Ballet 2009

This year Amber chose Ballet as her extracurricular activity. She had a great time going to practice weekly, and learning about ballet steps. However, I think her favorite part of ballet was the "playing" portion of ballet. When I asked Amber what she loved best about ballet, she said, "My favorite part of ballet was freeze dance, toy store, and leaps and turns."

Amber performed in a recital in May. She danced to "Minnie Street", and "My Magic Tutu". She did a fantastic job! Grandma Miller came to watch her performance, which was definitely a highlight for Amber.

Fun Times at the Cabin

In May we went to the cabin, and played with the Critchfield's (Bryan's sister's family). We had tons of fun building forts, riding four-wheelers, building dams, and playing in the sand.

~Playing in the Sand by the River~

~Ava and Amber Balancing on a Log (It's great to have cousins as friends)~

Jacob loves to play it close to the edge. We were anticipating the day he would fall into the ditch, and that day finally arrived...I think he will be a bit more cautious from now on!

~ Truman Sitting on the Bridge~

~Building Forts~

A neighbor tore out part of the ditch, and it was causing the land to flood, so we decided to 'be like beavers' and build a dam. It actually worked!! It took some time to build, but when we were finished, the flooding was definitely to a minimum. The only downside to the situation was that I dropped my camera in the water while I was building the dam. On the bright side of things, it still works!

First Piano Recital

The girls have been taking piano lessons since Christmas. On May 16 they had their first piano recital. Both girls were excited to show off their new abilities that they had worked hard to acquire.

Amber played Little River Flowing, Hot Cross Buns, Old McDonald, and Ode to Joy, and All Black Keys.

Hailey played Ode to Joy, March on D, E, F, and the Inch Worm.

Both girls did a fantastic job!!!

HAPPY 10th Anniversary!!!
Bryan and I celebrated our 10th anniversary this year! On April 30, 1999 we were married in the Idaho Falls, Temple. We were sealed for time and all eternity! We have shared happy moments, and some sad moments, but all of the moments have been shared together, and our love is deeper because of it! I feel so grateful to be married to my sweetheart, my best friend, my eternal companion! I am continually amazed at the blessings my Heavenly Father sends down upon me...Bryan will always be one of my greatest blessings that I will thank my Heavenly Father for daily!

Our celebration began as we dropped off our kiddos with good friends. (We are truly grateful to the Grant's and the Carroll's for transporting, watching, and feeding our kids for two days--it was a much needed celebration, and we could not have done it without them!!) We then traveled to Sun Valley, Idaho for a weekend full of outdoor entertainment, and fun-filled company.

On the evening of our anniversary, we went bowling. The hotel we were staying in had a bowling alley in the basement. This activity couldn't have been more perfect, because our "first" date was centered around bowling, and hamburgers. Ironically enough...this was the first time we had been bowling since our first date...and it was definitely evidenced by our scores...and by my great moves (who else could lift their leg so acrobatically?).

The next morning we went ice skating. We spent a good hour laughing, falling, laughing some more, falling some more, succeeding in a few tricks, and finally laughing some more.

My amazing trick! Watch out Sasha Cohen...I'm your next big competition!

Here's Bryan's acrobats! He is definitely in the running for the next Olympic Gold.

Finally, here we are feeling accomplished and successful! Truly, we had a great time! It was so much fun just being together, and loving that we were together!

Right after ice skating (and some shopping), we went to ride the bike trails around Sun Valley. We had a great time enjoying the scenery.

~Some downtown shopping...and relaxing~

Overall, we had a fantastic weekend full of fun entertainment, good company, and good food! I missed my kiddos, but the thought of leaving behind my "alone time" with Bryan made me feel homesick for our "alone time". I was definitely feeling pulled in two directions!

THE BIG CELEBRATION!!!

April 15 is a holiday in our home! WHY, you may ask? April 15 is the tax deadline, which means at 5 o'clock on April 15 I have a husband again!!! YEAH! So, in accordance with this auspicious moment in our home, we ventured to our cabin to celebrate. And to make the trip even better, we invited the Tobler Family. Nick Tobler works with Bryan at Deloitte & Touche , and so, to say the least, they view April 15 as a holiday as well! Together we celebrated the end of taxes!

Roasting marshmallows, reading scriptures by the fire light...

eating hot smores, enjoying the great outdoors...what could be better?

INTRODUCING THE WISH STICK!!!
Hailey and I found a stick that looked like a wishbone, so we decided to make it our wish stick. We both took a momentous moment to decide what our individual wishes were, and then we PULLED...

The stick broke exactly down the middle, so we concluded that we both received the wishes of our hearts! YEAH FOR US!

