We make amazing things around here.

A request has been made that I post these pictures in a post of their very own so that you may all gaze in awe at the wonder of the block maze.

That's right, you are looking at a maze, made of blocks, by Ivy.

As you can see the details are impressive.

She would be happy to make one for you too. 

Just give her a call.

There were about 15 more pictures of the block maze, but we edited it down to these, the best ones.

You're welcome.

Ivy's Birthday

 Ivy's happy to be 11, but more happy that next year she'll be 12. 

I have asked her if she wouldn't mind to slow it down a little bit, but no one ever listens to me.

Here she, Annie, and Emma change the color of her Barbie's hair by painting it with cold water. Why can't someone come up with a trick like that for MY hair?

Ella came was there. 

(She's growing her bangs out.)

Cake!!

Fire!

Dancing!!

Boys!

Best 11 year old birthday party EVER.

Graduation!!

We made it through another school year. The last two weeks were filled with plays,concerts, field trips, finals, stress, and relief.

Ivy's class put on an educational program about the history of America. 

It was lovely.

Eli graduated from the sixth grade with all A's and B's. I told him he did a great job, as you can see he was hoping for a trip to Hawaii. (Also, what the heck is Nate doing back there?)

Here Ivy displays the traditional last day of school shirt. 

Also known as the Summer Rolodex.

Speaking of graduation.....

Wesley graduated from Mountain View.

Here he practices the face he plans to make when they tell him there was an error and he actually IS the valedictorian.

Here he just practices being a dork.

And Nate, well, who knows what Nate does. 

This is his Tiger pose. Based on the variety and originality of his pose selections I think we should expect to see him on the runway during fashion week soon.

Look! Graduates!! 

Aren't they cute?

Here we have Wes, Edge, and Jessica. (Yes~That Jessica)

Congratulations Wesley!!!!

Soccer!

Saturday is soccer day around here. Ivy's games are first but since I'm coaching her (undefeated) team I don't ever get any action shots, but really, they all look alike so use your imagination.

Eli is the middle player in the red.

This week we took Annie and Emma with us to the game. They stayed like this until Brandon came along with french fries and distracted them. (Ella's game was on a different field at the same time.)

Catching up

A couple of weeks ago Hawthorne held it's prestigious Student of the Quarter awards ceremony.

Eli was honored with the Personal Success Award.

He would like to thank all of you who have helped make him the personal success he is today.

Friday Ivy's class went on a field trip to the Arizona Museum of Natural History, formerly known as the Mesa Southwest Museum, or as we unofficially refer to it, "That place with all the dinosaurs and you can pan for gold where the alligator almost ate Brandon that one time." (How many museums can offer the thrill of the Jurassic period, LIVE crocodiles AND the opportunity to strike it rich? Not too many I'm betting.)

I would like to thank Rylee's mom who chaperoned the field trip for making sure there were actually pictures of Ivy AND that they were in focus.

There is more, lots more, but Blogger is making it difficult for me to upload my pictures this morning.  I'll have to try again later. 

She really is awesome.

This is what Ivy wore to school today.  The fancy necklace Grandma Pam got her for her birthday and her homemade shirt that says "I'm awesome deal with it!" (it actually says I'm awfsome, we ran out of Es so she used an F and a sharpie to make it work, when she's made up her mind to be awesome, there's really no stopping her) the part of the outfit that you can't see are her basketball shorts and her brown suede flats. I find that nothing says "There's no pinning down my style" like a fancy necklace and some basketball shorts. She would also like you to know that she can keep her eyes crossed like that longer than anyone else in her class.

Sometimes we get a little riled up.

But just a little.

 We aren't really football fans, in fact, it wasn't until a few days before the Superbowl that any of us were really sure which teams would be playing in the big game, so it makes sense that we would insist on having "teams" and painting our faces.

The team picking went like this-

Eli desperately wanted to make a bet with Uncle Todd, no one else would do, it had to be Todd. He was hoping to root for the Colts, but when he found out the Colts were Todd's team he had no choice but switch to the Saints. As you can see below, if your brother is rooting for the Saints, you become a Colts fan by default, because NO WAY are you going to agree with your brother on Superbowl Sunday. Please.

Like true fans Eli and Ivy decided that face paint was in order.

It's hard to believe he hadn't even heard of his team until last Wednesday, isn't it?

Eli was the only Saints "fan" at Bill & Marianne's Superbowl "bash". 

If you've never seen his victory dance, you should make a point to watch the game with him next year, it's worth losing a bet to experience.

Eli & Ivy

Eli went on his first scout campout last weekend. He has learned from his brothers that there are a couple of things you MUST have if you are going to survive a campout.

Beef Jerky and Gatorade.

Sylvan went with him and judging from the amount of dirt they carried home they had a really good time.

Friday was Ivy's clogging recital.

Really good cloggers use LOTS of hairspray.

Here are Ivy and Ella on the stage after the recital. 

They both did a great job.

Swim meet

Last night we headed over to the state of the are Kino Aquatic Center.  Woo Wee, that place is nice.  Curly slide and everything.

Ivy, Brandon and Ella had a breast stroke swim meet.

The real trick with breast stroke is not getting disqualified and I am happy to report none of our little fish had any problem.

Here's Ella after her race.

Ivy on the starting block.

And with her fine 5th place ribbon.

Brandon, a very serious competitor came in 2nd in his heat.

Naturally, after the meet we HAD to go to Sonic. It's some kind of official swim team rule.

We interupt our vacation coverage...

....to say....

Happy Birthday Ivy!!!