The Fourth

It seems like I always forget my camera on the Fourth of July.  Not this year!  I have been scrapbooking more lately and came across some really cute patriotic supplies that I forgot I had, so I was determined to get some pictures on the Fourth!

Here are the girls (plus Emily's friend and our neighbor, Zoe) getting ready to enjoy the fireworks at Remington Park.

Zoe and Emily

Papa and Shelby

Ryan's wife, Jennifer, me and mom

Abby and her daddy

Sometimes watching the news lately concerning our country can be depressing, but I am still so grateful to live in this wonderful country.  Despite all its faults, it's still the greatest country in the world!

God Bless the USA!

BOOT Camp

This years Girl's Camp was a lot of fun!  I still can't believe I have two of my girls there now, and before I know it, Emily will be there with them!

Our theme this year was BOOT Camp which was an acronym for Building Our Own Testimonies.  It was so great to see the girls make new friends, try new things, and grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Although I came home empty on many levels (sleep deprived and completely drained of sweat are two examples), I was so filled in the ways that really count.  I am so thankful that I was able to again participate in the week with the girls!  (Thanks mom, dad, and Trav for taking such good care of Emily!)

Doing "target practice" with marshmallow blow guns.  (Even though there were clorox wipes to use in between shooters, I was glad Shelby and Abby were the first to use them!)  :)

Shelby is in the black shirt and Abby is in the brown

Shelby with her craft--a new journal she decorated

Abby with her journal...such a cute idea!

Trying to cool off in the pool!

(Shelby, Morgan, Morgan, and Sydney)

Bishop Mitchell with the Thomasville Young Women

(Such a good looking group, eh?)

I loved the candlelight ceremony they did one evening.  It was so pretty!

Abby having fun with Franki!

We were supposed to have the Florida National Guard bring a rock climbing wall for the girls to use on the last full day of camp.  However, the week before our camp, they were transporting it on the highway, and it flew off the back of the truck.  (Hopefully no one was hurt--we didn't get that info.)  So, needless to say, rock climbing was out.  Our awesome camp directors, though, were not going to give up on having something great for the girls.  They were able to get a HUGE inflatable water slide that the girls were able to use.  I think they had just as much fun on that than they would've on the rock wall.  I know I did (though there definitely aren't any pictures of me going down it)!  There's no way I would've done the rock wall, but the slide was fun!  :)

Shelby flying down it...she caught LOTS of air on the bump!

Abby's turn--I love her hair flying up!  :)

Another great thing about camp is that it allows the girls to try things they might never get to do otherwise.  Here is Shelby trying out archery for the first time.  As we both discovered, it is not as easy as it looks!

Abby (second from left) and her new friends...another wonderful thing about camp!

Can't wait to see what next year brings!

Dance 2011

The girls have continued with dance classes since finding and joining the Dance Academy.  They love their classes and their teachers.  It is always such fun for me to watch them in their annual spring recital and see how much they have grown and how much confidence they are developing.

Emily took tap, jazz, and hip hop last year.  Here she is in her tap dance to "Shades" and then her jazz dance to "California Girls."  Doesn't she look like she's having a great time up there?!?

Shelby's dance schedule about wore me out last year, so we are definitely doing fewer classes this year!

Here she is in her jazz number to "Bye, Bye Blackbird"--look at that smile!

Hip Hop dance to "Club Can't Handle Me"

Lyrical dance to "Fix You"--it was so beautiful!

(I LOVED this costume!)

Ballet

Abby is still our little ballerina, but she mixed things up this year and added Hip Hop as well.  (Sorry I don't have any pictures of Abby and Emily in their Hip Hop dance to "Dynamite".)

Look at those lovely extended arms!  :)

I am so glad that even through these trying times, the Lord has opened up a way for us to allow the girls to continue with their dance classes.  (Yet another of His tender mercies.)  I love watching them grow into beautiful young women who love to dance!

Answered Prayers

On July 1st, Travis started his new job with Lawson Products.  He is an Independent Sales Agent.  This is a commission only job, and so it is a leap of faith we are taking.  It's scary, but after he was laid off in October, the only thing he could find was a management job at Pizza Hut.  It was MISERABLE hours (55+ a week and most all in the afternoons/evenings), and not the best environment.  I am so proud of him, though, for doing what needed to be done for our family.  While he was working there, he also had a "part-time job" looking for another job.  It's really scary out there right now!

Through a friend from church, he was able to hear about this job.  After only a short time, he was offered the position.  After all the prayers we've prayed, and other opportunities that looked promising and then fell through for one reason or another, we both feel like this is the job he needs for now.  It can be a bit rough not knowing how much is coming in, and knowing that you only get paid if you make sales, but we are trusting that the Lord will provide (just as He always has).

Blessings have already come because of this job.  Travis is able to take Shelby to seminary as well as picking up two other kids who otherwise would not have a way to get there.  Then he is able to take a group of them to the high school.  With seminary getting out at 7:30, and me having to be to work at 7:30, it never would've worked out if he still had his old job.  Also, he is able to make his own schedule, so he is most often home when we get there.  He's usually still working on the computer, but at least he's with us!  We are hoping that with his great people and management skills, he will be able to grow his client base and be even more successful than we already know he will be!

Here are some of the boxes that arrived at our house the week before he started.  (This is a work-from-home job...there is no storefront.  His car and our home are the 'office'.)

The Lord does hear and answer our prayers.

"When we explain a problem and a proposed solution, sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no. Often He withholds an answer, not for lack of concern, but because He loves us—perfectly. He wants us to apply truths He has given us. For us to grow, we need to trust our ability to make correct decisions. We need to do what we feel is right. In time, He will answer. He will not fail us." 

 ~Elder Richard G. Scott

End of the School Year 2011

The end of the year also means awards ceremonies!  Travis and I are so blessed to have girls who try so hard and reach their goals.  We are so proud of each one of them!

Emily earned the Presidential Fitness Award (am I sure she's my child?!?) and the Super Scientist Award.

Having lunch with Abby and her table of girlfriends before her awards ceremony.  With all the subbing I've done, this was the only time all year I was able to eat lunch with her.  I think, though, that she's at an age where she didn't mind so much!  :)

Reagan, Ivey, and Abby

Abby receiving her Honor Roll Certificate from the principal, Mrs. Knight

Way to go, Abby!

(Shelby received an Honor Roll Award, too, but she was home sick with a high fever the day of the awards ceremony.)

Emily's Field Day 2011

The end of the school year means only one thing...

FIELD DAY!

Emily doing the "Balloon Popping Relay"...

...cup stacking...

...and tug-o-war...

Emily's class was the overall winner of this event!  They beat out 9 other classes and were the champions!

Why does Emily's class always seem to get the outdoor events in the afternoon?!?  It was HOT!

Sack Race

Fun with friends Christina, Cheyenne, and Brianna.