Ladies Craft Weekend

Our very first craft weekend! We stayed in a rented Condo in Angel's Camp, CA. The six of us gathered our crafts and set out for a fun weekend. Friday night after dinner we camped out in the hot tub for a while chatting and probably having more fun than most of us had had in a long time. The crafting started late Friday night and ended early Saturday morning. I worked on a quilt top for one of the girls. My plan was to make Sariah and Katie John each a quilt for their beds. For sure this was the year of the quilt! I have 4 quilt projects in the works right now. I have a quilt that I made to donate to our Relief Society, the 2 for the girls and a Christmas quilt. I gave up on the 5th project (a quilt for Jonah) because of sanity constraints.

We chatted for a long while after the crafting paused. I think some of us didn't go to sleep until past 5:00am! Crafting resumed after a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice and fruit. I think we watched several chick flicks as we crafted and chatted. As planned we went out for dinner, but didn't have a specific restaurant in mind. We ended up at this snooty place in Murphy's, CA that didn't have very good food, but high prices. I think Holly and Tiffany were the only ones satisfied with their food. We left with plenty to talk about, especially the dog that was wandering around the restaurant!

We had to leave our adventure early because of a late scheduled primary program. So about 10:oopm Saturday night we packed our things and headed back to our lives. I am greatful that I have a husband that was supportive and handled the kids and the house while I was gone. What a fun time we had!

back row: Holly, Tina, Molly, Shavon.
front: Tiffany, Sherry (me)

Happy Halloween

Pumpkin carving time! Try as we might, our efforts to grow our own pumpkins were thwarted by the elements. Our pumpkins came from Aunt Christina's house and a pumpkin farm. Halloween really snuck up on us this year. All the kids and I were struck down with the swine flu in the weeks before Halloween. Jonah had it the worst and missed 7 days of school, whereas Sariah and Keira were sick for only about 4 days. Katie John was barely sick and was home only two days. Sadly some of those days corresponded with the week of halloween. Sariah missed her pumpkin patch field trip and the kindergarten costume parade. Her teacher brought her back a pumpkin from the patch so she could have one.
Luckily we were recuperated enough to do a little pumpkin carving and trick or treating. John spear headed the carving this year and helped each kid design and then cut their pumpkins.
We had last minute costume ideas because we didn't know until the day before if everyone would be well enough for Halloween activities. Jonah went as a soccer player, Katie John as a princess, Sariah as a fairy and Keira went as a 50's girl.
Keira and I stayed home to pass out candy while John took the kids around the neighborhood and to the stake Trunk or Treat. All in all I think Halloween went well. We will have lots of candy to eat for sure!

Anniversary # 11

John and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary today! At the last minute I was able to secure babysitting with my friend Gina so that we could run off to dinner. Outback is John's favorite restaurant because of the bloomin' onion and the yummy steak. I almost always get chicken on the barbie. He makes fun of me for this because you're supposed to go there for the steak! Happy Anniversary to us!

This picture also documents my new haircut!

50's Day at School

This year is the 50th anniversary of our school. Today is 50's day. I made these skirts for the girls to wear. They picked matching records as their skirt decoration.
Keira and her best friend Porter looked adorable in their outfits!

Something to think about

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The grass is greener on the other side only because it's astro-turf. ~ Sherry Matthews

1st Annual Wilton Chili cook off and 5K run / walk

I ran a 5K! I ran the whole thing! Christina and I stuck together for most of the race. At the end I just couldn't keep her pace and fell back. Katie John come with us, but stayed with Grandma Myrick during the race.
The big group posed for a picture before we went to check in.
Katie John was my super running buddy and did a good job of going the whole distance.
At the finish she received a ribbon! I was very sore for 3 whole days after. I guess my training just wasn't up to par. Even though I suffered from a variety of injuries in the following weeks (all related to the run) I would do it again for sure! Thanks to my sister Christina for urging me to come and participate!

Welcome Fall!

Our first, First day of Fall party was a super success! We were bequeathed the tradition when our friends Mary and Brian moved to Nauvoo. We are happy to carry on the tradition because it is such a fun one! We fed everyone homemade chili, turkey soup, pumpkin pies, cookies and caramel popcorn. We'd been gathering supplies and making preparations for months. I know a Tuesday is an odd day to have a party, but we took the chance anyway. When the big day came I was so busy in the kitchen that I failed to remember to snap pictures of our big crowd. I did however get to visit and see almost everyone that came. We had a really good turnout, I would guess about 50 people. Next year for sure I'm going to take a head count!
For decorations we arranged for Shaun and Katie to "borrow" some hay bales from Christina. We used those for extra seating as well as fun decoration. I had also cut some corn stalks at Christina's house for use as decoration as well as pumpkins galore all around to welcome in the Fall season. Next year will be even more fun as our tradition continues!

Happy Birthday John!

John turns 37! We had a small party with Shaun and Katie and our friends Holly and Clark. We played games and had a really great time!
Happy 37th Birthday John!

Fun Studio Pictures

What a cute bunch!

Jonah is growing up so fast! I can't believe he's already in 4th grade!

Katie John has been growing her hair for many years. She likes this picture because it shows how long it's grown.

