Big Round Up
Hi, my name is Megan. I’m an avid procrastinator of this blog. Sorry for the absence to anyone who actually reads this thing. I actually have a really good excuse for some of the procrastination. I’ve been waiting on the pictures from Jeremiah’s promotion ceremony to be downloaded from his office’s camera and they just keep lending out the camera before it gets done. So we will skip it and return with that when I get those pictures.
1. Anyway, Jamie’s actual birthday was fun. She was overwhelmed with all the gifts and love from our family around the country. She felt very blessed to have so many people think of her on her big day. So now (over a month later) she’s a whole decade old but nothing has changed otherwise. She’s still a sweet, sensitive, caring young lady who thinks of others *usually* before herself.
2. Pop Pop visited for a couple of weeks. He was here for all the big festivities…Jamie’s big 10, Jeremiah’s promotion, support while I was baking like a crazy woman for the whole thing, etc. Seriously he planned his trip perfectly and I was able to keep what sanity I have because he helped me so. As a treat, we took him to the Hogle Zoo, our first time there too.
We were a bit disappointed that the giraffes were unable to be viewed since the exhibit was being renovated but we will go back to see it once it’s open. We were happy to see the primates, however. I mean, really, the kids like seeing their own kind 😉
3. Mother’s Day weekend was super fun for us. We drove all the way to California! As soon as we left Utah, Arizona was amazing and the view was breathtaking. It took us about 10 hours to Anaheim and we were so happy to be out of the car!
After a good night’s sleep, we headed to the one place we’ve missed almost as much as our friend…Disneyland and California Adventure, of course. 
After waiting in line to wait in line (Jeremiah waited in the fast pass line for the new Cars ride just so we could wait in the shorter line for the actual ride), we headed for a few rides in California Adventure (and I snapped pictures).
Radiator Springs was simply amazing. Like just out of the Cars movie, amazing. The Disney peeps really pulled it out for this renovation. It was something to see. And the ride we waited in line to wait in the shorter line was worth the wait. Even I rode the ride!
After a quick lunch and our fill of California Adventure, we headed over to Disneyland. This place holds so many memories for us. Like the first time Mazie met Cinderella and she walked Mazie across the park. Or the time Jamie told Winnie the Pooh that she was potty trained. We couldn’t possibly skip it while in California. So we picked a few of our favorite Disney things and crammed them into the afternoon and were pretty satisfied with our Disney experience by the end of the day. The girls insisted on Autopia for one of our must dos. Mazie was tall enough to ride by herself (not well but still by herself). On a side note, it’s a good thing we have 4 years until she is able to actually drive for real.
And Jamie was able to drive if I pressed the pedal. Fine with me because I could stop us, if needed…
Then I decided to just enjoy walking around with my family and taking in all the things at Disneyland. I did take a few pictures of the parade which is always a must when we are there…
After getting dinner in Downtown Disney, we headed back to the hotel and passed out. The next day, we played in the pool at the hotel and did homework that was due when we returned home, just relaxed. The kids were in a wedding this weekend so we went to the rehearsal. We found out then that Jacob was actually carrying the real wedding rings on his pillow. So I had to tell him we was really the most important person (besides the bride and groom, of course) and he had to be so so careful with his pillow. We were so worried about that part that we may have forgotten to tell the kids that they were going to have to stand for the whole ceremony. Luckily, the bride and groom kept the ceremony short and sweet (like ours 15 years ago!) that they didn’t seem to notice! But more on the wedding in a minute…
4. We got up early one morning to make the 45 minute trek to Redondo Beach to meet up with the Laughreys, the Pikes, and the Shertzers for breakfast. It was so great to see everyone and catch up (as much catching up as you can do in an hour). We are a good lookin’ bunch, donchathink? (This picture is minus Wally who was snapping the picture and Cory-I’m not sure where he happened to disappear to).
5. Now onto the wedding. So we drove back to Anaheim with just enough time to get ready (girls needed hair curled) and head to the church. Jacob was so handsome in his little suit and was so proud to be wearing it. He was honored when they asked if he would “be in charge of the rings”. He did such a great job.
my handsome men 🙂
and one with me and my little man
The girls were beautiful, of course, in their matching dresses and with pretty bouquets. They, too, were honored when Erin and Tony asked if they would be in the wedding. They walked behind Jacob down the aisle to the altar and Jacob escorted Jamie back down the aisle at the end of the ceremony.
These were taken after the ceremony while we were waiting on the bride and groom to make their getaway.
We made our way to the reception and the kids were so excited that they did so well. They were proud of themselves but not prouder than I was. I think every person at the ceremony came up to complement us on the kids. It was nice to hear.
The bridal party was introduced with a little bio. The kids were first and I was a little late catching all of Mazie’s bio. But Jamie’s bio and Jacob’s bio were in full. They were all well done and the kids loved it! Congratulations Tony and Erin! We wish you many, many years of wedding bliss!!
6. So we get up super early the next day to drive all the way back to Utah. It was depressing. We had such a beautiful scenic drive until we got to Utah. The Valley of Doom and Gloom. Seriously. It literally was snowing many inches of snow. On Mother’s Day. We had to slow to a crawl and sometimes a stop on the pass. There were many accidents and, of course, everyone had to pee and no rest stops in sight. When we were able to stop at a rest stop (in flip-flops in snow), we overheard a trucker tell someone on his phone that he wasn’t going to make his delivery because they closed the pass. Thank Goodness we left when we did and did not get stuck there. We were able to make it home (an extra 1 1/2 hours of driving). This was my mother’s day…
I’m one blessed Mama with these three in my life (and, of course, my wonderful husband who made it possible for me to be called Mom).
7. So being back in Utah with three weeks left of the school year, the weeks went fast. All of a sudden, the kids had field trips and field day and projects due and all the end of the year festivities. Mazie had one final band concert (at least at this school). I am so impressed with these kids. The band teacher is kind of flaky and they had to kind of pick it up on their own. They worked hard and it showed.
Mazie has officially started private lessons with a teacher close to the base. When she had a trial lesson last week, I was taken back by how much the instructor reminded me of my old elementary band teacher, Mr. Bowman. Anyone remember him? He was crazy and awesome and everything a band teacher should be. He set the standard for what we were to expect from our instructors. Our high school band teacher fit the bill as well. We were blessed to have great instructors and I can’t wait to hear her improvement over the next few weeks. Mazie is super excited about this instructor as they have similar personalities. Being excited about music warms my heart!
8. So the end of the year just showed up whether we were ready for it or not. The last day of school pictures…
So with that we now have a 2nd, 5th, and 8th grader in the house. *sigh* You can see the first day of school here.
That’s that for now. Hopefully, sometime soon, I can get the pictures from Jeremiah’s promotion and put them up here for all to see. And maybe I can see if there were any photos taken of us at the dining out last week. Who knows? Maybe I will actually start blogging regularly. It’s possible, not likely, but possible. 😉
A Group Of Stahrs 
