Je joue au tennis

Brielle started tennis lessons this summer. She is doing such a great job, it is so much fun to watch her progerss. "Je joue au tennis" is Chris' one french phrase that he learned in high school, and he often 'through's it out' when someone mentions french...usually it's followed by "Franch Fries, Franch toast, Franch dip sandwiches" (only Sarah will understand why I'm writing Franch instead of French)!

Summer Projects

Chris got a little 'bee in his bonnet' this spring (actually he's been talking about this project for years)...he wanted to make our concrete patio larger and put in an in ground trampoline...I finally relented and went a long with it! Deano LOVED having a giant dirt/mud hole in our backyard! The project is still on-going but I'll take a picture and post it tomorrow!

Little Dancing Queen

Brielle has been dancing with the 'Colleen Collins Smith' dance group for a couple years. It's kind of a 'love/hate' relationship...I love the songs they learn --'Annie' medley, 'Wizard of Oz' medley, Animal Crackers in my Soup (just to name a few of her 7 numbers) but the concerts are crazy--3 hours long, 4 nights in a row!!! Dean loved the concert for about 30 minutes--he sat on the edge of his seat watching and listening...then he fell asleep! Our neighbors Ms. Gladys & Mr Keith also came to the concert, Brielle was so excited to see them! She & Dean LOVE going over to visit with Ms. Gladys, it's so nice to have such sweet neighbors.

Brielle with Colleen (above) and her daughter Collette (our neighbor), they are both the teachers (Collette teaches while Colleen tells them what to do). This is their life, they LOVE dance!

Brielle's Father's Day Post

Brielle asked me to "put something on the blog about Daddy," so I told her I'd be her scribe:

"My daddy is my favorite pal and I help him everyday...I'm so glad that he's my dad and I know he loves me too" she sang this Primary song to me and then asked if I'd write it all down.

"My daddy is the best daddy EVER because he gives me piggy rides to bed, plays duck duck goose, let's us have "1 minute" (which means he let's them get out of bed and cuddle with him when they are supposed to be going to sleep, and I've gone upstairs), takes care of us, he loves me, he plays with us in the playroom, he can do a flip on the tramp and he helps me do it too, he tells me stories in my ear and reads to me every night, he watches movies with me, he let's us help him work..."

Deano said "He fights light "saver's" with me; You are not my father" (Chris has gotten Deano REALLY into the old Star Wars movies and he is always saying "You are not my father" (which is a line from one of them). He also said "my daddy's big."

We are so blessed...Brielle and Deano have a great daddy, and Chris & I both have wonderful fathers , who are now terrific grandpa's too!

"The Y"

We hiked the Y last Monday for FHE...it was Dean and my first time! It is hard to believe I've spent all but 4 of my 31 years living in Provo, graduated from BYU and still never hiked the Y...even Brielle had done it (last summer with the BYU lacrosse team). Deano, Gracie, Cash & Brielle had so much fun...until they started to get hot & tired! Brielle was the only one that did not have to be carried...she hiked the whole thing on her own, we were so proud of her! Deano & Gracie were a whole other story. Dean ran for the first 10 minutes, then he wanted Chris to carry him the rest of the way up! Gracie wanted to walk but if they would have let her it would have taken us all day to get up because she stops to pick up ''treasures'' every 2 feet!

Deano pondering his future as a cougar...

Memorial Day 2010

I've always enjoyed our annual (Sunday before) Memorial Day trip to the cemetery. This year Deano had so much fun he was sleeping on the headstones by the time we were done! We are lucky because both sets of my grandparents, my great grandparents, my great great grandparents and my great, great, great grandmother are all buried in the Provo Cemetery. We took flowers to all of their graves...Deans favorite part was going to ALL of the watering stations to fill up water to wash off the headstones and water flowers (that is why he is so tired). Brielle, Dean & Nana Di are in front of my great, great, great grandmother, Jane James', headstone. She was baptized then left her home in England with her husband and several children. On the trek to Utah she lost her husband and baby. Her husband was buried somewhere along the way and her baby was buried at sea. I have so much admiration and gratitude for my pioneer ancestors, I can't even imagine how difficult it must have been to be a pioneer mother. We have a church breakfast every Memorial Day. This year the Fire Engine was out on a call, so they were unable to come but we did have a bike parade. Deano took this very serious...he is just like his daddy! Brielle wanted to ride her scooter because she is not totally comfortable on her bike (she is the first scooter girl, with the brown shirt).We topped off the day with summer sno!

Day out with Thomas!

We spent an afternoon with Thomas the Train (aka the heber creeper). Asay & Rueckert boys with adorable little GracieCutest girls on the Train!Balloon hats and swords...what more could we ask for?No trip to Heber would be complete without stopping off at The Dairy Keen - home of the train!