iFly

Jacob was invited to go with a friend to iFly in Ogden.  I have never even seen this before.  It looks like a blast though.  He had a good time. I tried to upload a video but it's giving me grief.  Guess these pics will have to do.

Hunters Ed. Graduate

For about two weeks Isaac has been taking classes for Hunter's Safety.  On Saturday he took the written and shooting test. He got 94% on the written and 24/30 on the shooting. (We had to borrow a .22 so he could take the test.)  He has wanted to do this for the past couple years, so we finally got it done.  He's pretty excited about it and wants to make some plans with the uncles.

Learners Permit

Its official, and legal and a little scary.  Jacob is behind the wheel.  He drove to Walmart that night and even got on the freeway. I think he even hit 65mph.  He said it was scary, and yeah it was a little bit. Well here we go.  Its time to get this kid comfortable driving.

First Day of School

Yep. . another school year is here.  Jake started his first day of high school as a 10th grader.  (Still floored over this one.)  Isaac is not longer the little kid at the Jr. High since he's now an 8th grader.  And. . . Jacob now has his learners permit. . . yikes!!  He drove us to the school today through the back roads.  Dennis and I dropped off the boys at school before going to the temple this morning.  Such a beautiful day today!

Beautiful Drive this morning!

First day of 8th Grade

First day at the High School as a Sophomore

How was the first day of school?
Isaac - The first day of school was the worst, my lunch period is too crowded and only lasts 15-20 minutes and we can't go in the gym to play basketball and we got kicked of our buss cause it's too crowded and cause some seventh graders are now on the bus and now we have to walk 3 blocks to get to the nearest bus stop.

Jacob - I think its going to be a good year.

Isaac has PE, 3D art, Honors English, Honors Math, Foods, U.S. History and Science.  He goes to these classes everyday.

Jacob has A days and B days.  His classes for the first half of the year are ASL (Sign Language), English, Biology, Math and B days are Engineering, Health, Scrapbooking Art and Seminary.

The girls and I started our History, Geography, and Art lessons today as well. It was a good day.

I know all the smog and smoke that we are experiencing is nasty but it sure makes for some beautiful sun rises and sun sets.  The girls and I went chasing the sun set tonight so that we could take a picture without trees and houses in the way, but we didn't make it in time. The sun was almost pink!  It was so beautiful. Tomorrow maybe.

Fayette Celebration

We celebrated the 24th of July in Fayette this year.  We missed it last year when mom and dad were gone. It was good to be there and enjoy it all. It really is something that I look forward to every year. This celebration is all about tradition.  We had our own little fireworks show at grandpa and grandmas place and didn't even start anything on fire!!  For as long as I can remember its been the scout breakfast, parade and relay races.  Its fun to see my children participate in these same things each year.  It was also good to be with my brothers and their families. Our children enjoy being together. It was fun to visit with friends from home as well.The next morning we woke up just in time for the parade.  Good old small town parade. There was the traditional creamy's from Bown's dairy though so that's all that really mattered. The girls were really excited about getting tiaras from the royalty princesses that were in the parade. I thought it was really cute! For the relays there were the foot races, three legged race, wheel barrow race that the kids all participated in. Jacob, Isaac, Kylee and Khora won there respective age races.  They were pretty pumped about that. Afton did the hoola hoop contest and went for probably 10-15 minutes before it was hurting her side too much.  Jacob and Isaac, Khora, Afton, Kylee, Bonnie and Brinley were a part of the watermelon eating contest.  That part was very entertaining!  They also had a giant blow up water slide and a few other water games that afternoon. The guys got in a few rounds of horse shoes as well.  We had marinated turkey for lunch before going back to the house to hang out.  It was fun being together. Good times.

Bonnie after her relay

Orchard Days

Orchard Days 

The first of August is our annual community Orchard Days celebration. I am reminded that we have lived here for 9.5 years. I find that the more involved we are in the activities the more we enjoy it all. We have roots here and enjoy the community we call home.

Hidden Picture Contest

For the past few years I have taken pictures for the Orchard Days Hidden Picture challenge.  Back in June (I think) I went around town and took pictures of business signs and cropped them down to single letters that eventually spelled out the city name. It was in the book that comes out every year. The object is to figure out what the original sign was for from the clue. Its not a huge event, but fun to do anyway with some really great prizes.

