Andrew and Ashley have piano lessons most Mondays in June and July this summer. The swing in Mrs. Sjaanie's front yard is everyone's favorite.
Andrew has baseball first and then piano, and all done by 10 am.
Our across the street neighbor, Josh Linford, and his little brother Ben come over to play basketball with the kids often. Josh would be leaving for his mission to Canada in 2 days from this picture and so this was their last summer night basketball game. Our kids will miss him and will have changed so much in the 2 years he's gone. He's a great young man and will be a hard-working missionary I'm sure.
I went for my hair appointment and who should be there too? Nana!
Ashley's 9th Birthday celebrations were so much fun! Her party was the day before the real day.
Ashley had 29 friends come, plus siblings and cousins. The weather was perfect and the party was a big success. We played sharks and minos while we waited for everyone to arrive. Then, we started with everyone in the backyard for a quick group game. Everyone had a balloon tied to their ankle and everyone tries to pop others' balloons and not let their own get popped.
Then I split the kids into 5 groups and the groups rotated to the 5 stations through the back, front, side yards and back patio. The stations were Ashley's favorite things to do: Soccer/Crab Soccer, Cookie/Cupcake Decorating, Basketball (sidewalk chalk, hula hoops, sprinkler were there too for kids that aren't super sporty), Trampoline Dodgeball and Painting.
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Crab Soccer (Ashley is in the pink shirt and blue shorts)
Trampoline Dodgeball. Jojo was in charge of that station, outfitted in his jean overalls :)
Basketball - Playing Lightning
Painting a wooden animal figure
Cookie Decorating
Nate and Charlie spent their time trying to get this balloon out of the tree
And filling and dumping out water cups
Singing Happy Birthday
Opening Presents. Hailey worked hard on the multi-level blue, green and white present she made for Ashley.
After presents and cake the kids were ready for a water balloon game and then sponge dodgeball on the lawn. But first....
Dave snuck up behind unsuspecting Ashley with the jug of ice water
Everyone wanted to try! So funny!
The guests all left with their painting project, decorated cookie, water squirter and some candy. It was a great party! Ashley is a great friend and has a lot of great friends!
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A nice haircut for this handsome face
Ashley's real birthday was another beautiful summer day. Andrew must have had baseball, I can't remember now. The other kids and I went swimming at the neighbor's. It is so much fun to be able to do that. Before we go we always go under our big tree in the front yard for sunscreen.
They are each beautiful, wonderful kids. In this picture, Katie's gorgeous little face stands out to me.
Katie is more brave this year, leaving the steps and enjoying paddling around.
Ashley on the slide
Cannonball Hailey
And flipping and diving Hailey
Diving and cartwheeling Ashley
Nate LOVES to squirt water from the steps
Katie Kate
Ashley did a week long Skyline soccer camp. She loves soccer so much she even wanted to go on her birthday. Here are Grace, Becca, Ashley and SaraJane.
For dinner Ashley chose to get Panda Express Chinese food and eat it at Sugarhouse park.
Nana and Papa came over for cake and family presents.
Ashley's candy poster from Daddy
And just like that she's 9 years old. We love our Ashley girl so much. She does so much to help, lift, brighten and love. She makes us so proud. She works so hard. She has gained so many talents and strengths because she is such a hard worker. She is happy, positive, full of light and strong. She is loving, forgiving, sweet, funny, smart, happy, fast, competitive, ticklish, thoughtful, responsible and more than I could've ever dreamed to ask for.
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Andrew joined a comp basketball team. The team is mostly 6th graders from the Olympus area though Andrew, Seth I and Matt K are 5th graders from the Skyline area. They entered a tournament in Sandy and got pretty crushed but, it was interesting to see and he seemed to have fun and learn a little too.
Backyard Slip N Slide
Hailey playing Lincoln Logs in the driveway...?
Grandpa Bob had a yard sale so we took some things to add to it. We said goodbye to both our boy and girl crib bumpers. We also sold the bassinet, infant carseat, toys and such. It's a strange thing to be leaving the stage of having new babies. I'm so grateful for my 5 beautiful babies. I'm not ready to leave that phase but, I guess it has left me.
Ashley and Hailey both like softball/baseball so much during the Spring season that I signed them up for a softball clinic that met 5 times. It ended up being incredibly hot, a little boring and not very beneficial so they went to 3 and called it good.
June means lots of baseball practice for Andrew. The end of June means lots of baseball games for everyone! The kids do a good job of cheering for Andrew and finding fun ways to keep busy during his games.
Andrew's first tournament was the Farmington Invitational. It's a fun one because teams are (generally) placed in a pool with similar competition. Then the winners of each pool play each other. Here's Andrew after an awesome win, then a little break and on to play another game.
Nice Hit Andrew!
Fast food dinner after the game.
We had free tickets to the X games or Motor Cross or something like that. It's a fun show watching the skaters, bikers and motorcycle riders do big tricks off.
A walk through President's Circle back to the car
Ashley's Sunday Birthday dinner. She chose spaghetti as the main course. We also served BBQ chicken and lots of other yummy food.
Damon, Andrew, Ethan and Mac
Alyssa and Hailey
Another swim lesson day. Generally the lessons are Monday-Thursday for 2 weeks in a row.
A trip to Bob's Brainfreeze for Katie, Hailey, Ashley and Ellie
Swim day!
June got a haircut
June's mom had another litter of puppies and we went to visit them before they all went to their new homes.
Andrew and Job
Ashley and Ellie
Andrew, Ashley, Hailey and Kate. I can't remember what they are doing but, I hope they can always remember the happy times they spent together and I hope they can be kind and good to one another always.
Andrew's team won 3 and lost 1 in their tournament pool, which made them the leader of the 2nd pool. They went on to play the winner of the 1st pool in the Championship game. They played hard and lost putting them in 2nd place for the tournament. They did great throughout the tournament and I was so proud of them. The first and second place teams in each age division received trophies after that Championship game. They were thrilled and had a great time!
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Dave is 2nd coach on the far left. Andrew is 6th player from the left in orange cleats.
Receiving his Trophy
Andrew is back row, first on the left. Dave is coach on the right.
Andrew and Job
Ashley's friends Nathan J, Mac I and Andrew. Baseball divisions are each 2 years. So one year the player is young, the next they're old. This year Andrew is old since it's a 9-10 year old division. It's fun that way and makes each year different.
After a LOT of baseball we had a little break. We started with a Cherry Hill day. Job Johnsen's mom and family came and we brought a few of Ashley's friends too.
Here's Ashley is a pink shirt with Nathan J, Ellie and Roxy
Hailey
Ashley holding Nathan
Sleepy Nate
Andrew and Hailey in everyone's favorite; the lazy river
Nate watching the DVD on the car ride home. So adorable!
Princess Katie and Scooby Doo Nate
These 3 cuties and I went to a late ward softball game to cheer for Daddy. It was actually pretty chilly so they kept warm by playing and laughing in our blanket.
And that's a wrap on a fun-filled June!
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