Memorial Day

This is a picture of my Grandfather, Emmett. He was a Chaplin's Assistant in the Army in 1946. I want to publicly thank all of the men and women who serve in the military for our country just as my Grandfather had. We have many in our family who have been in many wars. They help to protect our country and serve other countries as well! Thank you!

We were invited over to a friends house for breakfast and the kids got to eat outside. I pretty much stayed out there with them while they ate and I have to say it is fun to listen to kids conversations.

Our city has built a Monument to honor all of our local military. On Memorial day they dedicated it. I couldn't help but think of Daddy Paul, Pap, Grampa Emmett, Grampa G, Grampa Richard, Jim II, Elizabeth, just to name a few. I think with this list alone, our families have been in every war there was at least from WWI to date. Again Thank you!

Our friends John, Carly,, Benn, Ella, and soon to be Clara. Gotta love John's hair!

We also have a Walk of Hope memorial for Cancer. This memorial was provided for a friend of my good friend who died of Cancer leaving a husband and an infant. I really hope that someday really soon we can find a cure for this disease that know no race, religion, economy, or sex. I am so thankful and constantly in awe for and of my friend Keri. She has battled Breast cancer at age 28 and now Melanoma. She is such a source of strength to everyone she meets!

Normally, I find Memorial day to be another day to swim and the start of summer. However I found myself be very reflective for those in my life who made me such a better person just by knowing them. Thank you for EVERYTHING! Kari.

Shanette's Graduation

So as you may know we LOVE our babysitter, Shanette! And she graduate from high school this month. We went to the graduation with Shanette and her family and sat with them of course. This is a picture of KEnzi watching a movie on a DVD player before the festivities started. And what did we do before DVD players?

The girl in the middle with the Yellow sash is Shanette.

There were almost 1200 students graduating! BIG difference from my class of 87 people!


The graduate with her very proud family. Melissa, Shanette, Charles, and Laurel. 4 down and one more to go!

Shanette and Kenzi. Kenzi loves Shanette. She often asks for us to go on a date so Shanette can come over!

Us and Shanette. Carter being snarky I am sure!

Congrats Shanette! Next stop BYU!

Kenzi's last day of school...

OK so do y'all remember this little girl from last September that started Preschool? I sure don't! Because...

Now she looks like this. I swear this thing ate my little girl! This was her last day going to Preschool.

Kenzi and her teacher Mrs. C. Again I cannot say enough how wonderful she is!


Kenzi and Mrs. G. Another wonderful teacher that Kenzi had! Absolutely amazing!

The M girls & Brady with the teachers. The girls names are Molly, Maddy, and of course Mackenzie.

Mackenzie, Brady, Molly, and Maddy

Now is off to a Summer of Fun and the Kindergarten! :0(

Concert in the park...

Well I am not sure if I am tired or if really I feel these pictures speak for themselves. They were taken at the Summer Concert in Park series that Allen has every summer. And Kenzi loves to run and go nuts! Enjoy! Kari

Oh and Kenzi rolling down a hill! Oh to be 5 again!

Class picnic

I know that I am posting a lot, but the end of the school year produces a lot of activities with school! So this activity was a class picnic. We brought our friends, Sophie, Rhys, and Aunt Keri. Kenzi loved playing with her school friends.

Mrs. C, who is one of Kenzi's teachers.

Rhys-o-potamus! What a cutie pie!

Enjoy! Kari

Music Presentation

So Kenzi has been attending Children's Workshop for the past school year. She and I have loved it everyday! Well, they had a music presentation. It was so cute! Kenzi in true Kenzi form sang a little bit, did some of the movements but was 100% adorable.

Singing "Goin' on a Bear Hunt". Which Kenzi has actually told me that she gets scared singing it. So maybe that is the reason for the partial participation.

Kenzi's entire class. So many cutie patooties!


Kenzi actually doing the movements of "Going on a Bear Hunt". Of course it is the part where they run away from the bear.

