Hill Cumorah Pageant

A few months ago a member of our Bishopric mentioned that our family should consider applying to be in the Hill Cumorah Pageant. I told him they don't want families like mine with all these little kids. He assured me that we were exactly what they were looking for. At the time I thought there is no way my family, especially Dan, would ever go for that but I brought it up that night at Family Night. To my surprise everyone said yes and were excited about it!

I looked it up and found out that you apply August 15th through mid-October. It has been interesting throughout the summer... It seems like I run into people everywhere who have been in the pageant and tell me what a great experience it is. Before this year the only person I had met who had been in the pageant was the member of our Bishopric.

August 15th came and I got on that day and applied for our family to be in the pageant. That day I got an automated response stating that I should receive a signature page to take to our Bishop within 24 hours. Well 24, 48, and 73 hours went by without receiving this signature page. I was beginning to wonder if we were just out of the picture or if our application was lost in cyberspace.

I looked up a number on the website and called. I was able to talk with the director David Broadbent who made me even more excited for this experience. We talked about Zion's Camp (which is where most but not all of the families stay while there) He told me they can only fit 56 families in so the other families have to look for other alternatives. I told him how big my family is and he said that is good news because it moves us up on the priority list. Great News.

Also, he told me they are having a lot of technical issues so the application procedure is being delayed. I asked if there was anything we could do to enhance our chances of making it. I told him that I didn't put down any talents because we sing in church but aren't professionals or anything.

He said that because we have a large family it increases our chances. Also, he said being a leader and being willing to be a leader are the main thing that they look at. He said the mere fact that we said we'd be willing to be over a cast group was a strong positive for us. He said to write an email gushing about us and listing our leadership experience.

We are excited! If we get in we hope some of our family will come watch!

Happy Birthday Caleb!!

Caleb had a lot of fun yesterday on his 1st birthday. He wasn't shy at all about diggin' in and getting dirty.

And he's walking! Well at least taking steps.

Father's Day

The kids and I made this video for Dan for Father's Day! This is the condensed video b/c the other one was too large to upload. We had fun but making movies is a lot of work!! I don't know how my sister can make so many but maybe they'll get easier the more I make.

Face paint

Caleb's Crawling!!!

It's official! We have a crawler in the house.



Today Caleb woke up with a fever. It is so sad when babies don't feel well & at 10 months I think this may be his first, but not sure... I guess I take that back. He had RSV at the beginning of the year but has been healthy since so I almost forgot about that 3 week sick period.

Anyway, here are some recent pictures because he is growing up so quickly and we just think he is a doll!

Funny Baby

Caleb was just cracking himself up. Such a cutie!!

Schools OUT!!

Today has been a week since we got out of school. We got a late start to summer and the weather isn't helping that at all. We had the heater on this past weekend!!

Savannah had a kindergarten program and then we were able to go back to her classroom and find out her teacher for next year. She was lucky enough to get Hailey's first grade teacher so that is very exciting, also she was able to end school a day before all the other kids.
Savannah and Miss Dahl

Dan & I went to the assembly at Old Mill (Elementary) because last year our kids got so many awards and only Hailey's teacher had invited us to come. We didn't want to miss anything even though we weren't told ahead of any awards coming. Hailey received the TOP CITIZEN in her class. She is so excited because she got the same award in first grade too.


Jacob didn't receive any awards in the assembly but his teacher pulled him out before the assembly to let him know that she was only allowed to give 2 students the top academic award and that she had 3 that were tied. She had to pull the names out of a hat and Jacob didn't get one. We thought that was nice of her to do.

Amber received a 4.00 average for the entire year! She is an incredible student and all of her teachers always love her. I was looking through her yearbook and came across her teacher's signature. Here is what she wrote, "Well what to say to the PERFECT student? I know THANK YOU. If I had an ALLSTAR class you would definitely be a #1 draft choice! Keep up all the work and dedication .. I know you will be a huge success in all that you do. I am going to really enjoy watching you grow up! Stay in touch. Stay Gold- Mrs. Straughan" That really makes a mom proud!!!

Danny did awesome too but was very ready for summer. He really enjoyed the last couple days of school because they got to sign yearbooks. We had a lot of fun looking at it together and finding all the pictures of his friends and going through the 7th grade looking at all the students. He told me who they were and how he knew them. ... some good bonding time! Amber started and summer pre-Algebra class and when the teacher found out she was Danny's sister she said what a good student he was. Also his science teacher wrote on his report card that he is such a great guy and not many students maintain a perfect average the entire term. We are proud of the teenager he is turning into. We're hoping this trend continues!!

While the big kids were off at out of school parties we held one of our own. Jacob and Hailey both invited friends over and had a great time. Caleb even got into it.

Amber is 12!!

We had a last minute party for Amber at Papa's Lot. Half of my family is in Hawaii so we pulled together the few families that stayed behind and were able to celebrate with Amber.
Kyliee really enjoys her cousin Caleb!
Katie and her yummy dessert!
Its tricky to get 12 candles into stawberry shortcake!! But that's what she wanted.
I actually got Danny to take a picture with his sister.

The Beehives came and decorated Amber's door to welcome her into YW. She is sooooo excited!!

New Birthday Outfit!

Ginger & Caleb

Swimming