Grandpa Stephens Birthday Party

Grandpa had a birthday...we had a little party! Annicha and Brita were off playing somewhere so they missed the picture. Happy Birthday Dad!

Sierra's 12 Birthday Party

For Sierra's Birthday Party she wanted to spend the day with her three best friends doing the things she likes most...I am going to give you the condensed picture version...we took 42 pictures during the party...I've narrowed it down a bit!
Our first stop was to the Beauty college to get their hair and nails done...

Here is Sierra


don't think she likes this look too much...


this is much better...almost done...


here is Tailee...getting an updo...


Cassie getting all curled up...


Katie gettting curled before her updo...


Sierra sporting her new look...


a closer look...


After their hair, it was time for nails...


After their nails were done we went to the movies...Letters to Juliet...while we were waiting I thought I would capture a picture of them all together with their done-up do's


and the back...


After the movie it was back home for pizza...Sierra, Katie, and Cassie


Sierra and Tailee


Next they made ice cream sundae's...Sierra loves ice cream!


After the ice cream they decided to play Sierra's dance game...it was a total riot...


Maren joined in on this round


They had a lot of fun!

After the Wii game they ended up in a water fight outside...it was a long day full of activity, but I think they all had fun and it will be a day Sierra will remember!

Boston's Pack Meeting

Here is Boston's Pack Meeting ... it was the annual BBQ.

This picture didn't turn out very well, but here he is receiving his belt loops and activity pins.


Here he is with his belt loops (two more on another card aren't in the pic), and 6 activity pins...he has worked hard this month!


After the dinner and awards, the scouts helped to retire two flags that were flown over their elementary school...Boston is in the middle. This also passes off something else he needs in working towards another pin-yeah!


Boston on the right


It was a great evening and Pack Meeting...way to go Boston!

Sierra's 12th Birthday

Sierra turned 12 on July 13th...she started her day off with donuts-as per her request!


Our next activity was a trip to the mall to get her ears pierced-we make them wait until they are twelve. I didn't know if she could do it without crying...here goes the first ear!


no tears yet so on to ear number two...


here she is with "pink diamonds"-that is what Maren calls them...and no tears! I think it helped to have Connor standing right in front of her waiting for them to come ;)


We then had lunch and came home to open some presents...here is all her ear care stuff!


A lap full of makeup...this is also something the girls look forward to...being able to wear makeup at age 12!


She wanted her own beach towel...this happens to match the pink and orange swim suit she got this year...


A young women's bracelet and necklace...no more Primary for Sierra!


A new purse for junior high


Sierra loves to dance...not like in dance classes, but just freestyle anytime or anywhere...thought she would love this Wii game...you'll see how much in a later post.


She also got some clothes, a movie and a talk on CD...she will go shopping and out to lunch with Grandma Stephens on Saturday to celebrate her birthday as well!
Sierra had her first young womens activity on her birthday... a water party! Her cake will come later since Boston had pack meeting, Connor was at work, Dad at High Council, and Cheyenne and Sierra at Young Women's.
We love you Sierra, you are such a big helper and are so sweet! A great blessing to our family :)

Doggy do

After being at the stake camp for a week, our doggy was really dirty. He also gets so hot during the summer...so Stockton got a new do! You can see in the previous post how hairy he was...here is the new look...

Maren says he is naked...Stockton, I think likes being cooler!

Stake Camp-camping

Hopefully this post will make sense...Jeff is on the High Council (a church calling). One of his assignments is the Stake Camp. During the 12 weeks of summer the camp should have a camp host-you open and lock the gate, check the people using it in and out, make sure it is kept clean, report problems, etc. There was no one that volunteered for the week of July 5th...so guess who got to go ...that's right, it was us. We borrowed Grandpa Johnson's trailer- thanks Grandpa! It was a long week...Connor worked every day and had baseball, Cheyenne had youth conference, Sierra still had piano and Jeff had various other meetings...we traveled back and forth sometimes a couple times a day, but overall it was a lot of fun.

Here is Joran eating and talking on a banana...


Here is Cheyenne doing Annicha's hair one morning

Here is Boston with our dog Stockton...Jeff had to be back in town for different things so I made him let me bring the dog so I would feel a little safer...

Here is Jeff with Annicha and Joran out playing games


We played a wicked game of Monopoly


Here is Boston bright and early one morning playing PSP


Sierra making her bed...sleeping bag really :)


Joran loving his puppy


Connor chopping down a tree


It was a busy week...not the relaxing trip I was hoping for, but in our family we take any time we can get...

Our new nephew

This picture was taken on the 4th of July, but I thought our new little nephew deserved his own post...this is Rustin James Van Hook....he belongs to Sam and Launa...Congratulations!