Lettering in Band

Liberty lettered in Band this year. We are way proud of her!! She did several events with band above & beyond her regular class in order to receive this award. This picture is of the Freshman students that lettered this 2015-16 school year.

Here is some her best Band Buddies! Marz & Ann

Adays Talent Show

A few of the Activity day girls

Victoria has really enjoyed her Activity Days this past school year.
Today was the last activity until the fall but was also Glory's 1st time. They were putting on a talent show to end their year. Glory wanted to be brave and do something for the talent show.
She showed them all the String tricks she has been learning. Good job, Sis!

 Victoria showed off her violin talent. Awesome!

Way proud of my girls and their talents. Can't wait to see the fun they have in the fall.

Memorial Day BBQ

 We had a few families over for a Memorial Day BBQ.

They did some Stick Pulling, football on the tramp, and a game of basketball. 

Good time with family & friends.

S'mores at the Andersons

 The Anderons had us and the Paynes over tonight for S'mores over their firepit. Yum!

The kids had a blast playing together.

It sprinkled a little bit. Nothing to ruin the fun but enough to create a gorgeous double rainbow. Love it!

The adults enjoyed a few competitive games of Cornhole. I definitely have to get one of those for our backyard.

And some of the kids enjoyed a little karate chopping some firewood. Fun times!

P.S. This happened to be the last time that our 3 little families got together before the Paynes moved. We have done so much over the past 3 years together- it's sad to see this part of our lives come to an end. ;(

Painting Projects

Before we have family come next week- there are a couple painting projects I wanted to get done.

Victoria helped me paint the bar to match our kitchen cupboards. It's been plain white for 2 years now. The builder said he'd do it but we were tired of waiting. We painted it cream and then used a stain pen to make the lines dark. I love it!!!

It's a subtle difference but we love it!

My helper

Stained lines

I also wanted a little blue in our family room. I could never find the right accents that were the right blue- so I painted the wall instead. Here's when I was almost done. We really like it!

Fast forward to mid-June and I've been helping my cute friend Kris paint her house. They bought this 1900s home and are fixing it up. It's got so much character. It'll be so cute when they're done. We painting it creams and yellows and light green. They are all her colors and she's super happy!

Oh how I love a fresh coat of paint!!!!

We also did a few fun crafty projects. I made this sign for our powder room. Love how it turned out!

And the girls got into some painting action as well.

Glory's Fieldtrip to the WILD

I got to join Glory for the last part of her fieldtrip today. Her class went to Montana Wild. They learned about birds and fish. Then they walk around Spring Meadow Lake for lunch at the pavilion.

Glory with Gabbi, Eva & Evey

It started to rain as they walked to the bus. It was fun they came all prepared. So cute!

http://www.helenamt.com/content/city/helena/listing/montana-wild/

Victoria Orchestra Concert

Back in October of last year- Victoria had the opportunity to sign up for a Beginning Orchestra class offered after school by Siggy's Little Music Shop. She got to try out the different instruments with Mr. Sigafoos. She decided on the Violin. She's worked hard this year (not as hard as she could though- we really have to work on a practicing schedule in our family. We stink at that! ;)

Tonight, they had their 1st Annual Orchestra Concert. What a fun night!

Victoria has some of her best friends (Sofie & Clara) in Orchestra with her. Plus our cute little neighbor Maia. {P.S. I dropped off some church shoes to Victoria but she decided to stay in her gym shoes. Silly girl!}

Here's a little sample:

Hot Cross Buns with their whole Orchestra:

Trio with her friends performing Frère Jacques:

(can't upload it- I'll condense it)

Victoria's Solo of the Can Can:

End of the Rainbow

We have had quite a bit of rain lately. Everything's chilly & soggy! But there are positive side effects to the weather.

We are the end of the Rainbow:

Can you see the Double Rainbow?:

If I had a Million Dollars...

Every year, Brett brings home the playing pieces for the Albertsons Monopoly. Victoria LOVES it and takes her job of filling in the game board very seriously!!! As you can see- we almost won a lot of things. The key word being "almost" LOL!!!! Keep trying, Sis! One of these years- you'll make us rich!

