Summer Movies- 2009

All summer we went to the summer movies.  We had such a blast.  The kids were really excited to see Igor (the last movie of the summer).  They had not seen this one and really wanted to.  The only problem was that they started school that Monday and the movie was on Thursday.  Hmmmm... what to do?????  No problem- I kept them home from school and we went and saw the movie!  It was so fun (and I really liked the movie).  After that we went and got pizza and then I took the kids to school.  **** Note:  I also pulled them out of school for the first summer movie- it was during our last week of school.****  I really have to say that it is all for selfish reasons- I just really like to have fun with my kids and besides that our school year is so long!  I can't wait for next summers movies!!!!!

Fun After School

Having fun at Basha Pool!

Just because school has started doesn't mean we stop having fun!  After the first day of school Basha pool was having some fun activites.  So, right after school we changed into our swimsuits and headed over.  We had a blast!  They had popcorn and many fun games.  The kids did a ring toss in the pool and a water balloon toss.  Chase even did the pie eating competition (even though he hates fruit pies).  He did great and even won a few prizes!  The kids did great and even said- Mom can we do this for the first day of school every year?  DEFINITELY!!!!  (If you are in 10th grade and still want to go to the pool with your mom and siblings I will ABSOLUTELY take you!- I hope they do!)

First Day of School- 2009

First Day of School

Chase and Hayden

Chase - 4th Grade

Hayden - 1st Grade

(I'll be glad when those 2 SOOOOO wiggly teeth come out!)

Hayden and her teacher- Mrs. Hsu (pronounced Shoe)

All ready at her desk.

Chase's classroom- his teacher is Mr. Cederstrom (the only male teacher at his school).

Chase and Hayden were so excited for school to start.  I just wish it did not start so early- July is just to early!  I will miss them so much.  They are so fun to have around and Blake, Lauren and I will miss them terribly.  I hope you two have a great year and make lots of friends and keep your friendships with the great friends you already have!

Basha Pool Is So Cool!

Basha Pool - 2009

The kids eating "ice cream"

napping

Chase, Hayden, Carley, Blake and Colten

We spent many of our summer afternoons at Basha pool.  The kids LOVED every minute of it! They went down slides, floated down the lazy river, practiced their tricks on the diving board, swirled around in the whirlpool and had so much fun.  It was so funny to watch Lauren climb up to the round twirly slide and go down all by herself.  She was so confident in her abilities!!!!  (Every time she would go, there would be between 1-5 other parents jump to get her (but she was fine)- I was  right there watching her the whole time and Lauren did it great everytime- but, they could not believe such a little girl could do it all on her own.)  Then, they would ask me how old she was and how she was so brave.  She became quite the little pro at it!  I will always remember how much I loved this summer.  We had such a great time with all the cousins and friends and even just us!  We made lots of fun memories and can't wait for next summer!  Goodbye Summer 2009... It Was A GREAT One! 

I LOVE my missionary brother!

This is the email letter that we got from Seth today.  He writes such great letters but this one has got to be one of my favorites!  (The lack of capitals comes from this generation of texters!  Seth really is so smart and always got straight A's!)

well family i guess you are all at the beach right now and your probably getting up and making breakfast getting ready for your first full day at the beach. dont worry im not missing out on much, i got sunburned the other day! we were helping an investigator put siding up on his house. he is a great investigator but his wife is very incredula (i dont know how to say it in english sorry) she talks about how she has faith but she's not willing to make sacrifices to live the commandments. so i was reading the epistles of san pedro and he talks a lot about how if we say we have faith and dont live the commandment we are lying. living the commandments is faith. faith is believing that if you live those commandments you will be blessed, even if you cant see the blessings right away. she didnt understand that concept though. a lot of people dont understand why there are commandments as well. i like to share an analogy about it with people.  why do parents give rules to their kids? is it to just make a rule to have rules? is it just to see if they will do it? no. think of the rules: be home before dark, dont cross the street, dont use the stove, etc. why do they set those rules? its to protect them and the parents know that if they keep those rules they will be happy. (a robber wont steal them away at night, they wont get hit by a car and bleed out of their ears, and they wont burn their face off) they set the rules so their kids can have JOY. God is the same way, his commandments are there to protect us and to bring us joy. "adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy." God knows us perfectly, better than we know ourselves, dont you think he knows what will make us the most happy? and not only just keeping the commandments protect us, when we live them God will bless us, so why not live them!

