Summertime and Boat Building!

So...Nathan has become a boat builder. He came home from college this summer with a list of things he wanted to do....visit Japan,visit the Grand Canyon, go to Costa Rica, build a boat and learn to sail and do some hiking with his family. He has always been one to fulfill his goals; he went to Japan, hiked rim to rim at the Grand Canyon in 2 and a half days and now here is the boat. He found plans on the internet and built this little beauty in our backyard with only a circular saw, jig saw and a hand saw. (I am still amazed) He scrounged for materials, using an old stair railing he found in our attic for the mast, old paint from the previous owners of our home, a tarp for a sail and he now has a boat. He and his friend, Derek Frei, took it on their maden voyage to Port Orchard and back. He is now learning how to work the sails and wants to take it on a longer trip! We don't even own a boat trailer, he just takes all of the seats out of our big van and hauls it around in that. Now he is planning his trip to Costa Rica...................adventure awaits.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANDREW!!

On the day you were born, you were automatically loved by your brothers, sister, Mom and Dad, and  we have found that everyone who comes in contact with you, loves you....even teenage girls.  (Which still happens to be the case!!)

But then again, how can anyone resist such charm and good looks?  

We love you Andrew and are so grateful you came to our family, to keep us on our toes and constantly entertained.  THANKS!!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR FABULOUS SON!!!  

Nathan's Japan Trip

Nathan had the opportunity to go back to Japan, mostly to visit people from his mission, but also to see parts of the country he couldn't see while serving his mission.  He was there for 3 weeks and had a blast, and is already making plans to return again, this time to hike and camp.  

Here he is with the Bishop and his family from Hakodate, he served here for almost a year. (beginning, middle and end of his mission)

Here is is old mission bike, he gave it to a new convert who still uses it.

In front of the Tokyo temple with his mission President and Dad.
With an old companion, Elder Yagi.
At Hiroshima

Solo & Ensemble Competition for Andrew

On Saturday, Andrew participated in the Middle School Solo and Ensemble Competition.  Here is a little snippet of his performance.  I always love to hear him sing, so it is hard for me to play for him also, as I usually get a little emotional, I think I did well too!  

SUMMER!!

Today was my LAST day of school! hurray :) My freshman year of college is now officially over....crazy. I am now a sophomore! I cant quite beleive it. I definately grew alot this year. Here are some of the things i learned.....

1. I learned how to feed my self. I learned what foods are BAD for college students, and what foods are GOOD, like pizza :)

2. I learned good hygene. I'm now PRO at brushing my teeth.


3. I learned how to smile REALLY pretty in pictures. I should be a model.

4. I finally learned how to dress my self. I can officially say that i now know how to dress in style

5. I learned that i LOVE my brothers. (and my mom and dad) I really miss hanging out with them when i'm away

6. And finally, i learned that i LOVE COLLEGE!!!!! GO COUGS :)

Ebony and Ivory

Here is the video of Zander and James (Ebony and Ivory) singing their duet.  They received three 1's from the judges.  Personally I think they were fabulous and should of won, oh well.....  Good job guys :)

James At State

James went to the State Solo & Ensemble Competition this past weekend.  He sang with two groups, the Bremerton "Bootie Shorts Alarm" (don't ask) and then he also sang a duet with Zander Martin(which I will post later, after Jacki sends it to me.) The BSA group got a 1 and two 2's as rating from the judges, which was fabulous, as they didn't find out that they qualified until about 3 weeks ago and didn't have alot of time to practice, plus 3 of the 4 boys are only sophomores.  At the local competition here in Kitsap county back in February, the BSA got first alternate, thus weren't preparing to go to state until they heard they qualified. Here is the songs they sang.  Sorry the piano is so loud, their choir teacher, Cassie Gillis, was keeping her foot on the soft pedal the whole time, it just was a very loud piano.  The boys are left to right, Jordon Geier, Brandon Shepard, Zander Martin and James.

More Italy!

Great buildings! WOW!! You don't see that everyday!

James and John Garber

A cathedral in Pisa

Waiting around!!

Another group shot, James is right in the middle, next to the director, Rollo Dillworth.

He saw lots of beautiful art!! He is holding Medusa's head, can't remember the name of the statue.

Here they all are, hamming for the camera!

The Venice water ways.

More great art!

Riding the Gondola. (James isn't in the picture)

James In Italy!!

James just recently had the opportunity to go to Italy with his high school choir. They traveled the country side for 10 days, visiting all kinds of beautiful places, sang at three different concerts and worked with a fabulous conductor. He was able to visit the Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, the Coliseum, then on to Venice and gondola boat rides, he shopped for great stuff, buying himself some Italian shoes and Jacki a 'wild' belt. He even brought me home a beautiful vase with hand painted gold leafing. All in all he had the time of his life. Though when I asked him how the whole trip was he said "It was great!! But it would of been funner with the family" I love that kid!!!


James with a friend Annalisa at the Coliseum.

Groups shot!! In front of McDonald's no less, couldn't they have found an Italian restaurant to take a picture in front of?

The Coliseum

James with his choir director, Cassie Gillis and two friends, Kelsey and Cristelle.

A few more Elder Erik's

Here are a few more of Erik. He had to show us the snow, and he actually sent a few pictures of them riding their bikes in it. And all of my boys like to see if they can scare me with their antics, so I think the bike wreck pictures might be a little 'staged' though the mud on his coat looks real. (Udate: Erik says the crash was 100% real!!) I loved the picture of him in the culvert, though we had to do a little 'photo magic' (thanks Alicia) to errase the graffiti on the wall, let's just say it wasn't appropriate.

The thumbs up sort of gives it away, I know that he is okay!

Elder Hill Update!

We got more pictures from Erik this week! Doesn't he look happy? (and goofy?) I love digital camera's and SD cards, it is so fun to get 300 pictures at once and be able to see all that Erik has been doing, though it was a little odd to be looking at his Christmas pictures in April. The one draw back is that we don't know who all of the people are in the pictures with him, as you can't write on the back of all of the pictures when they are still on the SD card, oh well! I just hope that he remembers who everyone is.

One highlight of this round of pictures is seeing him with his Uncle Mark, Blake's brother. Mark works for the Little Giant Ladder company and travels all over the country for work. Back in February he was in the DC area, so with Pres. Mansell's permission, he met up with Erik and his companions and took them to lunch. He called us afterwards and told us how happy Erik was and how well he was doing, especially with his spanish. It was a nice report for us.


Erik and Elder Larsen with Felix, a recent convert. Erik has told us alot about Felix, mostly his faith in knowing that when he got baptised the Lord would provide the way for him not to have to work on Sundays and now he has Sunday's off and can attend church. yipee!!

What a card!!

Erik and Mark

Eating lunch!

Attending the temple with his district. They get to go to the temple on transfer days. Erik is right in the middle with the green and yellow tie, you can't miss him!

Blake in Japan!

Blake has been in Japan now for 3 weeks for work and will be there for a few more. We miss him here, but I know that he is having fun exploring on the weekends. Having spent 3 months there last year, he knows his way around Tokyo pretty good and even has a few great little 'hole-in-the-wall' restaurants he loves to eat at. He has been able to attend the temple several times, spend some time with our good friends, the Connor's, and has even done some hiking. I am sure he will come back with great stories and pictures, as it seems everywhere he goes, he meets people from his past or makes new friends. Nathan is planning on meeting up with Blake in April (when he is finished for the semester at BYU), he served his mission there and is very excited about being able to go back to see his friends.

Hiking at Mt. Mitake with friends from work.

Shopping in the Ginza District of Toyko.

Skyscrappers in the Shinjuku. You can take an elevator to the top floor and see the whole city of Tokyo and Mt. Fuji in the distance. Very Impressive.

Mormon Prom

Our church puts on a prom every year for the youth, so James invited Larisa Clark. He and Jordan Perrone made cakes with messages inside for their dates to ask them. James borrowed this lovely tux from our young men's president (who happend to buy it at DI in Utah). I took it to be cleaned before the dance, and while picking it up a gentleman came into the drycleaners and commented on the tux. He said, "Wow, that looks like the tux I wore to my high school prom!" I told him it probably was the same tux, and then we had a good laugh over it. ?The dance was in Port Orchard, so they had a progressive dinner, then went to the dance, then went back to Clara's for dessert and hot tub. James and Jordan had a great time, and the girls did too!

James and Jordan

James' date, Larisa Clark.

What a handsome kid!

Getting ready for dinner!

A little more Aristocats!

Here is another video of Andrew's play. It is actually the begining of the play. Don't anyone feel obligated to watch the whole thing, I am really posting it for Grandma's and Grandpa and Jacki. Though you are always free to watch......Andrew is always amusing!