Afton's 10th Birthday!

We spread the birthday celebrations for Afton over an entire week!

There was so much going on, that we couldn't fit us all in together for one night.

For her actual birthday breakfast, Afton ordered breakfast burritos...

We let her open her presents, since she would be busy that night.

In between dance and activity days, Afton picked Panda Express for dinner

and then took cupcakes to Activity Days to celebrate with friends.

Two days later, she got an official birthday cake and singing!

The next day she got her ears pierced and went shopping and got pedicures with Mom!

We love our sweet, helpful girl.

She is so bright and talented and brings so much to our family!

Daddy-Daughter Dance

The Activity Day girls planned a Daddy-Daughter night for their activity last month.

It was fun seeing how excited Afton was to go on a date with her dad!

The girls chose a movie-star theme and walked the red carpet with their dads,

then they had a fancy dinner, dancing, games, and a photo booth...

I helped take pictures of the girls and their dads and it was so cute seeing how much these dads and daughters adored each other!

BYU Football @ Notre Dame

Paul's aunt Julie came out for a visit and since Paul had to fulfill some duties elsewhere, Afton and I took her to the BYU football game at Notre Dame.

It was a really fun experience--

the fans were great, stadium was amazing, and the weather was pleasant!

Hanging out in the Quad--lots of BYU fans...

including many of our friends, both near and far!

It was like a reunion!

Afton and Sadie hanging out, waiting for lunch

Notre Dame library with the famous "Touchdown Jesus" painting

Beginning of the game

Aunt Julie and Afton

We had some high-up seats, but it was great for blocking the wind and getting a great view of the stadium

Mom and Afton!

BYU is up at halftime!

Unfortunately, the lead didn't last, but we had a great time anyway!

Matt & Afton's 1st day of school.

I sent my little boy off to middle school today.

I didn't think I was that mom who gets sad about her kids leaving for school,

but I realized how quickly he's growing up...

 He gave me two nice pictures and then wouldn't pose anymore.

I caught this as he watched out the window for the bus...

He just seems so little waiting for the bus by himself!

He wouldn't let me embarrass him by standing by him on the driveway for a picture, so I had to stay at the front door.  Seriously, when did he turn into the kid that's embarrassed by his mom?

And there he goes

 Afton was a lot more cooperative.

I think it must be a 4th grade girl thing!

You can tell she's a lot more concerned about her outfit.

She picked it out and laid it on her bed last night.

The opposite of her brother, who wouldn't even let me iron his wrinkly polo.

Oh man was she excited for school!

 She was thrilled to meet her teacher yesterday and find friends in her class.

She's even offered to sit by Halle on the bus tomorrow!

Waiting for the bus...

And she even gave me a cute turn-around shot!

So I'm not going to cry, but I will spend my day thinking about them and praying that their first days are terrific!

Mothers' Day Gift

I saw this idea on Pinterest, 

and with my new photography class learning,

thought it would make a sentimental gift for our mothers...

I was really excited at how well the pictures turned out!

I even made the same gift for me of my beautiful girls in my wedding dress!

Countdown to Afton's Dance Recital

Afton's regular dance classes finish up the year by letting the parents video and photograph the rehearsal numbers.

It is so fun for us to watch Afton's  years of practice and hard work pay off!

 The cute jazz class dances to "Hello"

It is so fun and catchy!

And the elegant ballerinas.

I love that this studio choreographs the ballet numbers to classical music!

Such a great education on traditional ballet.

We are excited to watch Afton on the big stage this weekend.

Happy Birthday Sweet Afton

Afton turns 9 today!

We love having this sweet girl in our family

She tries hard to be helpful and obedient.

She's even very understanding about celebrating her birthday early...

Afton had a fun friend party on Saturday-

they all painted pictures and had lunch and cupcakes.

The girls were so good and it was fun to see them use their artistic skills!

Happy Birthday to Afton!

Dancing Queen

Afton has become quite a dancer the last few years.  

It is so fun to see how much she learns during each year and get to see what a beautiful dancer she is becoming.  And I get yet more chances to practice photographing some "action" shots!

A New School Year...

The big kids have been in school for a week now, 

and I'm just posting their first day.

I'm still getting back on schedule too!

While my kids may not get a hot breakfast every day,

they know they will get one on the first day of school!

We had overnight french toast and berries--it was delicious!

Paul was able to be home in the morning to send them off!

He promised not to embarrass them this year.

(Hence, the cool high-5s instead of hugs and kisses)

A successful first day for Afton!

She's in 3rd grade now at the intermediate school with Matthew!

And Matt had a good day too--he just doesn't show it!

This is his last year at the intermediate school-

Next year he will head out an hour earlier to the middle school.

It's amazing how quickly his school years have gone!

They WILL be Cougars...

I'm starting my kids young.

I want them go to BYU when they get older,

so I'm taking no chances now!

Not living near BYU, I found a way to get them loyal to my alma mater early...

Send them to camp!

Matt went to JimmerCamp while we were in Utah,

and while he told me he it wasn't that exciting, I know he loved it.

Every morning he would tell me to hurry up, he even helped me find the parking spots!

I didn't get a good picture of Matt at camp, but this is what happened one of the days...

And Afton went to BYU Cheer Camp.

She loved it!  She wants to go to a football game this fall so she can "see" her friends, the cheerleaders!

They learned a lot of "sideline" cheers...

and a dance...

Afton has informed me that she is going to camp every year now!
Hey, if it helps her get to BYU, I'm all for it!

Meeting the Newest Arrivals

We spent most of our July in Utah.

It was so much fun and we were very busy, 

so it'll take me a few days to catch up!

We had two new nieces and a nephew
born in the last two months,

which means we had some snuggling to do!

Lucas-Chad & Jordan's little guy

and Ella-Spencer & Britt's darling girl.

And the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

The girls loved holding the new babies!

 Lucas enjoys getting to know the girls...

And Nora couldn't get enough of "Baby Ook"

 Nora also loved holding baby Ava,
Sarah & Andrew's sweet girl who arrived in June

And we were lucky enough to be there when baby Ella made her appearance.

We went by the house a week later so the kids could love on their new cousin.

You may notice someone missing from these pictures...

Matt isn't so much into the babies--he'd rather hang out with the uncles!