4th Fun starts July off with a BANG!!

I LOVE the 4th of July. I am extremely patriotic. I know that this country was established by the hand of God and set aside as a foundation from where the Lord could restore his church. Many brave men and women have put their lives on the line to make this a land of freedom. this is one of my very favorite pictures. Everytime I look at it it brings tears to my eyes. I know that men like George Washington, were called of God and sent to earth at that specific time to help bring forth the Lord's work.

We had established strong July 4th traditions in H.B. Our incredibly talented Stake put on a 4th of July production every year that was truly an amazing and inspiring way to start the 4th. We'd then have friends over for a soccer or kick ball game at the park. Back to our house for a BBQ and then fireworks in the street and the big finale ones at the Pier. I was so sad that we were going to be missing out on our 10 year traditional way of celebrating.

Fortunately, we were able to coax our dear friends the Ritters, who thankfully brought miss Renee for us and the Arnolds out to visit us for a day of swimming, relaxing and enjoying one another's company:

Kierstin, Renee and Alex enjoying the day!

Jeff, determined to get those hips a turning!

Alex, so patriotic!

Junebug torture!

1st started with, Brian & Sophie, "Look I caught one!" to

big brothers putting them down shirts!

(poor junebugs!)

the big brother mischief makers

Nathan, Bradley & Matt

(yes, Mat's hand is wrapped from almost tearing off the tip of his ring finger

a few days before!!)

Fireworks weren't as great this year. The city of Murrieta has their big shabang the weekend before to celebrate the city's birthday and we weren't sure how sticky the city would be about doing it ourselves but we did set off a few.

Pool fun in the earlier afternoon:

Jeff decided to take advantage of the moment! Sophie's such a good sport!



In H.B., Brian had mostly guy friends, except for Sophie. Other girls have offered time and again the play with Brian. When I ask him why he doesn't want to play with them he'll say,

"they're girls and I don't want to play girl stuff!"

When I pointed out Sophie was a girl and he loves to play with her he said;

"well mom, she's SHOPHIE!!"

They play so great together. Sorry guys, we have an arranged marriage in the works for Sophie and Brian!

Jeff and his dad

Brad & Nathan enjoying the pool

Bryce's cannonball surprise!

Thank you dear friends for making another very fun 4th of July celebration!!

Cub Camp

I forgot to add Bryce's Cub Scout summer camp experience to our June activities. It happened the week right after school got out.

After surviving the first day which was "not fun." Bryce decided (after much encouragement) to give it another go. And he did have more fun the remainder of the week. It helped that he had his good buddy Ethan in his same group. Which, really was such a great blessing considering he doesn't really know a lot of people in our new den that we got to have so many from the previous den in our group when there were about 20 groups!! That's what I call a tender mercy, I'm ever so grateful for those!!

June Celebrations!

June is the busiest month of the year for us. We have 3 out of 7 birthdays in June...

Brian's -2nd, Danny's -18th, mine - 19th (yes, Danny totally lucked out. I told him if he ever forgot my birthday... well, he'd be in for it!). School usually gets out on either our birthday week or the week before, then there is usually girl's camp or scout camp that week and father's day!!

Needless to say, we are in a state of constant celebration!! Brian's Bday I already got down.

So, it may be belated but not any less heartfelt.....

Happy Birthday Danny!!!

He's 21... Again!!!

(age is really irrelevant after that point)

We had a favorite dinner of his, crock-pot chicken, heated up the
jacuzzi and soaked it up (so nice!)
and then, ate cake!
Quiet, but nice.

Happy Birthday and EVERY Day Danny!!

The day after was my birthday. Nice day. We heated up the pool (still a bit chilly for me without it!) and all enjoyed a swim. Danny heated up the Barbie and BBQd some yummy chicken for me! So nice he took over the thing I hate most about my job - making dinner!!

Nice relaxing day, did nothing except read and play in the pool and eat chocolate!!

Kierstin was at girl's camp all week and got back on Friday, my birthday. Funny thing, when we moved out here she was excited to hear they usually go to this really great girls camp with GREAT food! She was excited cuz the camp the H.B. stake attends is vegeterian. However, we discovered a couple of months ago that our new Murrieta stake was trying a new camp, the same one the H.B. Stake went to, the dreaded Veggie Camp!! Of course, Kierstin started lamenting to her friends about the vegetarian menu. The leaders were perplexed the girls found out it was vegeterian. They had wanted to keep that under wraps until closer to camp so they wouldn't hear so much moaning and groaning. I had to admit Kierstin had unwittingly spilled the beans. She knew, cuz she'd been there before. It all worked out though. The H.B. stake had tried to keep it under wraps the first year too and realized it was better letting everyone know so they could prepare by bringing beef jerky, etc. She had fun in spite of the menu!

