Summer is Finally Here!

The first week of summer came and went so quickly.  I took my ministering ladies to see, "Aladdin."  We ate popcorn and loved every minute.

 Grandpa B. turned 74.  He had church meeting to celebrate his big day, so we gulped down a lovely dinner and dessert and sang our hearts out the best we could.  We basically have a little store down there.

 We also prepared for the wedding and Y2K (that has come and gone).  I made this lovely granola for parfaits.  I bought all the seeds, nuts and extras to make is especially terrific.

 Austin and Maisie revamped the storage room.

Then we added a few more buckets of sugar, oats and quinoa.

It's still too cold to warm up the pool just to leave for the wedding.  So when we get home from Utah that will happen.

Meg Graduates!

This little chica graduated from MUHS as the valedictorian and the athlete of the year.  She moves mountains because she is kind and she works hard.  We are so proud of her!!!!

Here she is!

 Her best friends from the stake happened to be her escort (Chaz was also the athlete of the year) and the co-salutatorians.  They led the procession with every bit of youth and excitement.  They all four happen to be going to BYU as well.

 Meg and Chaz

 I made them matching caps.  (Decorating the cap was a new to me, but I their caps were darling.)

My favorite picture of these two.

 Waiting to begin.

Meg's speech was everything brilliant.  She didn't talk of herself, but she spoke of the life lessons her mentors taught her and all of the students.  (Here is the link to the ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTlDdp_SDcQ

She walks in at 4:04 and begins her speech at 38:30 if you're interested.)

Austin and I are so proud of her.

Love her!

 Her adoring fan club sharing the podium.

 Group hug.

 Bookends

 Best friends

 We sat for two hours prior to have the best seats.  We then sat for two hours during the ceremony.  Then we waited for an hour after to rush the field.  He was thrilled to get home.  He tried on all of her bling.

 I noticed her diploma had a "valedictorian" seal on it.

Does it really matter that she graduated first?  Nope.  Is it amazing? Yes.  What's truly amazing is that she gets it:  Life is about relationships -- that's the only thing we'll take with us.  So it matters that we are kind.  It matters that we love God first and our neighbors second.  She bore a powerful witness even if the audience had no idea of these principles.  Meg is a wonder!

Last Week/ Maisie's Promotion

I finally gathered all my lovelies for my mother's day photo.

 Sunday Meg graduated from seminary -- here she is with all her boyfriends.

 We very proudly listened to her bear her testimony.

 Ryan fell asleep (I think I already posted all of this).

 Molly is at the stage where she naps, but then she is too rested to go to bed when the little boys do.  So, she stays with me until Austin escorts her to her own bed. 

These cuties barely made it through the last week of school -- Nick didn't.  He was sick two days, field day was raining, his field trip was too expensive (he didn't want to earn the $35 to go) and so he finally went on Friday.

 Maisie tutors Eddie in math facts and spelling words on the way to school.  His math worksheets prove his academic success.

 Andy couldn't find one of his undershirts.  Britney Spears, eat your heart out.

 Meg decorated her cap.

 BYU track and field and cross country

 He's my morning sunshine.

 I gave these two chicken pot pies away.

 Buddies.

 The academic/scholarship night was another one for the books.  Meg was recognized as "Athlete of the Year" (along with her bestie Chaz Taylor) and valedictorian.  I bet that doesn't happen very often.

 We are very proud of her.

 Chaz came over and we decorated his cap, too (minus the glitter).

 Friendly-neighborhood rider.

 We spent a couple of hours getting Maisie ready for 8th grade promotion.

 As the student body vice president she gave the speech, and she sang "The National Anthem."

 She held her diploma proudly.  Maisie leaves MVP for MUHS with gladness and confidence.  She's going to leave her name on the school.

 Proud Papa.

 Besties.

 Sibbies.

 Parentals.

 Meg made that corsage to add to her gelled nails.

 Our last day of family scriptures at 6am until August.

 Their last day of school was all rain.

 She is sketching with the skewer we use for lighting candles.

 These three are off for the last day as 6th, 4th and 1st graders.

 Oh, I chopped all of my hair.