Happy Birthday cousin Jenna!

We were so lucky to have the Hassler family come visit us for Memorial Day weekend.  They were on their way to Disneyland and it happened to be Jenna's 13th birthday.  Lots of reasons to celebrate and party!  Jenna is so passionate about Harry Potter.  She has read each book at least 7 times.  Isn't that just amazing?  I know it leaves me speechless! 

I was feeling cake deprived from Carter's Birthday, so I had a great time filling my need to make a fun cake!  My favorite part was making the fondant items!  Emery was a great helper and enjoyed watching it come together!  It was a yummy reeses peanut butter chocolate cake ..mmmm!  Jenna and her mom were so nice to let me do this for her!

 Happy Birthday to you!  We think you are a most wonderful niece and cousin!

 Waffles, bacon, and strawberries for a birthday breakfast the next day!

Have fun in Disneyland Hassler family!  We will try our very best to not be jealous!

I forgot to get a picture of Caden taking care of the Hassler's dog, Cooper, while they were on their trip.  Caden is getting so close to earning his $300..stay tuned to a future post.  Cooper was well taken care of and received a lot of attention.  Lyndsi even had him over a few times and gave him some delicious treats and a luscious bed!  Thanks Lynds!  My kids would love to get a dog but I am fine with just pet sitting every now and again.  I tell my children that they are my pets!  Is that mean or what?!

It's 3rd place at the Pinewood Derby!

This was Caden's very last Pinewood Derby.  He and his Dad started out making a brand new car but then it broke.  So they had to resort to his last year's car and revamp it.  Lubing it up with that graphite makes it work like a charm!  He had a great time.  This activity is definitely a highlight of scouts!

Carter was just as into it.  I loved how loyal he remained to Caden!

 Caden took 3rd place overall.  He got his trophy and a title of "best engineered car".

A job well done Caden Mitchell!

End of school year celebrations!

Yes, we are close to school being out.  It was so fun attending all of the concerts, graduations, and programs!  I love seeing my children shine.  They are wonderful little spirits and they did so well in school this year!

This post will be a bragging session of the Hancock children.  I think we can do that as a parent every so often, right?!

Carter adjusted so well in going to intermediate school.  He woke up so early every single morning all on his own, and accomplished such high grades.  His final mark in science was 100%!  What a smart boy!  One of his favorite classes was orchestra that he took from Mrs.Candland.  He also does so well on the cello and just loves it.  He will be continuing on with it!  This concert was a Cinco de Mayo celebration.  So fun!

Mrs. Meacham was Caden's choir teacher.  He had quite a few performances throughout the year.  The choir was very large and always well prepared.  They knew the lyrics of those songs so well!  Caden too, excelled in science.  He learned a lot in fourth grade!  I can't believe he will be in the highest grade of elementary next year!  Really?

 Ella was simply adorable in her kindergarten graduation!

 Here she is with classmates and friends, CC, Addie, and her favorite, Makayla.  Those 2 played a ton this year.  We just love Makayla!  She is the sweetest!

Out of all the kindergarteners in the school, just 10 were chosen for the horizon hero award.  They are kind and nice to everyone around them.  I was so excited for her since I didn't expect her to receive an award.  Good job Ella.  Mrs. Key did tell me throughout the year that Ella was always a friend to everyone in her class.  What a good girl!

 Isn't her cap and gown picture the cutest?!

 Ella with Mrs. Key.  She cried the next day telling me that she missed her.  What a sweetheart!

On her graduation day, she finally decided to ride a bike without training wheels.  I guess she figured it was time.  How fitting!  She learned on Owen's bike.  I think that's hilarious since he is younger than her!  Oh well-I never pushed her.  I just waited until she was ready.  I wasn't even outside helping her.  She just ran in the house to share her exciting news with me!  What a day of accomplishments!

I was also so proud of Emery.  She and Caden played "First in Math" on the computer like crazy this year, especially her!  She was in the top 10 of the school to have received the most stickers.  Emery is really good at math.  She was working on multiplication and division which isn't even introduced until the 3rd grade.  What a girl!  I know all my kids are smarter than I was at that age and I am so happy that it has worked out that way!  She told me that she is sure going to miss her favorite teacher of all time, Mrs. Bergeron.  I could see why!  She is my favorite as well!

Woohoo!  It's the last day of school!  Celebrate!!  I picked up Carter and Tait and while we were driving they said, "Okay, when we don't see the school anymore, let's scream out the window.  They both have a good set of lungs!

 Jace and Emery were celebrating as well!

Yay for summer!  Let's have some fun!

Carter's big #12!

Okay, I know I ALWAYS say this, but I just can't believe that time goes by way too quickly and that I now have a 12 year old son.  Isn't that just ridiculous!  Well, at least he is an amazing 12 year old and we love him so much!

