Nine Things I love about my Nine Year Old

Nine things I love about my very favorite son:

1. He always happy

2. He loves to make jokes and make other people laugh

3. He is very tender hearted

3. He still acts as if he adores me. (just the other day he came up to me, gave me a big hug and rubbed my tummy as said, "mom I just love the way you are." I love the way he is too.

4. His teachers at school and church tell me he is well-mannered and they enjoy teaching him

5. He is dedicated and passionate about soccer

6. He wants to do what is right

7. He adores and admires his father (he did hit the "daddy lottery")

8. He is a sweet brother and will do anything to care for his sisters (especially Ava right now)

9. He is a hard worker

This is actually a picture taken at Ava's 4th Birthday. Easton of course is helping with the nails, he will do anyting to make Ava happy:) Let me tell you if he makes Claire happy he makes Ava happy. They love, love, love each other as much as any newly 4 year old cousins could!

Easton being silly. He is good at this:)

Easton blowing out his "nine candles" on his homemade birthday cake. It's his favorite chocolate cake:) We had a family party this year. I made his favorite dinner which right now is Won Ton Chicken Salad, with yummy bread(not homemade) and grapes on the side. I love that salad is his favorite meal. It used to be mac and cheese before I put too many pureed carrots in it trying to disguise it as cheese:( He is forever ruined. I love you Easton!

Page High School Reunion

At the last minute I joined Jimmy and Lisa at the Page High School Reunion. It spanned a decade and just missed mine, so I wasn't going to go. At the last minute Lisa talked me into it. I really do mean the last minute. I decided on the way home from girls camp. I stopped at home for 15 and my sweet husband took me to the airport... I am so glad I went. It was such a blast. We stayed on a houseboat and stayed up all night talking in the hot tub on top of the boat. All really Lisa's friends that I always grew up admiring. It was such a fun weekend!

Some of Lisa's best friends..

.

My high school...

This is the house we lived in when I was in High School

I must admit, Jimmy told me if I wore this shirt people would ask if I was pregnant... They did:)

At the last minute I joined Jimmy and Lisa at the Page High School Reunion. It spanned a decade and just missed mine, so I wasn't going to go. At the last minute Lisa talked me into it. I really do mean the last minute. I decided on the way home from girls camp. I stopped at home for 15 and my sweet husband took me to the airport... I am so glad I went. It was such a blast. We stayed on a houseboat and stayed up all night talking in the hot tub on top of the boat. All really Lisa's friends that I always grew up admiring. It was such a fun weekend!

My 8th Grade Graduate

I try not to brag to much on my blog, but Here are a few things I want to remember about Paris as she moves on to High School. First of all, I can't believe we have a freshman. She is absolutely the perfect teenager, and really the perfect daughter. She makes parenting a dream! I couldn't ask for nothing more...At every event I attended over the last couple of weeks I keep tearing up, realizing my baby is growing up. I know time will fly and before too long she will be leaving the nest. I can hardly stand the thought!

Paris and Darin outside the DaffyFilm Fest. She never shies from public affection with her parents. I love that about her.

Whenever I go to the school or any of her events she always seems so happy to see me and have me around... She has never once made me feel like she was embarassed of me. I know all her teachers and all her friends by name and vice versa. I love that she let's me be such a part of her life. I hope so much this lasts forever:)

Paris has sooo many different friends. She is truly nice to everyone. Her friends all know our family, because she is happy to introduce her siblings... All of her friends love when I bring Ava to school.

She's beautiful and smart! She only got one B all year!

She went on pointe this year and worked really hard to make the High School "Poms" team. She has become a beautiful dancer!

She made incredible friendships!

She received the "Filmaker of the Year" Award for her school. Her teacher choked up when announcing the award. He has worked with her for the last two years. He has privately told me on several occassions while a "special person" she is. Actually every one of her teachers has expressed this to me in ways that have been completely unsolicited and genuine.

For once we were the first ones to arrive at the film award ceremony. The kids are saving our front row seat. I don't want to ever forget how much she loves her siblings!

Her film group won the "people's choice" award in a High School Film contest. Her group was the only middle school group nominated. It was an honor for her and the school. These two teacher have been some of her favorite ever. She loves them!

Last, but not least Paris was chosen to speak at her 8th grade graduation ceremony! She chose to go on a trip with her friends instead of attend the last two days of school. She doesn't regret her decision, but I was disappointed I didn't get to hear speak. She didn't even hesitate when given the choice. She's amazing and needless to say we are so proud of her. I couldn't stop crying the last couple of days of middle school. I can't imagine HS graduation...

The Boy Who Got Everything He Ever Wanted

For Darin that is-he planned every second of the weekend and here is what we did...
Thursday night: Darin brought home The kids were over the moon!e dry ice leftover from a stored body part:) The perks of his job are endless!

Darin had planned a bike ride through cherry creek, then 16th street mall, then the game. Instead we went swimming and then to the Rockies Game with our dear friends, the Jenson's.

The Rockies game for the little girls was all about Cotton Candy. I am not sure if they actually knew there was a game being played. For all they knew it was about finding the "cotton candy man" and singing and dancing at will...

Not pictured here:
The outdoor theatre "Schools out Party" Savanna had on Thursday night. It was a bit windy for our handmade system, but still fun...

Not pictured here:
Paris who is in AZ with our friends for 8 days. Not pictured: our aching hearts missing her, she's never been away so long.
Note: Her heart was not aching, she was having the time of her life!

Sunday Night

We had friends from the ward and John and Shauna over for dinner. After our guests leave Darin and I look over and each other wishing we never promised to camp out in the backyard...

A promise made is a promise kept, and look how happy she is about it!

Monday morning we biked 15 miles with all of these kids down the platte river into downtown. We ate pizza, then headed home on the light rail. It turns out it's a bit of an ordeal getting 13 kids on the train along with their bikes. It also turns out it's worth every bit of that work. We had such a blast. The weather was perfect and the good company was worth it. Pictured here: Jensons, Allred's and the John Gillespie and his girls (we missed Shauna who is large with child)

Paris was on her way home from az. with her two best friends, Maddy and Macy. She got in at 11:30 and we were all up to greet her, along with half our culdesac who joined us for a spontaneous bonfire and smores...