Friends

 There is nothing better than a good friend. Sammi is lucky to have found a fantastic friend, a very best friend. Her name is Hanna. I wanted to do a little photo shoot with them today -- I think they turned out really cute! It was easy with the two of them since they are so stinkin cute! These are just point-and-click camera images, but they are still precious. 

These two girls are going to be taking on Junior High next year! Yeah! 

Enjoy the images of beauty that come from true friendship... 

Best. Friends. Forever. 

Camping in McCall

We took our first real camping trip as a family. At first I asked myself why we have not been camping more often over the years. It was beautiful, fun, exciting, and memory-creating. The daytime was super fun . . . and then the night came. As soon as it was dark Henry started shrieking like he has never shrieked before. He screamed ALL NIGHT LONG! After about 30 minutes I decided to take him to the car, where the sound was muffled a bit, but he kept screaming. It was so bad I asked Charles to give him a blessing, which he did, and soon after he calmed down. I "slept" on the floor of the van, with Henry on my arm. I was up all night. No sleep. It was awful. It was also really cold up there, about 30 degrees. As a result of no sleep, cold, and campfire in my face -- I got sick. I am still sick now, though I am on the mend. Charles got sick too. We spent our whole special vacation in Spokane with hacking coughs and body aches. Fun. I think camping is out of the question until baby Henry is much older. Now I know why we have not done it more often! I think daytime trips will have to do for now. We all loved the daytime festivities. We made some sweet and silly memories. The kids loved it. They all slept soundly. 

Henry and his bonnet provided by Sammi 

Henry holding diapers. 

Daniel loves camping 

Glow sticks are a MUST for fun 

Glow sticks were the only thing that made Henry happy at night 

It was really beautiful in the Ponderosa Pines 

The tent was just a big playpen for Henry 

William loves digging in the dirt 

Nature walk

Hanging out in the tent

The lake was really beautiful 

The temperature during the day was perfect

There was a nice beach to play on off of the campground

Soaking in the sun 

Sammi Sunshine 

climbing the dock 

loving it! 

Yea! 

FIRE 

Daddy-Daughter time 

Burning Daniel's school agenda. Schools out! Yea! 

Cute Sammi 

Maybe in a few more years we will try again. Seriously, that night was AWFUL. But there were lots of memories made. The kids loved it, that is what is important. 

Graduation

 This year I got to attend two graduation celebrations. 

Sammi graduated from 6th grade, and William graduated from Kindergarden. The two assemblies were back to back at the school. My heart was full at both celebrations, as I could feel time slipping through my fingers, far too quickly. 

Sammi got to give a sort of farewell speech during the program. It was cute. She is so brave. She is not nervous at all in front of a crowd. It is amazing for me to watch. It is fascinating to see the kind of confidence a child can have when you tell her she is a princess from the day she is born. And she is. She really is my most precious princess. 

Sammi got the Presidential award for academic excellence. When they were calling students to come up to receive the award, they forget her name. All the students who got it got to stand on the risers and get a special round of applause. She knew she got it, so she was sad. She could not stop some tears from falling. So, as her mother, I went to her teacher and let her know that Sammi was forgotten. Her teacher felt so bad, especially since it was Sammi. She promised to make it right. 

Sammi and her best friend Hanna

 So during the 6th grade lunch, the Principal came in and said she had an announcement to make. She told everyone they had forgotten to call up Sammi for the Presidential award, and so Sammi got to receive it all by herself in the lunch room, with everyone clapping just for her. See . . . sometimes mistakes turn out for the best. Sammi was happy again. :-) We are so proud of her and her hard work! Way to go Sam! 

 William "graduated" from Kindergarden. They had a really cute program. I think I cried more during his than hers, since I felt like his year flew by while I blinked. 

 Classic Willy face 

 He was so proud he told me to take his picture. 

Time keeps on slipping into the future! 

William's Song 

Sammi's Farewell Speech