Cherilyn's 17th birthday (2013)

Cherilyn is 17!

Frequently when Charles sees Cherilyn he says, "I remember the day you were born.  It wasn't that long ago."  The years have flown by for us.

She may be smiling after opening this card from Grandma and Grandpa Elder because she saw money and said, "I love money."

The one thing she asked for was music.  She loves music and has music playing most of the time.

Cherilyn was involved with many good things this year.  

She and Allison went to Sunday evening practices for a few months to prepare for From Cumorah's Hill, a musical with Book of Mormon stories related to modern-day.  

In April, Cherilyn went on choir tour to San Diego.  She had a great time -- singing in a cathedral, with a high school and two college classes; attending an opera; visiting the beach, Balboa park and SeaWorld and going on a dinner cruise.

Cherilyn also had a violin solo at state festival.  She received a 1, the highest rank at her school and district festivals.  At state she received a 2+.  She was disappointed because she didn't play her best while there.  It was much better during practice the week before.  

May 9th Cherilyn took the ACT in the morning and went to Sweethearts, a formal dance, that night.  We were very pleased to hear back that she got 30 on her ACT.  Way to go!

Here is her group of friends that went to Sweethearts.  They had fun planning this group date and fun that night.  We are glad she has a good group of friends.

At Cherilyn's final choir concert she sang a solo as part of a small group song, True Colors, with some friends.  It was great!  We were pleased that she worked on it, tried out and did a great job.  She told us afterwards that when they practiced before the performance she did awful and was in tears because of it.  Then she simply said "Prayer works."

Cherilyn got her first job the end of May.  She works at The Red Barn.  She has hoped to work there because she likes the environment and the people who work there.  She worked on her birthday and wasn't sure how she felt about that.  Afterwards she said it was great to serve people ice cream and help them be happy.  I love her sweetness!

Cherilyn has spent some time the last couple of weeks planning walks with others in the ward who will attend trek this week.  They have walked to the Red Barn and yesterday they walked to the Payson temple site and back.

Summer Begins

Summer Begins

We had a visit from my sister and her family to start off our summer.  We loved having them here for a couple of days.  We went to the park, the kids all played together, we enjoyed Nathan, her 9-month old, and visited.  We hoped to get her to take some pictures of us, but we didn't try hard enough.

What is summer without baseball, right?  (Less fun for the boys, more relaxing for Mom.)
Ethan started little league this year and Eli is in coach pitch.

Ethan in the outfield.

Ethan ready to bat.

Eli after hitting the ball.

Erica has spent many days this summer in offices.  Monday she got an appliance that fits over her lower teeth.  This is to heal her jaw so that it stops popping whenever she eats.  Tuesday she got braces on her upper teeth (The lower teeth will have braces after the appliance has done its work.).  I am grateful that we are able to fix these things.  Erica's comment yesterday: "I hate my mouth."  I love her frankness.

Joshua's 5th Birthday 2013

Joshua is five!

He liked waking up to helium balloons in his room.  They have been a favorite for several days.

A day or two before his birthday we were in the car.  Eli said "I know what I want for my birthday."  Joshua interrupted to say he wanted a two-wheeled scooter.  His last present was a two-wheeled scooter.  Yeah!

He also got two Star Wars guys.  He shouted "Jacob doesn't have Mace Windu."  Jacob is our neighbor who is also five.  He has several Star Wars guys.  And I can't forget the bag of Rolos which he enjoyed (and finished) before I returned home from baseball games.

There was a little concern amongst the children about fitting in birthday things with two baseball games, baseball pictures, Dad's bishopric meeting and early dinner.  We made it just fine.  We sang and opened presents before games, pictures and the meeting.  We enjoyed Joshua's Oreo Ice Cream Cake after the games.

Joshua invited numerous people to his birthday.  He talked about it often beforehand.  He really likes people, from his neighborhood friends to his teenage cousins.  He wanted everyone there.  Since we always have family birthday parties I forgot and didn't plan anything.  We are working on a summer party just to have a bunch of friends over to play.

Joshua is looking forward to going to kindergarten in the fall.  He had a great year at "school" this year with neighborhood friends.  It was great for him to play with others and learn his letters.  He enjoyed receiving his own whiteboard and marker at a kindergarten readiness meeting.

Girl's Camp 2013

Girl's Camp

This year we had stake girl's camp.  We went to Delta's "Man Camp," a facility built for the men who built the power plant and now used as a recreation center.  As a leader, I loved stake girl's camp.  There was much less stress, lots of fun classes and more fun people involved.  We all enjoyed being with people throughout the stake and getting to know them.  Our young women were amazing.  I was impressed that there were no problems, no drama and the girls were always where they should be.  I loved this "last" chance to be with the young women and leaders from our ward.  I was released as young women president last Sunday because Charles is now Bishop of our ward.  That has brought me sadness at not being as involved with the young women, but I have already seen so many blessings and know that this is best for us all.

One craft we did as a ward was a "Girl on fire" t-shirt.  Here is Erica, me and our camp director working on Erica's.

Cherilyn was one of the stake YCL's.  She helped with a fun Family Home Evening about overcoming barriers to being united and being friends with all and this fun concentration game to teach plants and animals to the young women (for camp certification).

Allison and Kinzie became good friends.  Here they are demonstrating a hand game done at their school. 

A Few Happenings

A Few Happenings

We went to Elisse (and Robert)'s wedding at the Mount Timpanogos Temple on March 30th.  The kids all came and took pictures outside while we attended the wedding.  We didn't go to the reception because the girls and I went to the Young Women General Meeting that evening.

Erica was in Hope of America, part of Provo's Freedom Festival, with other students from her school.  She had a great time learning the songs and performing that night.  It was especially fun because her friend, Jill, was there with her. (Erica is in a red shirt on the right side, third red section up.  I don't think you can zoom in enough to see her in this picture.)   Dad had to stay home with Joshua, who was throwing up that day.  The rest of us enjoyed watching Erica and the other performers.  Ethan and Eli especially liked the percussion group from UVU.

Ethan was in his first Hershey track this year.  He ran the 50 meter, 400 meter and did the softball throw.

Here is Ethan's pinewood derby car.  Ethan was a little disappointed that he didn't win again this year.  He is already thinking of ideas for next year's car.

Easter 2013

Easter 2013

The boys looking for eggs. (Ethan, Joshua and Eli)

Ethan and Allison celebrating finding eggs.

Enjoying candy after finding eggs.

Erica with her eggs.

I don't remember why we didn't get a picture of Cherilyn.