Our Jr. Jazz Men

The boys played Jr. Jazz this spring and had a blast! Mike Lewis and Scott Judd (not pictured--darn it) were so awesome to coach them!
It has been fun getting to know Kolby better! The boys all love to hang out together! We feel bad that a ton of time is spent at his house as they have a "boy friendly" backyard (huge grassy area to play ball, a putting green, etc)!

Cameron getting his head in the game!

Christian taking a shot!

...and another one!

Cameron put up a ton of points as well. Their team was great! Even if they didn't win a certain game, Christian would report that "we won by default" (if the other team cheated) or "we dominated!" They are such great boys and we love watching them in action!

Since the games were at Mikelle's Jr. High, Kennedy always wanted to go out in the hall and try Mikelle's locker combination!

Got it! What a fun season!

Humanitarian Angel of Mercy

I was in charge of our YW class activity a few weeks ago where I was going to teach the girls how to make bead toys used for kids around the world (I guess they love the feel of the beads etc). I had a lot of things going in life at the time and had only been down to learn the beads (at the humanitarian center in AF) one other time myself... so I REALLY needed everything to work out the next time I went to learn as I would be demonstrating them that night at YW! I said a little prayer before I left our house that morning to please let things fall into place for me as "this was it!" I was definitely shown mercy that day as just as I walked into the humanitarian center, I was greeted by a gal I had just taken care of in the hospital a few weeks prior. I explained what I was doing there and had no sooner finished when she said, "oh great! I have all of your supplies ready at my house (as her ward had just finished a big humanitarian night)...and all of the supplies were donated, so you can just use them and return the finished products to the humanitarian center!" She ran home to grab the supplies while I got to hold her DARLING baby and she returned to give me a private lesson on how to make them! I have had answers to prayers in the past but this was right up there with a few of them!
Here is "the bee" bead toy...

and "the gecko."

She even passed on humanitarian dolls for our ward to work on at our humanitarian night that was in a few weeks!

That evening at YW went well with the girls working on not only the beads, but the ABC coloring books as well!

Yeah! They worked!

We were able to do them at our ward activity as well!

"Oh, how praying rests the weary! Prayer will change the night to day. So, when life gets dark and dreary, Don't forget to pray!":)...pg 140 hymn book.

Aimee's Baby Shower

March was such a fun month as we celebrated our niece Aimee Dimond's baby coming!
It is a Dimond tradition to guess on the weight, height, and hair color as well as the day you think he will arrive!

Aimee and Mikelle could pass for sisters! Aimee always helped us so much with the "baby-sitting years" of our kids! She has been so patient with the arrival of her own! She is truly an amazing gal, so full of love, charity, and service! She will be a wonderful mother!

Some of the Dimond gals!

Aimee and her "Moms!"

Aimee's SIL and MIL were so great to do so much for the shower! Apparently Aimee put on quite the shower for her SIL...so you've got to love paybacks/Karma! Thanks gals!

I didn't include every individual picture taken (for once in my life) so here is the aerial view:)

Opening gifts...this cute quilt and outfit from her Mom, Judy! So cute!

Mama D and Grandpa with Aimee!

Here is cute Lincoln by the magnet board (full of all of our advice). His mom Kristin made this board. She is amazingly talented in many areas!

The new parents to be... Aimee & Cory, enjoying their last few months of uninterrupted sleep and life as they now know it! Life is never the same after having children, but we wouldn't want it any other way! Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your baby boy! We are all thrilled for you!

I Hope They Call me on a Mission!

Our YM/YW did a mini-mission experience. Each youth received their "call" in the mail the week before.
Mikelle was called to one of the Florida missions. Some were called to Spanish speaking missions and took it upon themselves to memorize some of the things they would teach, in Spanish!

The activity was in 2 parts: the first night was the "MTC experience" where they obtained their name badge, found our who their companion was, and learned the first discussion they would teach to a family in the ward the next week.

Mikelle and Hannah at the MTC!

How many YW leaders does it take to check everyone in?:)

Recently returned missionaries taught the youth how to teach. They were so inspiring as they had just returned from their 2 years of service! Brother and Sister Johns in our ward, also spoke to everyone in the chapel as our "Mission Presidents." (They actually were just Mission Presidents in the Dominican Republic a few years ago so it was pretty authentic!)

I think these two are looking extra official in their black coats etc!

The second week, they met at the church and then "set out" on their missions. Mikelle got to go in a "triple"-companionship and was glad as they were all nervous they said!

Our YM/YW Presidents at the time! I refer to them as Jon & Kate (plus at least 8 of us leaders:). Jon was just recently released as they just had their new baby and other pressing obligations etc.

Jules and Megan were assigned our house to teach at (New Zealand/where Steve served). He served them a cold pancake-type-strawberry shortcake dessert which we had been served on his mission there.

They did a great job teaching Steve & Kenz (the golden investigators)! I ran home to catch the last part of their lesson/discussion.

We were all sporting our green clothes on the 2nd night of the activity as it landed on St. Patrick's Day! We all met back after the discussions at the church to share experiences etc.

Group pic-close up...

The whole gang! Such a great experience for all of them to go through! These nights combined with other experiences/planned lessons prior to this, inspired Mikelle to go on a mission! Our President and one of the Laurel advisers are RM's and shared their awesome mission experiences with us. It was amazing how they changed people's lives as they taught them the gospel! I hope I get called on a mission to the New Zealand visitors center with Steve when the kids have flown the coop!

March 2010

Looks like we will have to do a few other posts later to cover March, but here is a start! March/April Gus-b-days: Dad & Darlie! Happy b-day you two!
Mikelle and her friend Hannah making a quilt for one of our YW secretaries (we have 2 since they were both having babies within a few months of each other and this way-they can tag team)! The quilt will be nice for her new baby as well as getting hours for a YW project for the girls!

Making good progress!

Baby still under construction!

Karate keeps on going and Cam keeps up laughing with his karate kid drama moves!

So flexible!

The kids looked so cute on St. Patrick's Day!

Nobody got pinched!

The boys leprechaun trap project turned out cute for school!

St Paddy's Day landed on one of my days to sell the tickets after school for the school play (my PTA job is the School Play Liaison). Had to get a picture of the green hair before it was tossed in the garbage that night (too trashed):!

The Gleasons write, direct, and produce the school play each year. They are truly amazing to take on the casts of 100+ students and do this year after year for free!

This year, the Ericksons filmed/documented everything from tryouts to rehearsals/set construction/ and finally production! It will be so fun to see the DVD of the play and the process it takes to get there... all finished!

Last but not least--my new job/responsibilities at work started including preparing for and conducting my first Charge Nurse Meeting. Mikelle helped me make the covers to the binders I bought and distributed to the 13 other CN's to keep their info in. I had the Costco spread of food ready to go as well as roses for Chris who has been our mama CN until now (new leveling structure changed positions around a little). I have had to attend more meetings for this job but so far it has been fun. I work with such great gals that make my job awesome!