Freshman Band Concert

Last band concert as a Freshman. Great job, Liberty!!! Her friend, Ann did a solo on the Piano. She's amazing! They did some really fun songs this time. It's been a fun band year!

Yankee Doodle:

Pirates of the Caribbean:
(can't get it loaded. Bummer! let me try & condense)

Star War (Ann & Liberty finally got off the bells ;):

Goodbye to Seminary Seniors

Brett has really enjoyed this group of Seniors in Seminary this year. He had one last get-together at our house for Scones & Cotton Candy. Only a few could make it but we loved having them!! Good luck to them as they head off to College & Missions. 

Temple Trip Billings: Swim Park

The kids loved all the swimming we did this weekend.
We let everyone get together on Friday night with friends and do some swimming at the different hotels. {Liberty went with the Guymons but I just came at the end to pick her up so I didn't get any pictures}

Then on Saturday, we headed with lots of families to play at the Reef. Love that place!

Temple Trip Billings: Dinner with Friends

We met up with a bunch of friends for dinner. (The Lybberts & Steinagels came later to join us) Fun people to be with!

Temple Trip Billings: Baptisms & Babysitting

 It was our Stake Temple trip this weekend. We were lucky enough to participate again with the youth while they did Baptisms. We had a lot of youth come from our ward. Very special!

Then we headed to the Stake Center to help out with babysitting. The Stake Primary this time had lots of activities. They played BBall, 4-square, watched movies, had snacks, did art projects, and I took the littles on a nature walk. Fun & crazy times!

Hail- Yes!!!.. We saw a Cattle Drive

On our road trip out to Billings this weekend, we ran into a ol' west Montanan Cattle Drive. Cowboys & everything!!! It was crazy!!! Soooo many cows....

We loved this little family that tried their best to hold their ground. Too funny!

We just bought a Suburban from some friends. We're grateful we were able to have a little more room & better tires for this trip. Hannah was able to ride down with us.

On the trip back- we ran into quite the storm!!! Thank heavens for tires that kept us on the road. Check out this HAIL!!

And all the rain after:

"POP" Band Concert

Justice had his Band Concert tonight. The theme was "POP" Music. The introductions of each song were like... hilarious, Dude!!! LOL

Mrs. Nelson does a great job with these kids. You did awesome, Justice!!! We're very proud of your talents. (He is in the center on 3rd row back with his flag hat)

Introducing the 7th Grade Head Bangers playing Blitzkrieg Bop 

(condensed version so it would load):

Playing HOME by Phillip Phillips:

Scout Auction

We participated in the Ward Scout Auction tonight.


We donated a few things. We did some babysitting hours, organizing hours, and some manual labor as a family. I also made some crafts. They turned out pretty cool.

And we bought ALOT of things including a *Float Trip with the Staleys and the Tubbs * $500 off Braces at Jackson Ortho * BBQ & Game night with the Fifes *A Full detail for one of our cars *a few bouquets of flowers

Teacher Appreciation Week

We sure appreciate the teachers that the kids had this year. We got them a few things we knew they needed (from me volunteering in their classes) & the girls wrote them a sweet note. It was a Wild West theme so we tried to make our gifts fit!

Dear Author Fieldtrip

Back in February, Victoria won the Dear Author Award. As part of that, the school received a lot of money for books for the school. Anyone that participated in the contest- got to go on a field trip today.
They took all the kids to lunch at Perkins first. I was able to join them. Love these girls!!!

Then they took all the kids to 2 different bookstores. All the kids got to pick out $25 worth of books.What a fun day!!!

Girls at Recess

I really enjoy being able to volunteer each Wednesday in the girls' classes. Then I get to each lunch with them & on occasion watch them interact with their friends at recess. I love that they love me to spend time with them. Plus it's so good to see them interact with friends. Cute kids!!!

 Glory coloring with the boys:

 Collecting Iron:

Playing Cat's Cradle:

One day at lunch, Clara & Victoria had way too much fun with their crackers. 

They made them into a Squid, a Fish, an Owl, a Boogie Man and a Bunny! 

Creative, silly girls!