Mother's day

We have had an eventful few weeks - with several ups and downs.  The first that gave us all a scare was that Amy's Aunt Louise had a heart attack.  We are thankful to say that she has survived - although with heart damage.  She is now at home recovering, and we are praying that her strength returns quickly.  She is an amazingly spunky, spry lady for 90 and she was still driving before the episode!

We love you!

Mother's Day was also slipped in there, and Jennifer organized the Mother's day beach outing again - what fun and relaxation!  It was funny because the weather was overcast again, but we enjoyed the fact that it wasn't so hot to be uncomfortable.  It rained early afternoon, which was just in time as Amy was planning on leaving anyway to go home for Zachary's investiture program.

Stoic as always! :)

Receiving his pin and patches

Watching the ceremony with Mr. Abel

At Miss Jennifer's, the kids were so sweet and made Mommy a yummy chocolate cake, complete with their own decorative touch! It was delicious!  We ended up hanging out with the Hilliards that weekend, so we took it with us to share.  It was very low-key and so fun to just visit and let the kids play!

Thank you kiddos!

On Mother's Day, we headed out to find breakfast - and landed ourselves at Crepevine - always a favorite!  It is so delicious - how can you argue with that suggestion!?

Love these kiddos!  What a blessing to be a mom!

The handout out of a plant - a little pocahontas feel!

Zachary made a painted mug for Amy at school and this was the bag that it came in.  In case it is hard to read in the pictures, it reads "Happy Mother's Day.  Hope you have a good day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Coffee Mug Inside!!! It is painted!!  You are my sunshine, Mommy!  Hope you have a good day"  And on the back it reads "Post-Script: P.S. the ultimate coffee mug $50,000,000 dollars to buy but I bought it. Now I am poor but I love you.  P.S.S.  I was poor anyway!  I love you"  Love Zachary

Ha ha - what a nut - nothing like actually listing what is inside the gift bag on the outside of the bag! :)  And this is some coffee mug to be $50M! :)

As the school year comes to a close, it was the Young Author's Day again.  It is always fun to go and listen to the stories that they have written!  This is Zachary's last year at Champion as he has decided to switch over to FLEEC next year, so it was bittersweet.  Zachary's story was all about our Utah trip last summer (which WAS a super fun trip!).  Kaleb's story was about the FH leadership weekend when we stayed at the Disney hotel.

Zachary and Jordan

Kaleb showing off his illustrations

The very next weekend, we headed off to Ponce Inlet again with a big group for the official Inaguaral Beach outing for the year.  We had a lot of fun with the group - and BEAUTIFUL weather!

Beautiful weather, friends around, but having a moment - is this what pre-teen moods are like?!

Addison decided this year that she was brave enough to try her hand at "surfing" (aka boogie boarding) - she did SUPER well even when she was flipped off.  Amy kept telling her to keep her mouth closed so she didn't get salt water in it, and that with the goggles seemed to do the trick.  She didn't do it very long enough time, but she went out multiple times during the day to take a few rides.  Good for you girl!

and she is off!

The rest of the day was filled with digging in the sand, volleyball, soccer, water play and eating!  Yum!

It is the floating head.....

Jennifer made Amy a "Little debbie chocolate tower" for her birthday!  Delicious!  Amy used to adore the Swiss miss Cake rolls!

Enjoying a moment to catch up with each other

The whole group - what a great picture!

Random pictures:

Another go-carting picture from Camp Kalaqua

Ready to drive fast!

Sporting a new gymnastics outfit....what we really want to know is who taught her to stand with her hip cocked like that?!

Addison made a cake with Daddy's help for Mommy's birthday.....it was delicious!

On the road again!

Last weekend was Camp Kalaqua - the most anticipated trip of the year.  We were able to leave by 3, so we began our time there early enough.  There were activities there this year on Friday even, but alas we did not get there quite early enough.  When we got there, Amy did a bit of grocery shopping while Karis dropped the suitcases off and came back where we joined friends at the local diner for our traditional kick-off supper.  Always a blast!

Do you see the excitement on their faces?

Notice anything strange on the back of this semi?

It's the only thing on there - hilarious!

At the diner, we had several friends that joined us - which always makes it a fun experience (albeit a long experience)

Maria taking pictures...poor girl with her leg sleeve for an injured muscle!

Addison wanted to sit with the big girls and not the little girl table....in love with the big girls!

Once at the park the bikes come out as well as the soccer ball of course.  After that, we rarely see the boys except for rare brief sightings...although Addison we do keep her with us.

She decided that she wants to learn to ride without her training wheels after seeing her friends!

He may just a BIT too big for the doll seat on the back of her bike!

There are various worship events throughout the weekend, and the Friday vespers had a fun-making contest.  John demonstrated how to do it the next morning to our kids again.

On Sabbath, there was a bee farmer that did his presentation and enthralled the kids!

Although Addison just wanted to watch Grandma Linda knit this baby blanket!

Lunch was in the cafeteria with the group and then it was off to the zoo and canoeing!

Old enough for the adults to sit together and the kids at a different table!

Getting a ride on Daddy's shoulders in the zoo

The master canoer...

Addison taking her turn at canoeing.  It is a wonder she didn't lose the paddle!

A lady had a hard time canoeing with her children, and Duncan came to her rescue, paddling his canoe and towing hers back - all while standing up.  What a gentleman!

Speaking of gentlemen, Karis got a chair and brought it over to Amy where her seatmate exclaimed how much of a gentleman he was and then all of a sudden he sat himself down!  Ha ha ha ha!  So much for being  gentleman!

We had the fun Sabbath supper potluck again - although it ended up being a bit rushed with the tubing taking longer for those that went - so when we got together to eat, we took a picture and missed out on some folks....we love you even though you're not in the picture - even our own Zachary wasn't in the picture! :(  Oh well, it was still fun!

Missing a few key people - Isidros, Abel, David, Zachary, William

The camp is always fun with the kids having fun playing soccer, riding bikes etc while the parents enjoy playing with them and chatting with each other....

Zachary is somewhere out there...

On the playground bench...

Satruday night is the game night in the gym and the hayride.  The sleeping bag race is always a highlight for the kids -and killer on the dads!

Balloon race game....Kars and Kaleb taking a breather on the far chair.

Out of breath! :)

Enjoying the hay ride with Maddie

Good old times sake!

Watching the Price is Right Game afterwards in the chapel

On Sunday, there was the blob, pony rides (Addi) and the go-carts.  We ended up staying until about 1P and then heading on home - it was a great weekend!

Addison in the pink helmet with Daddy driving...

Ready to do the blob!

And he launches himself!

Playing in the water afterwards

Phrase of the week: Addison and Grandma were drinking one day, and had a discussion about whether juice or water was better - Addison looked at Grandma and said "TRUST me, Juice is better!"  How can Grandma trust such a slanted opinion though! :)