Hayley's Half Time Dance

Here is a clip of Hayley's half time dance at her second game.

(She is in the front row, right side)

First Day of School

Hayley started 3rd grade this year with Mrs. Rommel.

Alex started 5th grade this year with Ms. Parsons.

DJM Photos

My brother David has an amazing talent for taking pictures. Whether it is a candid shot or a posed picture he has a way of capturing it. He are some pics of my family from our trip to Utah to David and Bruce's trip out here to Texas. Enjoy, I know I did.

Alex, Hayley, Oscar and I in the Quakies.

The girls with their favorite Uncle Bruce.

Hayley showing off her new smile, she got braces a week before school started.

Alex is once again playing football on the Red Dragons, this year he is a receiver.

Hayley is cheering for the Hawks this year and is really enjoying it.

Alex and Geoff and the first ever football game in the new Cowboy stadium.

Alex turns 10

Happy 10th BirthdayAlex!!!

Nathan, Kristy and family were out here visiting when Alex turned 10.

We celebrated by going to Hawaiian Falls water park during the day.
Then that night by breaking open a pinata Christian made.
Nathan bravely held it in his had as the kids took turns hitting it with a plastic bottle.

St. George

After Geoff met us in Utah, we were able to have a mini-vacation as we drove back to Texas via St. George.

The Bells took us to a fun place where we played lazer tag, mini golf and the boys tested their strength.

The next day it cooled off just enough for us to explore some of the beautiful red rock.

The rest of our trip

Ok, even if we were in Utah for a month I have to catch up on what is happening in our lives now. So here is some pictures of the rest of our trip in Utah.

David, Emma and Hayley posing like usual.

Hayley dripping wet from the pool...this is what she looked like most of the vacation.

Erin, Oscar and Sean watching the swimmers.

David took this picture at Kimba's house and I thought it was cute so I had to include it.

Alex playing a little B-ball with his cousins when we stayed over and Kim and Obed's house.
Alex, Seth and Christian

Hayley signing a shirt.

My mom got a dozen huge yellow shirts for all the grandkids. So on the last night of everyone together they all took turns signing each others.

My mom really bonded with Oscar this trip. He even got a ride in her crochet bag.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

We went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house with my whole family (minus Geoff). The kids enjoyed seeing the inside of the temple and understanding more what Geoff and I do when we go there. They especially like the sealing room and looking into the eternity mirrors. Here are some pictures I took and some that David took.

David's picture of Grandma and Grandpa and all 12 grandkids!!!

Dave's pictures of me and the kids.

My mom took this one of Alex and I outside the front of the temple.

Three Generations...me, Hayley, and my mom!

My picture of the temple.


David took this one of Alex as he looked up at the temple. Not sure what he is thinking about...what he just saw inside? Or perhaps he is just looking for the black on the Angle Moroni where it had recently been struck by lightening.

The Gillespies

Even though Geoff wasn't with us we were able to go and visit the Gillespies. Mary was nice enough to come down to her moms for a few days so that the cousins could play. Hayley was excited to finally have a girl cousin old enough to play with. Her and Riley enjoyed riding scooters around Grandma's greenbelt.

Alex had a lot of fun playing with Nathan and Derrek.

Backyard football was a favorite.
Alex loved visiting his cousin Derrek. They have kept in touch with email and an occasional call. They are both going into the 5th grade and had a lot in common.

We got to visit Great Grandma Curtis.

Nathan got baptized while we were there and so we got to go up to Logan for his special day.



Mary invited us again to Logan for an overnight sleepover. The kids had so much fun with their cousins. We went out for yummy shakes and to the aquatic center with slides and diving boards.
The girls also loved jumping on the tamp.

Because Geoff was delayed in coming to pick us up, when he did, we were able to stay over night with his mom. Sorry we missed the rest of you, but thanks Shelley and Mary for a fun time.

Camping Trip

The kids couldn't wait to go camping in the mountains in Morgan. They excitedly packed their sleeping bags, tents, and outdoor meals. They applied bug spray, dressed in jeans like grandpa and jumped in the back of the truck. Only when we were well into our trek into the mountains did they realize what roughing it really meant. Their are bugs and no bathrooms up there!!! Despite that, or maybe because of that, the kids made memories on this trip, ones they will never forget.

Amber drove all the soon to be third graders (Michael, Emma and Hayley) up on the four wheeler.

Grandpa taught Alex and Christian how to set up tent to help pass off their Webelos. Esplin helped. (Although why we had them do the oldest, most complicated tent, is beyond me--Ryan and Nathan had their tents up in no time.)

Alex in awe of his grandpa's tent building skills. (Notice there matching attire) Uncle David and Alex in front if the finished project.

Some people wanted to sleep in hammocks. Here are Shelley and Erin trying it out during the daylight hours.

Hayley is not to sure of this outdoor business. She choose to sit carefully on a sleeping bag till the tents were done, then she moved inside till the fire was ready. It got cold early in the mountains, especially for us Texas folk.

My mom and I enjoying nature. She only came up for dinner and camp fire, who would have thought she was the smart one!

We had tinfoil dinners for dinner. Each of the kids had theirs made to order, and they all ate with gusto, probably the best on the trip. After we roasted marshmallows, ate smores, and told stories and jokes around the campfire.