A Crazy Red Head: 2015

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Our elementary school just changed from year round to traditional. Instead of 2 weeks for summer we now have 2 months! I was worried they would get bored...

Thursday, March 12, 2015

I posted an invitation on facebook to join us in

Grandma joined us

The Johnson family came

All of the kids enjoyed sending love notes

& pictures to Dayna and Grandpa Tom!

They made some rubbings

The helium tank was so much easier than transporting
squeaky, bouncy balloons in our little car...

It was great to invite others to celebrate and remember.
I'm so thankful for my family and friends for
all of the love and support we receive in Dayna's honor.

I never want her to be forgotten!

I can't believe it has been thirteen years since I held you in my arms. I often wonder what you would have looked like at different times of your life. Especially now ~ a teenager. How would you wear your hair? What would your laugh sound like? Your smile, would it light up a room? Would you love to sing and read? Would you love to go fishing and camping?

If you were here with us today, you would be in the seventh grade and a beehive in young women's. I like to imagine how Chloe and Seth would love to have had their big sister all of these years.

Would you play LEGO's with you little brother?

I know you and Chloe would have argued - as sisters do,

but would you have been best friends, too?

I can't wait until our family is united but until that time,

please keep watching over us and being our angel.

All my love,
Mom

Guess How Much I Love You

Swimming Lessons

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Seth's class finished up the 2 week course talking about safety in and around the water:

During this break, off-track, we were able to bring Chloe's friend Mary and her little brother with us. Chloe and Mary, especially had fun during this class, it was made up of all girls with a man for a teacher...

On the last day of classes they teachers give the kids some free time to ride down the slide but my kids love to jump of the diving board:

I can never get a good shot with the wall of windows behind them...

Seth had to take Wave 4 for the second time but this is his face when he learned he passed this time!!!

They are so funny. Thanks to year round school schedules we have been able to sign up for swim lessons while they are off track in the cooler months. After growing up with a small pool in our yard and swimming at bear lake, I didn't think they would need lessons. Something about being in the middle of a lake and not being able to see or touch the bottom really freaked them out. They were so excited to go to swimming lessons the very first time. When they learned it wouldn't be an open plunge, Seth especially, voiced that they didn't need any more lessons. They have taken Wave 2, 3 & 4 and have become really strong swimmers. Chloe is really fast and has some natural skill and endurance. Seth doesn't have a extra ounce of fat on his body and has a hard time staying afloat. But they both have improved so much and really are enjoying themselves!!!

Blue & Gold Banquet

Saturday, February 21, 2015

I was in charge of the photo props:

Here is the bald little boy that made the ill fated super bowl bet with Dan:

The kids used all of the props:

Seth participating in the Bear's skit. I just realized he needs a blue neckerchief...

The boys and siblings made paper airplanes all night long and then flew them through a tarp with different size holes for difficulty. We had an inflight movie, a short clip about the candy bomber. Then as a closing activity we had a candy cannon and bombed the kids with flying taffy! I am so glad to be apart of the cub scouts. It has been such a learning experience. This is the first time in my life that I haven't had a Sunday calling.

Our Bird "Beaker" 7/4/2008 ~ 2/16/2015

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

We got this bird on a whim:

Slowly but surely he worked his way into our hearts!

Beaker with Madison:

& Kyle:

Landing on Chloe:

& playing with Seth:

Dan had birds growing up and sold me on the promises of low maintenance. We would let him out of his cage every once in a while and he would fly about in search of me. I don't know how or why but this little bird loved landing on my shoulder. He would nuzzle my cheek and bob or peck at my fingernails when they were painted. I hate to admit it but I took some pleasure in Dan's disappointment. If I walked into a room where Dan had Beaker out, he would abandon Dan and fly to me, usually pooping on him in the process!

He loved the goop and seeds when we carved pumpkins:

Jared & Echo's dog Lulu loved Beaker too:

He started to act differently three weeks ago. Dan did some research and we tried to make him as comfortable as possible. He thought it would be best to not take him out of his bird cage because it would stress him out too much. Beaker would wheeze and had a really hard time each night. He held his head kind of funny and it seemed like he was in pain. We put a small bowl of bird seed on the bottom of the cage because he kept falling off his perch when he tried to eat. We also gave him water out of the bottles cap, holding it up right next to him, in hopes that he could get enough to drink. Thursday morning I decided to poo poo Dan's quarantine method and got Beaker out. He seemed happy on my shoulder and nuzzled me like usual. I even let him take a nap on my chest and perked up so much that there was a little hope that he might make it... He started eating and drinking without assistance on his perch.

Shortly after we picked Beaker out at Bird World, we thought about getting a second bird so they could be buddies but Dan told us then he wouldn't want anything to do with us... I didn't have any pets growing up, there were so many of us girls and I think my dad was allergic to dog poop :) I remember having fish but nothing fancy or long term. I don't know why this little yellow bird decided to bond with me but it did. Even more surprising is that I bonded with him. We will miss you little birdie.