Baseball and UCLA Football Saturday - April 27

Andrew is playing catcher.

Andrew with all the catcher gear on.

UCLA Spring Showcase Scrimmage for football at the Rose Bowl.

All of us baking in the sun - it was hot!

Getting autographs of the football players.

One of the quarterbacks.

The players look so young!

Fun to talk to the players.

Today we had another busy Saturday.  Our family was in charge of cleaning the church building in the morning.  While we worked at the church, Kaitlyn went and volunteered at a community wide clean up at a park in Pomona with her friends' family. They painted the outside of a restroom.  Then we all went to Andrew's baseball game, had a late lunch and then met up with our friends to go to a free UCLA football scrimmage game.  The best part was getting to talk to the players on the field afterwards.  They had a little fireworks show at the very end too.  It was a day of sun and fun!

Busy Saturday - April 20

This one picture may not represent the title of this blog post, but it's true.  I guess I was too busy to remember to take more pictures, which is something I need to work on more.  Taking more pictures that is.  I went to a Stake Women's Conference in the morning, Andrew had a baseball game, where he earned the "game ball" by getting multiple players out including a double play! Then we went to a friend's baptism and after that, a wedding reception in the evening.  This is a shot of the kids eating at the Burton's house after the baptism.  Whew, glad Sunday is a day of rest!

Track Meet - April 13

Ella was on the Oak Mesa Elementary track team.  She ran in a relay race, did the 100 meter dash and the softball throw.  She came in 4th for softball throw!  She had a great time and enjoyed all the extra after school practices.  Great job, Ella!

Ramona Open House - April 11

Kaitlyn's Math Project

Inside her "dream" bedroom!

Kaitlyn's school already had their Open House.  Ella was at karate, but Andrew came with James and I to check out her classrooms and meet her teachers.  The first picture is of Kaitlyn's math project she did, designing her dream bedroom.  Of course it's complete with a wall of mirrors, barre and wooden floors, not to mention the big screen tv, fridge and microwave! The next picture is of Andrew playing.  Just before this picture he ran over to a tall pole that is set up to climb and he was about half way up before we convinced him to come down because we thought he wouldn't know how to slide down with out getting hurt or burns on his hands.  Crazy guy.  Kaitlyn is doing really well and has made a great transition into middle school.  We actually talked to a teacher that isn't one of hers and she said that Kaitlyn has a good group of girls as friends- that care about school and they are a great support group for each other.

Baseball Games - April 10 and 23

Andrew has been doing really well in baseball this season.  He loves to play pitcher and 1st base.  He is good at getting people out when he plays either of these positions.  He loves to play his baseball game (that last an hour and a half) and then still play with James for another good hour or two.  I don't know where he gets the energy and stamina!  Our home teacher came to his most recent game and it was fun for Andrew to have him come see him play.  

Kaitlyn's Birthday! - April 3

New helmet

A collage of dance photos.

A new bike!

Blowing out candles on brownies that had powdered sugar on them - makes for a big cloud!

All the kiddos (and Dad) riding their bikes!

Kaitlyn saved her cards that she received in the mail from her grandparents, Gigi and the DeHarts to open on her actual birthday.  We had her open the helmet first.  She didn't really know she was getting a new bike though.  We had bought it awhile ago and had it stored in a friends garage.  I made the collage of all of the pictures she has taken in her dance costumes over the years, all the way back to 1st grade!  Our home teacher and his wife (who is also her Sunday School teacher) came over for dessert to celebrate too.  We had brownies and ice-cream AND strawberry shortcake!  Yum!

Easter Sunday - March 31

New shoes!

Easter Baskets!

San Gabriel Mission - March 30

A fountain that was later added in the 1940's.

Above is a super old grapevine that spans the length of this trellis.

Kids in front of the gate leading to the cemetery.

Ella had a report to write on a California mission.  She choose San Gabriel, because it is the closest to us.  This way, we could make a convenient trip to visit the mission and she took many pictures to use for her oral presentation.  It was a beautiful day.  It was a nice trip and I think we all learned some cool things about California's history.

Car Show in La Verne - March 30

This car had a paint job that changed colors depending on the angle you looked at it!

 There was an enormous car show in La Verne today!  It spanned many of the city blocks of downtown La Verne.  The kids had fun for a bit, but then they grew tired after seeing how many streets there actually was. James and I would have loved to stay longer, but alas, we had to move on to more things, like lunch :)

Easter Parties - March 29

Bunny doughnut

Ella eating a mouthful of pound cake.

Corbin, Andrew and Jack

Andrew's class egg hunt.

Ella's egg collection.

Ella and Andrew had fun on their last school day before Spring Break, with parties and egg hunts.  Middle school doesn't do anything for holidays like elementary school, but at least Kaitlyn had a short school day and got out of school before the other kids.  She came and said hi to her old teachers at Oak Mesa.