Sariah is finally in kindergarten and is showing off one of her new outfits in this school picture.

Keira documents the lizard dress. All three girls have worn this cute dress that Grandma Myrick made for Aunt Julie.

Jonah's 1st Soccer Game

Jonah has been looking forward to this first game all summer. We rushed back from camp Nauvoo just in time to drop him off at the field. I then went home with the girls and unpacked the car, took showers and came back in time to see the second half. He played well and did his best. His coach is super awesome and does a great job with all the boys. Go Doom!

Camp Nauvoo with Mission Oak Ward

This year our Camp Nauvoo camping trip was in September. We stayed the night in a super fun tent cabin that the kids really had fun in. Plus that we didn't have to set up a tent was a real bonus!
Dinner was a yummy array of hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, beans and watermelon! Katie John and I pose after dinner for a quick picture.

Jonah and a bunch of friends went on a raft ride after dinner. As I should have guessed would happen, Jonah "fell" in the water.
After dinner John and I stayed up really late with a bunch of friends playing games. What a blast that was! I think we should do game nights more, I haven't laughed that much in years! I think my cheeks still hurt just thinking about it.

Every year the Primary takes the kids on a "lollipop tree" hunt. They take a short hike up into the hills searching for the mysterious tree. The kids just love finding it!Here they are with all their bounty!
Hopefully we'll be able to go there again next year. What a fun time we had--well, before we rushed off to Jonah's soccer game!

Strauss 2009 ~Once Upon a Dream~

Another year, another Strauss Festival! This year's theme was Once Upon a Dream. Two of our girls, Katie John and Sariah, danced with the pixie troupe and John participated in his usual choreography and dancing roles. John's parents came up with Danny, Shalene and baby Caiden (John's brother, wife and their baby). My sister Angela and kids also came up as well as John's brother Mike. During the week we had a really fun visit with much swimming, chatting and watching of the Strauss Festival over 4 wonderful nights.

Every morning at 10am we are down in Elk Grove putting our blankets out for the festival attendees arriving later that day. It's always a fun experience rushing to get our blankets in a good spot. Here the girls and Grammy stop for a photo on our Strauss blanket.

Katie John and Sariah all prettied up as pixies. Each night was so fun for them. They loved getting make-up on and their hair done each day.

With the girls already passed us in the promenade, it's just me, Jonah and Keira to get the usual John and partner picture.

Fun picture while we're waiting for the performance to start!

John and the girls meet and greet after the performance. I think John looks a little unstable like he might fall over after the picture is taken!

Sariah and Uncle James. It was such a cute picture, I had to post it.

This is a video of the pixie dance. Sariah is the small girl who runs across the stage in the very beginning, and you can see Katie John just left of center, flowery headband and blond hair. I know the video isn't the best, but you get to see a piece of the Strauss fun. Even though this may seem like just another post about Strauss Festival, I appreciate all of John's hard work and sacrifice to help put this production on. Many people work hard for much of the year so that I get to enjoy the show for a week. I am grateful for the many who are appreciative of our efforts to allow family and friends to sit "front row" to enjoy the festival. We cherish each year, because we never know when we might decide it will be our last.

Strauss Family Picnic and Recognition Awards

For the last two years Strauss has put on a family picnic in Elk Grove Park several weeks before the big event to be able to meet families and hand out awards to the volunteers of Strauss. This year John, Sariah and Katie John are participating. All three got "goodie bags" and a shirt. Someone thoughtful brought along a bunch of bubble bottles and bubble wands... the girls had a BLAST for quite some time! While the girls blow bubbles, I get to chat with my friend Christy and the boys, John and Jonah, play a game of catch with a football with the guys.
Sariah and Keira really enjoy the catered lunch. (Pyper Holt in the background)

Fairytale Town!

Today we went to Fairytale Town! We met up with my friend Becky Scott and her family for some good fun and visiting. Katie John is in summer school, so it was just Jonah, Sariah, Keira and me.

Sariah having fun on the Mother Goose "slide".

Cheesey smiles from Jonah and Keira!

Fairytale town is one of our favorite places. So much to do in so little time. The crooked mile is a favorite of Jonah's. I'm pretty sure he ran the track about 5 times! Sariah enjoys the shoe slide and the castle the best. Keria loves the giant cheese and the peter rabbit hill slide. Here we all are at the pirate ship, nearing the end of our journey (and visit). Overall we had a nice time.

4th of July

On our annual 4th of July march down the driveway, Jonah is chosen as the official flag bearer. With only one slight mishap (the top of the flag coming off the pole) the flag made it safely down my mom's long driveway all the while swaying to the loud patriotic music blaring from the stereo.
Keeping with tradition we gather under the flag, recite the pledge and think thankful for our country thoughts.

As it turns out our family is the only middle of the day activity attendees, well, also my sister Julie and brother Jonathan. So we rolled out the huge 75 foot slip n'slide and went a'slidin'.

A group effort is needed to get John moving for the slip n'slide wheelbarrow push.

My mom and John are working on a patriotic puzzle. It's a puzzle on the Presidents of the United States.... so informational.

Before the sparklers and fountain fireworks we gathered to watch some snakes grow. Katie John holds a sign that Aunt Julie made, it seemed to fit our activity well. What fun!