First Day of School

Hunter started High School this year.  Where we live, High School officially starts in 10th grade.  Hunter isn’t excited school is starting, but it will still be a great year for him.

Kora started 8th grade.  This is her first year at any school without any of her siblings.  I don’t think she’s minding too much.  

Mylie started 6th grade this year.  Her teacher’s name is Mrs. Nebeker

Skylar started 2nd grade.  Her teacher’s name is Mrs. Chai

Mylie and Skylar riding their bike to school on the first day.

Kenzie started first grade this year.  She was so excited to start school.  In fact, she started school a day later than everyone else.  I misunderstood when the first day was supposed to be so the night before she laid in bed crying because she wanted to start school like everyone else.  Her teacher’s name is Mrs. Tyckson.

Terrain Race 2019

This year we decided to sign up for the Terrain Race.  It was located at the Equestrian Center right by our house so we thought this would be a fun race for the whole family to enjoy.  We originally signed Kenzie and Skylar up to do the Mini Monkey race, which would have only been a mile and only included a few obstacles.  You were technically supposed to be 7 to do the bigger race, but we figured the little ones would do the race just fine.  As it turned out, our 6 year old did better in this race than our 7 year old.  Kenzie was so excited to do the race and was such a trooper as she ran a good portion of it and did the obstacles she could.  It was such a fun time and super dirty!

Pre-race picture at the starting line.

First obstacle, the balance bean.

Second obstacle was a rope climb.  Most of us couldn’t do it, but a few of the kids got up pretty high.  

Mylie and Kenzie climbing the rope.

The next obstacle was flipping a tire forward once and then back again.  It was very heavy so we had to do it in groups so the little ones could help too. 

We had to rope swing across!

Mud!  I escaped being super muddy after the first pit.  I walked very cautiously and somehow made it across without slipping.    I wasn’t so fortunate at the second pit.

Kenzie loved the mud.  

Kora wasn’t super thrilled with the mud, but she was a trooper.

Although Mylie looks mad or sad, she enjoyed the mud too.  She had the GoPro on her head so she could get video of the obstacles.  After the mud pit the screen was so muddy we couldn’t get any more video of the race.  It’s okay because it was worth it.

In this picture Skylar is in the process of saying “No”.  She really didn’t want her picture taken.  She had fun the first time she slipped in the mud pit, but after the third time she had claimed herself officially done.  

Even Kelly didn’t escape the mud.  He put some mud on his head to help protect it from being burned.  Mylie mentioned 2 times how he has hair now.  

At the beginning of the race Hunter told us that he wanted to win the race.  So, he didn’t stay with us. Instead he ran the whole race and then met us towards the end and claimed he won first place.  I thought it was funny because I didn’t think anyone was checking times.  I asked him how he know he got first place and he said once he passed the finish line he asked the other people what heat they left at.  Everyone said 1:30.  We left with the 1:45 heat....and so that was how Hunter determined he won first place.  

Through this whole race everyone sort of helped each other.  At one point Kelly literally pushed me up this same 6 foot wall that Hunter is trying to help Skylar over.  If he hadn’t pushed my booty up this wall I would have walked around.  I did love how everyone helped each other out.  Made this mama’s heart proud.  

As I said above, Skylar was done with the race after the mud pit.  We all tried rallying her, but Kelly had to carry her a bit of the way.  

This rope wall was the last obstacle of the race.  Kelly climbed right under Kenzie just in case she fell.

Finish line picture.  Super muddy, hot and tired.  Regardless, it was a fun race.  I loved doing it with my family.

