June and First Half of July

In Memory of our Van -
Here are some of the cutest and best pictures I could dig up that had our family's van in it, except for Zayah and the cat, I think that is my brother's car, but it was to cute to delete:

Just as I had caught up this blog, my computer crashed again so I had to wait to see when I could get it to come back up thanks to great friends with computer knowledge. It is doing alright for now. I don't have many new photo's on my computer yet because that is still down but I'll catch you up on our lives as best as I can anyway. For the most part, family life is still eventful and we're living life to the fullest!

First half of June '09

Julie's P.O.V:
School's out! It's amazing that we've made it through again. Our summer is filling up with church activities and summer learning, church camps and volunteer work as well. It's going to be fun!
Jared has worked very hard and has done extremely well getting a 4.0 with his semester of prerequisites for dental school. He's planning on doing some condensed classes this summer and then he'll finish up in the fall then next year - just in time to enter dental school in Jan. 2011. He's enjoying his classes although he's very busy and working full time to support all of us. We appreciate this very much!
I (Julie) took a trip to Utah for my brother, Mike's wedding on June 25th. I took Noah with me. The wedding was absolutely beautiful! I loved it! They seem so happy and the SLC temple is so gorgeous! I'm so blessed to have gone to their wedding!
Hopie has done so well in school and really deserves a summer break. She also received straight A's like her dad this year. She is doing excellent!
Brig has really improved in school and received a commendable report on his big 5th grade Science exam. It was his first time ever doing so well. I treated him out for ice cream with his sister Vanessa! He's also achieved his Tenderfoot in scouting.
Nessa has also received straight A's and two commendable's on her big 4th grade exam. It made her day to go out for ice cream with her buddy, Brigham. She also ran for treasurer for 5th grade student council. Even though she didn't win, her poster looked amazing as it was decorated in a beach scene complete with real sand glued on, a painted blue ocean and her bilboards said "Vanessa Carter for Treasurer" and "I would do an awesome job. Vote for me because I'm the money honey!" It has been a source of excitement for her.
Zayah is simply glad to be getting done with Kindergarten. He did a very good job overall this year. And according to his dad who went to the dance festival at school dancing to "Twist and Shout!" He was so cute all decked out in '60's attire.
Gracie finished up Joy School with an activity day at the park. We did crafts, an obstacle course, danced the chicken dance and had lunch together. Those kids in her class are just so cute and such nice friends for her. She really loves them. The other day after we ate lunch, Gracie said the cutest thing to me; "Mommy, I just love food!" I'm so grateful for her sweet attitude.
Noah is growing curiouser and curiouser. He loves to get into all sorts of things and has discovered a foolproof way to get out in to our backyard at any time he likes, yes, right through the doggie door. He has that really light blonde hair now and he smiles so wide all the time. He looks so much like his Carter cousins! So cute!
Jared's P.O.V:
Just a few quick notes about our sub-clan. Julie spent a week in Utah for her brother’s wedding - took Noah and at a hair cut, donated 10 inches of her hair to locks-of-love.
Jared spent two days deep-sea fishing and was promoted to captain in the US Army.
Hopie had a wonderous time at girls camp and has established herself as the premiere
babysitter in the High Country Ward. Brig attended 11 year-old Scout Camp -
earned Tenderfoot and is well into 1st Class. Nessa spent most of her mother’s week long absence at friends houses - a chain of sleep-overs - she is a friend magnet. Zayah and Gracie have been dinosaur crazy lately - lots of dinomagination play. Noah was a great traveler on the plane ride to and from Utah - He was considerate enough to wait until he returned to San Antonio and passengers were deboarding before he projectile vomited - such a thoughtful child.

Second Half of June

Around the second week of June, I was driving four of my children, Nessa, Gracie, Noah, and Zayah to go swimming and then CRASH! I totalled our van. It's been difficult but I'm so grateful that we are okay plus the other driver, as far as I'm aware, was alright as well. Both of our cars were towed from the scene and it was scary but we survived. We've been looking for another van but that's not going to happen as fast as I'd like either. Patience....
It feels at times that this has stressed out our summer but we are hanging in there due to nice friends inviting my kids out to go play and giving my two older girls rides to dance. I have really appreciated it! Plus a BIG thanks to my dear cousin, Jen letting my borrow their van when they came back from their family trip to Ut. So overall, we've been salvaging our summer quite nicely I think although my children might feel differently depending upon the day but school will start again in about 5 weeks and then summer will be a memory.
I found some pictures of our van during camping and different outings that we had to post in memory of it as seen above.

First Half of July

We had a really great time celebrating the 4th of July and Jared had it off for once. We had a BBQ of sausage and chicken legs. Always a yummy choice! We had anticipated trying to go & see some fireworks somewhere but as the day ended we were too tired and stayed home instead.

We were able to celebrate Gracie's 4th and Zayah's 6th birthday together. It was fun and Jared made them a GiGaNto cake! It was way too much for all of us to ever eat so we invited some friends, of course. Plus, who could turn down the happiness recieved by a kite and some candy. It was appreciated in their smiles!

Other than that we've just been busy as families are. I'll do what I can to post more news and photo's as I can. Love ya!

Last Half of May

May 13th

Art Show

Our school district had an Art Show and both Hopie and Nessa's Art was chosen to be displayed in it. We left right as they arrived home from school since Wednesday's are such a busy night for us. We had a great time looking for their school's display and their art projects. Hopie had two on display this year and Nessa had one. They did so well on them and I think they are very interesting. For Nessa, it was her first Art show and she has continuously tried each year. She was very excited! Hopie said she was glad to be in the Art show again this year. She only wanted me to post the picture for her favorite entry.
I was happy for them and I know they both worked so hard.

