Memorial Day Picnic

For Memorial Day this year we had a picnic at Scott County Park with the Barbers', Holt's, and Allen's.

The BBQ was delicious, especially with our gourmet cooks!

All of the kids got along great, and really enjoyed one another's company.

I think the adults had a pretty good time too.

Since it was so hot and humid, everyone was up for a game of "Water Balloon Toss".

From the looks on some of the kid's faces, you can tell that it was a pretty intense game.

No picnic would be complete without a game of "Ultimate Frisbee".

I think the only reason no one died from heat exhaustion was the fact that everyone was still soaked from the balloon toss! 

It was a wonderful day, and we want to thank everyone who came out to share it with us!

Tupelo, Mississippi

Because we got out of school early this year (no snow days to make up!), we had the opportunity to go with Brad on one of his business trips down South.

Aubrey stayed home because she didn't want to miss out on all of her end-of-school parties.

The rest of us did our usual when we go on business trips with Brad: shop at the mall, and spends hours at the book store...

swim at the hotel pool...

(this pool was a little chilly)

play around and be our goofy selves...

(Breck got a hold of my camera)

and just get some serious R&R, without homework or anything else hanging over our heads!

Last but not least we visited the birthplace of Elvis Presley in Tupelo, MS.

The home Elvis was born in was tiny, and had only two rooms. Sadly, Elvis' identical twin was stillborn, and a few years later the family had to move because they could not longer aford the payments on the little house.

This statue is a life-size replica of Elvis when he was thirteen years old.

Breck and Merinda are modeling the same type of car the Presley's used to move to Memphis,Tennessee when Elvis was thirteen.

Brad and I are standing in front of the actual building where the Presley family attended church. The Minister of the church taught Elvis how to play the guitar, and it was here that Elvis was exposed to southern gospel music, which became part of his musical repertoire later in life.

All About Merinda

Merinda had "DARE" graduation, which is a pretty big deal in KY, and is a way to keep kids drug-free.

The program is put on by the local police department, and they do a very good job. 

Next, was 5th Grade Graduation, which is also a big deal in KY.

Here is Merinda's certificate showing that she passed 5th grade and can now advance to Middle School next year.

Merinda won a $20.00 gift card to Walmart for an essay she wrote on places in Kentucky.

Merinda loved Mrs. Kelly her 5th grade teacher (and so did I).

After graduation they had a nice little reception for families. I didn't realize that I was supposed to invite ALL of our relatives. I will need to keep that in mind for 8th grade graduation (what happen to the days when there was only a high school graduation?).

Also, after graduation the grade school had their annual talent show. Merinda played the piano.

I must say that the talent show was very entertaining. In addition to Merinda, there were other piano players...

dancers...

singers with back-up singers...

soloist...

and singer-gymnasts! Yes, you heard right. I can truly say that this was a talent I have never seen before in my entire life, which made the show all the more exciting.

May Happenings

In May both Aubrey and Breck had their end-of-year band concerts. Both kids also had the opportunity to play at Graduation again this year.

The Choir also had their annual Sundae Concert in May.

It was about a million degrees in the high school auditorium, and the girl in front (with her eyes closed) actually passed-out in the middle of the song.

The kid's favorite part of the concert is the ice-cream afterwards...

and just visiting with friends. Breck (plaid shirt) seems to be at the center of conversation (as usual).

Aubrey's Prom

For Aubrey's Junior Prom, she went with a good friend of hers, Wesley Holt (that she knows from church), to "Mormon Prom" in Indiana (about an hours drive from where we live).

These pictures were taken at Cardome Community Center and Japanese Gardens, next to our high school. Wesley was a complete gentleman, and even though it was agreed the kids would pay for their own meal, Wesley payed for Aubrey's anyway. He also bought a new suite for the dance, and Aubrey's beautiful wrist corsage. 

What the pictures don't show is that it was about 40 degrees outside, the kids were all good sports, but Aubrey did come down with a bad cold after Prom. Despite the cold, Aubrey had a wonderful time, and was very glad she went!

Here are the handsome young men that went. . .

and the whole group, minus one date.

The kids all went in the same vehicle and went out to eat before Prom at Red Robin outside of Cincinnati. The Prom was held at a Stake center which was decorated beautifully, with a water fountain in the middle of the floor, and wonderful refreshments. And the best part about it was that the dance was FREE!

Aubrey's regular high school prom was the same night. Aubrey bumped into her best friends from school who were also taking pictures at Cardome. I asked Aubrey why she didn't want to go with her school friends to Prom (since many of them go stag now days), and she said because she didn't want to pay the $35.00 for her own ticket to get in, and then pay for a fancy dress, and dinner (either genetically or by example Brad and I have scarred our children, they may be even more frugal than us!).