Las Vegas

 We took a trip up to Las Vegas again this year.  This trip was the last full weekend before the kids started school.  It was a fun trip.  We again, rented a boat up at Lake Mead and we all enjoyed the water.  One scary thing that happened on this trip was Kora actually got lost on the Las Vegas strip.  It was a terrifying few minutes when we realized she was not with us.  Kelly ran back searching for her, while I stayed with the other 3 kids and my mom.  It turns out she got distracted at the Madame Tousads wax figure museum.  When we all walked past, she stayed to look.  Thankfully one of the workers noticed she was alone and kept her until we found her.  It was a scary experience.  We were definitely blessed that she got lost there rather than on the street.  I think our Heavenly Father was definitely watching over her.  Overall, it was a fun trip, with an interesting memory to go with it. We're just so glad that she was fine and safe.

The kids at Buffalo Bills, riding the rides.  There aren't many rides at Buffalo Bills, but the kids had a great time.  The only 2 rides the kids could really go on was this jumper ride and the laser shooter log ride.  Hunter and Kora went on the Log ride multiple times.  Mylie went on about 2 times, and then stayed on the jumper the rest of the time.  She probably went on it somewhere around 20 times, enjoying each time up as if it was her first.  

 Here we are at the Venetian, such a beautiful hotel.  

 The kids and my Dad at the Blue Man Group display. 

Hunter and my Mom.

 Sisters in their swim suits, life jackets and shades. 

 Kelly let's Kora drive the boat.  

 

Skylar girl in her life jacket.

   Swimming in the lake.  

Hunter's Baptism

 Hunter was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints On July 7, 2012 days after his 8th birthday.  It was a beautiful day.  His Dad baptized him and his Uncle Bryan gave a talk on Baptism.  Both did an amazing job.  Hunter said the water was warm and he felt like he was clean.  He was also so glad that so much of his family could be there for his very special day.  

 Hunter and his Dad in their whites. 

 Family picture after the baptism.

Group family picture, minus the photo taker, Darren Perrucci.  

Great-Grandpa Kerr

 Kelly's Grandpa passed away on June 19, 2012.  He was a kind, loving man.  He loved his family.  He would often be found talking about his 12 great-grandchildren.  We have lots of cherished memories of him.  The above picture was the last full family picture that we have with him.  This is from when he came to our house this last Easter.  One thing that I will always remember about him is that he was always there.  He came to every special event.  The next few pictures are a few memories we captured that show his love for his family.  He was a very special man and we are so grateful to have had him in our lives. 

 Great-Grandpa and 9 of his 12 great-grand children this last Christmas

 Great-Grandpa and Skylar

 Kelly, Hunter, Kelly's Dad and Great-Grandpa

 Hunter and Great-Grandpa

 Ruth, Great-Grandpa, Hunter and Kelly

 At Hunter's 1st Birthday Party

 Ruth, Bryan, Kelly, Kora and Great-Grandpa at Kelly and Bryan's University of Phoenix graduation

 Great-Grandpa and Kora on her blessing Day

 Great-Grandpa and Kora

 Bryson, Great-Grandpa and Hunter.  Grandpa celebrating his 80 something birthday and the boys trying to help him blow out the candles.

 Kora, Great-Grandpa and Ruth at Kora's 1st Birthday Party

 Kelly, Kora, Hunter, Santa (Great-Grandpa) and Me.  Grandpa loved to dress up as Santa and did it for many years.  He did it twice for our kids and the kids were thrilled with the magic of Christmas those years and felt extra special that Santa visited them at their Nani's house. 

 Great-Grandpa at the hospital, holding Mylie

 Kristin, Jeremy, Thalia, Nani Jo, Kent, Me, Mylie, Kora, Hunter, Susie, Kelly, Gene, Great-Grandpa and Ruth.  All the family that came down for Mylie's Blessing

 Great-Grandpa and Mylie

 Becky, Bryan, Great-Grandpa, Jodie & Kelly

 Santa visits our kids again

 Great-Grandpa celebrating Mylie's 1st Birthday

Great-Grandpa, Mylie and Kora at one of Hunter's T-Ball Games

We are so used to him being at all our family events that it is hard knowing that he wont be at any more.  We are so grateful for the plan on salvation and know that this is only goodbye for now and not forever.    We love him and we miss him, but look forward to seeing him again.