18

Kyle turned 18 yesterday.  We had a hard time thinking of something to do for his big day, he didn't want a party or anything.  We decided it would be fun if he had 18 presents to open, so we had fun thinking of fun things to get.  So we started the morning with Cinnamon rolls, chocolate milk and opening 18 presents.  He spent the day at school, it sounds like everyone at lunch sang to him.  His practice time ended up getting changed so he missed his birthday dinner, we made his favorite enchiladas, and saved him some.  As soon as he got home from practice we did cake and ice cream so the girls could get to bed. After the girls went to bed some of his friends came over and shared his cake and ice cream with him and sat around and talked for awhile. He is a great kid, I cant believe he is 18, we cant wait to see what this year brings for him.

busy weekend

Friday night Kyle had a football game in Camas, he still isn't playing but he traveled with the team and helped out, and cheered his team on, he didn't get home until 2 in the morning.  Hailey had a birthday party at a friends house, all of her friends are turning 16 so she has a lot of parties these days, her party went until 11.  So the three younger girls and Marc and I decided to go to the fair.  We had a good time, the animals seemed extra good this year, there were so many babies- baby goats, baby horses, baby pigs, baby chickens, and baby bunnies, they were all so cute and fun to watch.  We also got to see Katie and Nicoles artwork on display. 

After a late night Friday Hailey had to be at the school by 8:00 for a volleyball game, we didn't get to go watch her,unfortunately they lost their game.  There are several girls that are hurt on her team so Hailey is now playing right side hitter, this is new for her, she is liking the challenge.

Kyle left early Saturday morning to go rock climbing, he really enjoys that, it sounds like some of the climbs were very challenging.

Katie and Nicole had their first cross country race.  Marc and I and Lydie were able to go and cheer them on.  They are both doing very well this year.  This race had kids from all over, there were a lot of kids, Nicole placed third out of all the girls her age and 1st for her school, Katie placed 9th overall and 4th for her school.  We had fun watching and cheering them on. 

This weekend was also Stake Conference so Marc and I had meetings Saturday, and then we went as a family on Sunday, the speakers were excellent, and all of the kids sang a song that they learned over the summer at the youth activity, it sounded really good. It has been nice having everyone home today.

update

School is in full swing, life is busy and good.  Kyle is struggling with a back injury right now, he hasn't been able to play football yet, which is really hard for him.  He seems to be getting better and hopes to be able to play in a couple of weeks.  School for him this semester is pretty easy compared to last year.  One period he is the TA for the football coach/PE teacher, so he just runs errands for him and talks football, another period he is a helper with the special ed. kids, he works with them in the gym, so they will be ready  for the special Olympics, the kids love him, they climb all over him. he is also working on college applications.
This is his football banner-not sure what this picture is all about, They took a bunch of pictures and this is the one they picked, it sounds like all the boys did funny things in their pics.

Hailey made the JV volleyball team, she is one of the setters on the team, I have spent the last two Saturdays at the gym watching her play, she is really enjoying it.  Last weekend she took her drive test to get her drivers license, she passed the test, so on her birthday all she has to do is print out her license.  Hailey's birthday is on a Monday, and the Homecoming Dance is the Saturday before her birthday so we told her if she got asked and wanted to go she could.  She got asked Friday by a boy named Matthew, and she said yes.  Shes pretty excited for her first date.  School is going well for her, she loves her weight lifting class, and also seems to be having fun in her horticulture class.

This is her team

This is how he asked her

Hailey made sugar cookies that spelled yes and took is over to his house


Katie and Nicole are doing well.  They are both on the cross country team, they havent had a race yet, but are loving practices, they even wanted me to take them to them to the school yesterday so they could practice running the course on their own.  school is going well for them, they love art class, Geometry is going to be hard, luckily both Kyle and Hailey are good about helping them. 

 The girls had fun pulling the carrotts out of the garden

Lydia is good.  They offer a special leadership class at her school, only 20 kids get into it, they had to get teacher recommendations and write a little essay about why they wanted to do it. She really wanted to do it, she was so nervous about finding out if she got in it or not, and she got in the class along with several of her friends, she gets to help plan activities and run the school assemblies, she is really excited.

labor day weekend

Labor Day weekend was good.  Hailey dog sat for the neighbors so they let us use their pool while they were gone.  I took the girls over Friday afternoon and we swam.  Friday night we all had different things going on. Kyle went bowling with friends, Hailey had a party at a friends house, Katie and Nicole watched a movie at home, Lydia, Marc and I went to the princess party.  Saturday we ran errands, swam in the afternoon together, did some yard work, and ate big ice cream cones.  Sunday was a nice day of church and family time.  Monday we had wanted to get up early and go for a hike, but Kyle's back injury is still pretty bad, so we decided to just go for a short little hike close by.  we went swimming again in the afternoon and then had a barbecue and a movie night before bed.  It was a nice relaxing weekend

 

we had fun throwing rocks into the river, this is the rock Kyle brought over to throw in

Pennys Princess Party

Our friend Penny threw a Princess Party for some of the little girls in the ward.  She had the girls dress up like princess, and had some of the older girls help with hair and makeup.  She rented a limo and took the girls out to a fancy dinner.  Marc and I got to tag along, Lydia had a great time, she really felt like a princess.

 inside the limo