Half Birthday Fun

On Saturday evening, after a day of fishing for Rich and the boys and a birthday party from 4-6 PM for Josh and Matt, our family headed over to the Rosenhan's for a 2 1/2 birthday celebration for their daughter Savannah. Her birthday falls just two days after Christmas and with the holiday and her dad's crazy fellowship interview schedule, they never had a party for her.

Branden got out a huge painting drop sheet from Wal-mart and made one awesome slip and slide everyone loved. Dora was the cake and treat theme, which my girls loved.

We also celebrated Branden's pulmonology fellowship match at the University of Utah. They will be headed west next July and we will miss them dearly! But we are so happy for them. Though, I realized today I'll have to find a new pediatrician! As Tiffany wrote on her blog, "There's no place like home!" I agree. We will always treasure our four years we have been able to share together with them here in Lexington.

Congrats Tiffany, Branden and girls on your big match!Tiffany's twin sister Danielle was so sweet to take the girls and an extra rider down the long and steep slide.
JoshTreyMattThe birthday girl

Gray's Birthday Party

Our good friends the Millars invited us over for cake and ice cream last Monday to celebrate their son Gray's first birthday. The girls LOVE the Millar boys. The Powells and Kevin Hyde joined us in the birthday fun. Rich and the fellas talked horses downstairs while the kids and women snuck upstairs for some fun girl talk. Thanks Ashlee and Drew!
Brynn loved helping Gray open his gifts.Madison and Nancy

End of School Party!

A week ago Friday, my friend Nancy invited the entire ward/neighborhood to an end of school year party in her backyard. It started at 10:30 AM and went all day. Nancy is one generous and very kind person to host something like this. She did it last year too.

We had swim team in the morning, so we didn't get there until around 1:30 PM. Luckily there were still a few kids and women there so they boys had friends to play with and I got to sit and visit with the ladies. There was so much to do.Can you believe Nancy's husband Wade built this AMAZING tree house in their backyard?!!
Can you tell Wade is an engineer?If you didn't think incredible tree house was enough, this is behind their back fence. I am totally in LOVE with the stream and picturesque Kentucky setting. I think it's breathtaking.

The boys searched the creek for crayfish and the girls enjoyed exploring.One of their finds. We let it go.Matt also discovered a claw.Matt and Porter Grigg. Porter will be baptized next month on the same day as Josh and Matt.Brynn's oft used dramatic face...
Thanks Nancy for such a wonderful afternoon!!

Wishing....

The first rite of summer growing up was Art City Days, Springville City's big day. Sitting in front of the Art Museum and later in front of my uncle and Dad's office we watched the beloved parade at 10 AM. There is always an abundance of candy throwing, free balloons, flyers, high school bands and even flowers passed out to the crowd that lined the main streets. At 16 I bungee jumped from a huge crane in Brookside Gas Stations parking lot. A year later I rode in the back of a pickup through the parade route waving to all the 'Devils' as a Spanish Fork (and hated rival) Cheerleader.

But the biggest highlight has always been FAMILY. Plopped down on the grass with my feet in the street surrounded by those I love. For at least two decades after the parade we would head over to Grandma Nance's for a BBQ. I could never eat enough of my Grandma's tuna apple macaroni salad. It's divine. Now the family meets at my Uncle Dave and Aunt Stacy's house for a fun filled afternoon of food and adventure in their 'Disney' house. What memories. Even my boys, who have been lucky to attend a few times during our years in Kentucky, love this event.

Art City Days was TODAY. My dad sent me this photo this morning as I chatted on the phone with him, music and voices blaring in the background. And I could only WISH I could be there with my little family to savor the day and make new memories I would always cherish.

SWIM!

Trey and Matt picked up their swim ribbons on Friday morning. Ribbon days are always exciting for two reasons. One, you get to see how you did in the meet- personal time and heat finish. Two, Krispy Kreme donuts. Can summer get better than that?Trey took 1st in freestyle, 3rd in backstroke, 4th in butterfly and received a purple participant ribbon for breaststroke. He was disqualified in the breaststroke for his kick at the start, but that no surprise since it was his first time racing that stroke. Matt took fourth place in freestyle. I need to find last seasons heat sheet and compare their own personal times since that is really what you are racing against and hoping to improve.
The weather was a bit dreary and cooler, which meant the pool was nearly empty. But that didn't deter the kids. The girls hadn't been swimming since Tuesday since I had a doctors appointment on Wednesday and we headed to Louisville on Thursday. We are the pool diehards. The kids didn't care if there was sun or clouds or even a few sprinkles. We stayed for three hours, and even got a bit of warm sunshine at the end. I brought my camera to take photos of the ribbons, but had fun snapping shots of the crew since we had the pool almost to ourselves.
I already know that when our time to leave eventually comes, the pool will be one of the things we will miss the most.