Aladdin Jr....

Maxine was in the junior musical production of Aladdin.  She auditioned and got the role of the Genie!  I helped with sets and made her costume, which I thought turned out great!

I have a love/hate with these plays because they rehearse Monday through Friday for a little over a month.  It's a lot of driving and schedules for the summer.  

That being said, Maxine did amazing.  She.killed.it.  I would watch her with such pleasing satisfaction.  She hit her notes, she delivered her lines, made her entrances.  It was a great role for her.  She's growing up into an amazing person.  

After the last performance, the cast went to DQ for a cast party.  They had to ask us to be quiet a number of times and about asked us to leave.  But they quieted down enough to stay until closing time.

Cedar Breaks...

This year for the Campbell "cabin" reunion, it was decided that we should try a different place and so everyone met at Brianhead.  There was a pool, which was fun, and there were activities and usual reunion fun and drama. I had meant to take pictures but never did.  On the way home, we stopped in Glendale to go to church with Grandma Swapp.  We stopped by Cedar Breaks on the way home and someone snagged this for us!  

We all look pretty cute, except for Mark who isn't looking.  I photoshop so many family pictures that I'm not used to him looking away.  Ha ha!  There should be at least one, to keep it real.

Juliet's 8th Birthday Party!

Maxine and Merril are headed up to girl's camp on Wednesday, Juliet's birthday and my anniversary. We settled on the idea of having Juliet's party on Tuesday so the whole family could be there and so Merril could help with the party.  Julie wanted a rock climbing party, just like Jack.  Merril was able to borrow the search and rescue rock climbing wall again and so away we went.

She wanted an Oreo ice cream cake!

Presents are always fun!

This is the next day, Juliet's actual birthday, eating leftover cake.  Merril and Maxine had left to girl's camp by then.

On the morning of our anniversary and the day Max and Merril were leaving for girl's camp, Merril said he thought it would be fun to spend a few days in the Florida Keys.  I balked.  I have always wanted to visit the Florida Keys but I was worried about leaving the kids.  I suggested maybe spending a few days in Springdale.  :/  Merril, who is always supportive, said that would be fun too and I sent my priesthood leader and my oldest daughter to camp.

Then I stewed.  I was angry with myself because I chickened out!  Grrrr.  So I grabbed balloons and a tub of red vines (one of Merril's favorite treats) and drove up to girl's camp Wednesday evening.  I surprised him with the "Happy Anniversary" balloons and when we had a second to talk, explained that I didn't want to go to Springdale!  I really, really wanted to visit the Florida Keys!!!  He grinned big and I drove home.  We'll be headed to Florida soon!

15 years married!

I don't know what the thought was when I took this picture.  Sometimes I think there aren't nearly enough pictures of me and Merril. Whatever the thought, I'm glad Merril is in the picture next to me.

It's our anniversary tomorrow.  Not that you can tell.  Juliet's birthday is the same day and so we'll be celebrating later.  I can't believe the closeness we share.  The happiness that encompasses our life together.  How can it be that two people are allowed to be so happy and so blessed??  It just keeps getting better!  I can't wait to spend the rest of forever with this guy!

Little boys and trucks...

I've always found it fascinating what qualities come preprogrammed into my children.  Some things are taught, and others are hardwired into the DNA somehow.  I believe the love between little boys and trucks is a natural phenomenon.

So adorable.

Some things will always be.

Mikayla at the dentist...

At the last dentist appointment, I asked about Mikayla getting her teeth checked.  They said they could squeeze her in and see how far they could get.  She was very cooperative and allowed a full exam and cleaning to take place.  It's all due to Juliet.  Mikayla watched while Julie was in the chair and Julie was great!  Unfortunately, 2 little cavities were found.  Since they were so small and because Mikayla had done so well, the dentist believed they could be done without numbing shots.

This is after her cavity appointment.  We went early in the morning and she did a very good job opening her mouth and sitting still for the dentist.  It took half an hour and we were on our way!

Wafflitas!

My kids love waffles.  It's because of Grandpa Campbell.  He makes great waffles.  I make waffles too but they aren't quite the same as Grandpa's waffles, and that's the way it should be.  :)  Still, my kids will eat them with relish when I make them.

The Markmeister is at such a cute age.  Every little thing he does it magic.

He loves to stand on the table.  Grrrr!  I wish he would sit down.  I found him on the table with leftover whipped cream this day.  

