Changes, turning older, and new toy

 About 8 years ago we planted 4 poplar trees in our backyard wanting some quick privacy and a way to keep the ball in our own yard when playing beach volleyball.  We knew they'd get too big someday, but we thought we'd have moved on by then.  Since that won't be happening, we decided to have them cut down before they got much bigger and it would cost more to have them taken down.  It was a sad day when we went from this. . .

 To this. . . in a matter of a few hours.  I hate seeing into our neighbors yard so easily, and can't wait to get some slower growing trees planted.

 Since we were in Rupert at Cam's baseball tournament on Mike's birthday, the Bundy's planned a fun evening at Porcupine Dam with us to celebrate Mike's 49th birthday when we got back.  Jake had to work, but we coaxed Cam to come with us for an evening of fun.  It's so peaceful and beautiful on the water. I loved it. 

 The spot where we had our cookout was so secluded and beautiful.  We had a good time eating and visiting.  The s'mores with strawberries and reeses peanut butter cups were a hit.

The next day Lindsey agreed to accompany me to Ogden for a day of shopping for my birthday.  I loved having my own personal shopper with me giving advice on what to buy- and therefore I came away with quite a bag full of cute new clothes.  Thanks Lins!  We had a fun day together.

 The next day, my actual birthday, I went to Bountiful with Freda and met up with Stacie and Teresa for lunch at Cheesecake Factory, then spent a relaxing afternoon in Teresa's backyard pool.  It was divine.  The boys joined Mike and I that evening at Texas Roadhouse for dinner to celebrate both our birthdays.

 Two days later I drove with Jake to Provo for him to buy a used scooter.  He's very excited about it, and it will be nice for him to have to drive around town. 

 We are finally getting started on our backyard improvements.  I can't wait to have a bigger covered patio, but I'm so sad that our side yard will be ruined.  It will all be worth it I hope.

Jake's marvelous month of May

Jake has just experienced a month so jam packed with amazing and memorable experiences that I don't think he'll ever be able to top it.  For starters, a movie he's been waiting 4 years for finally came out- The Avengers.  He's a huge Marvel Comic fan (particularly Captain America) so this movie was a dream come true.  He and his friends watched both Iron Man movies, the Incredible Hulk (which in my opinion was not so incredible. . . ) Captain America and Thor the two days before The Avengers came out, then they skipped school on Thurs May 3 to wait in line for TWELVE hours to see the Midnight movie on May 4.  It lived up to all the hype and anticipation, and I have to agree with the rest of the world that it was an amazing movie.  I quite loved it.

A week later, his friend John was allowed to invite some friends and accompany his parents to Lake Powell for 4 days.  Jake had such a great time- he really appreciated the beauty of Lake Powell and had such a fun time with all his friends.  He ventured out of his usual activity of tubing only and tried water skiing, wake boarding and surfing. He liked surfing the best.

 

 The night he got back from Lake Powell was our ward YM/YW senior dinner.  Sadly our ward is getting older with less and less youth, so you're looking at the graduating class of 2012 from the Foothill 2nd ward. He's had some great leaders and loved our ward even though none of his friends are in it. (he's wet because the YM pres. poured a picture of water on him after Jake started a water gun fight with some water guns that were part of the centerpieces- he figured they weren't there just to look cute!)

 The next weekend was the Senior Ball.  Jake never got into the whole dance scene, but he was willing to go to the last, biggest dance of the year.  The group consisted of his five best friends and some of his best friends who are girls, so he had a fun time.  I helped Janae (my good friend and the mom of Jakes bestie Corey) decorate her front porch for the dinner and then helped serve the dinner.  It was fun to be there and witness the fun everyone had.

 The next day Jake had to give his senior talk in Sacrament meeting.  Since he knew he'd be out late Saturday night, he did the smart thing and got it written a few days before.  He did a great job.  I was really proud of him, as I was that night when he graduated from Seminary.

 The next week was filled with fun last week of school activities.  One night was Oscar night.  Since Jake and his friends are really into making movies, they entered 9 of the movies/short clips they'd made and won an Oscar in every category they entered!  (On a side note, a few weeks before that they went to a film festival in SLC for all the high schools in Utah and took 2nd place in the 2 minute movie category, and 3rd place in the 8 minute category!)  This is the attire Jake came up with for the big night. . . He looked awesome!

 He had a great time at Senior Lagoon Day, and was amused to be told on three separate occasions by total strangers that he looks like Liam Hemsworth (Gale from Hunger Games) and one group of girls even wanted their picture taken with him.  Haha.  He had fun that night at the Beach dance out on the Patio at LHS.  That Sunday we had a progressive dinner/graduation party with about 20 family members from my side of the family.  The last stop was our house for dessert and a little tribute to Jake.  I gave him this T-shirt quilt that I had made, a high school scrapbook, and we all watched a DVD of his life that Kylee had made. It was so awesome.  The bottom right picture shows everyone's face as we watched the part of the DVD that shows about 50 pictures of Jake doing funny/dorky poses and faces.  It was very entertaining.  Ky did a great job.  I really wished she and Brody and Jess and Brad could have been there.

 Lindsey did an awesome job of taking Senior Pictures of Jake.  These are the ones she did in the fall:



and these are the ones she did this month:

See what I mean about the dorky/funny faces and poses?

 The dreaded High School graduation finally arrived (because- according to Jake- the fun part of life is over) with Candlelight on the 29th. . .

 And Graduation on the 30th. . .

 Since graduation was at 3:00, we went out to eat afterwards with the 2 sets of grandparents. 

Thanks to everyone for your support for Jake throughout his life.  It really means a lot to me.  And thanks to Jake for being such an amazing, fun, entertaining and special son.  You're the best and I couldn't love you more.