"South Pacific"

Tooele High School needed 2 kids for the play "South Pacific" for the characters Ngana and Jerome. The kids practiced like crazy and stayed up way to late for a 1 st and 3rd grader. But they did it! They were double casted so on the days they didn't play Ngana and Jerome, they were island kids (which is what they are doing in the pictures). When they were island kids they would join the cast and also did a couple of dances including the Hakka. When they were Ngana and Jerome they had a couple of lines in French and sang a song in French as well. McKailey is already saying that she misses her new high school friends. But boy, am I excited that is over. They was stressful for Mom.

My little Alie is in Preschool

My little Alie was so excited for preschool this year! She was most excited to ride the school bus-until the school bus came. Then she screamed while getting on the bus and left for her 1st day of school totally screaming. It was so sad! However, she came home as happy as can be and was so excited to tell me about the school bus and her 1st day of preschool. (I think she was excited to learn that the school bus will also bring her home when she is done. )

Braxton and Brandon's Triathlon

So this post is very late, but hey-better late than never. Braxton wanted to try the craziness too so we roped Brandon into doing it with him. Hey-always better to do it with someone. So, they swam 50 yards, biked a 5k and ran 1 mile. Braxton's time- 26 min and 45 sec. 4th place in his age group (8-10 year olds) out of a bunch kids. The whole way home Braxton kept saying "this is the best day ever." Oh great, I have a little Alex (someone who can't get enough of races).

Our Tragic Accident

Well, I honestly didn't know that a dog could jump a 6 foot fence. I also didn't know that our neighbor got a new dog. But apparently, they did, and both Alex and McKailey saw the dog jump the fence and the dog found Floppy, our bunny, and thought it was a toy. (Floppy was out playing in the backyard) So, Floppy died tonight. It was a pretty sad night. Alie had a hard time and kept crying (she is a huge animal lover). So, we talked to the neighbors and she is giving the dog back tomorrow. The neighbor was very sorry. We are very grateful the dog didn't hurt our kids.

I think I have lost my mind...

Seriously,
I don't know what I was thinking. But we did it anyways- we did a sprint triathlon! I never dreamed of doing something like that ever. But Alex did it, so I thought why couldn't I? So, we swam 500 yards, biked 12.2 miles and finished off with a 5k (on a gravel road with 1/2 of it being a little up hill). I was upset during the swim part because that was suppose to be my easy part and my goggles kept filling up with water when usually that is not a problem. (And no, I didn't try to use that as an excuse). Don't worry- I still beat Alex on the swim part. Then- well, he beat me on the rest. He took 2nd place with the men and I took 5th place out of the women (which in my division there was only 7 people). But hey, my only goals was to not stop and to not be last. So, I am all good.







I went and ran with my friend too, who I dragged to the race. And guess what? She loved it and wants to do it again next year! I'm not so sure.

Little Miss Tooele County Pageant

Yea, McKailey and I had a crazy idea to try a pageant for fun. McKailey likes to try new things and it was a week away when we saw the advertisement. So... Friday night was the rehearsal with us getting the info on what was going to happen the next morning. It was pretty simple, smile and wave, say your name and answer one question. It was pretty low key. Sweet! Best part- everyone got a tiara. That was why McKailey wanted to do this in the first place. So, Saturday morning comes, we curl her hair (which wasn't staying) and put her in her dress. I love this dress on her, it's the right color for her skin, and off we go. We got there and realized everyone was wearing fancy dresses (oops! It just said a party dress- how did I know :) ). But McKailey was excited anyways (she is a good sport and didn't once even say that the dress wasn't as fancy). The video shows how she did on the actual pageant. Who honestly would have thought that she got Queen! It took us by surprise and yes, we were excited!

Braxton's Rain Gutter Regatta

Braxton had fun with his Rain Gutter Regatta this year. He took 1st place. Here's a little video of the adventure. He had his game face on the whole time. Alex and Braxton had been discussing this day for a long time. Alex was dissapointed that it wasn't a pinewood derby, but we made the best of it, even though we made the boat the morning of. A year of talking and minutes of building.

McKailey's Dance Competition

Our little McKailey, (who isn't so little anymore), had a dance competition this last Saturday at Taylorsville High School. They were amazing! It was so fun to watch her. So doesn't get nervous now and she is all smiles the whole time. Her 1st dance for that day was her Jazz team and they performed "Mr. Postman" ( the oldies song). They scored 1st place! McKailey jumped right on me, so excited, when she found out the score. Next, she performed her hip hop dance (and yes, her hair is in a mohawk - it wasn't my choosing). And yes, they scored 1st in that too. But what was so cool was on her hip hop dance, she didn't have anyone to look at to show her the next move and she remembered what to do and didn't get stage fright. Anyways, her last performance was "The Wizard of Oz" show and in that one she performed 2 different dances. It was a like a mini play and much longer than just one dance. That dance, the audience was so quiet (I think they were just amazed at McKailey's dance skills), but when it finished the audience exploded into applause. They did wonderfully.

This little Alie was so jealous of her sister all day. She wanted to be just like her and dress up, with the glitter, and she wanted her picture taken. It's a good thing McKailey is so patient with her.

Alie's 1st Dance Recital

Alie and I got together with some of her friends this year for a Mom and Daughter Dance class once a week. We practiced all year and we finally danced for everyone this last Tuesday. Boy, was Alie excited to dance for everyone. Every time we talked about it she would smile and shake her hips (her favorite). We danced the Itsy Bitsy Spider, Chicken Dance, Hokey Pokey, Under the Sea, and Topsy Turvy from Hunchback movie which we danced with some ribbons). The costumes we borrowed from a friend and were just so cute! We decided to take some pictures the morning of the dance recital so we can have some for the recital to decorate with. Here is some of them.

Braxton's Baptism

I can't believe that my little boy is old enough to be baptized! I think I am having a hard time coming to grips with that. But anyways, it was an absolutely wonderful day! We had lots of family and friends come and support him and we are so grateful. Braxton came up with who he had wanted to do the talks and things on his program. Alex preformed the baptism and confirmation. I am so proud of both Alex and Braxton! Then we had a luncheon in the gym, took pictures (of course) and talked with everyone. It was a great day.

I got a crazy idea to make a Memory quilt for Braxton's baptism. The blue fabric is the coolest. It has pictures to represent the stages in life ie. baby blessing, baptism, primary, young men's, missionary, and temple marriage. I loved the fabric and that is where this whole quilt idea came from. I also added pictures of Braxton and then people signed the quilt who came to the baptism. Braxton said he loved the quilt but in honesty, he better say that. Haha.