Books N Buddies

My sister-in-law Shawna told us about a fun activity at the USU Firestation called Books N Buddies. The firemen are there and teach about bike safety, fire safety, and water safety. Each kid got a book, got to see inside a firetruck, and had some different activities to do as well. It was a lot of fun and the gals enjoyed it and playing with their cousins.

Gracie on the left and her cousin Aaron on the right. The kids loved this activity- they had to wear a life jacket and get pulled on tubes behind a 4-wheeler. As they were going they got sprayed with water from a firefighter.



Brooklyn insisted on taking Abby- Abby not so much a fan. Cousin Audrey on the right. The guy pulling them took them a little too far and they went off the curb and almost went face first onto the blacktop- luckily Brooklyn held on tight to Abby so no injuries occurred.



Gracie, Brooklyn, and Garrett being taught some fire safety information- I love how serious they are all taking it.

Ali and Gracie enjoyed playing inside the firestation.

The girls were sitting up there when the alarm went off and the firemen were being called out. They got in their gear fast and I quickly grabbed the girls.





Sean's sister Evelyn is visiting from North Carolina and they joined us there. Audrey holding Emma, Ali, Brooklyn, Ryan, Gracie, Aaron, and Lauren

Cooling off with a frosty at Wendy's

Fishing

Brooklyn got a fishing pole last year for her birthday and never used it. So we decided this year she would be using it and Gracie used some of her own money and bought her a pole too. We have already been 2 times and it is a BLAST!! There is a dam here in Wellsville that the city has made really nice so we have gone there with Ric and Paula and their family. Good thing we have had Ric with us- he spends the majority of his time there untangling, putting hooks and bait on, and anything else the gals need him to do. Thanks Anderson's for helping the gals- we have decided this is going to be a weekly outing. The first time we went, Gracie caught 2 fish and got them to the bank and the line broke. It was so fun seeing how excited she was reeling them in. The second time we went, my aunt Paula caught one and got it on shore and as we were getting ready to leave Ric caught one and let Brooklyn reel it in. She was so excited! YAY for summer finally arriving! :)

Kami was a good sport to help Gracie the first time we went so I could take pictures!

Her first fish- Ric is ready to grab it and the line broke

Marlee, Marijka, and Gracie

Ric and Paula

Ella chillin in her carseat

Brooklyn's Dance Revue

Brooklyn has taken dance for the past 3 years and had her 3rd dance revue. The past 2 years she was in the Preschool/Kindergarten group and it was a night revue. This year was 2 nights plus 2 days of rehearsals. It was a proud parent moment for Sean and I (he deserves a medal sitting through both nights) Brooklyn danced her little heart out and did such a great job. We were so proud of her. Sean and I had perma-smiles every time she was out. Thanks for those that came and sat through it and supported her it really meant a lot to her!

After it was over- we were waiting for Brooklyn to come out. We waited and waited and no Brooklyn. When there were just a few people left we went looking for her. We finally found her and she informed us that she was changing back into her favorite costume for pictures. She was also so excited for the flowers she got.

Ella's First Outing and Visitor's

We kept Ella in for a couple of weeks- you would've thought she was our first baby and not our third. Our motto is we would rather be safe and there are just so many nasty germs. Anyway- Ella had her first outing to Nat and Greg's house. (Minus the couple times that I took her to lunch and she stayed covered in her carseat.) I only took a few pictures.

Garrett was so excited to finally be able to hold, love, and pet Baby Ellala as he calls her. He is a wild little guy, but was very gentle with her.

Sher finally got to hold Ella- the first time she came up she was worried she had a cold so she didn't hold Ella.

VISITOR'S

Sean's grandparents came by one day and met Ella for the first time

Aunt Shawna



Grandma and Grandpa Maynard- Sean's dad works in Florida and was home and this is the first time meeting Ella

Jan's Wedding

My cousin Janalee married Matt on June 4th. It was such a wonderful day. The weather was perfect and she was a BEAUTIFUL bride! We are so happy for her and Matt. ( I forgot my camera- so thanks Nat for the pictures!)

The gals took their duty as flower girls very seriously

Gracie and Garrett loved the fountain

I love how Brooklyn is standing in between Jan and Matt holding the bouquet (as I said- she took her duties very seriously- she lasted about 2 minutes standing there.)

Garrett and Gracie loved the food- especially the frosting on the cupcakes

So the one the the newest trends at weddings is to have a photobooth there- we had a ton of fun with it. I think the gals were in there every other turn.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day has always been a big or busy holiday for our family. My grandma Ila was the Queen of putting flowers on graves. She was so good to make sure that all the relatives had flowers on them. And she taught us that we don't just throw the flowers on the grave- you arrange them very carefully and away for the headstone. She passed on this tradition to my mom and my aunt Paula- who have now taught it to us. With the weather forecast not looking too hot for Memorial Day, we went out on Saturday and got the flowers all arranged.

Brooklyn made sure the grave was very clean

Gracie was a good help to Pops

My polygamist roots. My grandma's grandpa William H. Maughan (son of Peter Maughan) had 6 wives.

Grandma Ila and Grandpa LaMar's headston

Brooklyn found a Robin's egg and was so excited about it.

Ella enjoyed the experience sleeping in the car

Grandma Vone and Grandpa Claude's headstone