Europe

Liz had a fabulous time in Eurpoe and stated she could not ask for a better trip in her life! Her camera had 375 pics on it and I am certainly not going to post them all on here but a few of my favorites. I was able to post many more on facebook if you get a chance to look there. She brought home true german gummie bears for mom and a beautiful crystal necklace from Switzerland, Mikaela got Eiffel tower earings and a hat, dad got CHOCOLATE. Liz purchased herself a pair of stellettos in London (cant wait to go the ER for her wearing thoughs). Thank you again to all who helped support her. I have a feeling we will see Mikaela go in the next 5 years.

KEY Camp

KEY Camp was a huge success for Mikaela.Thank you to everyone who helped spiritually and financially. This program only chooses children who excell and Mikaela was not only given this opportunity by you and us but by her teacher who highly recommended her. She got to take SCI, math course, oceanography, and webpage making. Her first comments at arrival to pick her up...was "I am defininetly doing this next year". The nights consisted of night camp games and visits to putt putt golf and aquatic center for some swimming. Saturday was a graduation ceremony that she received a KEY and diploma. Awesome program is all I have to say!

Easter

I know its late but Happy Easter...it was a quiet day at our house until a group full of teenagers showed up:)

Mikaela turns 11

Celebrating Mikaela's 11th birthday at the bowling alley. it was small and we had a great time. Thanks to the grandparents Mikaela will be pickin out her new bike in the next few weeks. Mom and baby girl

Dad teasing Mikaela that she cant blow out the candles yet...this went on for about 2 minutes.

The cake

the flower that mom always gets the girls to be delivered at school on their birthday. Mikaela thought I forgot this year...as I was sneaky and presented it to her at her school drumming circle performance in front of all her peers, parents, and teachers. It was awesome!

Mikaela

Here are some pics of Mikaela and an update....

She has been doing drumming circle all school year and these are photos from them playing at the Calvs indoor football game and their most recent school concert. Mikaela has also been accepted into KEY camp (you can find details at this website) www.caspercollege.edu/events/KEY She will be taking many courses that are offered by the college but altered for their age and grade level. This was a huge acceptance. As they finish up the school year we have choir and band concerts and many other events so keep watching for blog updates.

Liz

The group of teenagers...we fed them and entertained until 8pm

Daddy's girl

Mom's baby

the Date

Well we sent them off to Freshman Formal. Liz has been planning this dance since she was in the 6th gradee. They were a great group of kids and I could not ask for a more beautiful girl!

Next big event....Europe for 2 weeks!

Now for Mikaela

Well she is off for swimming until April she loved it so much she cant wait for the summer session. She has taken time off from TKD after getting purple belt that her grandpa Light challenged her to get. She has now got the offer and opportunity to go to Key Camp this summer. This is offered at the college and they take several classes during the week while living in the dorms. Her teacher wrote a great recommondation letter for her and we are waiting for the response to see if she gets in. Next school year she off to Junior High...hello drama....goodbye elementary years!

Visit from the Snyder's

Ronnie brought his family to Casper for their Spring Break....this was our first visit in the last 9 years. We had a great time and it was fun to see my nieces and nephew and how many similarities there are. Alison, Noah, Aunt Theresa, Uncle Ken, and Reba

uncle Ronnie, Aunt Heidi, Mikaela, and Liz

Ummmm can you say lots of similar jeans in this family!

Never thought you would see this picture did yah!

Cousins Rock

Liz goes to Big Apple

Liz went to New York at the begining of March after she turned the big 16! She went with her high school choir over spring break. They got to sing at Carnegie Hall. The only text I got for the 4 days is "this is amazing". The rest of the year has brought huge growth. High school has been wonderful for her. For the summer she is preparing for her trip to Europe that my wonderful family and friends have helped support. She will start tennis with the high school team in April and has been taking private lessons and loves it.