Sunday after Kierstin got back was father's day. Neither mine or Danny's birthday was on father's day this year. However, I never minded sharing my birthday with my dad. We have always been close. He has given me everything money can't buy, which is priceless, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on and my testimony and a solid knowlege of the functioning and love of the Lord's church and its programs. Most importantly, he has been an example to me! I couldn't have been blessed with a better father!! Happy Father's Day Dad!!

And, of course, a tribute to the special dad of my kid's lives...

Danny, this is one of the main reasons I married you;

I knew you would make a terrific father, and you have.

Danny just googles over Kierstin. He is her biggest fan. He is constantly bragging about her soccer abilities and scholastic abilities and mostly, her spirituality. He'll talk to people about it until they are glazed over.

The boys absolutely adore their dad, they want to be just like him when they grow up.

Dad is a strong, smart, FUN and also a friend.

Dad is the go to guy for fun.

But most importantly, he has a testimony of the gospel that he shares with the kids, constantly. He is always encouraging them to find out for themselves.

And most importantly, he honor and respects his priesthood.

Thank you for being such a great father Danny!

The Jokester in the Family

Every family member has their own character identification within the family; see if you can figure Bryce's.

Last week, Bryce officially learned how to clean the bathroom. That was his family responsibility for the week, keeping the upstairs bathroom tidy. I showed him how to clean it from the mirrors, to cabinet wipedown and, of course, the yucky toilet. He was actually rather cheerful about it as he has tired of being the duster and toy picker upper.

So, on Wednesday evening I was in the kitchen, doing the dishes. Bryce comes in, looks at me a few moments and says "mom, why are you using the toilet brush in here?"

"Of course I'm not Bryce, this is a dish brush."

He gets this wide-eyed "uh-oh" look on his face and says "Oh NO! I just used that to clean the toilet!" That was the first day I'd let him have a go at it by himself.

I just looked at him and looked at the brush in my hand. Yes, I guess I could see how it did look similar to the toilet brush. My mind was quickly running over all the things I had washed with it during the day ready to turn out my cabinets and SCOUR EVERYTHING including our mouths! I was REPULSED!!

I turn to look at him again, not sure what to say and he starts laughing hysterically.....

"Just Kidding MOM!"

Ha, Ha, Bryce; You're so NOT the funny guy!

(but you sure got your mom!)

Tyson's First Disneyland Day!

June 8, 2009..

Was Tyson's first day at Disneyland. We LOVE Disneyland. We first got annual passes when Kierstin was not quite 2. We've had them, I figure, about 9 years of her almost 15 years, at least. We stopped when they hit $130 verses the $99 they used to be. But, we got them this year.

We didn't take Ty with us on Brian's birthday. Part of me felt guilty at the time but I was so glad we didn't. He wouldn't have had as much fun and neither would Brian. So I took them back, even on a school night, because the rest of the summer was going to be blacked out (who wants to go then anyway?)

Danny didn't get to go cuz he was working (so we could go, thanks hun!!)

First ride, the tram of course. He was SOO excited.

We took 3 of the Campgell kids with us.

The older kids didn't want to go on the "baby ride" but Brian decided to share

in Tyson's special day. (what a bro!)

First stop, something familiar, the horses .

Opposite end of the spectrum, creepy Pinnochio!

(I don't know why they don't redo that ride)

Casey Jr. was so interesting it didn't warrant mom taking a pic!

Eager anticipation for what's next. Tyson really did stop to "smell the flowers" here.
I love how Disneyland pays attention to detail!

Can't miss small world, He loved every bit!

Eagerly anticpating what's next in Jungle Cruise

Pooh Bear, by far the favorite. Went on it 4 times in a row!

Bryce & Ethan caught us for the last 2 rides.

Bryce climbed Tarzan Treehouse with us while we waited up for our final ride...

PIRATES!

I think we can safely say, Tyson had so much fun till he couldn't take it anymore!

Darlene & Doug take the Eternal Plunge!

