Alayna Starts Kindergarten

This last Wednesday, Alayna started her first day of kindergarten. The kindergartners in our school go one week later than all the other students. Alayna has been very excited to start school as a kindergartner.

She kept up well with the kids by hopping on her bicycle and riding the entire way to the school. It is weird to think that we have four kids in the same school. That is the most we'll ever have in a school. Next year Aylee will start junior high school and we will start splitting our time between the various schools that our children are in.

I can't believe how fast our kids are growing up. It truly will be here and gone before I know it. I hope Amber and I can seize these moments and make the most of them.

Fun Run/Walk/Ride

Last weekend, our family participated in the stake fun run/walk/bike ride. I was really impressed with Alayna. She learned how to ride her bike for the first time only days earlier. She, Amber, and Aliece did a 2 mile bike ride for the race. I took Avary and Jace and did the walk for 1 mile. Aylee and Jonathan did the full 7 mile track.

After the race the stake hosted a pancake breakfast. We had a great time visiting with our friends who participated in the event. Our kids look forward to these events every year. They are always disappointed when they are canceled because of bad weather or if we have to go out of town and miss the race.

First Day of School

10 days ago, our kids started school up again for the year. They were really excited to get to know their teachers better and to be reunited with old friends.

I cannot believe that summer vacation is already over. It has really flown by. There was so much I had wanted to do that we never got around to getting done. I guess others why we have next year!

Jonathan's Baptism Continued

One thing I neglected to mention regarding the recent baptism of John's friend, is that John had the opportunity to bear his testimony at the baptism. This took a lot of courage for him because it was standing room only in the relief society room. He was the only English-speaking talk in the meeting. Ironically, it was also the only thing his friend probably understood in the baptismal service. Despite the fact that his family speak Spanish, his friend really doesn't understand it. The branch performed the baptismal service in Spanish for the benefit of the family and for his cousin who is also getting baptized and only speaks Spanish.

John did an excellent job during his testimony and I'm sure it meant a lot to his friend. Were very happy that John was willing to do that very difficult thing. He is going to make a powerful missionary someday.

Jonathan Gets Baptized

I bet you had to think about that title for just a minute. On August 16 this year, John's best friend, Jonathan Coronel was baptized into the church.  John has been working with his friend for over one year. He has invited him to a variety of activities including scouts. Due to John's efforts, Jonathan has been attending Cub Scouts regularly for over a year. His older brother has also been attending Boy Scouts in our Ward as a result.

John and I went to one of the missionary discussions. John dressed up in his suit and looked awesome. When we found out that his friend was going to get baptized, we took several the kids to the church for the baptism.

Today, August 30, Jonathan was confirmed in the Spanish branch. We took our whole family to the branch so that they could be part of this experience.

We are excited for John's friend and hope his baptism will have a positive effect on him and his family for the rest of their lives.

Alayna Bday - 8/11/2009

It has been a while since I have blogged anything. I was going through our pictures and saw this cute picture of Amber and Alayna. This was on Alayna's fifth birthday. Amber made this butterfly cake for her party. Alayna had several friends come over for her pool party.

A Death in the valley.

You remember us talking about Odell and Karen that bought the Orison Farm I'm sure, well Their daughter died Thursday night.Their youngest daughter Sheryl Lynn had who is 25 came out for the summer to try and help turn her life around and help on the farm. She was a really sweet girl and a hard worker. Anyway She was headed into Pocatello with a friend and he was going pretty fast and there on the corner there right by Kenny and Valarie's he was going to fast and didn't make it. They rolled a few times. That corner looks like a small one that wouldn't be hard to take unless you were from here. there were 2 couples in the car and none of them were hurt (just scratched up a bit) Except the driver who had some staples put in his head and this girl Sheryl who was thrown out of the car and landed in the ditch.
It looks like she broke her neck and died instantly. Well that's only half of the story. The driver was Deb's nephew, (Steve's Deb). Do you remember her sister Marsha? It was her son.
It is all pretty sad and it looks as if he may get man slaughter.
It is so sad on both situations. Keep them in your prayers. MOM

Alayna gets the Hang of the Bike

Today, Alayna wanted to work on her bike riding skills.  She has tried it here and there throughout the summer, but never really taken off with it.  Tonight I went out into the street with her and gave her a push.  She was up and riding on my first try with her. 

