Summertime

The things kids come up with to entertain themselves during summer vacation! Emily found a stash of binkies somewhere. (Brooke hasn't given them a second thought since she was about six months old.) Suddenly, all four kids are crawling around, acting like little babies! Cute at first, but it got old after about 10 minutes.

Okay, so I haven't posted anything here on the blog because I've been very busy. It's a lot of work to plan, pack for, and actually go on a vacation. We flew to Cleveland, then drove a rental car up around Lake Erie into Ontario. We had fun at a local zoo, Marineland (a small version of sea world), Niagara Falls, and a family reunion on the farm where Jon's ancestors lived. The kids loved fishing in the pond (Kelsey caught a catfish and the hook went through its eye-gross!--they had to cut the line and leave the hook in. It's either dead or swimming around with a hook in its eye) and gathering eggs from the chickens (we called them rent-a-chickens since they were just borrowed for the time we were there!) We drove back down to Cleveland and briefly visited Kirtland before flying home Tuesday afternoon. A funny coincidence: While touring the Kirtland Temple, I kept trying to figure out where I knew this girl from. She looked so familiar. She came up to me after the tour and said she was wondering the same thing about me. We figured out that we lived in the same dorm building during my sophomore year at BYU. Jon was also in our ward that year, and she recognized him too. Funny how you can be so far from home and happen to run into someone you knew 14 years ago.

I can't figure out how to add a picture, then text to go along with it, then a different picture and text to go with that underneath. So my pictures are all kind of bunched up at the top. Any hints Shellee?

School's O-U-T!

This is Aaron and Derek's birthday cake. Someone at Zack's party wanted to see what we were talking about.

I don't know if you can tell that well, but the flames are different colors. We found these candles at Wal-Mart, and the cake is from Cold Stone. It was so yummy.

Hayden has been dressing up in Alyssa's old clothes that I am sorting through. He loves dresses and shoes. Don't worry, we'll nip it in the bud before he starts kindergarten. What you don't see is that he is wearing my high heels from when I got married.

We had our last day of school (22nd) and I am proud to say that they are allowing Aaron to go to fifth grade and letting Alyssa go onto fourth! This was the first year that we didn't have to worry about Aaron moving up a grade. The previous years, we had to wonder if he could pull his grades up to move on. This year, his last report card was mostly Bs, we asked what he did, he told us that he tried harder.
Alyssa got mostly Bs but she also slacked off a little. Yep, these are my kids alright! I slacked off when it came to the end of the year, too.
Hayden is ecstatic to have Aaron home all day.

kids' activities

These strange looking characters are my children after a Japanese arts festival at their school. It was a well-planned, really fun event (which I had nothing to do with, we just went and had fun!). They could make pottery, create stamps for their painted headband, make "bamboo" hats, fans, and of course, face painting. They even had a "koi club" for toddlers to fish for pretend koi, and climb a mini version of Mt. Fuji (a little slide in a kiddie pool full of foam). We had Teriyaki stix chicken and rice bowls for dinner. The PTA at our school has worked so hard to make a successful first year as a charter school, and I think it has turned out well. We hope the school continues to have enough interest to stay open forever!

This was Jacob's best soccer game ever, last Saturday. (That's him on the left, chasing the ball). In past games, he tended to keep his distance from the ball, not fully participating in the game. But this time, he was "on the ball" every time he was in the game, he took the ball from mid field all the way to score a goal, get this, THREE DIFFERENT TIMES! and he blocked a couple of shots by the other team. I hate to brag, but I was so proud of my little guy. He said afterwards, "Mom, I really want to play soccer next year", which I had been wondering about when he didn't seem too enthusiastic before.

well that's all I can think of for now. Lots coming up before the end of the school year, so I'll have more to post later.

Way East Valley Mellors

Hey there!! We are super busy out here. May is an insane month for us. Kezhia's new callings are Cubs Committee Chair and Ward Girls Camp Director. I have great crews for each and they are helping to relieve much of the work that I can't do because work takes up so much of my time. I sub about 4 days a week. Our house had a slab leak about a month ago and we still aren't put back together yet. While moving our furniture they broke our entertainment center and we have had a heck of a time finding a replacement. Our TV only weighs 200 lbs. It gets delivered Sat. Hopefully before Zack's party. Don't forget to come. He turns 15!!!

Matt is done with finals, and he made it through another semester. He should graduate next spring with Kazhia. So next year this month will be even busier. Matt is going to take summer school so we know where he is spending the summer. There is a light we keep reminding ourselves. He is sick right now with an intense head cold that just hit him all of a sudden the other day.

Kazhia is getting over the stomache flu. She stayed home from school for two days and she is still weak. She is doing well with her grades. Jordan came to her concert yesterday. We loved having him with us. Girls camp is the last week in May.

Zack is getting ready for summer. He is looking for a job. He wants his own money to get what he wants. He will be volunteering at the library for his life rank. He only needs 8 hours, but it will be good for him to go all summer. He earned all but $25 from assorted yardwork. He and Garrett are going to Camp Raymond this year.

Garrett is busy with scouts and he is graduating from 6th grade this year. I am going to Sunsplash with him for his end of the year 6th grade party. He and Zack are going to scout camp this year together. Those leaders have no idea what they are in for!! He is a good student and is sick of elementary school.

Kyler loves scouts. He made a cute Mothers Frame for me. He was so proud. He worked 3 weeks on it. He is working on his Wolf Rank and is about halfway thru. He is a terrific kid, and loves school. He is going to Summer Day Camp with his troop. They will do BB guns, archery, and swimming. Mom will be going all 3 days too.

Sorry its so long, we have a lot of things going on!! Love ya'll!!!

Is this working?

Hi from Marisa,

This is a test to see if I can actually put something on this blog. I'm usually slow to embrace anything technologically new to me, so please be patient! (It took me years to switch to a digital camera!) I'll even try to include a photo--this is Emily's baptism day, May 3rd--her hair is still wet here. She was so excited and happy to finally be baptized.

I love reading my friends' blogs, I hope everyone will jump right on this and we can be more aware of what is going on day to day. It's sad sometimes that we only get to see you all once or twice a year. I hope to hear from you soon!

Calling all Mellors

If you are a child of Lawrence and Sandra Mellor or are L & S (or you are married to one) this is the site for you.
You are all authors and are able to post onto this site.
This is for posting announcements (like Zack's B'day party this Saturday) on here, and for letting others know things that are going on, if you need help in any area (moving), or if you just want to wish someone a Happy Birthday!
I know that in the past we discussed doing a newsletter, and also have had problems getting everyone on the same page (get it? same page? yeah, I know...) this takes care of the problem.
Also, you will be able to post home movies to the site (ie: football game moments, soccer game moments, airplane crashes, birthday candle blowing, baptism interviews) things like that!
As of June 1st, the blogpage will be private to only the authors and those that are invited to join. You can add your friends and Mellor cousins, okay, Millet cousins too, if you have any questions, give me a call and I would be more than happy to help you.
Let me know if you need anything!