Happy Birthday to Jacob

Happy Birthday, eight-year-old! We are so proud of Jacob and the milestone he has reached. We look forward to his baptism on September 12th. On Jacob's birthday, he got a big surprise! The Young Women in our ward were out doing a service scavenger hunt and stopped by to sing to Jacob. They brought him balloons and sang "Happy Birthday" and his favorite Primary song "Scripture Power". Spencer was at mutual and was soooo jealous he missed out. Jacob got some pretty cool gifts, too. Nana and Papa gave him a punching bag and Granny and Grandpa gave him two frogs in a little aquarium. He also received his new Cub Scout uniform and just couldn't wait to wear it! He got to choose what we had for dinner and he wanted the KFC meal with the chocolate bundt cake included. Thanks, Jacob! I didn't have to cook OR bake for your birthday dinner!

Stake Primary Activity Day

We held our Stake 11-year-old Activity Day on August 22nd. It turned out so nicely! Our theme was "Be Loyal to the Royal Within." As the girls arrived, they walked the red carpet and were draped in a sash that proclaimed them a "Daughter of a King." They were divided into groups and went to classes about modesty, service, making good choices, and testimony. They each participated in sewing stuffed balls for the Humanitarian Center and dedicated their service to President Monson's birthday. Their moms then joined us for a luncheon while President McClellan from the Stake Presidency spoke about "Letting Your Royal Light Shine." My contribution to the day was a scrapbook/journal in which we inserted a picture of each girl so they looked like they were wearing a "crown of righteousness." The pages inside included the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, a picture of the temple, the Mormonad picture "Be Loyal to the Royal Within," and a page or two from each class. They turned out way cute, if I say so myself. What a wonderful day! (And aren't the sisters I work with in the Presidency adorable? As much on the inside as the out, too. Besides me, they are MaryAnn Wells, Niki Coon and Jennifer Marble. Awesome ladies.) Also, see the slideshow of the rest of my pictures from that day.

First Day of School

Back to School time! We went to meet Jacob and Noah's teachers the day before school started. This is Mrs. Kemp, Jacob's second grade teacher.

Noah is a big sixth-grader now! This is him with his teacher Mrs. Young. He is so excited to be back at school with all his good friends!The first day of school was on August 12th. Noah and Jacob are at Franklin East Elementary. (Jacob's shirt says: Instant Good Kid, Just Add Sugar).

Spencer is an eighth-grader at Taylor Junior High. These are his friends Sarah Jordan and Jake Heslop. Spencer's shirt says: They'll Make a Movie About Me Someday. I believe it.

And finally, Isaac! He started Joy School preschool and was so happy to wear his backpack like his big brothers. He's been calling me "Sister King" because he just learned that I can be a Sister, too.

Ward Water Party

Whoever had this idea should go down in history. Our ward had a water party the weekend before school started. It was at a local park and it was so awesome! Everyone brought a picnic dinner and then the fun started. The activities committee stretched a huge roll of black plastic down the side of the retention basin, coated it in dishsoap and hosed water from the top. The kids (and the brave adults) then flung themselves down the slide and some flew off the ramps at the end. Maybe you had to be there but I laughed myself sick. The dunk tank was neat, too. Isaac and Jacob loved to dunk Noah in the water. What a fun night!

Cabin Fever!

In early August I was invited to bring the boys and go along on the 12th Ward Primary Presidency retreat at Cheri Dagupan's cabin in Heber, AZ. We made the drive cara"van" style with four vans full of kids and food!

The cabin is huge and in a beautiful setting. There are 7 themed bedrooms (we stayed in the Indian room), 4 baths, and 3 levels of fun! Spencer found the piano and the other boys explored the game closet, the ping-pong table and the dress-up boxes.

The selection of dress-ups was beyond incredible! Cheri and her sister are expert garage-salers and had bought out a belly-dancer who was getting rid of all her costumes. What a riot!

Janna Bentley and I were in charge of dinner the first night and made homemade pizza, with lots of help from Madeline Dagupan and Sydney Merrill.

Meanwhile, the outside of the cabin held lots of attractions, too.

Most popular was the zipline! Here is Noah preparing to make a run.

Here is Jacob ending one of his turns. So, I decided to be brave and take Isaac. We carefully climbed to the top of the ladder and then we both froze! There was no way Isaac was going to get on that thing, so I took him down...

and it was my turn!

More dress-ups: Superman and Batman wore these capes for hours and hours. This is Isaac's new friend Bryson.

They just love each other!

The volleyball court doubles as the sandbox.

The next morning, we got all 22 of us together for a quick hike to and Indian cave nearby.

The kids rested in the shade of the cave and ate their lunch.

Spencer and Noah climbed and explored all over the hillside. They thought the cave drawings on the ceiling were cool.

Noah and the girls (Olivia and Ellie, Caitlyn and Cadence).

Then it was time to go home. I actually left Jacob and Noah at the cabin for another night while I took all the teenagers home for back-to-school night. They loved being there and were such great helpers to Sister Dagupan. Jacob went a little crazy with the cheerleading routine: Hooray for the Cabin!