We worked on turning, stopping, and starting on her own.  By the end of the evening the girl was on her own biking up and down our street with her siblings.  She sure felt proud and excited to be out on the streets with the older kids.

Coupon Madness Affects Amber

After a successful boot camp at Ashlee and Brett's house, Amber has arrived in Provo ready to take on the world with her coupons and rebates.

Amber and Ashlee have been on the phone back and forth all week long as a post follow-up training. Tonight, Amber and I snuck off all the kids were in bed to take our first crack at extreme coupon shopping.

With the combination of rebates, sales, and coupons Amber and I purchased 10 boxes of cheese-its and 10 other assorted items that will work for our kids lunches now that school starts. After all was said and done, and after the rebates come in, we will have spent just under $10 for those 20 items. The originally marked price of those items spanned from $2-$6.50.  We paid on average $.50 per item.

Amber's next excursion will be to purchase 40 boxes of Post cereals for $0.25 a piece.

Ashlee has been an amazing coach as Amber has prepared herself for these first shopping trips. It is a learned skill I am sure -- because the stores are not yet paying us to shop there like they do for Ashlee. In the meantime, Amber's learning curve still gets us an amazing deal!

The big eruption!

Every 90 minutes!

Aylee and John waiting for Old Faithful

As part of our wait for the old geyser

Arbon has cell phone service

For many months now, we have been excited to see the cell phone tower going up just above Mom and Dad's house.

On Saturday, as we were driving into the Valley, I started my ritual of checking my phone every 5 minutes for reception (sad, I know). I was excited when I turned the corner at Jensen's house to see my phone zing up to full bars! Woo hoo! Cell phone service in the valley!
Sent via my blackberry

Inaugural car top carrier trip

We were packing for our week long adventure on Saturday when we discovered that our packed up items were exceeding the comfortable limits of the interior of our suburban.

We were excited to get out the soft car top carrier that Adee and Adam gave us early this year.

It is really convenient and worked well. Thanks Adee and Adam!

Welcome to Sacrament Meeting

Jace was really cute this Sunday at church. He and I attended the Spanish branch. After sacrament meeting, I was holding one of Jace's hands and was walking out of the Chapel. People kept stopping and shaking his hand. They were laughing and telling me stuff in Spanish. So I started to watch Jace. Everyone we walked by, Jace would stick out his hand in an effort to shake everyone's hand. It was so funny! He was so cute.

Avary Frann Andersen v2.0

Well it is official. Amber and I have started the red tape necessary to change the name of the baby. We originally had spelled her name as "Avery".  However, as people would ask us how it was spelled, I would always respond, "it's spelled just like the mailing labels." Amber did not like this type of response and so she started to reconsider the spelling of our baby. During the baby blessing weekend, she started asking for some spelling support from all of the women folk that were down here for the weekend. I was out voted and our darling little Avary is no longer named after those famous mailing labels. Won't Amber be surprised when I begin to tell people that Jace is spelled just like the CPU processors on Macintosh computers. :-)

Jace helping Aliece

This is what happens when Jace helps Aliece clean her room.

Harry Potter fun!

I kicked off work early today and took the older kids to see the latest Harry Potter movie (#6).

We had a great time together. Aliece and Alayna aren't familiar with the books, but felt left out - so they tagged along for the fun.

TV Divinity

Aylee was watching the kids tonight while Amber and I went on our date. While we were gone, they were all watching a movie when the sound from the TV quit working.

Aylee called me several times for tech support, but we couldn't get the sound to work.

I told her that they would just have to go in the back yard to play.

A few minutes later I got a call from aylee again saying, "it is amazing! Alayna just knelt down and said a prayer and the tv is now working!"

I guess the Lord even hears prayers for televisions.

Sent via my blackberry

Planning a baby blessing

I know this is short notice, but due to some events bringing several of the Reed clan to Provo in a couple of weeks, we have decided to help save them a trip by doing a mid-month change to Avery's baby blessing.

We are hoping to do the blessing in our ward on July 19th. Our sacrament meeting is held at 11AM.

We understand that this is short notice and will not be offended if you are unable to attend. Hopefully many of you can work with this change.

We look forward to seeing family again!

Sent via my blackberry

Happy birthday John Jr

We have been busy in birthday activities all day long as Johnathan celebrates his 9th birthday.

Thanks to everyone who wished him well on his exciting day!