Caroline gets her ears pierced

By Caroline

Before I got my ears pierced I was scared that it would hurt . But right before I had it done the lady gave me a sucker so I wouldn't pass out. It didn't hurt until the lady cleaned out my ears. I have to wear the same earrings  for 6 weeks and clean them 3 times a day. The earrings that I got are big silver balls. I was so excited to get my ears pierced.  My mom made me wait until I was 10 years old.  

Caroline's Boutique Bagels

A year ago Caroline made a goal to learn to make and sell bagels so she could earn some money. I thought it would be a good learning experience.  She practiced with me all last summer making Becca's bagel recipe.  She started selling them in the fall.  She has about 3-4 regular customers who each purchase one -two dozen bagels.  She randomly decides when to make them, usually once a month and only makes a max of 3 doz at a time.  She had to buy her own flour, yeast, salt and brown sugar and has figured out the cost of each batch.  She charges 10 dollars a dozen, delivered (in our neighborhood).  She does a great job and some of her customers wish she made them more regularly.  She is very protective of her bagels when they come out of the oven and no one can eat any!  I usually have to make a dozen for our family at the same time so the other kids don't complain.  Caroline has always loved cooking and wants to be a chef when she grows up. 

Camping Trip-Arches National Park

An arch on the Devil garden loop hike-Cousin Rachel, Natalie, Jake, and cousin Joseph.
Josh climbing through a crevice on the fiery furnace hike.

Broken Arch--this hike was just behind our campsite-we did it twice!
Landscape Arch-passed this on the 7 1/2 mile hike (John did just 3 mi with Caroline & Joseph)
In the Fiery Furnace--really cool crevices we hike through and arches we climbed through.
On the way to Broken Arch--The kids love finding caves and hiding spots.

We went camping at Devil's campground which is the only campground inside of the park.  It was absolutely beautiful.  Our tent trailer was surrounded by red rock formations.  The kids had endless fun playing hide and seek, exploring and climbing.  We went on some of the most beautiful hikes I have ever been on.  The scenery was breathtaking.  Pictures do not do it justice and it makes me want to upgrade my camera.  The weather was cool which made the hikes in the dessert sun perfect!!  We went with Mike's family and the kids had fun with their cousins. We will definitely camp here again.  One of the reasons I love camping so much is that it takes our family out of the "world" for a few days--no tv, phone, computer, friends, etc. We are able to spend real quality time together and it seems there are less arguments and teasing.  I have decided to put more limits on the tv and computer since this trip.    I actually liked this vacation better than Disney World.  There was not that anxious feeling to get to every "ride" to get our money worth like there was at Disney World.  I think watching my children that they had just as much fun too.  Here are our families top ten for the trip:

10. clean campground bathrooms

9. All you can eat pizza at Zax's in Moab (honey chicken pizza was the favorite)

8. campfire s'more and roasting starburst

7. lizard chasing/catching

6. playing with cousins

5. Devil garden 7 1/2 mile loop hike (kids didn't like the last mile)

4. Delicate Arch (the Utah arch) 

3. exploring and climbing

2. hide and seek at campsite

1.  Fiery Furnace Hike

Braces off

Natalie just got her braces off.  They look great and she looks more grown up which I don't like.  I never had braces, maybe when all the kids are done with braces I will get them.  The first photo is a funny picture she took on photo booth on the computer.

Caroline's B-day Party

The mystery of the missing party gloves.......Caroline had all her chums come over to help her solve a mystery for her birthday party.   The girls search and found some clues, interviewed neighbors which they gave lemon bars to and deciphered codes till they finally found the gloves. They loved using their flashlights when it became dark.  They also loved playing some detective games like find the "bomb" (a ticking timer) that they took turn hiding in the basement.  The girls all went home with vintage gloves and hankies, notepad, pen, and a headband.  My sister Al made Caroline a sleuthing bag like Nancy Drew used in the movie.  It turned out great and Caroline loved it. Caroline lately has been pretending to be Nancy Drew when she plays with her friend Alexis.  This inspired the party.  I think I enjoyed planning this party so much because when I was her age I loved Nancy Drew too and often pretended to solve my own made up mysteries. 

Pictures from Greece

Johnny in the MTC

Johnny with first companion on Mars Hill in Greece
Johnny in action in Athens
Apartment buzzing(tracking)--they rarely get in.
Garbage strike

Blue Man Natalie

Natalie is running for student government in her school.  She made the primaries and they were divided into two groups--a blue group and gold group.  Each group was required to make a poster and preform a 10 minute skit.  Natalie's blue group decided to do a Blueman skit.  They had strobe lights, fog, and spot lights as they danced and did weird stuff like Blueman.  It was cool and the student body really enjoyed it.  Natalie is on the left in top picture and 2nd from left on the back row.    NATALIE WON PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR STUDENT GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS TODAY!!!! I'm very proud of her and all the hard work she did.  She had to do an interview with the principle, vice principle, councilors and a few teachers.  She also had to give a speech to the whole student body.

Easter

Every Easter the kids wake up to find a piece of yarn tied to their bed.  They follow the yarn all over the house --around and under furniture, in and out of closets, etc.  With 6 children the whole house looks like a giant spider web.  All the kids race to follow the string and find their basket.  This year John was out of town on Saturday night so I decided to do the string thing on Saturday morning instead of Sunday.  I will always do it the day before Sunday from now on.  It was much more peaceful on Sunday morning and not so crazy getting ready for church while tripping over the string.  We made the rule the kids have to wind up their string before eating any Easter candy.

This is RayAnne's annual Easter Egg hunt.  All the children are ready to make a dash for the hundreds of eggs the older kids hide.