Student of the Month

Nice Job Melanie!

Melanie loves to give her teacher, Mrs. Ahlstrom, gifts.  I was working on some pillow shams for my Mom's bed and had some extra fabric laying around.  Melanie picked up some scraps and made this darling little pillow as a present for Mrs. Ahlstrom's birthday.

Walk to end Alzheimers & Stewart Falls Hike

Warren took Graig and Tyler to participate in a "Walk to End Alzheimers" in Provo.  The company he works for was sponsoring a team.  The walk started at the Riverwood Shopping center where the boys took some time to look around this shop.

 

 It was a pretty short walk and since they were so close to the canyon they decided to take the hike to Stewart Falls when they got finished.  It was a beautiful day and the leaves were just changing on the trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Graig and his friend, Brandon, take the National Honor Society Pledge at the dinner held in their honor.  The principal told the parents that the national minimum GPA to join NHS is a 3.0 but at UCAS the minimum GPA to join is a 3.7.  This is impressive for those who get invited to join because they have a 3.7 or higher in mostly college classes.
We are proud of you Graig!

National Gymnastics Day

Melanie and Warren participated to help the USA Gymnastics organization break a world record for the most handstands done at the same time. 

From the Press Release:

20, 478 gymnasts and fans from more than 100 gymnastics clubs nationwide joined together today to break the world record for most handstands performed simultaneously and bring the title back to the United States.

At precisely 1 p.m. ET, 20,478 of participantsthroughout the country kicked up into a handstand to break the existing record of 2,402, set by Australian gymnasts in Melbourne to promote the 2005 World Gymnastics Championships.

 

Melanie playing in the fountain after the handstands were finished.

Remembering September 11, 2001 and Circles

I knew this was an important day in history so I took the kids pictures with the newspaper that began to tell the story.  Only Jessica and Graig have memories of that day.

I remember I was so sad and that I was glued to the television for days.  It was hard to imagine life getting back to "normal" after something so awful.

On October 21, 2001 Graig played in his first big concert.  It was held in the Tabernacle on Temple Square.  Over 1800 kids participated.

The grand finale number was Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and I learned the words to that song for the very first time.  They so well expressed my feelings after 9/11/2001 that they made my cry.

Sing to joy and gladness now and ever more to freedom's song.

Open up our heart's desire with love that's ever lasting.

Let this magic bring together all who dwell upon the earth

All mankind shall be together, peace shall reign upon the earth.

May this joy of brotherhood spread all throughout the universe.

Then the very air we breath shall be pure, calm and gentle.

blue the sky and green the forest, all our children can run free;

And though music bring together all who sing the Ode to Joy.

I was excited to learn recently that the High School Orchestra Graig plays with will be performing Beethoven's 9th Symphony in the Spring.  This is the symphony ends with "Ode to Joy".  It is fun to think that Graig's first big concert and his last big High School Concert will both feature the same music.  

Kind of feels like life coming full circle.

"Tie and knot and hang on" Date Night

The local USU extension office held a date night at the Ropes Course in Provo.  As couples we did team building activities.  Our first challenge was to get the group from one platform to another smaller platform and the rope we could use to swing between the two was in the middle.  Our group decided to lace our shoes together to make a "rope" we could use to lasso the rope.  We then helped each other swing across.

 Our second challenge was to get everyone from point A to point B by moving planks of wood between slotted tree stumps.  The planks were different lengths and stumps were positioned so that there was one way to complete the task and it took some trial and error to figure out the puzzle.  We also had to help eachother balance across the narrow planks.  

Below, we are practicing for our third challenge... to see how far we could walk out along some steel ropes using only our spouse for balance.  Warren and I did pretty well.

 We also got to take a turn on a giant swing and climb a pole to a platform where we were to jump for a ring.  Warren was able to grab hold of the ring and hang for a minute before dropping.  I climbed the pole and jumped off. Scary!

It was fun to do an "unusual" date.  In my thank you to the organizer I said, "thanks for making us look cool to our teenagers" who told their friends at school about our date night.  Sometimes, after you have been married for a while date nights get less creative and adventurous... just saying.  It was fun to do something that was just that ... creative and adventurous and a even little dangerous but also exciting and fun.

Labor Day Fun

Our neighbor, Amy, is good at organizing multi-family parties.  She invited several families from the neighborhood over Labor Day morning to eat muffins and fruit and drink milk and juice.  She then organized a soccer game.  All of the pictures below were taken and shared by Amy.  Thanks Amy!

 Sister and Bro. Assey, Dave Mitchel, and Warren

 Melanie in the upper right hand corner of the blanket.

 Tyler and Paige

Our kids just aren't really soccer players but Warren and I joined in the game (not that we are anything but social soccer players).  I am in a blue shirt with tan shorts and Warren is playing goalie in a red shirt and jeans.

Gerald Henrie Family Reunion

The Henrie's don't get together all that often but when they do, you know it will be a fun time.  

A family photo shoot is part of the fun.

Henries can think of lots of different ways (groupings) to take family pictures.

 It all started when two people fell in love...

... and what a ride it has been.

 Kyle, Bryan, Brenda, Doran, Debbie, Warren, Mom, Dad, and Wendell  made life exciting.

 Then Nancy, Chris, Renee, Ron, Leslie, and Mary married into the family...

 ...bringing their own mischief with them.

The sister-in-laws:  Renee, Leslie, Nancy, and Mary

All together now.

 Family shots:

 Debbie, Ron, and Devin  

 Back:  Nathan, Nancy, Doran

Front:  Joshua, Katie, and Jill

Back:  Bryan and Renee

Front:  Chelsea and (Little) Bryan

 Wendell and Spencer

 

 Clockwise:  Tyler, Warren, Mary, Graigry, and Melanie (miss you Jessica)

 All the Grand kids who were in attendance that day with their Grandparents.

Some fun memories of the day:

• four wheeling up the canyon near Kyle and Leslie's house
• watching Wendell, Spencer, and Kyle fly their RC planes
• lots of visiting and "catching" up