Aidan's Blessing

At first I thought I posted the pictures out of order again, but looking at the chocolate strawberries I tried to do for Aidan's blessing luncheon, I realized that the dessert deserves a top billing. Aidan will soon come to see that chocolate is almost as important as life itself!
Julie and Hayden at the luncheon.
Jennie and Collin after lunch!
Me trying to be as cute as my siblings & family!
Matt & Kimi looking hot as usual!

Jon & Cami did a great job with a yummy Hawaiian Haystack luncheon! It was so fun to be in their new home!
Izzy & Lexie looking darling in their matching dresses!
Grandma Gus has been hard at work on a quilt for Aidan.
Annissa, Cami & Mom pose for me!
Kennedy & Steve looked so cute before we went up for the blessing; I had to snap a quick picture.

The ever growing Gus family!
More luncheon action!
The guest of honor enjoyed sleeping through the whole gathering! He is so cute!! Jon gave him a beautiful blessing. We loved visiting their ward.
This picture reminds me of a quote: Making the decision to have a child--it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body--Elizabeth Stone. Aidan is so precious!
It was so fun to visit with Cami's family! They are all so sweet! Thanks for sharing her with us!!

Work Hard...Play Hard

We haven't posted for 3 weeks! We have been hard at work and hard at play! If there is one thing as a Mom that I can teach our kids, it would be: learn how to work hard! I have a sister I visit teach who told us about a ward she was in where lots of boys were sent home from their missions because they couldn't hack it. They never had to work (around the house or elsewhere) and when it was time to actually have to lift a finger on their missions, they didn't know how!

Needless to say, when Mikelle had one of her first babysitting offers this weekend, I was beside myself with joy knowing that she was going to get some good experience and learn even more responsibility. She took her new babysitting kit and had a great time. I'm sure she did a great job. She is such a big help to me with the kids! I was so proud of her for taking the opportunity (had to sacrifice not being with her friends that night) that I made her favorite treat; chocolate covered strawberries! Way to go Mikelle!
Kennedy is also such a "big helper" at home and wanted to dip a plate of strawberries for herself!
The boys sure know how to play hard and relax after getting their jobs done! As long as work gets done first, I let them "go wild" afterward!:)
All we want and expect is for the kids to try their best at whatever they do!

Steve has been awesome at getting the kids involved with the yardwork! The boys are almost ready to mow the lawn by themselves!
Kennedy models with the hoe in between cleaning up the flower beds!
Great workers!
Kennedy giving it her all on her workout!
We know that all work and no play makes for a dull boy--so we try to combine the two to make work fun!!

Ready or Not... We bopped to the Top!

This past Tuesday was opening night for High School Musical at the Capitol Theater in SLC. My sister-in-law Cami told us about getting tickets many months ago. The hype had kind of worn off for me but we all still had fun and it was a great show. The vocals were better than "the real Zac and Vanessa" and they all did a phenomenal job. I loved watching Steve observe all of the flawless and impeccably-timed scene changes. Things like the basket-balls dropping from the ceiling right on cue for "Get Your Head in the Game," were very spectacular. I can't believe they have been on tour for a year and SLC is their final stop. We didn't notice one bit of energy lacking (unlike myself who was dragging and face-puffy etc...can I blame it on the 1-2 bags of IV fluid from Same day Surgery the day before???...No unfortunately and obviously it wasn't a tummy tuck:)
We saw so many people we knew there. A gal from Utah Valley (where I used to work for 10 years) was there with her girls. Lots of people were there from our old ward. We were all balcony dwellers together. Fair seats-but least expensive!!
All cameras were off limits inside due to copyright etc. So here is one last shot to remember our night on the town! The music left us soarin...flyin....Way fun!

Our Little Steffi All Grown up at Miss United Nations!

I have got to learn how to post the pictures in order-but anywho, on Sat. July 26, Mikelle and me went up to Kingbury Hall in SLC to watch our niece Stefani compete in the Miss UN Pageant.
She looked gorgeous in her watermelon evening gown. There were gals there from all over the world. She made alot of great new friends and especially hit it off with the delegation from Singapore.
Joe and Wendy with Stef! Great parents and a great support through all of her many pageants and activities!
After all of the phases of competition, there must have been a doozie of a tie as they stalled for about AN HOUR to try and come up with results/winners!! One of the judges also served as some of the entertainment. I have heard of her (Jessie Clark Funk) but don't think I have heard her sing etc before. She was really good although I didn't buy one of her CD's during the intermissions! She was great trying to help stall--she called gentlemen from the audience to learn a quick dance routine and then had a "dance-off." Of course the guy who was "kickin" didn't win as they were trying to be funny about it.
FINALLY they were ready to announce the winners! It was a MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT, not only as Steffi wasn't picked as the winner, but that the winners were all of the gals who won last year! That is lame to me to have more than a one year reign! What made it more rediculous was that it took that long to decide that the winners were all repeats! That is fine to be able to enter the pageant again...but why?? You have already won and done your time, served others etc.! Why not give others the chance and have a fresh face on the job etc.? Needless to say, everyone was bummed even though nobody could say or show it there!

