Mia's 3rd birthday and first day of school

 Ellie started middle school this year.  It was a sad day for me but exciting for her.  She is loving it so far.  She has a cell phone now, a locker, is allowed to chew gum and doesn't have to wait in line to get in the school.  Can life get any better?

 Brookie started preschool but, of course, Mia had to get in one of the pictures.  The first day of school was a little rough (by rough I mean screaming and almost ripping my shirt off of me) but she loves it now.

 Emma got the teacher she was hoping for, Mrs. Tindall, so she was one happy camper.

 Mia turned 3 on August 11th.  We were lucky enough to have Joshua and Traci and their kids with us for the party.

 Ellie is such a great big sister.  She uses her hard earned money to but presents for birthdays and Christmas.  This pillow pet was the present she bought Mia.

Summer in Canada - Take 2

We made six strawberry pies with our harvest.

Bowling is always on the agenda when we are in Canada.

 We got to spend a day boating on the lake thanks to Mike Brown.

 Our first time at Calaway park.  It was a little cold and damp but there were no lines.

 Semi-annual family talent show.

 Waterton

Summer in Canada - take 1

We had another great summer in Canada.  We were there for the whole month of July.  I think we ended up having about 1500 pictures.  Here are some of the activities we did while we were there.  It is not in chronological order and there is more to come but I just thought I would get something posted.

We stayed at Mountain View Inn for a few days and before heading home we went horseback riding.  Brooklyn loves it so much.  It is hard to get her off.

The temperature was ok but it was CRAZY windy. (What? Windy in Mountain View?)

Josh taught all the kids how to shoot bottle rockets.

There was plenty of swimming and water fun during the month.

Lethbridge has an annual dragon boat festival.  This was the first time I had ever been.

Marvelous May

 This is Emma with her second grad teacher, Mrs. Fitzpatrick on the last day on school.

 There was a big fifth grade graduation for Ellie.  Here Ellie is with her best friend, Claire, who lives right across the street.  They are standing in front of the 2012 banner.

 During the ceremony Ellie was one of 12 fifth graders to receive a pin and a certificate signed by the President for having straight As for her whole fifth grade year.

 There was a slide show with a picture of the student and their favorite part of fifth grade as well as what they want to be when they grow up.

 Ellie also received the "best writer" certificate for her class.

 As the students were entering the gym the halls were lined with other students from the school who were cheering them on and giving them high fives.

 Ellie also had her clogging recital.

 It is  fun to watch as she has become really good in the year and a half that she has been dancing.

 We do need to work on her "stage face" though. :)

 For the May long weekend we were busy enjoying friends.  We had the Southams over for dinner on Sunday.  On Monday we went to the pool with the Fowlers and then to a BBQ at the Johnsons.

 Kyle and I were lucky enough to sneak away for a long weekend in Vegas while the Coombs took care of the kids.

 On Sunday we walked around the Vegas temple.

 One night we took a helicopter ride of the strip.

 We also saw Phantom.  It was Kyle's first time seeing this play.

 And of course you have to do the roller coaster at New York New York.

 Just some cute pictures on the front porch.