4th of July TripBirthday Trip

We headed up to Show Low for the 4th of July.  I panned a little hike for the family.  I called it a stroll because that's what it looked like on a ma.  It was much more than a stroll, but not really a hike.  I t was a beautiful hike but we made it short.  It was fun hike and I enjoyed my kids teasing me about my stroll.  

Stroll Pics

Chairs around Show Low

The next day, we went to the parade.  In Show Low, the people had put their chairs on the ground to reserve their spot, but living in Mesa I've learned that we don't leave chairs unattended if we want to keep them.  We found good enough seats to seats to watch the parade.  The parade was cool at time, but other times we just waited for participants to come.  After an hour, we went to have my birthday for breakfast.  The restaurants was at the end of the parade route, so we could see some of the parade entries we missed.  I noticed that the parade ended just  as we finished our breakfast. After the parade was over, we met up with Loren and Brittney at Fool's Hollow.  We had a lot of fun playing in and around the lake.  We rented a canoe and a kayak.  Angela wanted a turn to have the kayak by herself.  She did well on the kayak and I'm so proud of her.  Show Low didn't have fireworks because of the fire restrictions, so we just watched a Marvel movie at Danni's house.  We headed home the next day after we played a round of UNO and jumped in the rain.

Fourth of July shirts

Brigham and Danni

Parade Pics

Birthday Breakfast

Pic wit Britt, Junior, and Baby Jay

Playing in the water

Spending time with family is what the 4th is about

UNO and rain - what a way to end this trip

50th Wedding Anniversary

My parents are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary today. In April, we have a big family reunion to celebrate this milestone as a family. Congrats!!!!

Rim Country

Grandma and Grandpa Pace headed up north to go camping.  We headed up for part of the day so Josh could be home for work.  We played several games while we were up there - Scattergories and UNO.  The big UNO cards were a hit!!  Brandon brought some mustaches and we had a blast wearing them.  It was the highlight of the trip. Uncle David and Aunt MaryAnn came just a little after we did and stayed for the day as well.   Jim cooked his famous chili for lunch and it was a hit too.  I love that there are no tomatoes.  It was nice to be in the cooler weather even if we spent most of the time dodging the sun.  We were constantly finding and moving into the shade.  Emily stayed behind with Grandma and Grandpa Pace and camped a couple of extra nights.  

Josh, Ang, and Em

Josh loved being with the puppy.
The feeling was mutual

Ang had a blast

Emmy held the puppy too

when she wasn't sleeping

Kids and their mustaches

Josh and Jim

Ang and I

Grandpa even joined the fun

Jim and I
His mustache is the best

Jim cooking his chilli

Emmy and her tent

Emmy came home with this cool project that she did up north

Feed My Starving Children

We went with Pace Family and helped with "Feed My Starving Children" again.  It was a lot of fun to serve as a family.  I really appreciate Kathryn for setting this service project up.  It really makes you appreciate how lucky we are to have food in our cupboards.  If there is no food in the cupboards, we can just go the store to buy some.  A lot of people in 3rd world countries don't have that luxury.  Food is hard to come by.  We are truly lucky and we should do all that we can to help others.  "Feed My Starving Children is a great place to learn about those needing assistance and providing service too.  There are so many other ways to provide service, but Feed My Starving Children educates as well as making the service a lot of fun.  It's just a great way to spend an evening - serving with family.

Jenna’s Baby Shower

Jenna had her baby shower and it was super cute.  The Turleys did such a great job decorating with the Little Man theme.  It was first time that we saw Kaylynn, Danni, and Jenna pregnant at the same time. They were sweet to do a photo shoot for me. Jenna got a lot of cute baby clothes and baby blankets.  She even announced at the shower that they were going to name their baby, Jordan.  I love that name.  Now the Beecrofts all start with the letter J. 

Turleys and Decor

Kaylynn Danni, and Jeanna 

Memorable MondayLast Days of School

Angela graduated and I wanted to look back on all the years that she has been in the public school.  She started kindergarten at Porter an was there for 1/4 of the year.  She finished her kindergarten year at Keller in a special ed kindergarten class.  For 1-3 grades, she attended Roosevelt Elementary in their special ed program.  She really enjoyed her teacher there.  For grades 4-6. she returned to Porter Elementary and was in special education classes there too.  From there, she attend Taylor for 2 years and 4 years at Mesa High. 

Angela throughout the years

Graduations - Preschool, Elementary, Jr. High, and High School

First Day of Kindergarten and Graduation

Pics with Cambryn

Her longest school friends was Cambryn, even though they were never in the same class.  Here is a picture of her first day of kindergarten, 6th grade graduation, and Mesa High graduation.  Cambryn was always so sweet to Angel and I'll always remember her kindness.  

Letter in Music

Angela and her letter

Angela tried out for regionals this year.  It was something that she really wanted to do.  She worked really hard and did a great job.  I talked to Mrs. Decker, her choir teacher and I decided that I would help Angela earn her choir letter.  This was going to be a project for both of us.  I can't wait to see her honored 

Ryan, Justin, and Ang at Regionals

Judge Comments

One way that Angela can earn letter points, is to attend choral performances and musicals. The choral performances were cool but the musicals were my favorite to attend.  I hope we may have started a new tradition.

Footloose

Tom Sawyer

Shrek

Wizard of Oz

Mary Poppins

Footloose

MCC Choir Concert

MCC Jazz Night - Vocals included

Watching MHS Choir at the MAC

Choir Concert at Red Mountain

Another way to earn a letter point was to support the Mesa High Fundraisers.  We attended Fiiz after the concerts.  That one was too easy, but I asked and Mrs. Decker said that it would work.

Junior High Feeder Concert

Christmas Concert

Angela also was a member of the ward choir for 1/2 and earned 1 point for that.  She also took a few vocal lessons to prepare for regionals.  She received a point for that as well.  I loved reading the comments from Bro. Malmberg and Sis. Johnson.  She also attended a couple of classes with Mrs. Decker before regionals.

Music Lessons

Ward Choir

Angela also signed up to get excited help from Mrs. Decker to help prepare for regionals.  This was another way for Angela to get some points.

Angela sang with the choir during a basketball game to get some points too.  She loved it and sang with her friends.  It was fun to go to a basketball game and watch Angela sing.

Angela sang in Sacrament Meetings, New Beginnings, and Stake Conference.  These helped Angela earn some points too.

Sang at New Beginnings

Sang on Mother's Day

Sang in Stake Conference

Angela and I spent a lot of time together as she worked to get her letter.  I'm so proud of all her hard work.  She was so consistent and took every opportunity that was available to her to earn her letter in choir.  It's not an easy thing to do and she did it.  So, she deserves a bit of congratulation on earning her letter.