June? How did we get to June already?

 

Exercise is a topic of discussion in our house.  We have recently acquired some unique tools to help us accomplish exercise.  The top picture is an old cross country-style treadmill Darin found for $7!  It still works, it will be placed in our Arizona room, nothing computer or electric about it, and nobody will steal it and I am pretty sure we are the only ones left on the earth who would want it.  Our kids love it and it is being used.  The bottom picture is a very heavy flag pole stand tossed from the scout closet.  They make great weights; they are so heavy.  Rylie has decided she is everyone's exercise partner.

 



 

Jaryn has been so busy earning merit badges.  The rifle shooting was a hard badge to get.  He had pre-work, homework, pre-tests, and shooting range requirements to accomplish to earn it.  He was so happy when he got home.  He shot well and earned his badge.

Josey has accomplished something very hard.  We decided to challenge Josey to work hard to avoid picking her thumbs.  She had picked so much skin off of her thumbs that her thumbs looked very aged; Tiffany told her that her hands looked like she was 80 years old.  We gave her two weeks to heal her thumbs - she earned a candy bar of her choice.  The next challenge was to keep them healed for one month - she earned a donut.  The next challenge was to keep them healed for another month to earn a bag of chips.  She gets so excited to earn these prizes; it is a huge motivator for her.  The catch: if she wins we buy her the prize.  If she loses she buys us the prize with her own money.  She is so determined to win every time.  This has been a great challenge for her.  She woke up on the morning of winning to claim her prize of chips.  By the time we are done with prizes she will have had healed thumbs for 8 months.  She has been perfect at quitting this bad habit.

 

 

 

Quincy is learning to play the violin.  She is doing well and she loves it.  Her concert was beautiful.

 

 

Rylie is happy summer is here.  She loves this little pool.

 

 

 

This is funny.  Rylie was mad at Tiffany for some reason so when asked to set the table, Rylie did set the table but she turned all the dishes upside down.

Caitlyn is very talented and excited about learning hair.  She plays with different hairstyles all the time.  She uses her sisters as her models.

 

 

 

 

Caitlyn says good-bye to middle school!  Yes, she is on her way to high school.  She has good memories from middle school, she liked sharing this year with Jaryn, and tears come easy to part from friends.  But, she is super excited for high school and the new adventures she will have there.  She is going to take culinary arts and sign language next year.

 

 

 

Eighth Grade Promotion Day

 

 

 

Tiffany spent a week at Girls Camp; her third year as a leader.  Caitlyn loves having her mom come to camp with her.  We had a lot of fun.  Tiffany even tried out archery and hit the cardboard target on the first try.  This was a big deal as many arrows bounced off the hay, flew over the shed roof, or headed for the trees.  This year scout camp and girls camp were scheduled one right after the other.  Our family was apart for two weeks as Darin and Tiffany take turns attending each event with Jaryn and Caitlyn.  Quincy was SUPER helpful to her dad while mom was gone.  Darin couldn't survive the week without her help.  Thank you Quincy; you are a lifesaver!