Holden's Birthday

Our plan to spend Holden's birthday at Six Flags was a bit side tracked.  So we tried to do some fun things to make it a little less miserable.  

First, we went to Chuck E Cheese

And then to Five Guys

While it wasn't exactly the birthday Holden had planned.  We know we are blessed.  We are safe and together.

Interview with a 10 Year Old.

1. What is your favorite color?
Green
2. What is your favorite toy?
Legos
3. What is your favorite fruit?
Apples
4. What is your favorite TV show?
The Muppet Show
5.  What is your favorite movie?
Star Wars VI
6.  What is your least favorite chore?
The Dishwasher
7. What is your favorite animal?
A Lizard
8. What is your favorite song?
The Cat With Two Heads by The Aquabats
9.  What is your favorite book?
Planet Tad
10.  Who is your best friend?
Gavin Holland
11.  What is your favorite dinner?
Spagetti with Red Sauce
12.  What is your favorite breakfast?
Fried Eggs
13.  What is your favorite game?
Capture The Flag
14.  What is your favorite thing to play outside?
Capture The Flag
15.  What is your favorite holiday?
My Birthday
16.  What is your favorite subject in school?
Writing
17. What is your goal for this year?
To Finish A Story for Writing
18. Do you think you reached your goal for last year?
No
19.  What do you spend your time thinking about?
Stuff that my parents put in my head
20.  What do you want to be when you grow up?
A Liam Tech Engineer

Connecticut Temple Site

They are building a temple in Farmington, Connecticut.  It will be about 45 minutes from us.  That is half the time it takes us to get to the temple in Boston.  After church we drove down to the site.  It just looks like an empty lot, but someday it will hold the house of The

 Here are the boys at the site.  

Kickball In The Backyard

A favorite summer past time of Joe and the boys.

Holden

Lego Creations

Legos are a favorite toy at our house.  I am sure the same could be said of any house full of boys.  There are lego pieces everywhere and I often wonder how many hundreds of dollars in Legos I have vacuumed and swept up.  Those darn little pieces are everywhere.  After the kids build something they always want to keep forever.  Since that isn't going to happen, we have begun the practice of taking pictures that they can keep forever.  Here are some of the latest and greatest.

Sailing for Gavin's Birthday

For Gavin's birthday he took a few friends to his grandparents house in Old Saybrook, CT to go sailing.  Here are some pictures of our Holden sailing.

Lasagna Ala Nicholas

Nicholas loves lasagna and today he made his first one, all by himself.  It turned out really well and he was pleased, especially after he ate it.  All during dinner his brother's serenaded him with Weird Al's La La Lasagna song.

Swim Lessons

This summer we did swimming lessons with Brendon again at the Huas.  The kids learned a lot and had a great time.  Thanks Brendon and Hua family.  

Here is Brendon with all the kids.  What a silly group.

Anders waiting his turn to jump in.

Holden is waiting in line to jump after Zachary.

Jump Anders Jump!

Look at that face.  

CANNON BALL!

Another group shot.

Nothing says summer like swimming and friends.  We are blessed!

Cat Emprire New York City

When Cat Empire comes to the states it is so exciting for us.  We got the tickets as soon as they were released.  We also got our friends Herb and Brendon Holland tickets to go with us.  

We left really early because Joe gets really nervous about being late.  But it was nice to get to the city in time to get a sandwich and walk around a bit.  Joe and I shared an amazing sandwich at a deli across the street from teh theater.  After we were done we noticed the health rating in the window.  Maybe we should have checked before we ate.  No one got sick so I guess it was alright.

Here we are waiting in line to get in.  We were really early.

We were there at least an hour before the opening act.  The opening band was a hip hop duo.  Not very exciting.  But finally Cat Empire came out and it was totally worth the wait.  

Harry on trumpet

Felix

The show was so amazing!  Too short of course.  When are they coming back?

Anders Graduates From Preschool

Today Anders graduated for preschool.  Good job Anders.  We are very proud of you.

Here are some pictures of his class.  Some of his friends are Michael, Shaia, Malachi, Manuel, Ceaser, and Craven.  

The class sang the Lively Letters songs. 

 The teachers aide, Miss Eleana, is helping Anders as he walks up to get his certificate.

 Miss Megan, Anders teacher, shakes his hand and gives him his completion certificate.

 Kindergarten here we come.  We are ready for you.

Children's Chorus of Springfield

Nicholas and Holden have the opportunity to sing with the Children's Chorus of Springfield.  They love it and we are so pleased to be a part of this wonderful organization.  Along with Professor Abercrombie and Vera Baker, this season brought the addition of a new assistant conductor, Esther.  She added a lot to the chorus.  We are blessed to have such wonderful people influence the lives of our sons.  Below are some pictures from the season.

Performance at a Fundraiser

At the Big Sing Concert

At practice for the City Stage Concert 

At the Eric Carle Museum

Visiting a Retirement Home

At the Springfield City Pancake Breakfast

Memorial Day

We had a nice relaxing Memorial Day.  (That translates to we didn't really do anything.  We went for a bike ride/scooter ride/walk.  The boys rode their bikes or scooters and Joe and I walked.

There they all go down our street.

There is a plaza near our home with circular walk way.  The boys rode around while Joe and I sat on a bench.

It always looks like they are conspiring to do something.

It was all too much for Holden and he took a rest in the grass.

Later that afternoon, we went to Olive Garden.  It is a tradition that the boys pick a resturant to go to for dinner on their birthdays.  In August Holden asked to go to Olive Garden and it took us this long to actually get there.  Again, remember our mantra.  Better late than never.

In spite of the wait, Holden was very happy with his soup. and his shrimp dish.

Eating out with four boys is always an adventure.

We love being a family.

Sound Of Music

The Holland kids were all in the play The Sound Of Music.  We decided to go on a family outing and see them.  They were all very good.  Anders thought we were going to play (not see a play) and he was very disappointed.  Everyone was very uncooperative with my efforts to take a picture so this the best I could do.

Good Bye Party At Mount Tom

My calling as the Institute teacher is such a blessing in my life.  I think my favorite part of my calling is getting to know the amazing and wonderful Young Single Adults.  I really love them.  My least favorite part is that they come and then then go.  This year was no exception.  Adam (one of the YSAs)  planned a farewell at Mount Tom for those who were leaving.  Earlier that day I went to the temple with Davin and his family so that he could take out his endowments.  It was a beautiful day.  The world and the church's future is secure in these young people.

Group photo at the farewell party for Leah, Harper, and Sam.  

This photo was taken from a lookout tower at Mount Tom. 

The boys are always on an adventure no matter where we are.

I never quite understood the fasination boys have with sticks.

Someone brought their pet bird which kept Anders and his friend Xavier happily occupied.