We're Dorky, Uh Huh, Uh Huh!

We watched Aspen Allred over a weekend while her parents went up to St. George.  This girl made me laugh so hard that I had a stomachache and headache from all my crying.  I was glad to get rid of her just so that my cheeks would stop hurting and I could feel normal again!  She was a joy to have with us for a couple of days--well-mannered, laid-back and casual with no strong opinions, and totally comfortable with our family and in our home.  It was fun to get to know her better.  She and Katelyn are in the same class at school but don't get to see each other that often outside of class so it was great that Jen asked us to keep her for a few days.  In fact, at one point, she even said she was changing her name to Stuart.  Sorry, Darin and Jen, you might be losing your oldest daughter!

On Sunday afternoon, the girls were really hyper and went totally crazy with their creativity.  I can't remember what I fed them for lunch but I'm never giving that to them again.  Aspen and Katelyn got dressed up with 11 socks on each foot and made up some song with actions called, "We're Dorky, Uh-Huh, Uh-Huh!"  We videotaped it and they sang it all afternoon.  Then Aspen did some serious modern dance moves and booty shaking for Joe and me.  No embarrassment whatsoever in front of her friend's father!  And Joe got the giggles too as she was flailing herself about the couches and floor with a modern dance twist.  I was crying so hard that I didn't get any pictures or video of it but the images are definitely burned inside my brain.  I'm wondering where her talents and charisma come from?!?  Darin?  Anyway, love this girl!  Jen, thanks for letting us keep her for a few days!

Mulan Jr.

Both Clark and Katelyn are in Hollywood Kids again this year.  The winter's play was Disney's Mulan Junior.  Katelyn played the parts of Yun, the ancestor of Love, and the cheong sam saleslady.  Clark played the parts of Zhang, the ancestor of Strength and Yao, one of the three main soldiers and friends of Mulan.

They did a wonderful job and I love seeing them perform.  Clark has a natural confidence and ease that shines through along with a great singing voice, good memorization of his lines and a quick wit.  Katelyn has a sweet quality to her acting and a beautiful singing voice.  Her confidence is gaining as she performs more often.  She also has quick memorization of her lines.  They both love their teachers and we are proud of them.  Mia and Aspen came to support as well as the Willes family on their way through to Disneyland. 

The Chinese Ancestors

This is the part when the boys dress like girls to defeat the Huns at the palace.

Willes cousins:  Sierra, Jax, Brooklyn

Blue and Gold Banquet

Jacob attended his first Blue and Gold Banquet and loved it.  He is so thrilled with Cub Scouts.  It is fun to see his excitement as he wants to work on passing off requirements and begs to go to den meetings.  The theme was celebrating the Birthday of Scouting so the gym was decorated with birthday bags, crepe paper streamers, and balloons.   We had pizza and birthday cake and the games were very traditional with musical chairs, pin the neckerchief on the cub scout, a balloon toss, and funny, scary stories by Brother Honeycutt.  The kids had a great time.

Jacob and his buddy, Carter

Ella, Carter's little sis, and Carlee

  

 Jacob and his buddy, Joshua

Swim Party

For President's Day weekend, we decided to heat up the pool and invited any friends that wanted to come swim one afternoon.  Everybody brought snacks and the kids had a great time swimming, playing football and basketball, and eating for about 3 hours while the moms just relaxed and talked.

Julie, Jen J, Jen A, Whitney

Kara, Amber

Cole

Sara, Paige

Connor, Aidan

Katelyn

Connor

Ammon, Evan, Luke

Mia, Carlee, Katelyn, Ella, Savannah

Nedra, Lexi, Aspen

Olivia, Eliza

Gabi

Owen, Ethan, Clark, Mitchell, Aidan, Jacob

                                                          Sadie, Ella, Joshua

Katelyn, Lexi, Aspen

Carlee

Lexi, Aspen, Katelyn, Mia