Blackout during Middle School Performance

Shannon was playing in her Middle School Orchestra last Saturday when the power went out during thier 3rd song. It was pitch black in the auditorium and they just kept on playing and didn't miss a beat! It was AMAZING!

Spring Break - Williamsburg and Jamestown, VA

Spring Break. I took the girls to Williamsburg and Jamestown for 4 days. We had tons of fun. The girls had a great time swimming in the heated outdoor pool, petting the horses and dressing up like girls in the 1760's.

Jamestown - Picture with Pocahontas

Kaitlyn carrying water from the will at the Jamestown settlement

Replicas of the ships that carried the settlers from England to Jamestown, VA.

Swimming.....it was a chilly 54 degrees outside the pool...

Springtime in VA

They LOVED the horses!

The long awaited carriage ride. This was one of the many highlights of the trip.

Family Pictures 2009

Wareham Family

Ryan, Ken, Aaron, Amber, Amy, and Emily

Denny and Paula with all the Grandchildren

The Frost Family

Paula and Denny

Emily, Amy and Amber

Aaron, Ryan and Ken

The Entire Frost Family Dec 2009

Doggie Play Date

Maggie, Drake, Elle, Honi and Toby

Drake

Drake, Maggie, Elle, Toby and Honi

Drake , Toby and Maggie

Toby, Elle and Maggie

Drake EXHAUSTED after his playdate!

On Saturday, Tim and Paula came up to have a playdate at Debbie's house. All of our dogs had a great time together. It was hard to tell them apart when they were all running around.

SNOW DAY!!!!!!

Shannon and Drake

Kellie

Kaitlyn

Kellie, Kaitlyn and Shannon

Our backyard in the middle of the storm.

I always love a good snow day! Who doesn't need a day off from everything just before Christmas? As everyone may have heard, the east coast was slammed with a HUGE snow storm. I think we got 24 inches by the time everything was done. This is VERY ususal for MD. We had my cousin's husband staying with us from Phoenix, and he was freezing and couldn't believe all of the snow! The girls had a great time sledding down the "big hill" in our backyard and drinking hot chocolate before I put them to work. They had to clean their rooms (which were a disaster!) and clean the bathrooms ect.

Jason shoveled snow for about 6 hours today. He helped clear out our driveway and our street. Our street still hasn't been plowed. Hopefully by tomorrow. The kids are happy that they have already cancelled school for tomorrow!

Arlington Echo Trip

Kaitlyn's 2nd grade class decided to go to an outdoor camp overnight trip in December. I, being the good mom that I am, couldn't let her stay overnight by herself, so I was roped in to going.
Those of you who know me well, know that I am an "indoor" girl. I don't like to be cold, or outside too long unless I am sitting by the pool. That being said, I some how also got volunteered to teach a class at this event. The class I was assigned to teach, was called "Discovery Walk". By the title of the activity you can tell 2 things right off the bat. 1. It is outside and 2. that it involves teaching the kids about being outside in the woods. I know many of you are lauging right now...
The activity actually involved me teaching the 2nd graders about how to use a compass and then we had to use our compass to find our next point of interest. Let me say that I have NEVER used a compass in my life and have NO business teaching others how to use one. This is what I married Jason, the boyscout. He is the expert on all things outdoors, therefore I don't need to learn them. Well, I am a trooper and went to the training and learned how to use a compass and how to teach the kids this skill.

So, I thought I would only have to teach one class. Well, I had to teach eight, 45 minute classes over the 2 day period that we were there. Outside, in December....

Well, I do know thatI am blessed and that Heavenly Father loves me, because the 2 days that I was at "camp" the weather was 50 degress during the day and only dipped to about 35-40 degrees that night. The weather could have been a lot worse, and I am grateful for that. I did end up having a good time and spent some quality time with Kaitlyn.

I will however remeber this event and bring it up to her when she is a teenager and says that I have never done anything for her. I have photographic proof that I was there.

Halloween 2009 Faries and the Flu

Kellie and Kaitlyn

Jason and I had a hard time figuring out what to be for Halloween this year. At the last minute, I heard of someone being H1N1 (swine flu) for Halloween. I thought that was a cleaver idea and tried to think of my version and how we could make it work at the last minute. Here is what we came up with.

First Day of School 2009

The First day of School.....I have always loved that Staples commercial where the dad is riding the shopping cart down the isle of the store with "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" playing in the background and the kids slowly walking down the isle very unhappy....

This year is extra special, because ALL of my kids are in school ALL DAY!!! Kellie started Kindergarten this year. Kaitlyn is in 2nd Grade and Shannon is in 7th Grade.

Armed with new hair cuts, courtesy of Emily (she just graduated from Beauty School), all of their school supplies, they were off to school!

Drake and the Violin again....

This is so funny! Enjoy!

The Capitol

We went to the Capitol with Uncle Jeff and Aunt Laurel. We started our Tour in the office of Alaska Rep Young's office.
They were kind enough to give us a tour.

By the time we hit the Rotunda, my kids were wiped out! I looked over and they were laying accross the benches. I had to apologize to our tour guide and assure him that it was not his guiding skills that sent my kids over the edge.

Later in the month, we went back to the Capitol and my kids had a great time running around outside.

AZ Trip

We went to Arizona to attend the Funeral of Great Uncle Ken (Ken Frost). He was such a wonderful man! He stepped in and took on the role of our grandpa. Our grandpa died when we were very young. He had such a grat impact on my life! I only really got to know him over the past 2 years, and it was a joy to spend time with him. He loved his horses and told wonderful stories about my grandpa and the adventures they had. We visited and stayed with him in Feb 2008. Kellie fell in love with Uncle Ken. She called him "Mr. Hinckley". Aunt Shirlyn got a huge kick out of that and just laughed. Kellie and Uncle Ken hit it off right away. They had never met before, but Kellie climbed up on his lap and wrapped her hands around his neck and they have been buddies ever since! We were getting ready to leave, and Uncle Ken said "If you would just leave Kellie here for about 6 months, I think I could get better!" That just about broke my heart! Uncle Ken was suffering from back pain and was having a hard time.

I am so grateful for the Gospel in my life and the knowledge that we will see him again!

We were also able to see The Frost and Johnson Families! It is always wonderful to visit with family!

Top Left: Paula, Marilyn, Amy

Top Right: Ken and Amy

Botton Left: Amy, Marilyn, Amanda and Allana

Kellie's Ms. Debbie Graduation

Kellie has gone to Pre-School with Ms. Debbie for 2 years. Kaitlyn also went to school with her. She is FANTASTIC!!!! I can't believe that we are all done with Pre-school and Kellie will be in Kindergarden in the fall!