True Blue all the time!!

Me and my kids

 

Nephew Chase with his mom and dad, Rob and Heather

I got to do a quick trip to Calif. for my nephew's Boy Scout Eagle Court of Honor, another nephew's baptism and my cousin's wedding.  It was fast but we made the most of it.  Always good to be with family.


At the end of the month celebrating Memorial Day.  We went to a nice ceremony at the cemetary by us.  Then we enjoyed a great BBQ and swimming with friends.  Ready for summer!!

Lexi

Paige

Jordan and  Taylor 

ceremony at the cemetery

flag with helmet and guns in Remembrance

Texas bluebonnets

Every year on the 1st Sunday in April we head towards the hill country in search of the Texas bluebonnets.  We were really excited this year thinking there would be fields full of bluebonnets since we had had a good rainfall and prime conditions for flowers.  We have about 4 or 5 places that we have gone in previous years and had great results.  This year we headed to two of them and were very disappointed.  We ended up with a small area of flowers and made the best of what we had.  It was perfect lighting though.  

Lexi

Taylor

 Paige

Ken and I

Just for the record Jordan was there but did not want his picture by himself.  We have our family pics somewhere else and I have to add them to our photos.

Silly family

After Ken got home from church we did a couple of family pics.  My family loves to complain about this and give me a hard time.  We used a tripod with the camera timer.  There is one setting on the camera that will take a burst of successive shots.  We did this so if anyone blinks or something we might still get a good shot.  Taylor, who likes to mess up family photos, decided to keep things interesting.  Look at his right hand in the pics.-the 1st two he gets into position and on the 3rd grabs Lexi and shakes her.  Gotta love it!!! 

Easter

We looked forward to celebrating Easter but felt a bit out of sorts with all the chaos of our house.  We made do and still enjoyed our traditions.  

Coloring hard boiled eggs.  Funny how much better they taste because they are pretty colors

Our beautiful kids before church.  Our egg hunt and things were a bit delayed because of Ken's church responsibilities.  

After a wardrobe change it was time for the chocolate egg hunt.  

sharing a delicious dinner with good friends

The outdoor plastic egg hunt.  My girls don't want to give up the hunt and miss the goodies.

Jordan's birthday

Our oldest turned 23 this year.  Can't believe how quickly time is flying and continues to pick up speed.      Although birthdays aren't as much fun as an adult we did still have him choose what restaurant to eat at.  He chose Pappasitos, a local yummy Mexican restaurant.  I remember when McDonalds was the place to go because you could play in the playground.  Jordan is a great young  man and will accomplish much in his life.  He is working full-time and taking classes in anticipation of transferring to BYU at the  beginning of the year.  Can't wait to see what's next.

Our four kiddos, can I turn back the clock and enjoy them little again?  

Being serenaded by the Mariachi band.  Caught Jordan enjoying the salsa verde and chips

Jordan likes brownies vs. cake, a preference inherited from mom

Jordan got assorted presents, but the one thing requested was new luggage.  His sisters said it was a hint to use it to move out.  They are eyeing his room.

Project Linus

Our Relief Society, the women's organization at church, decided to participate in Project Linus.  This is where handmade blankets are donated to local hospitals for children.  As part of the plan we also had a work night at church where we learned to crochet and hopefully make a blanket to donate.  I have done some basic crocheting but never completed a "real" project.  I decided to work on a blanket and had a great friend who helped me all along the way.  Once I got going it wasn't too bad, a great way to accomplish something when I wanted to sit and watch something on TV.  I appreciate all the help and encouragement from my friend and am happy to have completed this and was able to donate it to the program.  The girls want me to make something for them now.  We'll see how that goes.  

In Spring of 2010 Ken participated in Woodbadge training for Boy Scouts.  This is an advanced leadership training done over a couple of weekends.  After the training the participants have their "ticket" items, things they have to complete as part of their goals of ways they can enhance the Boy Scout organization.  Ken's overall goal was to encourage greater love of country.  He completed his ticket items in fall of 2011 but it wasn't until April 2012 that we were able to get everyone at a Court of Honor so he could receive his beads and neckerchief.  All parts of the award have symbolism of the growth of Boy Scouts.  It is a great relief and honor to complete this training and we're proud of Ken for finishing his.  

Receiving his neckerchief

certificate of completion

Ken and Larry the course coordinator

Some of the boys from the Venturing crew that Ken was the advisor for.

The proud fam.  Not the best picture but unfortunately the only one.  

Floors

When we built our house almost 8 yrs ago we used the upgrade allotment from the builder to do the things that could not be changed later.  We went with the builder grade finishes that we figured we could change at a later date.  So for 7 1/2 yrs we have had cheap carpet, tile that I didn't like, vinyl flooring and laminate countertops.  We finally bit the bullet on the downstairs flooring and ripped everything out (except the kitchen vinyl) and replaced it with laminate wood.  This began in feb.-it is almost done.  :)

The entry before.  While the lighting makes it look decent, the tile actually had a orange cast to it that I hated.  Ken decided that the tile was the 1st to go. 

To try and eliminate dust everywhere Ken built a plastic enclosure around the tiled area and then started on the removal process.  The idea was great, but the fine white dust was everywhere.

 Tile all gone, interesting to see the builders notes on the concrete.

Out came all the carpet in the dining area.  Each day became the obstacle course with furniture being rearranged.

The before on the living room, hall and office with carpet

The office with the carpet gone

This "easy" click and lock flooring became much more involved that we originally thought.  1st the slab had a lot of high/low spots so Ken used self-leveling to even some of that out.  And thankfully Ken is Mr. perfectionist and got all the angles right.

The new flooring heading into the living room

 finishing up the dining area

The dining area all done, including the new baseboard.  

Working on the last part of the living room.  The master at work.

The living room before

The living room after.  Of course when you change the flooring it makes everything else need a update.  Not really, but while we loved the leather we needed something lighter.  We decided to try fabric and see how it holds up.  We are still looking for lamps and a area rug.  Family prayer is a bit rough on the knees on the wood.  Once I get all the finishing details done I'll post a final pic.  That building construction degree of Ken's has really paid off.  Just a side note, Ken also redid the fireplace last year.