We are so proud of her anyway! She is a beautiful young lady who is so talented, kind, and has so much to offer!!
I guess one age group did have a new queen. This was the "Elite" (over age 50) group. The out-going queen (who did not compete again) reminded me a little of Cruella, but did a fabulous job when she spoke of the service they were able to give at a local hospital etc. She explained how women her age still have a lot of heart to give and they are not too old to accomplish dreams etc. She was darling! The lady who won the Elite was from CA and you have got to hand it to her for looking barbie hot! In fact, all of the 50+ gals looked great! Good inspiration!
Here is Stef introducing herself at the start of the pageant. She would have looked too good out on the plains!!
Steffi in physical fitness! They all had to wear the same outfit which I thought was good.
Although it is blurry, "Here She Is" in sportwear. I thought she looked like a young Christie Brinkley. What a doll! Great Job Stefani!! We are so proud!

Whoo Whoooo..Go OWLZ!

Another tradition we love is Cedar Hills Day with the Orem Owlz. This year the day happened to be on July 24th! It was a fun place to be (with the record setting 5,000 other people:)
Lots of friends from our city are always there as well! Here are our good friends the Gordons!
Oopsie! Added this one twice!
Mikelle's friend Madison and her family always go as well.
Kennedy wanted to see the Owl up close so bad and then always gets scared when it is time to say hi! Here is our attempt at least! The poor Owl must die of heat in the costume. We were dying and we weren't even in the costume!

Since life is so busy, I didn't get the tickets from the city until the day before and all they had left was 4 seats together and 2 seats a few rows down. The boys were in HEAVEN sitting together a few rows away from us. It is sad for your kids to grow up but also so nice for them to gain that independence. We were commenting that with the kids getting older, we were actually able to watch and enjoy the game this year!
More good friends..The Boones!
Posing for a scoreboard shot at the end. We didn't win but it was a fun game! Those "Casper Ghosts" were pretty good!
The city called and asked Steve to sing the National Anthem again this year, but since he has had the opportunity for the last few years, he was trying to give others the opportunity. We recommended our neighbor (who is amazing) but apparently they ended up asking this gal. She is 13 and apparently has already sung it a few times at the games as well. We were hoping they would have spread the joy:) What a year for Steve not to do it though darn it--5,000 people could have heard him belt it out:)
We were excited to learn that they were also doing fireworks at the end of the game. It made for a nice surprise and we were able to get our fireworks in for the year (since we were out of town on the 4th where they didn't allow fireworks!) It was a great night together!

Days of '47 Parade Float Preview

One of our favorite traditions is to go up to the Sandy Expo Center (or where ever it is held that year) and see the floats that will be in the Days of '47 Parade on July 24. It is so fun to see them up close and notice details that you really can't see on TV. Our neighbor Kaylee was able to come this year.
Grandma Gus was also able to come and hit it right off with one of the bands that was playing there for entertainment.
Mikelle posing with a live Noah (on the float).

Say cheese! It is so nice having Steve's work right up the street so he can join us as soon as he is off.
This was a float from a Stake in Murray. I accidentally deleted the full picture of it but the smoke stacks (which were recently torn down) were on it and even let out "smoke."
Grandma Gus waits patiently while the kids get their faces painted.
Christian is into the Jazz lately. He and Cameron used babysitting money to help buy basketball jerseys that they wear everyday the jerseys are clean! They had to get a picture by the Jazz player/number that is on their jersey.
Cameron also likes BYU-so he mixed the "cougar-face" look with the Jazz float.

The Days of '47 Royalty! Lookin good ladies! (i.e. live it up before everything heads south:) j/k It is neat that the girls who enter this pageant must have some pioneer blood/heritage!
Us with the oxen! It was a difficult decision to decide which float to vote for!
We ended up all voting for our "alma mater" (We primarily grew up in Farmington). Farmington Stake had done a darling job with their float that depicted the seagulls BBQ'ing up the crickets for dinner. The float was complete with crickets in the green jello salad:) It was so cute and they even had extra seagulls walking around taking pictures with people which also drums up extra love for the float. It ended up winning the People's Choice award.
The kids jumped in line for face-painting. Of course the artist was one of Steve's former students (while he served as the Principal at Indian Hills). I don't think we've ever been anywhere (especially in the Sandy area) when there hasn't been someone who knows or has worked with Steve!

Everyone's faces turned out so cute! The girls all went with the butterfly look and Cougar/Jazz for the boys. It was a really fun night!