Happy 4th of July

Not much exciting...we spent Saturday cleaning and BBQing with the Barr family. What a beautiful day, then it was off to a good old fashion round of putt putt golf. Sunday was nap time to prepare for an evening at the car races with friends from moms work. Just the girls though. Ken stayed home because of course he had to be up at 3 am the following morning for work. (down part of his job). We had a great time and the fireworks were beautiful. Hope everyone had a safe and day full of memories as to why it is we have this day!

texas trip

Not one of the best trips but we had fun as a family. If you have facebook I posted lots of pics. We went to the top rated water park and feel that it is wrongly rated, water world beats it by a long shot. That night liz had a migrain and vomiting. Then it was off to six flags the next day...had to drag liz around as she had a migrain "hangover". She was a trooper though and did the loop roller coasters. Mikaela also road her first one and that was enough for her. 95* temps with humididy was not pleasant on the girls (mom loves it). We all agree that six flags in texas beats Eliches by a long shot! Well we got out of there early because liz had done all that she could handle. We also did the zoo (awesome) and the river walk (beautiful). Then it was off to Padre Islands. Not exactly what we expected. Did you know that salt water does not keep sunscreen on no matter how many times it is applied. We did get the girls up at 5:30 am to go see the turrle hatch and release....they were not impressed with us or the situation but it was a must see thing. Then another day and the beach with a boogie board and kite for entertainment. Our last day there before boarding the plane we spent the morning touring the USS Lexington...even mom found it fascinating.

We returned to Colorado for the night and drove home the next day (liz did some highway driving) Sunday was spent relaxing, laundry and spending time with the granddaughter (Isabella) and Bree for the day.

Summer updates

busy busy busy...that about sums it up.

Mikaela is continuing swim lessons, she is being encouraged to do the "swim club". she has it in her mind that if it is hard she does not want to pursue it. We are in the process of changing this thought process. Tae Kwon Do, piano, and being at the pool every afternoon is where you will also find her.

Liz....who???? this is a girl now working two jobs (not recommended by her parents but a choice she has made). She is a nanny for a 3 and 8 year old 5 days a week 5 hours a day. Then mom picks her up and she lifeguards at the local YMCA until 8pm. she is trying so hard to get a car and help with the Europe trip. However, we are encouraging her to back off...it is the summer and she is only 15. We are firm believers that you have to be responsible but you need to enjoy your youth. She is also taking a defense krav maga course with mom and goes to the pool with her friends. Oh yah if you have not seen pics Mikaela is only about a head away from being taller then her sister (dont say anything though).

As for me I have enjoyed my past 4 days off from work as they have low census and needed someone to take a few days off. Dont have to ask me twice. However, during this time I have not figured out how I have time to work and do all these fun things with my kids. Went to the movies with liz, played games with both of them until 10 pm last night and today we are doing lunch and running....wow is it time to breath. I can say we love it because we do it together no matter how fast or often we go. Liz will be going to have a bone spur removed out of her elbow sometime in the future we are just in the prelimimaries of having it CT scanned and doctor getting a better view of what she has going on.

Ken is putting in 60+ hours of work in 4 days so his days off consist of helping with the girls, sleep, and golf. Well some yard work inbetween.

beginnings of summer

Okay week 2 of summer vacation. Not sure when it started anyway but people say it was 2 weeks ago.

Liz continuing to collect money for trip next year. She starts a summer babysitting job next week and just got hired by the YMCA for lifeguarding. WHOOHoo go Liz. She has been up by 5 am everymorning since school was out for drivers education class. This has been a great experience. Liz made honor roll for school with all A's and 1 B. Cant ask for more then that! Liz and mom have started a Krav Maga course (self defense), and wow is it a work out. Mom did not realize she had personal boundary issues until they made her touch a slimey sweatie guy (this was flat out grouse, was gonna quit but have stuck it out). Liz is still doing allergy shots and has now decided that it might be time to fix her bone spur in her elbow as it is affecting some things in her life. (will update more on this after appointment with doctor).


Mikaela continues Tae Kwon Do. she has been doing an intense swim course to fine tune her abilities. They are encouraging her to join the swim club team. (this does not surprise any of us). We are leaving this entirely up to her. She continues piano and has also decided to try a summer session of tumbling class with her friend Jenna.

So what have mom and dad been doing.....ummmm.....chauferring. We also have great friends to help us out while we work to support these lovely activities.

Next week brings VBS at church.....then it is off to TEXAS for our family vacation!

Oh yah Ken gets to golf during his days off!

Hope summer if finding you all well. love ya

school pics

Finally we were able to get Liz some school pictures....she is driving frequently now and doing well. School is coming to an end and the first three week are the busiest.