In Memorium

My sister's/parent's dog, Lena, passed away this week. We weren't as sad as they were (being as Lena was only something to play with when at Grandma and Grandpa's house), but we will miss her. I was going through photo albums looking for pictures to send them, and I thought I'd share a couple here.

Megan and Lena in 1998


Meagn and Caitlyn with Lena in early 2001


Alison with Lena in 2005


We'll miss you, Lena!

The Forest Friends

Megan and Caitlyn came up with the idea for a ballet-play, got their friends involved and even managed to include all the younger kids. They rehearsed all week, and they performed it for us on Saturday.


Alison as Odette the fairy.


Caitlyn as "bear cub". She also played Rosalind, the bad witch (since no one else wanted to die, she said), but I didn't take pictures of that.


Megan as Giselle, the main character.

The Forest Play

This part was called "Welcome to the Forest". All the forest creatures welcome Giselle (Megan) and Odette the fairy (Alison) to the forest.


This is the celebration, after Rosalind, the evil witch, was defeated.

Sunburned and Sore

Okay, it's not about the girls, but they were all impressed that Daddy went on a two-day, 14-mile backpacking trip.


The only picture I could find where Russell had his pack on.


The (very tired) leaders at the nine-mile point (the wimps in the other ward gave up at that point, but our guys went the distance. Go them!).

Proof

Grandpa and Grandma Fox came to visit us last week. It was really great seeing them, but we realized on Tuesday (they left Thursday morning) that we hadn't taken any pictures of them! We did lots of work around the house (motto: if you've got someone with experience around, use them!), we swam at their hotel pool (it was best when there wasn't unruly teenage boys around), Russell and Grandpa went golfing (once; Grandpa went twice), we showed them around town, they went to both of Russell's classes, and we ate out a lot. :)

Some highlights:
We have a Frank Lloyd Wright building on the campus of Wichita State University. Grandma wanted to see it, so we drove out there on Tuesday as part of a tour of the town.

Russell arranged for Dr. Green (the university president; that's him in the red shirt) to take whoever wanted to up the clock tower at Friends. Megan and Caitlyn were excited that they got to ring the bell.

The family outside Davis hall. Russell's office is the windows on the middle floor on the far left.


On the stairs at Davis hall:

Grandma playing with the little girls, while the big girls were up the clock tower.


Kristen didn't like Grandpa so much. This was the closest she got to him. Any guesses why?


It was great having visitors! (Can't wait until we get more...)

Makeover

Some time, some money and you, too, can turn this:


into this:


We even got matching lights to go in the kitchen area. YAY!

Piano Recital

Our piano teacher decided to have a little summer recital, and she wanted to do it at a student's house. So, since we have a nice big open room, and a nice new piano, I volunteered our house. The girls did well; they were nervous, but not overly so. And Grandma and Grandpa got to hear them play!

New Pool

A place for the big kids, anyway. Kristen's still happy with the little pool.

Jammin'

We did jam last week. Megan and Caitlyn were great helpers. Yay for older kids!


Megan sliced...


and Caitlyn mashed.

And the jam is delicious!

What High Chair?