Christmas 2011

This year for Christmas Eve we had Danish food and traditions.  Lucy was Saint Lucia and we danced around the Christmas tree.  Bryan told the legend of the Danish gift giver, a naughty elf.

December 2011

Lucy danced in the Nutcracker again this year.  She danced the Arabian and Waltz of the Flowers.

Major performed with the jazz band (piano), but we didn't get a picture.

November 2011

We all went our separate ways for Fall Break in October.  Clint went to a convention in Florida, Carol went on The Trek, and Major went to Bluewater for a work project.  So I decided to take Lucy and Juliette and go visit Peter and Darin at the beach.    We had so much fun!  We got to see Savy MC the Homecoming program, Penn surf,  and hear about Cal's school election (he won!)  Perry joined us at the beach and we all enjoyed pretending Clara was our baby for the day.  What an amazing life they lead!

 Major played on the school soccer team again.  He was a defender and played all the time.  He also performed in a school play and did really well.

Carol played on the Badminton team and is very involved in Theater.  She has lots of homework!
Clint and I have been taking classes to be Foster Parents.

First Day of School 2011

Carol has a challenging schedule this year (Sophomore).  She has 3 Honors classes and AP World History.  She is very involved in Theater and is on the Badminton team.  She is doing great!

 Juliette is in 4th grade and she loves to draw!  She is doing art lessons with me.  She is doing well on piano and loves playing kick ball at school.

 Major is in 8th grade.  He has all Honors classes.  He is also playing piano for the Jazz Band and enjoys learning to play jazz.  He is really good on the piano!  He is also on the soccer team.

 Lucy is in 6th grade.  She is taking many hours of ballet and variations this year.  She loves to dance and is always choreographing a new dance to perform for us.  She is also doing well on the piano and makes up songs all the time.

More Summer Activities

Major went to soccer camp at BYU this year for the first time.  He had a good time.  His roommate happened to be from Highland Jr. High, our rival school.  (They got along just fine.)  They will probably see each other this year because Major made the school team again.

 We tried to go sailing with Christian and family while we were in Utah but the wind would not blow.  But we had fun anyway.

 Major took a web design class at ASU.  He learned a lot and is hoping to get his website up and running soon.  He is also making a blog for his scout troop.  He also went to scout camp and a work project in Bluewater.  He was a busy boy this summer.  But he still found time to make some movies with his friends.

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Carol had fun at EFY while Major was at soccer camp.  Her roommate turned out to be really nice and they had fun.  She also went to girl's camp.

Musical Theater/Bluewater Reunion

Carol had fun doing musical theater again this year at MCC.  Lucy and Juliette did musical theater with Gilbert Fine Arts.  I can't find the pictures I took of them.  Juliette was a gnome for a Shrek song and Lucy was a housewife for a Hairspray song.  They had a great time also.

Carol forgot her camera so we only have a few pictures from Bluewater.  Clint brought it up on the last day.  We had a wonderful time as always.

Annual Bluewater Photo Shoot with the girls.

Chicago

We went to Chicago for a week and had a fabulous time!  Our course we had to eat Chicago style pie pizza.  It was definitely a "pie" and very good, although we thought the crust was too dry.  We visited the Museum of Science and Industry (WOW!!!!!)  It is the largest science center in the Western Hemisphere and it was awesome!  We spent the whole day there and it didn't cost a cent because we got in with our AZ Science Center Membership.  We also visited the Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Chicago Art Museum and Navy Pier.

 The real reason we went was to attend my brother Stephen's graduation (Kellogg MBA).  The guest speaker was Steven Colbert (who I never heard of, but I guess is famous.)  He was hysterical!  Then we went to a lecture by one of Stephen's professors.  It was fabulous!  It almost made me want to go back to school (but not quite!)  Then we went to a reception by the lake.  It was so NICE!  They had sushi, and beautiful, yummy fruit and all kinds of appetizers.  I was very impressed.  Then we went to the procession ceremony.  It was a great experience and I'm sure it made the kids want to go to college.

 We also visited the Field Museum, Millennium Park, The American Girl Store and the Hershey Store where Carol won a huge cupcake.  It was a fun time!!!!!  (And we even made it on our first choice of flights - both ways!)