Annie Musical

                                 

Sadie wrote and directed a musical for our kids and 3 other families in our neighborhood.

(The Bradys, Cantwells, and Hamiltons).  

The Bradys and Cantwells have been doing a family bookclub with us for the past few years 

and we decided to take a break and do a musical this month.  

The kids took it all on themselves and the parents just got to enjoy.

Sadie learned so much and really developed some great skills 

in organization, technology, management, choreography, time management, etc. 

They did a great job performing it- 

I was happy to see my children "anxiously engaged in a good cause"

Sadie was Miss Hannigan, Packer was Rooster,

Myriam was Annie, 

Holland was an orphan,

 Hunter was a policeman

(and he managed the music/sound)

What great kids!
Here is the link to the youtube video:
"Annie by Sadie"

Monument Valley Trip

Over fall break, I took my family to Monument Valley with some of my siblings and their families.

 We had an indian placement brother, Eric Cly, who was from there.

Donny and Myriam bagpiped "Go My Son" at his grave.

(He was struck by lightning 8 years ago while selling indian jewelry)

 We had a bus tour- this photo is in front of a monument called "3 Sisters"

We hiked to the top of a huge Mesa- 

(it was one of my favorite hikes ever)

On the way there, we stopped at Goblin Valley and had a hay day!

As we pulled up and my kids looked out at the neat arrangements of rocks 

they saw a huge playground and gave a huge cheer in our van.

(They were as happy as if they had arrived at Disneyland)

They took off running- they climbed and played and explored all morning.

It was the perfect time of year to go because it wasn't hot!

On the way home, we stopped and hiked to Delicate Arch.

 During all our hiking, we had a "buddy system"

to keep track of all our kids.  

Myriam had to do a lot of hiking with Benson,

Sadie with Holland, Donny with Packer, and I was with Hunter.

(Hunter got a lesson here about not carving his name at a National Park!)

It was such a fun, quick trip.

Thanks to Lizzie and Charles for drumming it up and inviting us.

2014 4H/Lamb Photos

 This year we enjoyed raising and selling lambs again at the fair.

Sadie's lamb didn't weigh enough to be sold at the fair, so she only earned money for showing her lamb.

Myriam earned a good amount of money because she bribed the sellers 

by telling them she would bagpipe for them afterwards (which she did and they loved it)

Packer's lamb weighed exactly 100 pounds, so he barely made it.  

He and Sadie's lambs weren't that healthy this year- they had prolapsing issues.

This was a tough year to do lambs because we were gone to Nauvoo for 2 1/2 weeks,

but thanks to great friends and neighbors, they were taken care of while we were gone.

Hunter can't wait until next year to be able to have his own lamb. 

(The kids can start the summer after their 3rd grade year)

We are also grateful for a great neighbor, Kip Farmer, who provides all the lambs 

which is an awesome experience for our children to learn responsibility.

Grandma and Sophie were so supportive to come up
 and see the kids show their lambs at the fair.

Myriam is phenomenal at showing her lamb.
She has such great showmanship and lamb control.

Packer and his lamb, "Dandilion"

Myriam and her lamb, "Buddy"

Sadie and her lamb, "Strawberry"

2014 Kid Portraits

My sister, Sophie, took fantastic photos of us yesterday.

She is as good as a professional.

Look at these cute kids!

 Benson

 Holland

 Hunter

 Myriam

 Packer

Sadie