Cabaret 2012

Hayley and Emily performed in Fort Collins High School's third annual Cabaret.  It is a dinner and show fundraiser for the music department.  We loved seeing so many talented kids--including our own!
Click on the links to see them:

Emily and Straten singing At Last I See the Light

Hayley singing God Help the Outcasts

Hayley and Emily Leavin's not the Only Way to Go

Homecoming 2011

Labor Day Hike

This morning we got up bright and early and drove up to Rocky Mountain National Park to hike to Gem Lake.  We have attempted this hike with the kids twice before.  The first time Neil and the kids got so distracted climbing the terrific rocks that we didn't even make it half a mile (Jenn and Jeff stayed below--Jeff was only a year old).   The second time we got caught in an afternoon thunderstorm and had to high-tail it back to the van.  It is a very fun hike with lots of places to climb as you can see from the pictures.  We forgot to take pictures of the lake, but it is a gem. :)  Reminds us of a slightly smaller version of Emerald Pool in Zion's Canyon.

Toby's Nemesis

Yes, it looks pretty adorable now, but just ask Toby, this guy is devious!!!   The sunflowers were our best garden crop this year.  The squirrel has really enjoyed them. 

Lake McConaughy, Nebraska

The first week of August we went to Lake McConaghy near the town of Ogalalla, Nebraska with about 5 other families.  It was a very fun time.  We had 3 boats that the kids spent much of the day on, but as you can see from the pictures there was plenty of goofing around in the sand and water by the shore.  The campground was right next to a large cow pasture--it was interesting waking up to mooing in the early mornings.  Oh yeah, and we won the sand sculpture competition. :)

Summer Fun!

Here are some random summer pictures.  Our summer started out with a literal bang when Hayley wrecked our van on the last day of school.  It put a kink in our style for a few weeks, but we are so grateful Hayley is all right (even though the van suffered a fatal injury).   Hayley and Emily were the busiest--they got to go to Nauvoo and EFY, and later girls camp.  I don't have pictures yet.   Below are pictures of our more usual summer activities: swimming, birthdays, etc.  Mara voluteered at the library--yes, that is her in the big raccoon costume!   Hayley had a surprise party.  You can see Jeffrey did his part dressing like a quidditch player and buzzing around the girls--Harry Potter fever was in the air with the final movie opening just days before. :)

KEYSTONE!

After spending a very fun 4th of July weekend in Orem (does anyone have pictures?), we went back to Colorado with the Hemmerts for a terrific family reunion.  We biked (my personal favorite), posed for the painfully fun family portrait, canoed, hiked, and gondola'd.  To top it all off Grandma Hemmert reinacted "Never Lie to an Indian" complete with headdresses and tomahawks!  It was such a fun trip!!!