4th of July

July 4th, 2013

Pancake Breakfast and Fun Run

Our Neighbor hosted a 4th of July full of fun for the kids.  Here are all the kids who decided to run a 1 mile fun run. 

It was amazing how many did it.

This is right before Benjo stops and says - "I can't run this fast FO-EVAH!  Ahhhh!"  Then he started running again because Dane was in front of him.

Here is Dane - just plodding along for fun.

 Lainey screamed at me for the first half of the race.  "Mom - where are the kids?!  What are they doing - Where are they going?!  They can't run!"  Then a nice girl called her a princess and said come on - so she started to run.  

HERE.

SHE.

COMES.

(And with a smile on her face, no less.)

Then she went back to help Kai.

Jed got to play some Baseball and some Volleyball.

Later that day - we went to the pool for some contests.

What you see below is the "Chuck your Child"

I have to say that Brett threw ours the farthest, hands down.

You can't see him right away - but Dane is in the air.

And Ben - I didn't quite get all of him.  But - he is up there.

Cody and Jed - up to no good.

Real Gangsters. 

The Three Amigos.

Here is Ben Diving for his soda.  

The fourth was jam packed and we had a great time.  We were so glad that Jed could spend it with us!

Summer Activities

Here are a few things the kids are up to this summer:

Kai has joined the neighborhood swim team. (She is the one with purple cap).  She does a great job getting up early every morning and making it there.  Its not always easy.  But she rarely complains.

Here is Kai at a meet - waiting for her next race.

Kai has improved a ton and likes to be with her friends.  When I asked her once what place she came in, she replied - "I don't know.  I just have to focus on swimming and getting to the other side."  

As for the twins.......

Well, they have many things to attend to.  When we dog sat for a week, they were loving picking up the poop.  You can see that they were well equipped.  

Poop Bags? Check.

Snow Boots?  Check.

Ski Goggles?  Check.

Tiny Hair?  Check.

Ben - showing off his skills.  Even without the goggles....whoa.

Yes, we do others things.  But these are just the things I have pics of right now.

Happy Summer.

Kai's Baptism/Cody's Priesthood Ordination

Kai's Baptism

We were lucky enough to have Kai's baptism and Cody's Priesthood ordination on the same day.  This was really special for us.  

First of all - Brett loves the Jumpsuit.  Loves it.

Secondly - Love this picture.  One of the best days ever.

The Downey Boy Cousins.  We are missing Noah, Miles, Linus, Josh and Levi - but it sure was fun to hear Gpa D and all the boys sing at the baptism.  It really brought the Spirit.  They did great!

Sweet Kai on her Baptism Day.

Having family there mad it so special.  

Here we all are.  I wish Scott was there.  He had car trouble in Limon and got there shortly after the baptism.  I am not very bright and didn't get a pic of him.  We were grateful that he came.  Thanks Scotty.

Cody's 5th Grade Graduation

Cody Graduated from 5th Grade this year.

On his way from Elementary to Middle School.  

I tried to get some candids of Cody before he went to school.  

He insisted that he dress up for the occasion.

Luckily he still had one more day of 5th grade shenanigans in him.

Cody was honored at graduation for winning the district mile race this year.  He was pretty pumped.

He also broke the school record in the 800 and the Mile.

4th Graders can Run the 800.  5th Graders can run the Mile.

Then he graduated.....moved on, really.

Luckily he brought a change of clothes for field day.

Taking out the girls in dodge ball - really bold move.

Shoe Race.

Sack race.  Serious Business.

Good luck in Middle School Code!

Kai's Baptism

Hello All.  Just wanted to officially invite you to Kai's Baptism a week from Saturday!

Should be fun.

We will of course have a shindig afterward at our house.

It will include Homemade Ice Cream (courtesy of Pam Larsen) and Brownies and some appetizer type things.

Come and Celebrate with us!

Welcome to 8, Kai.  

Good Times.

Cody as Jesse Owens

Cody had a research project at school.  Each kid gets to choose a person from history and then after a month of research and writing, they have a "Wax Museum" night where each of the students dresses as their person and pretend to be a figure.  You come and put coins in their box - then they do a short presentation.  

Cody was Jesse Owens

I recorded his presentation but it was too long so I tried to upload two different segments.  Not sure it worked.  Anyway, he did a good job and really enjoyed it.