Family Night at the Park

Monday night is always fun for our family.  This year Dennis submitted a couple pieces in the art show and got a red ribbon. For the first time I put a couple in as well.  One piece won 1st place.  (Kind of exciting!) There were some beautiful pieces on display there. The boys and I walked around the quilt show and voted on our favorites.  There were some really cute ones all representing a lot of time and work. 

Dennis' pieces on top my pieces on bottom

Jacob participated in the sidewalk art contest.  The girls enjoyed cotton candy and Khora got her face painted.  There were some fun bounce houses and similar things to play on. The boys went through the water-gun maze and raced each other in the giant hamster wheels.  It was fun to walk around together with the girls for the little carnival games too.  I had an assignment due the next day so the boys went home with me, but Dennis and the girls stayed and watched the movie in the park, The Never Ending Story. Park night is getting to be a big event with over 1000 people there this year.  I think it grows every year. 

Chalk Art

Girls on  the Zip line

Boys in the hamster wheels racing Jacob's winning

Who doesn't love cotton candy

Face art

Music Festival

Jacob played Fur Elise in the music festival Thursday night.  He had it all memorized and did a fabulous job!  It was great to see how well he is doing and that he keeps improving the talent that he has. I really enjoy listening to him play.

Craig Evans Jacob's piano teacher for the past couple years

Rodeo

Friday night we went to the rodeo. We have found that the first night isn't quite as busy as it is Saturday, but enough for our family to enjoy.  We had a good time together! The fireworks show was quite impressive.  We watched from the grass just behind the bleacher seats.

Saturday at the Park

Saturday is the big day that is full of activities. Ammon and Jamie joined us for the parade in the morning. Lots of Frizbees, candy and even some flowers. The local greenhouse hands out 4 trailers full of flowers along the parade route.  Jacob and Afton ended up with Gerber daisies for me.  (They are one of my favorites!) The girls went to the petting zoo sponsored by the local 4H club.  They had day old baby goats, a miniature pony, ducklings, a donkey, cows, bunnies as well as an alpaca, a ferret, and a fox. Do you know there are pet fox breeders?  I had no idea.  Huh.

1st Annual Horseshoe Tournament

Dennis has been working all week to get the horse shoe tournament started.  This is the first year for it and there were a lot of people excited to participate, 12 teams. It turned out to be a lot of fun!  Dennis did a great job with it even making some good looking trophies!  I didn't realized how much sun I got until that night, but I was out in it all day. It was tiring and we were glad to get in a good nap at the end. 

Dennis made these amazing trophies

Best looking Event Staff right there!

No Seer of Faces

Earlier this year I become fascinated with Venetian masks. They are used in the annual carnival in Venice Italy. They are an important feature in the fall time carnival. 

      

They are beautiful and elaborately decorated in so many different colors and themes. I just fell in love with them. I used them as inspiration for a couple drawing projects last spring. 

   

Self Portrait

Final Project: assemblage from a violin, mandolin

​

Right now I have the song Masquerade from the soundtrack of The Phantom of the Opera going through my head. 

Masquerade!

Paper faces on parade . . .
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade . . .
Masquerade!
Look around -
there's another
mask behind you!

Masquerade!
Burning glances,
turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
at the sea of smiles
around you!
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill -
let the spectacle
astound you.

In Acts 10 Peter says that "God is no respecter of persons". In Greek this verse translates to 'no seer of faces' referring to the masks that are used in the dramas of that time, or like these Venetian masks that I enjoy.  Peters statement means that God looks beyond the masks that we wear and sees us for who we are. He is an impartial God and asks that we look beyond the masks as well. He asks that we do not judge on appearances on culture, on race, or social status.  It has taught me more about looking for the good in others and trying to see a person the way God sees them.  What a great super power that would be.  To see another person as they are. More and more I see how much God loves His children.  He wants us to succeed!  We can still enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the masks as a work of art, but we don't need to wear them. Its his opinion that matters and he sees through them anyway.