Swine Flu, We Caught It

Mari has Swine Flu. Yes. We took her to the doctor for an ear infection and they think she has swine flu too. (The doctor told mom they're not testing for it because so many people have it. Mari had all the symptoms, so I guess that's all they needed to know. I (Emma) had it first, then Hammer got it and Mom's case mostly ended yesterday. Hammer and I, we both thought it was a BAD cold and let it go. A few days of misery and we were fine. Then Mari caught it. Poor Mari is on 2 different kinds of meds. (One for ear infection and one for the flu) I hope Dad and Eve don't get it.

-Emma

How Long is a BYU Game?

Tomatoes and Peaches all day long!

I couldn't have done it without faithful Eve, Sweet Emma, and 2 of Emma's friends, and Cousins Jaron and Jacob (to play with Hyrum and Mari). Thanks everyone!

Go Cougars!

Lagoon 2009

Okay, so this picture needs an explanation. I was tricked! It was 8:00 p.m. It was getting cold and windy. We were riding our last favorite rides when Ben and Emma decided that I needed to go on just one more "really great, super fun, amazing ride". I love rides of all kinds and didn't think twice about which ride they wanted me to go on. Next thing I know, I'm sitting strapped to the "Cliff Hanger" ride. I began to wonder about this ride as I sat in a puddle. It was too late to turn back now. The ride was beginning to go up...and so were the fountains. I was right in the middle of the fountains. I leaned forward to avoid the water and got water down my back. I leaned back and got water down my front. That ride just wouldn't stop. I looked around and Emma and I were some of the only ones on this ride (no surprise since it was really cold outside). In the distance I could hear Ben laughing his famous laugh and out of my blurry eyes I could see him taking pictures as fast as he could. I couldn't believe this trick. By the time that awful ride ended I was freezing and soggy. Not a fun trick. Ben seemed to think otherwise. He and Emma couldn't stop laughing (mean!!!!!)

Everyone's all tuckered out (and still wet!)

Cabin Fun

Because we want our family to be forever...

Dad and I will teach you what you need to know to stay on the strait and narrow path that leads back home to our Heavenly Father.

I will laugh with you...

and cherish you....

I am so happy to be your mommy!

Summer Ball game

Ball games are great fun with grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins!

Especially cousins who share their treats with you.

Sticky and happy!

I ran the bases!

Me too!

I don't get to run the bases????

Cousins make best friends!!!!!

I like the popcorn.

Mud Pie Princess

Mari is my little one who loves to be outside...anytime. (She found the delight of squishy cool mud and tried to do a summersault in the great stuff)

She seems to prefer the "Natural" look.

Mud is always delicious! (I used to love to eat mud when I was little too... and I became a gardener.) Maybe I'll have a weeding buddy yet!

District Science Fair

We are very proud of Emma and all her findings with water filters for the science fair.

Emma got inspiration for her project because of Grandma and Grandpa who, while serving in the Congo, saw the dirty water that people were washing in, cooking, and drinking. She tried to think of something people could do to help make the water cleaner for themselves.

At first, Emma tried making water filters from all sorts of things (sugar, strings, foam letters, craft beads, water softener pellets just to name a few). After these things didn't filter the muddy water very well, she studied how water is filtered naturally in the earth and then tried to re-create it. She put cotton batting, gravel, sand, and a dryer sheet in a 2 liter bottle and voila! A portable water filter.

The judges liked her project too and she made it to the district science fair....and the best part of all, her cousin, Kade made it to district too. (His was a much more delicious project that we all got to taste different kinds of chocolate). Kade looked very handsome in his suit and bow-tie.

It was fun because Emma and Kade had their interviews at the same time and I absolutely love to sit and gab with my wonderful sis-in-law, Christie. (And wouldn't you know, she had a stash of chocolate with her!)

It was a wonderful experience for these kids to practice real life skills (interviewing and presenting) and learn the scientific method in the process.

By the end of the night, Emma was beaming with her 2nd Place Ribbon. 2nd Place at the District Science Fair! Engineering Division!!! We are so proud of her!