So I posted a few back, how my sister-in-law and her husband, Doug, decided to be baptized. Well, they did it!! Doug even postponed his first round of chemo so he could go. They weren't going to stop him he said!

Bradley actually missed the last day of school so he could drive 11 hours, with Danny to Pie Town, New Mexico to be there for the big event. I was glad the 2 of them could spend some time together, especially at such a spiritual even as Bradley will be receiving the Priesthood next month.

When they got there, Darlene surprised Danny by asking her to baptize and confirm her! They said it was a wonderful event. They have a small brach there, 30 people. They do have a chapel, a very small chapel. Bradley was so amazed. The cultural hall wasn't much bigger than our living room with the font. They went to church with them the next day. There were like 30 people there. Still, I think it was neat to see that even in a small town of 500 people, you can find the church with people, kind and gracious and caring as anywhere else and being taught the same thing. Bradley and Danny were practically glowing when they came home!

We are all praying for Doug and Darlene that they will be able to make it to the next step, the temple!

Unfortuantely, Danny forgot to take any pics at the baptism but here are some of the scenery on the way there. An experience to remember! (hope you posted it in your own journal, Brad)

Moving Up!

June is always such a crazy month for us. If I can get all the posts in, you'll see why

(and it's not even over yet!!)

The kids officially got out of school 2 weeks ago, on June 12.

Kierstin made it through her frosh year

Brad, the first year (6th) of middle school

Bryce is onto being an offical "upper grader" in elementary (4th, year next)

and Brain... has made it with flying colors through kidnergarten...

we were so glad dad could make it too!

I have to give a special kudos to Brian for surviving his kidnergarten year, really.

This is Mrs. Krahn. She was really nice and we enjoyed her for the last 3 weeks of school.

Not only that, she was his 3rd teacher for the year. Yes, #3!!

When we moved here at the beginning of the school year, we came in 2 days after the school year had officially started. He started with a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Romano. He LOVED her. In mid-October she told me that she heard they would be switching students around. They had over 20 kids in each class which is a no-no if you want state funding. She said how much she loved Brian and told the Principal that she didn't mind have 21 if she could just keep him. she asked I put up a fight for it, us being new and all.

My heart sunk. I've been in the PTA trenches and know how it works. No one wants to get switched. The last on the totem poll, the last to enroll, are shuffled around. How else do you choose? So when the dreaded phone call came, I was ready. I wasn't prepared for the switch from morning to afternoon time which did not go over well for Brian. I think he had had it with change, too much moving around literally. I did make a plea, but, predictably, I got the "your the lowest on the totem poll" speal.

So on to Mrs. Barrett's class we went (Have to find a pic of her). She was great but brand new and young and not as fun as experienced Mrs. Romano. Brian learned to love her. The upside, there were only 12 kids in his class from October on!

I got a phone call 3 days later telling me 3rd grade was at its capacity too. They hired a new teacher for that one and of course, Bryce was low on the totem pole. He liked Mrs. Castillo; his friend was in his class. He didn't mesh so well with stern Mr. Ennis who truly piled out homework. That on top of bullying made Bryce look forward to the idea we would be in a new school boundary.

Then, we moved into our new home here in Copper Canyon. We are in a new school boundary. The boys actually said they wanted to switch over right away but I didn't think they realized what that meant. They didn't really ever mesh at Tovashall (especially Bryce) but I didn't think it would be healthy to switch them the last 6 weeks of school. I talked them into staying.

Bad mistake. I kept hearing my new neighbors tell me "have you enrolled in school yet? No? You'd better get right over there! They're filled up!"

What did that mean? For this year, right? How can that apply to the next year. If you live in the boundary they have to take you... right? Turns out, no! So different in H.B. Enrollment is down, schools not full. Here, the school really is at its physical capacity. I was 11th on the waiting list. Doesn't look good. However... if I enrolled and they started tomorrow, before the end of the year their priority jumps up over all the waiting list kids and almost gauranteed enrollment... You're KIDDING!

Why is there a waiting list you're thinking? Well, who's crazy enough to uproot their poor child the last 3 weeks of school and put him in a new one?

Fortuantely, this is what the boys wanted all along. They weren't phased. They were phased when I told them there was a slight possibility we might not get into Cole Canyon next year. They didn't want to go back to Tovashall.

So, 3 teachers for 1 year for them both! Bryce ended up really liking his new teacher, Mr. Reagan.

Kudos to my resilient Bryce & Brian!!