Ashley the Cheerleader

We signed Ashley up for an “Upward” Cheerleading program. It is in conjunction with a local Baptist church. The plan was that Donovan would play flag football and Ashley would cheer. Donovan didn’t want anything to do with my plan. He’s way too self-conscious to do…which is a bummer. So the whole family went and supported Ashley in her very first cheerleading event this past weekend. It was a lot of fun and I think she really enjoyed it.

The day before this, the Elementary School had a Pep Rally (for the darn CRCT tests…don’t get me started)…and Ashley got to wear her cheerleading outfit and be the front person for her grade. I missed it because I found out about it too late and couldn’t get there on time because I was grocery shopping. But…I heard from many people that she did an awesome job. She did 2 cartwheels and went flat down in the splits. She loves gymnastics.

Above: Can you tell which one is Ashley ?

Above: Mom, quit taking pictures!!

Above: VIDEO ALERT!!

This is their half-time cheer. I didn’t know they would be facing the other side…and I didn’t think I had time to get over there…so it’s just the back of them .

We have to brag on Liz now!!!

We are so proud of Liz! Out of over 500 entries at her High School, she won first place for 10th grade and then first place overall for the school in a “Laws of Life” essay contest sponsored by the Rotary Club. She will now go on to the state competition where there were almost 45,000 entries.

Liz’s essay was on the Law of Life: “You never know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” She wrote about her experience of being pulled from a foster home several years ago and thinking it was just another very bad day for her, but then realizing it was one of the best things that had ever happened to her. She describes how she quickly came to know and love Karen (her soon-to-be adoptive mother) and then of her subsequent sudden death. She showed in her essay that even at her young age of 16 she has already learned, the hard way, that “you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” Liz truly is wise for her age and has a lot of appreciation for what she has.

This past week we attended a luncheon in honor of her and the other class winners.

Above: Liz, the 9th grade winner (he’s 6’4″!!), and Liz’s Literature teacher Julie Kimble.

Above: Liz was asked to read her essay for everyone at the luncheon. She did a great job.

Above: Just a very small snippet of her presentation…I didn’t think it was showing up well on the camera.

Above: Photo op at the end. The winner from the senior class had to leave early, so she didn’t get into the photo.

Above: With Ms. Kimble….who also happens to be one of the Young Women leaders at church…which is cool.

Above: This was an article in the local newspaper this weekend.

Above: This was the article in the high school newspaper after she won.

Easter 2009

Above: Early Sunday morning….finding what the Easter Bunny brought.

Above: Dad’s “Taxes” on the candy (dark chocolate…of course).

Above: After church we went over to Sandi and Larry’s house for a VERY yummy German dinner and then a lot of egg hunting.

Above: Donovan, PJ & Mikayla.

Above: Ashley & Seth.

Above: Liz and Hannah teaming up.

Above: Mikayla searching hard.

Above: Donovan and Seth.

Above: PJ even getting into the action.

Above: Megan and Ashley.

Above: Hannah Bannanah.

Above: Frank, Larry (up), and Sandi.

Above: The physical prowess of Donovan.

Above: VIDEO ALERT!!

Bubbles from the deck.

Above: Shayne and Liz hanging out inside…

Above: Sandi and Hannah enjoying the BEAUTIFUL weather.

Above: Larry and his new Easter Toy…who will be his next victim?? Mwaaahaaahaaa

Above: Liz being her happy self.

Random Spring Events

Here are some things we have been doing in the Spring of 2009…besides suffering from allergies (which most of us have been doing).

BUGS!!!

Above: This is just one of the cool creatures we have found around our house (mostly outside)…it’s cool and scary all at the same time.

Just Random…
Above: Magnificent Disco-ing Megan in her magnificently messy room!!! (and the crowd goes wild!)

Hannah Montana Movie

Above: We saw Hannah Montana the Movie a few days ago…very cute and family friendly. We all gave it a “THUMBS UP!” Here is the crew (l to r): Aunt Sandi, Hannah (the other Hannah), Liz, Donovan, Shayne, Megan, Mikayla, and Briona (Mikayla’s friend). PJ refused to be in the photo, so he took it. Where’s Ashley!!?? I think she was laying on the floor and PJ cut her out.

Above: This photo does not do justice to what took place. As we were walking out of the theater, Megan decided to throw all of her trash away. As soon as she did she said, “My phone!” She had accidentally dumped it into the trash as well. It all happened so fast, but the next thing I knew, I looked over and all I could see was Mikayla’s butt and legs sticking out of the trash can. She dove in head first to retrieve it for Megan…what are sisters for??? I missed the classic shot…but the memory remains . It was hilarious.

Twinners!!!!

Above: Megan and Liz went to a Stake Dance (church) the other night and decided to dress up the same. They looked so cute…and had a great time too.

Only in Georgia!!!

Above: Ok, if you’re from the South you may not find the humor in this that we did…but Frank and I were laughing so hard! We were on date night last night and saw this at the local car wash. We had to drive back by and take a picture (secretly as we were driving by…hence the fuzziness). Where else can you see someone vacuuming out their BBQer?? BBQing is HUGE in the South….and we have had some GOOOOD BBQ since we got here.

Stone Mountain….again…

Above: We had decided we had better get to Stone Mountain since we got an annual pass for everyone and it is up in September. It was fun but crowded because most of the schools in the area were on Spring Break…so we didn’t stay long.

Above: We took this one just for Hannah.

Above: The most fun we had at Stone Mountain was the 4-D movie of “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” They did like 20 minutes of the show with Brenden Frasier and added special effects. It was pretty enjoyable.

Church Party: Scripture Cake Decorating…

We were challenged to make cakes that had something to do with the scriptures for a recent ward party. PJ and Liz participated…with a little help from mom.

Above: PJ decided to do the Hill Cumorah. You can see the Golden Plates in the “hole” with Joseph Smith kneeling and the Angel Moroni there too.

Above: Liz did the parting of the Red Sea. They both did a really good job.

Above: This is Liz with her friend Liz at the party.

Above: Liz liked this one too because it showed her Ancestors…she has some Native American blood in her. This one was representing the 2000 Stripling Warriors. It was done by Bro. Joyner in the ward.

Above: PJ and Frank having their cake and eating it too! We were all pretty sick at the end of the night.

Above: Elders’ Cockayne and Escobido.

Above: The Remains….

Above: Megan texting at a church party…Really?…that is so wrong!

Above: Ta-da!! No more texting!!! Let’s eat Cake!

An Apostle’s Easter Thoughts on Christ