May and June

May started with a big adventure for Bailey. We sent her off to Europe for 6 weeks. She traveled to 8 countries, 15 different cities. We are so happy she had this opportunity!

Next up, Aubrey's first AP test. She survived it (and later found out she passed), and afterward we drove to Portland to celebrate. We ate at a quirkly food truck on Alberta Street called The Grilled Cheese Grill before getting Salt n Straw ice cream.

Fun facts - the Grilled Cheese Grill has an old schoolbus parked near the foodtruck with tables inside for seating. It was a hot day, so we chose to sit outside the bus. And, behind the grill is a Tiny House Hotel, a group of tiny houses which can be rented, with communal s-mores activities every night, etc. So Portland!

Joseph with his stuffed animal friends, hanging out together on a Sunday afternoon! I love it and I'm so glad this fun boy is in our family.

 Aubrey finished frequent rehearsals and then performed in Shrek as Fiona. She was marvelous!

 Joseph joined the elementary school track team and ran in several events at a track meet in mid-May. Afterward, he and Alex got to pick some treats from the snack bar.

 What a great Dad - Dan and Joseph set up a tent in the back yard the end of May and camped overnight.

 Two S'mores parties with good friends - at the Kartchners and then at the Harringtons.

 



I had to take a picture of my efforts to sew on Joseph's new Scout patches. Is there ANYTHING more annoying than this? There simply has to be a better way.




The beginning of June Dan flew to Utah and worked like a madman to help Brandon and Angela load up to move to California. Then he drove the Uhaul truck down with them and moved them into their tiny apartment in North Hollywood before leaving them to being their new lives and adventures in California!

Then, cue the nonstop end of year events, including Joseph's last Reading Olympics in elementary school. 

 Joseph finishing up a big school project, in which he designed his dream house.

Joseph and Alex spent a super fun day at Oaks Park, which is the reward for the kids who did Safety Patrol all year.

And, Joseph had taken cello all through 4th and 5th grades through a special school program, and he performed at a concert. We love to hear him play the cello!

Joseph all dressed up for 5th Grade Color Wars

Can you spot Joseph in this group of 5th graders?

 End of basketball season party at the Kartchner's house. 

More fun with water . . . Joseph and Matt had me shoot water at them on the trampoline. The improvised shields with garbage can lids.

 Just a few days after her 19th birthday, Bailey came home from Europe! She had been awake for something like 26 hours straight, and was more than ready to eat a Muchas Gracias burrito.

 Later that night she showed us all the chocolate she had brought home from Europe.

 She fell asleep while waiting for family prayers!

 The library hosted a really fun Harry Potter activity. Here Joseph and Alex played Quidditch.

We drove straight from the HP party to Joseph's piano recital. 

And then drove to Mod Pizza for an end of school celebratory dinner.

Because we were going to leave Dan behind in Vancouver the day after school let out and would miss Father's Day, we celebrated a week early. 

Aubrey and Emma had a Tony's watching party. It was a really great Tony's year. We have all enjoyed watching it several times, especially since it was full of Hamilton performances.

 And finally, the last day of elementary school. I had to snap this picture of my boy, all grown up, walking into his class for the last time. 

 Just before we left out of town for Utah, Bailey earned some college cash by powerwashing for us.

 Finally, why we were in Utah, Dan went on a long and eventful hike to Dog Mountain with the Priests in our ward. He had been asked to help out when a few leaders couldn't go. He has a really great story to tell about his experiences . . . exhaustion, dehydration, hailstorm, getting lost, going into shock. It was great!  

Utah Trip Summer 2016

The day school ended, the kids and I (plus Kylie Kartchner) took off to Utah to get Bailey back to school and get Aubrey to EFY. We were in Utah for two fun weeks. 

The first thing we did after arriving was help Bailey move her stuff from Grandma and Grandpa's basement in Draper to her new apartment in Liberty Square in Provo. It was HOT and moving is never, never fun. But, she was glad to be back with Caiti and was ready for new adventures.

The next day we picked up Aubrey's friend Cami from the airport. She spent the night with us in Draper and then early Monday morning I dropped the girls off at EFY.  They were in Helaman Halls this year, the furthest building from the Morris Center, where they ate all their meals. They got quite a workout each day in the almost 100 degree weather!

They had a great time!

Meanwhile, Joseph and I visited family (Grandma and Grandpa and Ali's family in Salem and his friend Kyle in Riverton).

And, while the kids played one day, Ali and I painted Dad's office. What could be more fun than painting with my sister?

Joseph and I also checked out Sheels in Sandy, a gargantuan sporting goods store with a lot of fun things to do inside. (We rode that huge Ferris Wheel. Look how high up we were!)

 After picking her up from EFY, the two youngest kids and I spent some time hanging out and touring Temple Square. 

 Joseph mimicking Joseph Smith (behind him)

Once Dan flew into town, we met up with Texas Porter cousins for an afternoon. 

Joseph also did a service project for Grandma and Grandpa, sweeping their porch and washing their front door.

 And next. . . . we drove to Aspen Grove for a week-long Springer Reunion! I'm only going to add a some of the pictures from our fantastic week, as we have an entire book filled with pictures of the fun!

The ropes course was really tough. We all did it!  Here's Joseph

And Aubrey

 Three cousins, all the same age. Just missing the other 11 year old, Cam!

 Joseph made so many friends! He thought Aspen Grove was basically heaven, where he had autonomy and freedom to run around and do various fun activities.

 Aubrey on the pottery wheel