So this is the other preschool class that only meets part day. The reason for this picture is, the boy in Green on the far left is, in Kenzi's words "My boyfriend, Caleb". He really is a cute kid and I think I figured out why he is the only one she outright calls her boyfriend is because he plays super heroes at recess with Kenzi. The other boys want to play Star Wars. And of course the girls want to play with dolls and house. So really he was the only option! :0)

Oh I forgot...

I forgot to tell you the best part about Six Flags! Or at least what I consider to be the best part. Well, remember when I mentioned about the Aquaman ride? Well it pretty much cooled us down as it was in the high 80s low 90s that day. And it really took all day to dry off. Well I think I was about another hour away from drying off when, Welcome to Texas, Spring rain came down in buckets! We were on the Merry-go-round when it started but my mom was not. She ran to the exit of the merry-go-round and when we got off we tried to wait it out but that was not working. So we ran to the closest store. While doing so we ran through about foot deep puddles/lakes. We bought an umbrella and spent about half an hour in the store and the rain was still not letting up. So we got soaked running to the overhang for the entrance and exit of the park. It was packed with school groups. Carter ran to the car and came and got us. Needless to say, we were soaked to the bone. I brought a change of clothes for the kid but not for any of the rest of us. So the kid was dry going home and the rest of us were still really wet when we got home. I absolutely love rain and cold weather and I was laughing most of the time. Kenzi was scared and we had to do a lot of reassuring. All I could say to my mom was "Welcome to Texas"! Kari

Kenzi's new endeavor...

So much to Carter's disappointment (only because Kenzi does not want to play hockey anymore), Kenzi has decided that she wanted to try gymnastics. So we had her try a class and see how it went to know if we were willing to have her keep going. She actually did really good! She paid attention and followed directions She is doing things like somersaults, beginning of cartwheels, balance beam, rings, trampoline, and bar. Who knew that they could start those things so young! Kenzi is absolutely loving it. Last week she came to put her shoes on after her class and asked "When do I get to do gymnastics again?" We currently have her in once a week so the poor girl has to wait a week. But it is great to know that she is liking it.

Kenzi sliding, not sure what this is useful for but she loved it the same.

Kenzi trying to do a back bend.

Kenzi doing a somersault.

Kenzi learning how to do a cartwheel. Or at least learning the foundation move.


Kenzi walking on the balance beam.

She absolutely loves it and I look forward to it teaching her discipline, balance and stamina. Go Kenzi! Enjoy! Kari

Six Flags

So Kenzi's birthday present from Gramma B was a trip to Six Flags. At first Kenzi did not quite know what we were talking about but very quickly realized when we pulled into the parking lot. And then it was on! We walked in and the first thing she saw was the Joker to which she was not at all okay talking to him. And was really afraid. So a very nice park personnel said all you have to say if someone comes up to you and wants to talk to you that you are afraid of is "Go play somewhere else, Joker!" To which felt to the freedom to continue walking around the park. Thank you Six Flags staff!

First up was Daffy and Sylvester.

Next we saw Green Lantern! Kenzi was very excited, as was Carter! And Green Lantern liked their shirts. That is why both Carter and Kenzi are doing the Flash pose with Green Lantern.

The first ride we hit.

The big kid ride that Kenzi rode by herself. She even made a friend on the ride.


So we went on the Aquaman ride. It literally is a ride where you climb a little bit, curve around and then drop. and by the end of the ride you feel like you have taken a shower with your clothes on. Though Carter and Kenzi waited on the bridge above the ride and got even more wet. It really was okay, as it was a warm day and it did cool us down!


Carter and Kenzi with Batmobile!



Kenzi's second time on the bouncing boots. My first! Those boots really bounce!


Carter and Kenzi on a ride that Kenzi tried to convince me to go on and I passed. This boat turns while going back and forth. I am sure I would vomit!

Us riding in a car that Kenzi drove. There were times where we felt like we were putting our hands in her life! She LOVED it!


I actually had to pressure KEnzi in sitting in this chair! I think this does a lot towards putting Kenzi into proper size perspective! She doesn't look so big now does she?!?!?!?!?!
We had so much fun! Thank you Gramma B. You ROCK! Love ya, Kari