June

The end of the school year also brought the end of the piano year for Nathan.  He was disappointed that he wouldn't be having lessons during the summer so I found a music camp that he and Hyrum could attend together.

They had Quaver Music Camp each Monday for six weeks.  The first day they were introduced to their team and with their team created a cheer that they did each week.  They learned about the grand staff, note value, rhythm and rests, and music science where they learned to play 3-note and 4-note songs on water glasses.

The final day was spent doing an Amazing Music Race to review all that they had learned.  In preparation, Hyrum spent a good hour doing practice treble clef "loopy things" so that he would be ready for the grand staff chalk-a-thon.  The finale included yummy popsicles and a carousel ride at Porter Park.

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Swimming Lessons at Rexburg Rapids

As very beginning beginners they were scared to even put their faces in the water but by the end of the session Amanda had a hard time keeping their faces above water.  Hyrum loves to be in and under and splashed with water.  Nathan tolerates it and tries to be as brave as Hyrum.  It was a good experience for them and comforting to me that they gained breathing and floating techniques in the water.  The boys used their own spending money to buy Swedish Fish and a water jug to make a thank you gift for Amanda.

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A few pictures from Vivien with her own descriptions...

On a Sunday evening with her sister, Noemi:  "By 5pm we still haven't eaten, just breakfast. We were so hungry OMG !!! Didnt even know were to go eat so after hours we decided to go to Tesco for food. I got a roll and a buttery thingy (google says *spread*) no knife to get it on the roll so we had a car picnic, dipping the roll in that spread :D felt like we were on a car trip for a day and thats everything we got. It was fun haha ! and delicious :D"

 "After a year... I HAVE MY DRIVING LICENCE!!!! okay not yet, I have to go to the police station first but I passed the test. Happy happy happy!"  This was no small feat considering the training/test cars are stick shifts; not automatics.

Spending a day with Jakub:  "He has a motobike/scooter which was a new experience for me and kinda scary first but it was fun! Except for the helmet which killed my hair and my head felt claustrofobic in it :D 

More travel pictures with Jakub and a picture from January with the first missionaries that she met in Slovakia (both of which were from Utah).   This email is one of my favorite from her because I can feel her excitement in the day.  It reminds me of when she got home from Prom and sat on the bed chattering away in her excitement or the hyper days that we bounced around from topic to topic.  I love being able to read her smile in the writing.  I'm so thankful for those two Utah boys who could take a little of the comfort of her American home to her.

Oh my heck!!!! I dont know where to start! I dont remember when I was so hyper and happy and excited last time! Probabs in the US :D

We finally agreed on going skiing!!!! We have a hotel booked. I am so excited! I am off school the last week of February (spring break) and we are going skiing!!! We agreed we will be the crazy minions on the track muhahahaa

Today I was with Jakub. Haha he is one hyper kid!! He also loves travelling. We are gonna be travelling buddies!! I had so much fun with him. We went around Galanta so many times we decided to come to my place. After a while we were like okay its time to go out and somebody rang the bell. Then my mom comes that 2 guys are looking for me. They dont speak Slovak. I was like what?! Weird. I dont hang out with hungarian guys and they would just speak hungarian. So I went to the door. I FREAKED OUT. Like in a good way. Like how the heck is that possible?!

THEY WERE MISSIONARIES!!!!!!!! Can you believe that? I asked them how did they find me. They said something about the temple square I dont know I was just amazed I didnt even know my own name. I got a Slovak book of mornom!!!! But I feel so bad cause I thought they just handed to me to look at. But they gave it to me. And I didnt even thank. I had it in my hands then I went to get my phone and I put the book down. But I thought they grabbed it. They I found it. Its mine?? I feel bad. But its cool! And so weird in Slovak :D they werennt here for long and I had Jakub over and poor boy his english isnt too good so he was just like sitting there. I started to talk to them in English automatically. But they knew Slovak. And they also read from the book. It was so cool! Althought we talked about their life in Slovakia mostly :D I asked them if they eat rolls :D and one of them said that he likes KOFOLA (you know that thingy which makes me hyper :D) and bryndzové halušky - its our traditional meal (I dont like it) like hot dogs in the US hehehe

IT WAS SO COOL!!!!! I dont know if you have anything to do with it but if you do THANK YOU! If not THANK YOU anyway that you taught me about Mormons and your church and I had this oppurtunity today!

They didnt stick around too long but we exchanged phone numbers and the guy told me he will let me know and they can come. I am excited!

They are like 25 missionaries in Slovakia. These guys were from Nitra. Its like 35 minutes away, I dont really go there, its not my city :D They even gave me a little paper thingy on which I have the street and the time when is the church. So cool! You have got to come to Slovakia and come to church with me!

I am just happy :-)))) I love this feeling I wish it would last forever! It was just a perfect day. Skiing, Jakub, US people :-)

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Cousins, Cats and Kimber

These little cousin pairs are adorable!  Hailey and Hyrum are a perfect giggly pair and Brooklyn has a major crush on Nathan.
Though the cats are supposed to now be outdoor only animals, the kids sneak them in for hairy hugs.
I joined our Relief Society for a hike up R Mountain.

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Derek is 18!!!

But, he is still our {very tall and intelligent} little boy.  I asked him several times what he wanted for his birthday and he couldn't give me even one suggestion.  The "Mr. Fix It" shirt in duct tape font was an easy choice since he really is our family fix it man but it didn't seem enough.  When we were at Kate's house and he saw the talking minion he blurted out, "please get me one of these".  So, he got it for his birthday.  And, he was thrilled.  It goes perfect with the minion posters, t-shirts, key ring and hat that he has collected over the past year.  See?  Still our little boy.

He requested homemade pizza for his birthday dinner. His minion cake was covered in white chocolate ganache (white chocolate is his favorite) and the minions (though they turned out a bit creepy - not my best work) were pure fondant.  He was in sugar heaven.