Running and Reading

The elementary school had their annual walk/run a thon recently.

When Ben sees me he refuses to walk anymore and just holds up his hands to me for me to carry him.

We had to try and bribe him with a ball...

That worked for a little bit before I ended up carrying him for a few laps.

He has great aides and teachers who are super patient with him and love him.

So grateful for them!

Matt's turn...

He did a great job!

A couple of days later Matt received his first three reading counts awards for the year.

He hasn't really been super motivated in years past but he's found some series that he's really interested in lately and has been reading up a storm!  It's so fun to find him around the house with a book in hand!

Grandma Bryan's Funeral

Andy's Grandma passed away exactly one month shy of her 95th birthday.

She was a great lady!

She sure loved her family and she made sure they knew it!

The great grandkids sang "You are my Sunshine" at the funeral and I accompanied.

Poor Abby came home sick from school the day before so she wasn't able to join us and we just let Ben go to school instead of trying to wrangle him all day.

Grandpa Bryan and his kids...

Andy and his siblings...

I had to take a picture of this beautiful arrangement on the table where we sat for lunch at the church.

If you look closely you can see some black calla lilies...very cool!

I'm paying more attention to flower arrangements now that I've been working with my florist friend...

The Bryans aren't much of picture takers so I had to practically force this to happen but I'm glad  I did.  No family resemblance at all is there?!

Family Swim Party

When Angie and Maggie were in town recently a kind couple in my parents' ward

allowed us the use of their private pool!

Andy had some bishop responsibilities to attend to so he wasn't able to join us :(

Ben requires constant supervision and support in the water so Dad and I took turns holding him up and rounding up balls for him to throw.  He was in heaven.

Abby spent much of the time on the pool side doing this...

Matt did lots of diving/jumping/sliding...

Signing his sign for "water"

Afterward we had some treats while we dried off...

popcorn....Ben's fave :)

All the grandkiddies!

It was a great evening...so different from what we usually do as a family.