congratulations graduates!

another school year has come to an end!  well, not for me - why did i choose a year round school again?  geez... my nephew Sam graduated from snow canyon high and is also turning in his mission papers!  he should be getting his call sometime this summer and we are so excited for him!  i forgot my camera as i was rushing out the door... but we are so proud of him!  way to go SAM!

miss katie also graduated from millcreek.  she was working on her packets until the bitter end, but she made it!  good job katie girl! (she sung her class song and did wonderful!)

year 5

wow.... i have a 5 year old.  it really is crazy.  he is getting so smart.  we didn't celebrate his birthday until later because of all of the things we have going on lately.  i've been pretty busy.  really his birthday was going to disneyland, but i did want to give him some cake and ice cream.  he also got a few gifts from family and friends - including his grandma and grandpa in indiana - thank you!  and my aunt and uncle in finland - leena and ossi - thank you too!  also thanks to aunt deni and uncle bart and their kids for being there and for the play dough.  anyway.  good times for this kid - and i'm excited to see what 5 has to offer phew!

ron's birthday

we went out to durango's and cold stone for my step-dad's birthday.  it was nice to eat together because we really don't very often.  we got to visit a little bit and have fun spending time together.  happy birthday to you!

freedom, freedom!

with all of the fires that were going on in the last few months, our little town of hurricane canceled their fireworks.  although, you could use ground fireworks in certain areas.  the city of st george still put on their shows, but we went to my sister Deni's house and shot off some of our own.  the fourth has always been one of my favorite holidays for many reasons and the memories that seem to be created on that day.  oh summer.  too bad i'm a teacher and work year round!  anyway.  here are some pics of our fun.  and thanks, Deni, for always being so great!  plus it even rained!

keepin' it wright

a couple of good friends of mine asked me to take some pictures of their family for their mom's 70th birthday.  they say she never seems to be in the pictures and would really like to give her that for her birthday.  so they asked me and made me a nervous wreck!  i'm just so not confident when it comes to doing families and people... but this is what i got.  they say they aren't too picky, so let's hope that's true - they are used to my sissy's pics!   gah!

{four}

today i started out the day knowing i was now a mother of a FOUR year old - EGAD!  wow.  i have a four year old...  time really does go by so stinking fast.  so today we celebrated!  well first, i woke him up with a birthday song and him breaking through the streamers across his doorway (thanks pinterest).  he tried to crawl under them and then, after some prompting realized that it was to go through and not under haha.  i did get it on video and it's pretty hilarious.  he picked out a ding-dong for breakfast and after watching him in the primary program for church not being able to hold still - maybe okaying the ding-dong wasn't a great idea.  oh well .  he provided some good entertainment for us.  when we got home from church he was so patient to wait to eat his cupcakes until his cousins got here and we ate first.  we had some good bbq grub and opened presents and then when the cousins left we did a bath with glow sticks (also thanks to pinterest).  ended the night watching his birthday express thomas movie.  it was a pretty good day overall.  although he could have probably used a nap, but he is still going strong (it's 10:20 pm - with NO nap).  i'll share some pictures i took of him throughout the day.  wow.  he's four.  

so excited to be four!

 how old are you jorel?

 cupcakes!

 cousins!

blowing out the candles

  presents!

 gator golf from his cousins

 chocolate mustache! 

 glow stick bath