Easter Egg Hunts

The Easter Bunny comes to our house on the Saturday before Easter. When the kids woke up, there were eggs and treats hidden throughout the house. The kids went crazy as they ran from room to room looking for eggs. Each of them took turns helping Jakey find some eggs of his own. We had a fun morning hunting eggs at home, and then at the church (at our ward party). After the "hunts" were over, we headed to Hailey's soccer game! It was a fun day!

Hunting Eggs Inside

Hunting Eggs Outside

Piper and Hailey posing for photo op

EASTER EGGS

One night for Family Home Evening we painted Easter eggs. We had so much fun painting and designing our eggs. We used water colors, and rubber bands to create our masterpieces! It was fun to see the differences of each of my children as they designed their great work. Hailey was very meticulous and careful as she painted her eggs. Amber was all about the production...the more eggs the better! And Jakey...well, he was all about disrupting everybody else's progress, but he was definitely cute in the process! After we had tons of fun decorating eggs, we played fun "Easter" games. We raced from one destination to another with eggs on spoons. We had to maneuver great obstacles, and we created new rules with each new game. We also played a game where we hid an Easter Egg with one person, while another person left the room. When the person who left the room had returned, they had to guess where the Easter egg was located...we chanted a cute little rhyme in the process. Finally, we watched "Finding Faith in Christ", which is a movie that depicts the Saviors life, and His sacrifice on our behalf. It is a powerful movie, and my testimony grows about the Savior each time I watch it. It was a fun Family Home Evening!

~Hailey meticulously decorating her egg~

~Amber mixing colors on her egg~

~Dad and Jake coloring eggs~

~Family Shot~

Conference Weekend
April 5, 2009

We had a fun conference weekend. We spent quite a bit of time playing outside, and enjoying the wonderful sunshine. We also built our traditional "reverence tent". The kids look forward to our reverence tent every conference. The anticipation of the tent and the rules of the tent (keep quiet while coloring and listening, be nice) almost keeps them quiet through the entire two days. Besides the tent, we make conference fun by having lots of treats and quiet activities for the kids. So far our efforts are paying off, and the kids are beginning to understand the importance of listening to the prophet's voice.

The kids together on the four-wheeler!

I really don't think this machine was made for adults...but, it kept him happy!

The kids in their reverence tent.

Hailey Playing Soccer!!!

This season has been so much for Hailey. She has a geniune love for soccer. It is so fun to watch her evolve as a player, and as a person! She plays her heart out every time she gets on the field...I am not even sure that "intense" could fully describe Hailey's excitement. While she is off the field, she could also be described as "intense" as she screams her little heart out while cheering on her teammates. She truly has a love for the game!

Sports, Sports, Sports!!!!
Hailey loves sports! She started the school year out by swimming for The Meridian Streamliners swim team, which she loved! It was so fun to see her skills develop as a swimmer. At the end of the fall season, Hailey had really improved all around. She had grown to be a real force in the water. However, although she had a passion for swimming, she also wanted to try other sports. In November, we took a short break to play basketball for the winter season, and soccer for the spring season.

Here is Hailey posing for her personal basketball photo.

Hailey's Basketball Team
Coach Gustin, Anna, Jaylyn, Kylee, Hailey H., Coach Hill, Mattie, Emma, Jessica, Hailey M., Sara (from left to right starting with top row)

Hailey had a great time playing basketball this winter. Most of the girls were from her class at school. At the beginning of the season, Hailey struggled with the various skills involved in basketball, but by the end of the season she was confident to shoot, dripple, and pass. It was really amazing how much all of the girls improved in just a few months. The season ended at the end of March. Soccer overlapped basketball by one week, which was a bit crazy....
We are now in the middle of soccer season, and loving every minute of it! Hailey plays with several girls from school. Some of the same girls from her basketball team are also playing on her soccer team. They have really enjoyed playing together in both sports! Hailey loves her soccer coach. Her coach is really good at teaching the girls the basics of soccer in a fun upbeat manner. This is Hailey's third season with this coach, and team, and every season her skills improve and her determination to play harder increases.

Picture #1~ Jakey splashing on the side of the pool....the most difficult part of swimming lessons!
Picture #2~ Hailey's basketball picture
Picture #3~ Hailey practicing her flip turns
Picture #4~ Daddy helping Hailey understand the basics of defense in soccer (Daddy loves soccer!)Picture #5~ Freestyle swimming
Picture #6~ Mommy trying to keep Jake out of the water
Picture #7~ Freestyle
Picture #8~ Hailey playing soccer THIS season with the BLUE DRAGON FLIES!!
Picture #9~ Swimming
Picture #10~ Jake splashing again!
Picture #11~ Butterfly stroke
Picture #12~ Soccer

Amber was also involved in sports this year. She swam along the side of Hailey, but never competed. She is also taking ballet right now, which she loves. She wanted to play soccer like Hailey, but our rule is one sport at a time, and in the end, ballet won out over soccer.

Here are a few pictures of Amber tearing it up in the water: