Memorial Day

Camping has been a Memorial Day tradition for many years.  With the dance festival falling on the Saturday of Memorial Weekend our plans were changed and this year we decided to celebrate Memorial Day honoring those that served our country and those that gave their lives for the freedom that we enjoy.  

We started out the day going to one of our favorite breakfast places in Puyallup.  Landon who was not feeling well ended up staying in the car at the restaurant.  We knew he was sick because he loves breakfast and especially when we eat out.  On our way back from the restaurant we dropped him off at home so he could rest.  After we knew he would be alright the rest of us headed to the Tahoma National Cemetery, in Maple Valley, WA.  

 

 The Tahoma National Cemetery is beautiful.  It is surrounded by trees and is lush and green.  Every headstone there is placed an American Flag.  We spent some time walking around, reading some of the names and picking out the religious symbols.

During the middle of the day they have a program.  It was a nice tribute to those that serve and have served.  There were speakers, musical numbers and Tapps was played, then cannons were fired.  We were touched and glad we had choose to spend the day remember the price of FREEDOM, and how blessed we are in the USA

 GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Arise and Shine Forth Dance Festival

Every four years our stake participates in a multi-stake (Kent, Maple Valley, Renton, and Auburn) dance festival.  This was our stake's youth conference for 2012,  and since Landon and Mason are deacon they got to participate in the deacon dance, which was a "Tinkling" Philippine Dance.   For the six months before the dance festival they would practice every other week learning the steps to their dance, it was a lot of work, and at times very discouraging but in the end it paid off when they got to perform with over 1000 other youth in the area at the Sho-ware Center in Kent.   

Landon and Mason with their good friends, Caleb and Jonathon after the final performance.

The "Tinikling" dance is a pre-Spanish dance from the Philippines that involves two people beating, tapping and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. It was a difficult dance for anyone, but especially for growing deacons.  Zeke spent many of the practices with the deacons so he knew how hard it was.  On the day of the performance they practiced out on the blacktop in the hot sun.  The ground was hot and the boys worked hard.  After the first performance, Zeke felt a little teary knowing how hard these boys had worked, and how all that hard work showed.   

There were many other dances performed by that youth that we enjoyed. Each time the youth would come running out on the dance floor excited and it would give us chills to see their excitment.  Most of these kids don't dance on a regular basis so it was impressive to see them do so well.  

After the dance festival was over the boys were exhausted, but so glad they had this opportunity.  

Way to go Landon and Mason!  We are so proud of you! 

Piano

Landon, Mason, and Lydia continue to play the piano.  During this time of year we are busy with piano recitals.  Lydia had her recital in May and she wanted to do something fun for one of her pieces.  So she choose to play the song "Bunny Bunny Fo Fo!  She in-listed Mason in helping narrating her piece.  Mason was a great big brother and was willing even though he felt a little silly.  It was memorable!

Lydia and her wonderful piano teacher of 3 years Mrs. Steck

Lydia turns 9!

It's hard to believe this little girl is getting so big, but growing up she is doing and this year she turned

 9 years old! 

Our family loves this sweet girl and the fun and helpful attitude she brings to our family.  

She wanted a late night party like one Landon and Mason had had a few years ago with several of her friends and it was fun this year as her party had fallen on a Friday, so her party was on her birthday.    

We thought it would be fitting to have an "Owl" theme party since they would be night owls that night.  

Lydia has many great friends, some from her soccer team, some from church, some from school and some she has been friends with since she was a baby. She was in heaven having all her friends over for the evening.   

It was a beautiful evening and all the girls wanted to eat outside.  They all filled the trampoline as well as Jacob who joined them.  It was a giggling, girly bunch.   

After dinner the girls enjoyed some games on the lawn. 

Relay games!

Everyone made a Marshmallow shooter made out of cups and balloons.  

Cake time! 

Then we went off to the school playground for a flash light scavenger hunt. 

Happy Birthday Sweet Lydia!