Happy Birthday Olivia!

 

Olivia joined the decade club today!  She is now 10 years old.  Wow, time flies. Today was a school day, but, we put up the birthday sign, blew up balloons, and had special food together.  We were also able to celebrate her birthday with our families over the Thanksgiving break.  She likes Harry Potter, so, we had cake and homemade butterbeer, yum!  Here's to another 10 awesome years!

Balanced Rock

Ethan recently hiked to Balance Rock with the scouts.  They had a great time.  Sometimes I feel like that rock:)

Boise Temple

Last weekend we went to the Boise temple open house!  It was freezing cold up there, but, we really enjoyed seeing the renovations to the temple.  Today was the rededication of the Boise temple.  They allowed children that were baptized to attend, so, we had Ethan, Olivia, and Phoebe with us at the rededication this morning.  It was broadcast to our stake center.  It was a wonderful experience that can't be written in words.  Last night we watched the cultural celebration done by the youth.  It was a hoot!

   The kids loved all the performances.  We are really loving being in temple country.

School Update

Here are some pictures of Olivia on a field trip to the College of Southern Idaho.  Her school rewards kids each quarter with a fieldtrip if they turn in all assignments, meet their quarter reading goals, and are all around good behaving students.  I was able to chaperone.  It was really fun to see the college.  It is here in town, not far from where we live, and it offers a 2 year program.  I also put in some pictures of Ethan in band.  A couple from the football game he played for and one of his recent band concert.  Phoebe earned a fieldtrip as well to the local  theater to see Hotel Transylvania.  I don't have pictures of that event because I didn't chaperone that one.  Overall the kids are doing really well in school.

Fall 2012

 Here are some fun pictures we've taken this fall.  We went up to the South Hills after conference and we've also had fun in our own yard raking leaves and jumping into the piles. Gina had a fun fieldtrip to a pumpkin patch too.  They had a hayride, a corn maze, and lots of pumpkins!   I've loved all the colors this year!  Enjoy!

Halloweeen 2012

We had a great Halloween!  Our ward had a trunk-or-treat with fun activities and of course, the kids had parties at school.  As you can see, they were all Ninja's.

Growing Up!

 

Our son is growing up!  Ethan was ordained a deacon on Sept. 23, 2012.  I can't express in words the spirit I felt as that happened.  Needless to say, my waterworks flowed the rest of that day.  We love to see him pass the sacrament each Sunday.  Derek was so excited to have Ethan join him for the General Priesthood Session of  Conference.  Ethan and his Dad also went to the temple with our youth group to do baptisms for the dead.  Wow!  What an experience!  It was a very special day for all of us!  Before we know it, he'll be serving a mission!  We feel so blessed to have the gospel in our lives and to be members of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!