The day before Carter's birthday, he headed off to Father and Sons with Caden and Curtis!  Ofcourse they had a grand time.  This would be his first morning waking up on his birthday without his mommy there by his side.  Waaa for Mom.  I sent him off with candy and a card from the family, but missed him so much!

It was good he was home by 10:30 to open his tinfoil presents!

He chose the activity of the day which was going to Red Robin for lunch!  He enjoyed the kids' favorite meal of macaroni and cheese!

 It was nice of everyone to come celebrate Carter!

 It's the waiters' turn to sing to Carter!

For dinner we had the family over for none other than "Japanese Sundaes" and chocolate iced doughnuts.  I think he has had this dinner for 4 consecutive years.  At least it's easy!  Lily was in on the blowing action-so cute!

It's fun for him at this age.  He got lots of money!

 Carter was pretty thrilled about the Meyers' present, a case of Mug Rootbeer!

He got a new 3DS from mom and dad when he was just expecting a $100 bill to help pay for it.  Curtis put a fake $100 bill in an envelope and wrapped it in a box.  Carter was excited for a second and then noticed that it was too small to be real.  On the bill it said, "look under the small couch".  Under it was his blue, magical, new DS.  It was fun to watch his excitement!

It was such a wonderful weekend because the next day, Carter played a duet, Beautiful Savior, with his buddy Kristian.  He was on the cello and Kristian was on the violin.  I accompanied on the piano for them.  It was in our ward and Grandma and Grandpa Hancock, Shellie and Allen, and Erin and Nate were able to come listen.  They did a beautiful job.  He was recognized in sacrament for becoming a deacon and then received the Aaronic Preisthood.  It was a wonderful mom day for me.  Curtis was able to give him the priesthood and it was a lovely blessing.  Some of the things mentioned in the blessing were, Heavenly Father and his family are proud of his decision to become a Priesthood holder.  It comes with great responsibility to be a leader, seve others and help those who don' have the gospel.  As he uses the authority he'll see a change in his heart and notice how the priesthood blesses others.  It will help him gain a strong testimony, and serve a mission.  Carter is a choice spirit.  These were such comforting and confirming words to me.  Carter is a very special boy.  He has always had the desire to choose the right and be diligent in the gospel.

  That evening Grandma and Shellie had us over for a delicious roast beef dinner.  Thank you for that!  We all enjoyed it!

 Our 2 priesthood holders

The following Friday, Carter got together with his best friends to have another birthday celebration!  It was the easiest party on the planet.  That is one bonus to them getting older.  I was able to drop them off at the rec center where they played basketball and went swimming.

 I then picked them up for a yummy dinner at the Golden Corral.  I was able to enjoy it with them.  I didn't have to serve anyone but myself.  It was quite lovely.

 Home for dessert for some more doughnuts.  Carter lets me off the hook in making a cake on his birthday.  He still does not like them.  Maybe one day??

 Isn't this one fabulous!  You can get them at Lyn's!

 Yes, more birthday money!  The boys then jumped on the tramp, played outside, and played video games until late.  It was an 8 hour party but went by so fast!  I loved it!

Happy Birthday Carter!  You are an incredible 12 year old!

Cutie Girls!

Grandma Hancock had these adorable dresses made.  She hired cousin Amber to sew them up!  Aren't they so sweet? The flowers snap on and off the dress and can be changed with the hair piece!  Visit her on facebook..Addie-Kae Snaps.  She has some cute things on there!  Thanks Grandma and Amber!

 This is a fun new hair style!  You just braid the ponytails.  The only difference is making one of the pieces of the braid very thin.  It looks so cool I think!

 And here are the many faces of our character Evey Brynn!  Grandma Hancock was getting her to pose for some pictures!

 I love the half wink and the shining earring.  It's like she's magical!  She just makes us all laugh!

Around the World!

My recital this May was really fun!  All year my students have been traveling around the world, on a map ofcourse, collecting money, stopping in countries, and sampling treats from those countries.  As a celebration of this year's accomplishments, students dressed up in their assigned country and played a song to represent it.

I wish I would have made a group picture happen.  I just wasn't thinking.  Shoot!

Here are Katie's students.  Caden was a mountie policeman from Canada.  Emery was an Italy girl.  Carter was a mummy from Egypt and Ella was the world.  She has a moon and sun in her hair.

 This was Ella's first piano recital.  She did so well playing her song, "I'd like to teach the world to sing".  She is still playing it a whole month later!

 Chelsea helped me with these adorable programs.  Thanks again Chels!  I just love them!

I gave these to all my students with a box of treats.  Carter got 1st place, Emery and Caden tied for 2nd and the Featherstone boys got 3rd place.  I promise, it wasn't rigged!  I let my own kids participate in the reward program because they begged me to.  What cute and motivated kids!

They all played well and were fun to listen to.  Thanks to all who attented!