Pirates of Penzance

Last weekend we had our 6th and final performance of The Pirates of Penzance.  The kids had a ball with it and made lots of new friends!  Just thought you'd enjoy seeing some of the pics from the performance.  They are not the greatest because most were taken without a flash and I am too impatient to wait for Justin to fix them up for me, but you get the general idea right?!  These are in a crazy order because I still can't figure out how to put them in the order that I want them in but oh well!  You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!

This was during the lullaby.  Everyone was ballet dancing and the police came in with tree branches swaying like the "lovely poplar trees"

The dreaded "Parrot Pete"  stealing a wife for himself!

I am the very model of a modern major general.

......continued.....

"Parrot Pete" helping his parrot blow its nose while they all cried about the poor orphan boy.

Check out those jazz hands!

Lieutenant Dilbert - turrent turah!

"Take one consideration or another (or another)............

A policeman's lot is not a happy one (happy one)

.....continued.....

They are all supposed to be scared to death of the approaching pirates but I think Kimbrie is ready to take them on!

The slipper stealing scene - poor General Stanley!

It doesn't look too good for our young hero.  Officer Randon is definitely on the wrong side of  "Re-pete's" sword

Our fearless(ful) police officers Randon, Dilbert, and Reginald.

Kimbrie (officer Randon) after beating up "Re-pete"

Officer Dilbert - Kylan

Jaden - "Parrot Pete"  - did you recognize him? Austin didn't!  Jaden scared him to death!

Officer Dilbert and Lieutenant Reginald looking rather important and serious.

Ok so maybe she is a police officer, but to me she still just looks like trouble :)

Turrent Turah!

Jaden and his stolen wife!

The kids' favorite part was the billy (sp?) clubs and beating the crap out of the pirates!

What a bunch of hams!

That's two pirates I wouldn't want to mess with - have you heard of a hairbrush?!

Pioneer Activity

Last Friday we had our Ward Pioneer Social to give the youth a chance to show off their pioneer attire before they ruin them by going on the trek. :)  We had a picnic sloppy joe dinner with all the sides and pies you could eat and then Justin was in charge of pioneer games.  They also had little rag dolls that the girls could make and we just played and socialized.  It was super fun.  Just thought I'd share some of our favorite pics of the kids from the activity.

Does this look like a Wyoming country boy or what?!  What happened to California?

Bryson had to try the hat too, but with a little grouchier face!

Don't look now but a Shearer kid is actually using his napkin!  Way to go Cameron!

 Love those baby blues!

Apparently, even in Pioneer times SOME people got a little action!

The pioneer gals - Abby, Hannah, Emma, Janika, and Abby's Friend (?)

Let the games begin!!! We did stick pulling, 3 legged races, gunny sack races (without the gunny sacks - I ran out of time!), tug - o - war, and "handcart" races!

Looks like a scary competition!

Can Austin beat a police officer?  He's sure going to try!

Jaden and Anna were a close competition, but he beat her in the end!

Kylan and Tori - anxiously awaiting the competition

Somehow I don't think they are tied tight enough....

Looks like a little more work than it should be! - I think I see veins popping out!

Little pioneer children feeding the baby geese.  Kimbrie is in the middle, with our neighbors, Kate and Grace.

Mary Murdock and Pippy Longstocking - what a combination!

Someone tied up Bryson's legs so he could play too and he just stood there for like 10 minutes wondering what the heck he was supposed to do.  Maybe a little young for fake potato sack racing!

Those lovely pioneer ladies, Janika and Abby

Lots of smiles and....hmmm...maybe a little cheater!

Our neighbor Brother Holden carting some of our gang and his in the "wagon race" that went across the Volleyball court.  Maybe that police training prepares you for  the important stuff!

Cameron and John - before they bit the dust!



They ended up in a little bit crazy order, but you get the general idea!  It was a super fun activity.

Billings Temple Trip

So here goes nothing.  I am going to attempt to learn how to blog.  After weeks and weeks of technical difficulties, I am finally going to post my very first post.   So we had a youth temple trip this week and decided we would find a way to sneak a session or two for Justin and I.  The young men in our ward have been working on the Geneology merit badge and had each found some family names to take to the temple.  Jaden found 2 names and is on the verge of linking a whole bunch (or so Justin says - I still don't know a whole lot about all the terminology, etc.)  This was Austin's 2nd temple trip and since I was hoping to learn how to blog after his first, I am going to include the pics from the first trip too.

He was so excited for his first time in the temple!

The boys - Aukai, Kolter, Austin, Jaden, and Helaman

The girls - Abby and Janika

 So, for the trip this week we had baptisms scheduled for 11:00 a.m.  We had 11 youth with us and those boys were just giddy at the thought of being baptized for the relatives that they found themselves.  Afterwards, we met at the park for pizza and then went to check in to our campsite at the Billings KOA.  I think they thought we were kind of crazy dressing up to go camping and it was definitely a first for Justin to put together the tent in a white shirt and tie!

We set up camp and I hit Sam's Club really quick while the kids just messed around at the campsite and then they went swimming while Justin and I did a session at the temple.  We got back at 8 and had dinner.

Gotta love taco soup and of course the daily train wreck in Austin's mouth!

 After throwing a football around , we roasted marshmallows over the stove (we didn't bring firewood because we weren't sure if they had fire pits or not).  Kimbrie passed out in the tent before we could even get to the marshmallows.  They were plumb worn out!  This is our attempt at letting everyone cook at once.  Don't know if anyone got any heat or if they were all just blocking each other!

How many marshmallows can YOU fit over a camping stove?!

Ky guy trying to keep warm!  It may look warm and sunny, but we are still in Montana, folks!

  

Bryson was sitting on the table just inhaling marsmallows as fast as he could get his hands on them! 

Oh and while I am thinking about it, I have to tell you the Bryson funny this week.  He asked what I was making for dinner and I told him that it was Fajitas, and he said, "I'm thinking mac and cheese with apples will just be great, Mom!"

Anyway, the next day when we woke up it was 40 degrees and crazy wind.  We had brought some board games, so we figured the kids would just hang out and play in the tent while we did another session, but these are no ordinary California kids.  They spent the whole time in the pool and we had to drag them out when we got back, shivering, but happy.  We broke camp faster than a speeding bullet and had a nice quiet drive home with 7 completely worn out, but happy kids!  What a fun trip!