What a punk.

4th of July at Laub Ranch...

Grandma Evans (Laub) normally holds the 4th of July reunion up at the farm in Beryl.  Land that had fallen out of the family was recently purchased again up near Enterprise Reservoir.  Newly dubbed the Laub Ranch was where the 4th of July reunion was held.  We donned our patriotic duds for the occasion.

LaDel and his kids worked really hard building a pavilion and fixing the pond.  The area was really nice and they did a great job!

A bunch of kayaks were hauled up there for the kids to play on.  Maxine was playing in one and got all wet.

I would have brought swimsuits had I known about the pond.  We'll know for next time!  After Maxine got wet, she decided to make the most of it and jumped off this tree a bunch!

 Jack was in the kayaks the most.  But I don't have a picture of that.  :)

Mark was being a turkey from missing his nap so we were having to play with him a lot.  Even then he was grumpy.

The the Laub Ranch is a really nice place and I think we'll be doing many more family reunions there!

Fathers and Sons/Mothers and Daughters...

It's time for Mark's 1st Fathers and Sons Campout!!  Wahoo!  Whenever Fathers and Sons rolls around, I like to take the girls and do something fun!  We went to dinner at the Pasta Factory and out to a movie.  

It was the first movie Mikayla has been to in a long time!  She did great!  She spent most of the time in her own chair but then moved to my chair to sit on my lap after a while.  We went to see the movie Home.  It was cute!  I saw 2 ladies from my ward at the theater with their girls!  :)

Let's get this party started...

We made a list of fun things to do this summer and riding the carousel and going to the SG splashpad was at the top of the list.  We made a picnic lunch, another requirement, and set off for our day of fun in the sun!

Mikayla thought the carousel was great!

Mark didn't think it was fun...

He thought it was AmAzInG!!

Everyone played.

Everyone ate.

Everyone was happy!

School is OUT!

We slogged through the last days of the year and made it to the finish line!  Summer is finally here and we couldn't be more excited!  We started with a water balloon fight!  Maxine was off with her friends.

Jack likes to double fist.

Mikayla danced around excitedly.  Not sure if she actually hit anything.

After we established some rules about not throwing at peoples' tummies, we had a great time!

Rock on summer!

Loving his BMW, motorcycle, not car...

Merril loves to ride motorcycles.  He's flipped so many lately that I figured none would stick.  His BMW R1200 might be his new favorite.  He's had it for a while and just got all new motorcycle gear to go on his long rides.

He looks great and it helps me sleep better knowing he's wearing good protective gear to stay safe.  :)

Maxine in choir...

The end of school is almost here!  Time for end of the year concerts and programs.  Maxine did well in choir this year and won the award, "Most Valuable Vocalist."

She had a solo at SUPAF, the Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwWNPzinnio  I'm just including the link so I don't forget about it.  Her solo is at about the 6 minute mark.  It's amazing to watch your own kids excel in a way that makes you proud that you had anything to do with it.  I'm proud of her!

Fell asleep on the couch...

I can't believe how fast my baby is growing up.  He's 18 months now and I can't believe it!  Even the older kids wish he would stay cute and small forever.

Someone slow down time and keep my little guy from growing up!

Exotics Racing in Vegas...

Merril and I have decided that we need less "things" as we get older.  Instead we want experiences as gifts.  This year for Merril's birthday, I surprised him with the opportunity to drive a really awesome car around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  He could choose from several high end cars with badges like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Corvette, Aston Martin, etc.  He decided to go with the Audi R8 V10.  It must have been a cool idea because Ryan R., his Dad, and his sister Becky all decided to come too!

Before racing, there was a block of time where everyone could sit and take pictures in the cars.  The kids about came unglued with happiness!

Mark's not even sure why but he's very excited!

After all the picture taking, Merril had to go and learn a few things and get his helmet.

 The kids and I messed around the nice facility while we waited.

Then it was time to take off!

Merril said it was fun because he likes autocross so much.

And then we went to Krispy Kremes with the kids because when Merril and I first moved to Vegas at the apartment complex called Latigo, we lived right across the street from Krispy Kreme.  We would come home late at night and smell the donuts being made for the next morning.  Delicious!

The kids had never seen anything so cool in their whole lives as the donut making machine.  What country mice!  It was a fun little adventure!