Anna was in charge of her own birthday party this year. Once again she did a few celebrations with each of her "groups". Next year it's going to be one big party!
Pedicure with Jordan!
Out to lunch and shopping with Grandma Nan!
Candy-bar poster and decorations by her sisters
And opening amazing presents from her Grandma Dee and Grandpa Craig!!!!
She started YW at church. She was happy to move up to where Jane and Emma and the twins are.
Whoops, I didn't mean to publish this yet. Photo coming from church today. Here is Anna's baptism a few years back!
Here are some more pictures of her party. She wanted to do a camp-out with 3 of her friends in the backyard.
Does that look like a campfire on top of the cake? I tried my best.
To find their movie treats they had to do a scavenger hunt.
This is a picture from the scavenger hunt of all the girls' moms at Olivia's baby shower. Each clue had a picture of Anna growing up, that sort of included these girls, as they have known each other for that long.
Jane and Anna in kindergarten
Lots of fun memories with Tirzah and Anna growing up
Anna's western b-day party in the backyard a few years ago with the same girls
Then they watched Parent Trap in the tent that Eric set up. Very cute
12 years old! It's so exciting! You have made a sad thing, growing up, into a very happy thing as you keep getting more and more fun, kind, sweet and wonderful. Happy Birthday Anna! We love you!
We spent our 14th Anniversary in Romantic San Francisco, where we got engaged...
with a few tag-alongs
He pretty much spent his special days celebrating Olivia's birthday which is right in the middle of his special week, and working hard as a dad, as usual!
He is a good sport. Thanks for making our family such a priority to you and for also serving in the Bishopbric and working hard for us. We hope you have a wonderful year and maybe next year we'll give you the attention you deserve! He is the best dad and husband and we're so lucky to have him.
We've loved watching Ella at the beach, every day for the past month, do Junior Lifeguards in Half Moon Bay. This video shows her first open swim competition with 2000 kids in Santa Cruz. It's very popular there!
Anna even came a couple of times with friends. Sometimes when it's cold we go to the Half Moon Bay Library for a magic show, books, etc or computer time!?
But Anna has mainly been working as a Junior Counselor at WPNS and spending a lot of time at Grandma Dee's!
Other summer events:
Last day of third grade for Ella. She ended up making a lot of really nice new friends and learning a lot this year.
Colton is meeting friends in nursery and getting to know the world of boys a little bit better!
We've been to San Francisco a lot to go to museums and the park and meet up with or friends visiting from Tennessee who were here for another wedding. Merida was there!
Olivia learned to ride a bike by herself at the local school she will attend next year!
And spends a lot of her time with these two!
Anna went to Girls Camp!
She loved it!
I kept an eye on her from the kitchen. I helped on the kitchen staff for three days to be there in case of the homesick blues.
We also had a party in Utah. Best part, seeing my Grandma's.
Grandma Bashie - 97 years old and as gorgeous and as fun as ever!
My poor Grandma Redford had a fall a couple of days before we got to Utah and was pretty banged up.
My Aunt Sherry and Uncle Jeff were there taking care of her, and when my mom got up to Utah they found a new place for her to live which has been a big transition and new stage for her. We get to go visit our grandmas when we go back to Utah this December.
Ella, Olivia and I had a blast driving to Utah with my brother T.J. We stopped at Salt Air with hopes to swim in the Salt Lake, but that wasn't as appealing as we had hoped.
We got to stay with Jen Edgmon, my childhood friend and had a wonderful time catching up.
Nothing like old friends to make you feel rejuvenated!
We got to see Aly Freedman's new home they are moving into next month. Jen also showed us her new home in Kaysville, Utah and the watersides close by, called Cherry Hill.
Jen got her hair cut short. Cute!
Ella and Zoey
Liv and Luke
I have a thing for Utah and its mountains. I can't get enough of them. We drove through the mountains of Draper to get to Sundance. I couldn't believe that there are chapels so high and remote. gotta love it.
Coming back from the Bergmans home in Alpine, we could see Fireworks on both sides of the Point of the Mountain on the 4th of July. They completely covered the sky in both Utah Valley and South Salt Lake. Jered treated us to a firework show on the block every night, because they are legal. The whole block came to watch. They were kind of scary, but the kids loved it.
The Bergmans let us hang out with their 5 kids and all their grand-kids at their farm in Alpine for the 4th of July. They played a lot of games on their lawn after a big b-b-q. Ella was in heaven with all the kids and animals. They also have an indoor pool which they spent a lot of time in.
More Utah beauty..Sundance...
Good-bye Utah! Thanks for good times! I'll miss you!!!!
