Broadway Baby

Every summer, for the past several years, my kids have participated
in a super fun summer music camp called

Broadway Kids.
It is a week long day camp where they learn songs and choreography each day.
Then, at the end of the week, they put on a darling show at the Performing Arts Center.
This year it was just my little Ash who participated.
She loved every minute of it and sang her songs all. day. long.
She even had a little solo part in one of the songs!
For me, she stole the show!

(a few of these last pics are a little soft on the focus and the guy beside was using a monster flash
and kept messing up my shots - but I still loved her expressions.)

Girl's Camp

If you called me this summer and didn't get me, or left a message that I didn't return... so sorry. Really I am. My life kind of goes into a holding pattern for a few months and I eat, drink and sleep -- no, cancel that on the sleep, -- Girl's Camp!

I love Girl's Camp. I have such sweet memories of Girl's Camp growing up.
It is where I felt strength in numbers
where I watched and learned from amazing YW leaders that I hoped to be like someday
where my sis and I swam tandem in a race and totally kicked bootie
where our tents nearly floated away in the Alabama summer rain storms
where I met my first boyfriend who was later my first kiss
where I felt the Spirit so strong
where I gained a testimony for myself that the gospel is true.

So here I am... surrounded by some amazing women that I am blessed to call my friends.

Note: I had ONE shower for the week! Gross, I know, but true.

In the background you can see some of our set up for camp. Our ward value was Choice and Accountability, which as you can see, is orange. Not a color I was thrilled about getting -- in fact I begged a little to trade, but had no takers. Well, over time... I sort of fell in love with orange - sort of.

Made this flag. Love these beautiful girls!

Sewed lots and lots of orange and white polka dotted pendants. (excuse the garbage bags)

2nd year 5 mile hike

A throw back to the 80's ... Cyndie Lauper eat your heart out :)

These girls make it all worth it!

They gave paper plate awards and these were ours :)

Hooray for Bishop night! I love it when I get to see the bishop ;)

And I love it when he does the Tutti-Ta Dance!

Skit night! My girls were awesome!

"Girls Just Gotta Stay Strong" to the music of "Girls Just Gotta Have Fun"

:) :)

Birthday girl

Happy 6th Birthday
Ashley Grace!

(Summer birthday are celebrated in Kindergarten during the last few weeks of school.
Each child gets a special day at school. This is Ashley on her day. She chose to take ice cream
sandwiches and goody bags to school for all of her classmates.)

I am so in love with this little girl

and so grateful to have her.

We prayed and waited for her a very long time. But oh... was she worth the wait :) I love that she is such a perfect combination of sugar and spice. She needs to have a good dose of spunkiness to hold her own with three brothers and she does it quite nicely. I love her funny sense of humor. I love to watch her play... with her dolls and especially with Luke. He is usually a very willing puppy or a student at her "school". It is amazing to me that she has such a tender "mother heart" as she likes to take care of everyone around her. She loves anything to do with art and told me yesterday that she wants to be a mommy and a designer when she grows up :) Yes, she is sooo my girl and of course I love it.

We had a fun and easy celebration this year for Ash's 6th birthday. Her birthday actually fell on Sunday - Father's Day again just like when she was born. (It also fell 2 days before Girl's Camp.) On Saturday, our family went to Chuckie Cheese with Grandma O., Amber, and a few of Ashley's friends. Pizza. Games. Cupcakes. Prizes. Then we all went to see Toy Story 3 in 3D. We loved it and had a great time.

The Sugar (above)

And the spice

My honey on his Happy Father's Day holding the best Father's Day present I ever gave him :)