September 11, 2013

The kids go to the school on base.  It is an awesome school.  For September 11 both the schools that are on base did a Freedom Walk.  This meant that every child from 1-6 grade walked from their school to the A&FRC for a special program.

The 3rd graders all wrote a speech for the event.  Jonas was one of 2 kids that we selected to read theirs to the huge crowd.  The girls went first and she was pretty nervous.  The principle held the microphone for her and she kind of cowered beside him.  Then it was Jonas' turn... 

First of all, I should say that he chose what he wanted to wear.  He wasn't told to dress up, but he felt like it was appropriate.  He even picked out a red, white, and blue tie.  He is growing up.  

He walked right up to the microphone and wasn't scared a bit.  He read out his speech clearly and did such a great job.  I was so proud of him!

What Freedom Means

by Jonas

Freedom means to me that we can do what we want

and we can have jobs we want.

It can also mean that we can buy what we want

and eat what we want.

You can get what you need and want

When you live in other countries without freedom, you can't do that.

And I'm proud for the people who fight for our country

for us to have freedom.

Now we have freedom, so 

the people who suffered and fought and did what they could

and they won the wars and now we have freedom.

That is what freedom means to me.

After he was finished he sat back down with his class.

To give you an idea of how many he spoke in front of.  

His daddy even got to be there.  A special treat for both of them!

Having Ethan serve in the Air Force is a huge blessing to our family.  It fills us with more respect, admiration, and gratitude for those who sacrifice so much to protect our freedoms.  I have never loved our country more and I feel like I love it a little more each day.  I cry every time I hear/sing The Star Spangled Banner.  During the program a class sang I'm Proud to Be An American and it brought tears to my eyes too.  This country is great, we are blessed to live here.

Family Blue Ribbon Fair

Our Stake had an awesome activity on September 7, a Family Blue Ribbon Fair.  Its the best because they have all the fun stuff for kids (maybe not quite all) but its all free, so they don't have to choose just one thing because their parents are cheap!  It was awesome.

Our first stop was the get hot dogs and then...

COTTON CANDY!!!!!

As you can see, they all had lots of fun with it.

 We got there pretty late because it was a super hot day and we didn't want to be miserable.  We had time to bounce,

to chat,

and to look flippin' adorable.

It was so much fun.  We're already looking forward to next year's.

Labor Day Weekend

When Ethan found out we were moving to California, one of the first things he mentioned was that we would be able to go to my big family reunion in Preston, ID now.  I was so happy that he was willing to make that drive again so quickly!  I married a good 'un.  So, we pulled the kids out of school for 3 days and hit the road east.  The kids do really well in the car, even when they sleep in the most uncomfortable positions.

Since we were going to the reunion with my family, we stayed with Ethan's family the nights we weren't in ID.  This baby has won everybody's hearts.

Then we drove up to Preston.  My kids asked how long it would take and when we replied about an hour and a half, they said, "This is going to be the shortest drive ever!!!"  So funny!  Love that about the kids being such great travelers.

The kids were in heaven.  Really HEAVEN!  The cabin, place, castle (everyone seems to call it something different) is such a piece of childhood utopia.  Its one of the reasons I cry every year over Labor Day weekend when we aren't there.  This wagon my grandpa built many moons ago is one of the greatest things ever.  They have so much fun with it.  I love that Jonas is making his little sister push him.  Funny.

The willow tree is also a huge hit with the kids.  I love seeing them all decked out in willows.  From the left we have Richy's youngest Claire (3 actually, she just turned 4 this week), with Nola (Dave's 10 year old) peeking in the back, then Eliza, Jack (Dave's), and Bella (Richy's).  These three are all kindergarteners this year.  Eliza and Jack are only 2 weeks difference in age, but Jack and Bella are the best friends ever.  Poor Eliza was trying to play with them when Jack came over to his dad and said, "Me and Bella just want some privacy."  Luckily, Claire and Eliza are great friends and Jack and Bella were willing to play with everyone.  I don't think Eliza had a clue they wanted her to leave them alone. So at least they were nice to her, I'm sure it won't always be so.

It just makes me so happy to see all these kids playing together.  We certainly have been blessed with fun and awesome nieces and nephews.  This swing is always a lot of fun, I remember when the whole family would gather round it in a big circle and kids would keep on swinging in the middle of it.  I kind of miss those days.

It was so relaxing just hanging out.

My brother is such a cutie.

We even got a little bird watching in.  I like this pictures.

It was extra special this year because Dave and Adrienne came down from Washington, so all my parents' kids were there.  It was so much fun to see them!

Sunday night is always so much fun.  We gather together with everyone (all my grandpa's siblings and their posterity) and have entertainment and games.  It is the best.

Richy's oldests, Porter and Paige, did a skit Porter transcribed from BYU's Studio C.  Hilarious!

After the program, we sat around the campfire and roasted marshmallows and talked figured out solutions to all the world's problems. :) 

Monday morning is supposed to a big breakfast with everyone.  This year breakfast was a little delayed.  Ethan and I slept outside the tent (due to some major anxiety I have been having within tents lately) and  let's just say, it wasn't the best night to sleep under the stars.  Once it was morning, we all worked together to build a shelter (sort of) so the breakfast could go on.  Nothing says family togetherness like trying to MacGyver a shelter with 100 of your closest cousins, 2nd cousins and uncles.  It was actually quite fun.

And we didn't do too bad.

 My Uncle Mark had his grandbaby and our Abee while I ran around trying to make sure everyone was happy.  The kids were playing BINGO inside and needed a little supervision.

 "Little" Ethan (I'm sure we shouldn't call him that now, but I don't think he reads this blog, so shhhh... he's Sean's oldest (and 14 already!!!)) is growing up so much.  Such a helpful young man, and fun to boot!

When I said the wagon was the kids' favorite thing, I should have mentioned that its their favorite thing unless they are given free rides on the golf cart.  How many kids can fit on this thing??!?!!

It was such a wonderful weekend!  Monday morning we left earlier than we anticipated and we stopped by Smith and Edwards to buy me some new sandals.  It was our kids first time there.  It was awesome.

And then we spent the rest of the day at Ethan's parent's and even had some more family time!

And some more trouble.  This sweetheart is getting to be a little bit of a rascal.

When we said goodbye to everyone, we knew we would be back soon.  It was so easy to just say, "See you next month!"  Well, we said it to everyone except my mom... more on that later. :)