Missionaries & Lazy Morning

One thing that we will really miss when we move back to Utah is having the missionaries over for dinner. We have been blessed with Elder Scobes and Elder Hall lately. They are great and have shared some really fun lessons with the kids.

School is out and the other morning, when I came out of my room, I found all four kids reading in the living room. The boys have been enjoying the Fablehaven Series. Sophie just finished The BFG and is starting Despereaux. Audrey had a stack of Dr. Seuss. I am so glad that my kids enjoy reading. It is quiet and doesn't make a mess. (And it is probably good for their brain development or something like that too. LOL)

Dance, Scouts, Friends, News

Sophie has loved taking a ballet class this year. Her recital was on Saturday and she danced beautifully.

William earned his Arrow of Light Award in Cub Scouts this week. His expression in these pictures doesn't show it, but Will really does like Scouts. This first picture is with Sister Kelli Holman. Kelli loves Cub Scouts and I love her for that. She has been a tremendous help to Landon and William and a dear friend. The second is with Zach and Mikey, two Scout friends.

Sophie was only two years old when we moved here. Hannah and Eliza are wonderful friends that she has grown up with that she will miss terribly. Amber (Eliza's mom) was nice enough to help them make pen-pal kits to stay in touch and take them on an adventure to a peony farm nearby. The second picture includes Audrey and Yvy. Such pretty girls!

I am hoping to take more pictures the next several days and blog about all of the wonderful things that we will miss about our little Missouri town. But I also have to pack up the entire house, so we will see how far I get. We have had a great six-year adventure here. Vince was released as the Branch President today. It was a good meeting. The Spirit was there. He served just over four years. I know that we will remember this time and the friends that we have made here with such fondness. The people of the Maryville Branch are truly some of the best people that we have had the pleasure of knowing and loving.

A New Year

Last year, I wrote two blog posts. I have a lofty goal of blogging more frequently this year. I am sure that our life isn't completely boring, yet when I think of blogging, I can't think of anything that we are doing that seems all that interesting. Guess we've got to spice things up around here or just pay better attention to the wonders and beauty of our everyday life, and attempt to document them.

I did get two cute pictures of Audrey and her pre-school friends from one of her teachers today. I have to say that the boys are not carrying their fair share of the domestic duties at pre-school.

Seven Pictures

This year, we took a new route home. With the flooding in Iowa and Nebraska we had to detour North anyway, so we decided to head a little more North and see Martin's Cove, Crazy Horse, and Mt. Rushmore. It was a pleasant and scenic drive. I had never been to the beautiful state of South Dakota before. It was a great day.


This was the first day of school 2011. I wonder how much longer we'll be able to pull off the Bates Family Totem Pole. Audrey is quickly gaining on Sophie in height. This year Landon is in seventh grade, William in fourth, Sophie in second and Aud in pre-school a few hours a week.


This was the girls first sewing project. They designed the bags and we sewed them up, all from things we had in the sewing box. Sophie loves stuff like this. She is the arts and crafts queen.


Audrey turned four and wanted a Barbie Cake. I had to double the cake recipe to get that skirt up to Barbie'e hips. We have been eating way too much cake since the big day.


These girls love to be silly.

New Look for the Girls Room

At Christmas time, my mom and I found some cute fabric at IKEA and Toni helped me sew some new curtain valences for the girls room. Then we found a really cute rug and some new bedding to match. Here is a little video of the girls showing how in turned out.

A Few More Summer Pics

First, my girls at Devils Gap. They just look happy.


Next, our night under the stars. There is nothing like the night sky in the middle of the desert. Amazing. And the next morning, we let each of the kids have a turn driving the van. Great memories. Landon and Audrey were crazy. Will and Sophie pretty cautious.


Vince did a great job with this Legoland picture. He centered it just right. It could be a postcard if the people weren't so funny looking. LOL


Gotta love Drew's expression in this one.


This beach picture would be perfect for Grandma Billie to put on her desk at work. If only it weren't missing one grandchild. Where's Audrey?


Oh. Here she is. Or throwing a tantrum on the ground somewhere that she didn't want her picture taken.


I love these horse pictures at Uncle Jim's. First, Morgan and Audrey go for a ride.


And then Landon and Sophie saddle up. We had such a great summer!

Finally found the cord

I finally found the cord that plugs my camera into my computer. It was right where it always is, so I have no idea why I hadn't been able to find it for several weeks. Here are a few recent pictures.

Sophie sporting her cast. I thought that she would choose pink but she thought this was, "the most beautiful shade of blue". The nurse suggested the decorative purple stripe. He and Sophie were quite the design team.


The kids on Aud's third birthday.


Landon and his friend Matthew receiving their Arrow of Light Awards.


First day of school 2010.