First day of school

Emily 9th, Brittany 6th, and Tyler 2nd are ready for their first day of school.

Dad and Joseph

Troy and Deedra came in town last week and invited all the Russell's to Deedra's parents home for a picnic. It was so fun to see all who could come. I love these pictures that were taken of dad and Joseph at the picnic.

More fun summer activities

Ashlee got to spend most of July in New Hampshire with Mike's brother's family. In exchange for being a Nanny for them for three weeks, they bought her plane ticket and took her to see so many places. She flew into Rochester and they went to the Hill Cummorah pageant that night. They visited the sacred grove and other places in Palmyra. The next morning they drove to their home in New Hampshire. She got to visit Boston, the beach, Joseph Smith's birth place, covered bridges, Woodstock, St Gavin's place and many other places.

Jon, Isaac, Lissa
Ella, Ashlee, Andrew
in front of the Old North church in Boston

Ashlee enjoyed getting to know these three cute cousins better. Ella especially became very attached to Ashlee and didn't want her to come home.

A few weeks ago, the Mia Maids were filming for the video awards night for yw/ym. Their theme was "good works heroes". Emily was assigned Mr. Incredible. We had a short time to come up with a costume. She had wondered what to do for a few days, but we didn't want to buy anything. She printed this logo and pinned it to a red t-shirt. Brittany had red, flare leg pants with a blue stripe and so we took a seam down each leg to hide the blue stripe and the flare. She found a yellow belt, black boots and black shorts. This whole thing was put together in less than 15 minutes!

Every year the orthodontist has a big water party with prizes. Usually it at 7 Peaks. This year it was at the Lindon Pool. It was a fun pool, but it was cold even though it was the middle of August. Fall hit early for us. We didn't win any prizes, but had fun.

Lauryn, Sydney, Brittany and Emma
great friends and cousins!

Amber and Emily having fun exercising and dancing in the pool!

High Adventure

Ashlee and Emily had a great opportunity to go on the high adventure with their Venturing Crew in June. Mike got to join them for the last three days. It was a fun filled 5 days!

Day 1 - Biking Dead horse State Park, Zip lining Entrada, Swimming at Mill Creek
Day 2 - Mountaineering Mount Mellenthin, Biking Hazard county Trail La Sals, Climbing La Sals
Day 3 - Cayoneering Bill Negro Canyon, white water rafting in the Colorado River
Day 4 - Kayaking in Lake Powell
Day 5 - Exploring Goblin Valley

Emily cliff jumping at Mill Creek

Ashlee cliff jumping at Mill Creek

Mt Mellenthin

Katelyn Brunsdale, Michele Johansen, Haley Brunsdale, Emily, Sarah Brunsdale, Zoe Sheffield, Ashlee

Ashlee biking Hazard County Trail- La-Sals

Michael rappelling at Bill Negro Canyon

Emily rappelling

Ashlee about to rappel

They rappelled down and then went swimming at the bottom

Camping right on the water at Lake Powell

Playing water polo at beautiful Lake Powell

Emily and Mike enjoying the kayaks

Exploring Goblin Valley

Brittany and Danielle's Kid's Camp

Brittany and her friend, Danielle Kemp, planned a fun and successful kid's camp this summer. They had two sessions, one in June and one in July! All the kids that participated loved it. They charged $1 per day per child and had lots of fun activities planned. They had a water day, craft day, pirate day, cooking day and many more.

Tyler, Porter and Jarom on pirate day!
We were so excited that Danica and her boys came for the last 3 days of the first week. It's always fun to have them visit. Tyler especially enjoys having four extra boys around the house!

Jarom, Tyler and James made a fort one night that they were very excited to sleep in.

James, Tyler, Sharkie, Abram, Brittany, Porter, and Jarom having fun in the pool.

Arizona in August

Emily and Ashlee went to Arizona to spend a few days with my sister's family. They had so much fun and really enjoyed this time with their cousins! Thank you, Cheeri for their visit.

