Kaitlyn's Eight Year Old Birthday Parties

On Monday night we had a dinner and family home evening for the family. We ate homemade pizza and played Baptism Jeopardy. Kaitlyn opened her presents. Grandma and Grandpa Hall, Courtney, and Emily and Jason came for the fun.

On Tuesday, her actual birthday, we took four of her friends and her two sisters to Beadles to make bracelets. I didn't have my camera there, but we did get a few pictures when we got back home.

Lots of pictures.Taken May 20, 2009

We got the rest of the pictures taken by Krista Payne. She did an awsome job!

Rachel is a great American

At school the 5Th graders can try to get the "Great American Award". Rachel has been trying to get it since Christmas time. Just last week she got it!
These are the things you have to pass off.
1. Mach 50 states and capitals.
2. Identify 50 states on a map.
3. Recite from memory the Gettysburg Address.
4. Recite from memory, in order of presidency, the presidents, 1st and last names.
5. Write the Pledge of Allegiance. All spelling and punctuation must be correct.
6. Sing the Stars Spangled Banner.
7. Recite the Preamble.
8. answer Questions on a citizenship test.

Rachel was so proud of herself. The prize is a trophy.

Kaitlyn Marie in her Beautiful Baptism Dress

I am working on a special picture book for Kaitlyn before her Baptism. We had a a girl come out and take some pictures. I needed Kaitlyn's for the book, so we are still waiting for the other kid's pictures. But I just had to share these now. Thanks to Krista Payne for taking the pictures.

Girl, Boy, Girl, Girl, Boy, BOY!!!

Well, the results are in- we are going to even things up in this family with another boy! We are all very excited! Trevor already new it was a boy, because he likes boys. Kyle was just sure it was going to be a girl, so before school he told me he wished we weren't finding out. He said he worried the whole way home from school that I was going to tell him we were having a girl (Are we that bad?) Rachel and Kaitlyn had decided it would be in their best interest if we had a boy, because they don't want to share their room with another girl. Hannah was the only one that seemed a little disappointed that we were having a boy. She is the one who would always challenge Trevor when he would say, "Us having a boy baby." Trevor would tell me, "I like boys. Hannah like girls."

Anyway, I guess thinking of a new baby gets me thinking of all my baby's that are growing up so fast! Here's a few baby pictures for my enjoyment.
Rachel Mae

Kyle Anthony

Kaitlyn Marie

Hannah Kristine

Trevor Alan

Talking Trevor

Well, I always love to read other people's blogs about all the cute things their kids say. I think to myself, "I know my kids say funny things all the time too, but when I sit down to write about it I forget what they said." SO Rachel started writing notes on a paper we kept on the fridge. It didn't take long to have a collection. Trevor makes all laugh all the time.

• I was making some kind of casserole for dinner. Trevor said, "There salad in it?" I said, "no." He said, "That too bad." (He doesn't even like salad.)



• I was getting ready to go to the temple. Trevor said, "I go with you temple?" I said, "sorry buddy little kids can't go inside the temple. You get to stay here with Rachel and the other kids!" Trevor says, "You hate me."



• Garrick was leaving to go to a meeting. Trevor said, "You goin to pick up Abby for me dad?" Abbey is a little girl in Trevor's nursery. He keeps saying "I have friend over today?" I guess I should let him have a friend over one of these days.



• Most every morning Trevor will get up, eat breakfast, get dressed (actually he's not usually dressed when he says this)- "OK, Bye Mom. I go help dad. Him needs me." I'm glad he still tells me before he just walks out the door. I can usually stall him long enough till I get the kids on the bus, and get myself and him ready to go out and help feed calves. By that time Garrick is usually about done. But I think he likes us to come say "hi" even when we aren't much help.



• "Somebody hold me." Kaitlyn comes to offer to hold him. "No a BIG somebody hold me."



• Trevor always builds gates in our living room and kitchen and in the entry way and in the hallway. The blocks and the little fences and the VHS tapes are not as annoying as the chairs he sets up to block our paths between any room. I usually put up with it very nicely, but one night in particular I was tired of having to step over all the obstacles. Garrick was frustrated too. We were kneeling down to say prayers, and we look at Trevor almost in tears, "Allbody hates my gates." I just said, "Yes Trevor tonight we all hate your gates. But we love you."



• When he wakes up from a nap, and I actually took the time to pick up his gates. "Whobody pick up my gates?"



• He loves to stand in the barn and "help" Garrick milk. When Garrick lets the cows out, Trevor yells, "Good bye cows. Get out a here." When Garrick is bringing in the cows, "Trevor is in the parlor yelling at the cows to move forward.

Congratulations Garrick!!

Garrick has been selected as one of only 10 in the whole country to participate in Class 5 of the American Farm Bureau’s Partners in Agricultural Leadership (PAL) program. To even apply for this program you have to have been a finalist in the national YF&R awards (we were in the top 10 in the Achievement Award in January 2008), a State YF&R chair, or a member of the American Farm Bureau YF&R Committee. Garrick has wanted to participate in this program since about 5 or 6 years ago when Kerry Gibson graduated from the first PAL Class. He had to fill out a lengthy application and get 3 letters of recommendation. They narrowed it down to the top 15, who were then interviewed by phone last week.

Garrick was not feeling real good about his interview, because the first question they asked him was "Tell us three brand names that describe you." Garrick said he about hung up the phone right then, but he went on to answer that and all the other questions very well. The e-mail that told him he had been accepted said among other things, "You were chosen from a selected group of individuals. We are thoroughly impressed by the quality of your application and interview as well as the dedication you have already given to being an advocate for agriculture."

Pal is a high-level leadership development course. Unlike many other leadership courses, Pal focuses on the class member as an individual. He will attend 3 classes:

Module A – September 14 - 17, 2009– New York City, NY
Module B – March 29 – April 1, 2010– Washington, DC
Module C – September 13 – 16, 2010– St. Louis, MO
Graduation – February 5-7, 2011- Orlando, FL (in conjunction with the NLC/YF&R Conference)

He will also be spending an average of 1 hour of homework per week. Homework will include researching issue topics, engaging the media, communicating with legislators, contacting Farm Bureau staff, and engaging in online communities. Some assignments will entail group work.

The PAL program promises to give class members the opportunities to learn from experts that will provide a rock-solid curriculum base for each member to become an active, dedicated, vocal leader who is objective and community minded. Each class member will have the opportunity to explore aspects of personal and professional development that are most relevant to their careers and their lives. Class members will also become agents for change and truly become a trained expert in their own right.

Anyway, I am very proud of him, and excited to see him begin to fulfil one of his dreams. I think this will be great experience for him. At the same time, I must put this in writing in case I don't feel the same way when I have my baby while he is in NYC! My baby is due October 3, and my previous three babies have all been born 2-3 weeks early. That would put me having my baby sometime around the 13th to the 19th of September. Garrick will be gone the 12-17th. He did ask for my permission, and I did give it to him. I warned him that I might want to change my mind sometime between now and then, but I realize that is not an option after he signs his learning contract.

Dance Recital Saturday May 2, 2009

Well, I figured out how to take a snapshot from the video I took. Needless to say it is a very poor quality picture, but its better than nothing.