transfers are not until next week. i think that we are both going to be staying in sherman. its weird, once this transfer is over i will only have 4 more left. CRAZY

we have a baptism coming up on the 1 of august. im really excited, he is ready. his name is raul. he has change a lot and the gospel has really helped him to find peace in his life. i have a recent convert here who wants to serve a mission. he comes out teaching with us all the time and he loves the gospel. he has a pretty rough past and he is doing every thing he can to fix it. for example he had 4 traffic tickets that he hadnt paid which summed to over 1000 dollars and he doesnt have a job to earn money to pay it. (he doesnt have papers so its really hard to get a job, but he's trying) and so he prayed to know what to do and he felt he just needed to go and sit it out in jail for a few days to pay it off. so, thats where he is right now. he is an awesome example of acting upon the answers he gets. soon he will be clean and preparing to get enough money to serve a mission. he already shares the gospel with his friends and family.

i have been thinking lately why it is so hard for members to share the gospel? i think we just over think it and think that our friends will get offended or something and think that we were only friends with them so that we could get them to go to our church. but when we meet people or make new friends why dont we just invite them to church right off the bat? we are mormons, church is what we do and its who we are. if we just showed it right when we met new people, they wouldnt be offended, they would know right away what is most important to us, and we would keep the commandment of opening our mouths. i think we think its harder than it really is. when people ask "what did you do this weekend?" do we always say i went to church and i learned..... i think you would like it, you should come! what is the worst that they can say, no thanks. its that easy and simple. there is a quote and i dont know exactly how it goes or who says it but its in pmg and its more or less like this "the sign of how converted a person truly is to the gospel is their desire to share it with others."

well family i love you all and i am loving texas and sherman! i do miss the mountains though but its a small sacrifice for the wonderfulnesseres of being a missionary and serving the Lord! have a great week on da beach (i wanna go daoceanondabeach!! -hairdamopia)

Elder Heywood - 6 months to go!

Seth has been gone on his mission for 18 months!  (Hence the 10 toes and 8 fingers and the burning of the pants!)  I can't believe he will be home in 6 months!  Seth is so much fun and always the life of the party.  I can't wait to see him.  He has had such a great mission and done so many wonderful things.  When he left Lauren was only 2.5 months old, when he comes back she will be 2.3 years old!!!!! (and...hopefully potty trained)  Beau and Ella will also look much different, he has never met baby Conner and Spencer and Emily's new baby will be born.  A lot of changes in our family and especially for Seth!  We are all so excited for him to come home!

Chase Gets His Wolf

Ready, Set, Go!

Chase had to "wolf" down a plate of whip cream.

Good job Chase!

I am so proud of you!

Chase got his wolf!  He worked really hard and enjoyed every minute of it!  He loves scouts so much and looks forward to it every week.  He actually finished his wolf in May but, did not get it until July.  We were out of town for a couple of pack meetings but he finally got it!  He was so excited to wolf down the whip cream (they even tried to get me up there to do it- but, really no one wanted to see that!) WE are soooo proud of you Chase- you are the Best!!!!

Happy Birthday Belle!

Hayden, Brylee and Belle

Today is Belle's 8th Birthday!  Happy Birthday Belle!  You are such a sweet, funny, nice girl.  You are so beautiful inside and out.  Thanks for inviting us to go to lunch- we had a great time.  We are so excited for your baptism!  

High School Musical SUPERSTARS!

The 3 SuperStars!!!

Hayden, Brylee and Belle

Our Family (minus Lauren)

Huber's (minus Beau)

Michael is sooooo excited!

Emily and Spencer

Grandma and Grandpa

Hayden is sooooo excited for her BIG debut on the stage!

The girls with one of the cheerleaders.

Getting ready to go backstage.

The coach (and director) with his 3 superstars.

During intermission - playing games.

Spencer and Blake

Blake and Chase

Chase and Branson

Eating some yummy food.

The 3 STAR cheerleaders showing us their moves!

Getting autographs from Sharpay and Ryan.

Some of the cast with it's 3 BIGGEST STARS!

The 2 biggest FANS of RYAN!

(he really did steal the show)

Hayden, Brylee, and Belle had the GREATEST event happen in their lives so far.  The 3 girls (thanks to Grandpa) got walk on parts in Broadway Palm's... High School Musical!  We got the girls matching outfits and they looked so cute!  The show was FABULOUS!!!!  The girls were on during the 2nd act and were cheerleaders.  They did such a great job.  (Brylee definitely stood out!)  She was up shaking her pom poms and her booty!... It was so cute.  Ryan was the STAR of the show (besides the little girls).  HE WAS SO GOOD- he had everyone laughing every time he was on stage!  My sister and I just had to get a picture with him.  The folks at Broadway Palm recorded it so I can't wait to see it again and again and again!  Thanks Dad for an amazing evening and one Hayden (and ALL the rest of us) will never forget.