Ashlee and Breanne

Brooklynn and Emily

Breanne, Ashlee, Emily and Brooklynn

Hiking to Timpanogus cave

On August 10th we hiked to Timpanogus Cave. We had not been in the cave for 10 years! We hiked to the cave the summer after we moved to Utah, but before we moved into our house. A few years ago we did hike to the cave, but didn't pay to go in. We live less than 5 miles from the entrance to the cave and so we figured we better go before having to girls go to college. Going in August at 4:30 p.m. is pretty hot as can be seen in the following sweaty pictures. We thoroughly enjoy our time together!

We left from the bottom at 4:30. The cave entrance time for leaving at 4:30 is 6:00. We arrived at the top around 5:10. We were glad they let us go in with an earlier group at 5:20.

Looking a little hot and tired at the top ! ; )
Brittany and Amber

Brittany, Emily, Tyler and Ashlee enjoying the cool cave.
(Cool temperature and cool formations!)

During the hike up we were saying that we were going to jump in the pool the minute we got home. While we were in the cold 45 degree cave, we changed our minds. The hike down was warm again and I think a few of the kids did get in the pool.

Ashlee's dessert experiments

Ashlee is took a Pro start class in school this past year. It is class sponsored by the National Restaurant Foundation to prepare students for the hospitality industry. She enjoyed experimenting at home, usually with desserts.

This is a dessert that Ashlee made for her daddy close to his birthday. The cup is made completely with chocolate and it is filled with ice cream and raspberries.

Kids say the cutest things!

(Tyler reading to his cousin, Avery)
Two nights ago as Tyler was going to bed he told me that his legs hurt. I warmed up some rice bags, put them on his legs, and tucked him in bed. I told him that he was probably having growing pains and I explained a little about that. He said, "Or I am just really tired." Usually he won't admit that any behavior or feeling is because he's tired! The next morning he walked up to me standing tall and said, "So, do I look any taller." It took me a few minutes to realize that it was because of our conversation the night before.

Utah Summer Games in Cedar City

We had a great time in St. George this past weekend. We stayed with Roger and Jill and had fun visiting with them and the kid's all really enjoyed their cousins. On Saturday Ashlee had a gymnastics meet (part of their Summer Games) in Cedar City. She was so excited to have her Nana Jody, Aunt Melanie, cousin's Katie, Hailey, Emma, Chloe and her family there to support her. She did very well. She took SILVER all around! Gold on vault, Bronze on bars, bronze on beam, fourth on flour. She did so well and we are so proud of her. We are sad to see gymnastics end for her, but excited as she moves on to the next step in her life!

Tyler and Heath showing off their cool boats that they made with legos.

Brittany, Emily, Christian, and Michael had fun in the pool until midnight Friday and Saturday night.

Ashlee and Sara sporting their medals they won at Summer Games.

Ashlee's fun "end of senior year" events

Prom

Ashlee went to prom with Colton Barfuss. She had a great time. About a week before prom we decided that I was going to make her dress. It was my first Prom dress and we were both very pleased with it and she looked beautiful! (And there was no unpicking like with her homecoming dress!)

Ashlee and her group match perfectly and they didn't even plan it.

Tea Party
Ashlee and some of her friends planned a fun Tea Party date that was in our backyard. Ashlee's took Evan Braithwaite. Amber, Emily, Brittany, and Tyler were so excited to help.
beautiful girls
Yummy food and great company!

Seminary Graduation

Papa Jones, Nanny Jones, Dad, Mom, Ash, Grandma Nance, Papa Russell

Graduation

Ashlee and Josie Nilson, one of her best friends.

Whitney Robinson, Erika Bunker, Ashlee
more best friends

with Papa and Nanny Jones

Erika, Amber, and Ashlee
Best friends! Amber is very close to all of Ashlee's close friends and Ashlee is very close to Amber's close friends. I love how close they are as sisters and friends!

Amber, Mrs. Wolsey (one of the girls favorite teachers), Ashlee

Erika and Ashlee on their way to get there diplomas after their names were called.