5/30/16 Last week of school! Summer is here!

Holly receiving Outstanding Band Student 2016

It's been a busy fun week.  Your sisters are now officially in done with 6th and 8th grade.  WOW!!!!  Katie starts seminary and grades officially count next year as a 9th grader!!!!  Just a few short years and she will be graduating from H.S.  Time flies!

Monday I worked for Santa Clara City as clerk because their clerks both had kids graduating Monday night from Vista school.  It was kind of interesting and fun to step in and do my job at another location.  It went very smoothly and was good.  Dad and the girls hung out with Uncle Ben and Aunt Laura and made cookies while I worked and then at 7 p.m. we met at Pizza Factory and had dinner together.  

Tuesday evening I got to do it all over again in my own court.  

Holly waiting for her name to be called

The girls had their last piano/voice lesson for the summer as Dawn decided to take the summer off of teaching. I have thought about finding another teacher for the summer because they are doing really well and loving it and they have so much free time.  So far I haven't tried too hard though.  Holly of course would rather not but Katie would love to have lessons. 

Tuesday I went to Fossil Ridge and Holly got an award for outstanding band student of the year.  They didn't give out certificates for grades but she had all A's and one B+ so she is doing really well.  She also read all the books for book club and got a party for that.  

Thursday morning YW group went to the temple

Wednesday was the last day of school and they were out super early.  So summer has officially arrived!!!!  Katie spend the evening at a friends house in the fields.  So this is really weird.  Last year she went to a friends house who had a pool and a 6500 Sq ft home out in the fields. This year she has a new friend and gets invited over.  She gets there...same house!!! Her other friend had moved next door and sold the home to her new friend.  Anyway they had a great time and I guess this house is pretty awesome.  She said they have bb court, pickleball court, golf putt putt, pool, ping pong, foose ball.  WOW!  It is a million dollar home.  She is hanging with the rich folk for sure!

Wednesday evening we played pickleball again.  We've been going kind a late and playing till the lights go out at 10 p.m. It is really fun. 

Dad doing silly bowling, backward granny shot

Thursday we were supposed to go to duck creek but the weather forecast called for cold and rain and yucky so we cancelled (changed) our reservation and will try again in July.  I had already arranged to have 2 days off so I took them off anyway and we had a stay-cation.



Thursday started out with a trip to the temple for YW to do baptisms and then a trip to Kneaders for temple toast. 

We took the girls bowling at the Dixie bowl.  First we did a regular game and then we did a silly bowling game -- you remember that -- we had to bowl left handed or granny style or whatever.  When we arrived there were quite a few people there but after not very long they all left and we had the whole place to ourselves.  We are NOT bowlers but we had fun trying!

Holly and Katie waiting for their next turn to bowl

We then went to iceberg and got burgers and shakes and fries.  Yummy!!!!  

Then we went to the DI and Katie found an outfit.  Told the girls they could each get something but Holly didn't find anything she wanted.  

The girls and I then went to the dollar cuts and got our hair trimmed.  Katie got bangs, Holly and I just got trimmed.  Wouldn't even know just our hair is a little healthier feeling now. 

Aahhh Matey, pirate shot in silly bowling
must cover one eye while bowling

Friday we took a road trip out to Kanab and then on to Paria.  We had to take a dirt road back about 5 miles to the Paria river.  The road got pretty rough toward the end.  The views are beautiful.  We got out and walked along the river.  There was a little water in the river so dad splashed the girls and they walked barefoot awhile.  The weather turned shortly after we arrived and we figured we better not stay because our little care wasn't meant for the uneven roads.  The trail was a little slippery like riding on snow but we made it out ok.  Our car was so muddy!!!  We found a restaurant there called Big Al's that serves burgers and fries and ate there before going to Paria and then stopped at Three Bears creamery and shared shakes afterward.  Three Bears is so cute!  Loved all the bears and sayings around the restaurant.  

We home teach the Long's and they had invited us to Sonny Boys in Hurricane at 7 p.m.  We had told them we didn't think we would make it but timing worked out perfect to get a car wash and then arrive right before 7.  So we had a nice dinner with them and their brother and wife and a little lady from Japan who has been staying with them this week  We had a nice visit for about an hour and then headed on to pickleball till the lights went out again!

Not sure what today (Saturday) has in store for us but I think the family wants to rest a little!  

Katie enjoying the Paria river and getting a little mud

Beautiful skies and scenery

No wait...storm coming in!

Photo bomb in back!

Uh oh, better run...dad has a rock and lots of water
to splash on you!

Photo doesn't quite show just how muddy car was

Can see a little better the amount of dirt and dust we
brought out!

Still have off Monday for the holiday and then again next week to go see Taylor and Kennedy sealed in Provo. 

I got some ads to purchase bedding and towels from a company for your dorm room.  I wouldn't mind buying from them except in order to get a really good deal you have to purchase 2 sets of sheets and blanket, pillow, 2 sets of towels, mattress pad, I think there was more, can't remember.  Not sure we would probably buy all that is in the set.  Plus I think it would be more fun to go to Ross or walmart or whatever and let you pick out your own when you get back.  Do you have any thoughts on this? They say your bed there is an X-long and you have to get special sheets for that but I know you can choose that at the store.  They had quite a few to choose from -- if we do decide to buy from them do you have a color preference? They had pretty much everything...gray, blue, red, black -- patterns, plains.  I dunno...still trying to decide.  Plus they were selling mattress pads and shower totes etc.  I'm just not sure what you'll need!  It would definitely be more convenient to just order the set and have it delivered here, just probably a little more pricey. 

So that about sums up our week. 

I have been listening to 2014 conference talks lately (I was going to listen to most recent conference but I still remembered them and I was kind of bored so I decided to go back a little ways and picked up October 2014.  It's been really good -- I don't remember most of what they were saying but they have all been very inspiring great talks. 

Love this sign found on the bathroom door at the
Three Bears Cremery in Kanab, Utah

Bishop Dean Davies gave a great talk about the law of the fast and caring for the needy.  I have to admit I really struggle with fasting.  I get shaky and uncomfortable and I really don't enjoy it.  His talk states that the law of the fast is one of the easier laws to keep with the greatest rewards

Andy Bear

Katie and lil bear

Kissing the bear

Can't resist kissing the bear!

Isaiah then went on to list the wonderful blessings promised by the Lord to those who obey the law of the fast. He says:

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.

“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. …

“And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought.”5

These are great blessings and they make me want to try harder to fast and not let my physical body keep me from the blessings available by following the law of the fast. I want the Lord to answer Here I am when I need him because I have tried to follow his commandments. 

So have a wonderful week and let us know about the lessons you are teaching and learning and what's going on there.  Love you!!! Mom