Hopie with her 3-D pencil art drawing and a close-up.

Vanessa with her art project which was an ancient mask using glue, mesh paper and paint.











May 16th
Share Art

We had a very unique and special experience with Hopie as she was invited to a reception for a city-wide Art show. Unfortunately, we had a technical difficulties with our camera so we lost the photo's we took that day. We're planning another trip to take some more pictures of it. I'll post when we get them. In the city-wide art contest, where only 100 students' art was chosen, Hopie's drawing is permanently displayed in the Family Justice Center downtown. So, I felt this was noteworthy and had mention it. She did a Sharpie and tempera paint abstract. It looked amazing! It is a really cool program called S.h.a.r.e - Students help art reach everyone. You can see some amazing art here and you may find Hopie's too. She's in the 2009 gallery. It has been an incredible experience for her.

May 23rd
In Remembrance

Brig went with his scout troop and put flags on all of the graves of the soldiers in the cemetary. He did a good job and felt good about being involved in this service project.

May 25th
Memorial Day

Jared was actually off for Memorial Day this year. So, he planned a very fun day with the children. First, he took our oldest four children tubing in the river. I stayed home with the littlest ones. They woke up at 6 a.m. to arrive early at the river and avoid the crowds. The plan worked and they avoided the crowds. It was super fun for them! This is what happened to the camera, incidentally, it fell in the river. Jared is already planning to buy another one for his birthday coming up.
Later, we had a barbeque and Jared set up a super water slide in our backyard. Good food and getting super wet - what more could you ask for out of Memorial Day? The kids loved it!

May 26th
Healthy Boy!

Noah had his eighteen month well-child check up today. He is growing so much! He weighed 22 1/2 lbs. and is 31 inches tall now. He has really light blonde hair now and he smiles so wide all the time. He did a really great job getting his shots and was very brave.

May 29th
Dance Festival

Isaiah did a very good job, according to his dad who went, in the dance festival at school today dancing to "Twist and Shout!" He was so cute all decked out in '60's attire.
Nessa's class did their dance to the song called "The Eye of the Tiger" and she wore an orange shirt and black capri's. They had made tiger eyes in class that they wore too.
Brig's class danced to "Beat it" by Michael Jackson. His class wore royal blue colors.

May 31st
Our Favorite Meal

Jared made us a really great Sunday dinner today. He made pasta with fresh tomato, basil, and Parmesan cheese mixed in. The flavor was fresh and appealing. Jared's garden is growing very well. It looks good and has sprouted up.
For dessert, Jared made chocolate lava cakes. He decked them out to look really pretty with fresh strawberries, blackberries and cherries.
The other day after we ate lunch, Gracie said the cutest thing to me; "Mommy, I just love food!" Funny thing is I think we all do and it is showing itself through this blog.

Overall

May has been wonderfully busy and the school children are anxious for summer break. They've worked so hard this year and deserve it! I can't wait to start summer activities with them and summer reading too! So much to look forward to!

April '09 Finally catching Up!

Jared is finishing up his Spring semester in school and enjoying it tremendously. He actually helped me write this post as well.
Julie is busy writing poetry and scrapbooking fun pages and layouts lately. She was successful teaching the activity day girls in her ward about scrapbooking. They made a layout for their mom's for Mother's Day. It turned out fun and memorable for each of the girls.
Hopie continues to do brilliant things in the 7th grade. She recently completed a fabulous report on Cyclopes. Her parents are pleased to report that she is of such a character, that their fears about raising teenagers remain unrealized. She is a sweetheart and a pleasure to have in our home. She's also discovered that she has a flair for art and photography. She is one of the one hundred featured artists in the upcoming middle school art show known as SHARE. We'll post more about it in May when we attend the reception and the unveiling of her art project she entered!
Brig is eager to get started in 6th grade next year. He met with the band director who spent several minutes with him fitting him for different instruments. The director felt, and Cowboy agrees, that the trombone will be an excellent fit! He is pictured here with his Science Project on planets. He used glow-in-the-dark paint and now enjoys it hanging in his room. As an 11 year old scout he is excited to be attending Merit Badge University at a local university in the coming week.
Nessa recently performed in the ward talent show doing a dance routine with several of the girls that she attends activity days with. It was a delightful experience for both the dancers and observers. Nessa did a great job - Really cute! She has completed several projects in school, one being a replica of the Alamo complete with cleverly made toothpick people, and has been noticed for her hard work. Her Alamo project stayed on display at the school library for an entire month. Zayah made a comment to her about how his class saw it. It really turned out great!
Zayah is doing a fabulous job in Kindergarten. He clearly favors the use of his left hand and is the first of our children to have legible handwriting at the age of 5. Lefties Unite !!!!!!!!
Gracie adores her trips to the library with her mother. Each evening she haggles with Daddy about how many books they will read before bed. She usually starts with three books. When he is lucky, he can talk her down to two.
Noah, in contrast to his older brothers (at the same age), is quite fearless where climbing is concerned. Top of the piano - fall - counter top - fall - table top - fall - he remains undaunted and unharmed. He's little Mr. Boogie pants and begins bobbing up and down any time he encounters a catchy tune - If there is a beat, he'll dance. His three sisters think he's the cheese.