Aiden

Aiden has been a bit more brave than normal. First of all, this past week we went to the Lake. While there, Aiden was all excited to kneeboard again. He insisted on being the first one out on the kneeboard on day one. By Monday (We were there from Friday to Monday) he was totally showing off. He kept being super silly on the kneeboard and he had a blast. He also skied for the first time this year and of course, was on the inflatables all the time. He is really starting to get braver in the water and loves to swim. Hopefully, when we go out with the Bodle's he'll learn how to wakeboard as well. Then in October, he gets to go get Scuba certified. He has already started his classes and as soon as he turns ten, he's off to Florida with Grandma and Grandpa to get certified! I'm so jealous! maybe someday I will go too!

Aiden is also extremely musically talented. He started playing the clarinet in late September. he quickly caught on and was asked to join the Advance Band in January. This usually happens after about a year of playing. Then, just a week later, he was asked to join the District All-Star band, which I blogged about before. He got to perform at Knotts Berry Farm and had a great time. Well, we went to his Final performance for the year on Thursday for his school. It was actually for the three elementary schools that are the closest, and it was actually a beginning band concert. But because Aiden is technically supposed to be in Beginning band, they invited him to join them. His band teacher asked about five kids that were in sixth grade and All-Star members to join the beginning band to help out. We are so super proud of him. He did great, including a solo that was really good. His teacher also had all the kids stand up and introduce the instruments together, but then he had just Aiden stand and said that he is the ONE FOURTH GRADE CLARINET PLAYER who was moved up to Advance and All-Star band and how proud he was of him. It is a huge accomplishment to be able to play that well. We are truly proud of our little fiery one. He only has two days left of school and then he'll be in the fifth grade. Wow! How time flies!

Aiden performed at Knott's

Aiden is very musically talented. He was asked to join the district All-Star Band in February. This is a huge accomplishment because he only began playing the clarinet in October. Usually it takes at least a year, sometimes longer, for the kids to move out of beginning band and up to Advanced and only about 50 in the entire district go onto All-Stars. But he is so gifted, they asked him to try out and he made it. On top of the four concerts they had at the schools, he got to perform at Knott's Berry Farm. We totally had the most people there. Some parents just sent their kids, some just the parents went, but we took a lot of peeps. Our entire family of six went, along with Grandma, Grandpa, Oma, Darryl, Alex, Desi and Manny (for a total of 13 people). We are so proud of Aiden's accomplishments and can't wait to go again next year and the next and the next! Here are a few pics from the day. If you get a chance, ask the kids about all the rides they went on! It was empty so we go tto go on a lot of rides. We even cheated a little and made wood wedges for Noah's shoes. He was 1/2 inch too short, so we helped him out a bit! Ari was the bravest. She went on everything she was able to. (She's 2 inches too short for Silver Bullet still!) She even went on Xcellerator two times and Supreme Scream!Noah in his own car
Ari with Alex...It's tradition. Alex has to ride this ride with one of my kids.....
Aiden and Jinelle
The always fun Air Mail ride! The kids love this silly little ride!
The kids with Snoopy!
Aiden up on stage performing. He was great!

Ari got Baptized!

I had the MOST wonderful Mother's Day present in the world. Ari got baptized! Mother's Day was her 8th birthday, so we baptized her on her actual birthday. She was super excited. We had a great day with tons of family and friends who came to show Ari how much they care about her. I know it was a sacrifice for a lot of people since it was Mother's day, but they gave it up to be there for her. After the baptism, we went back to our house for a yummy dinner! We had Poppy Seed Chicken. It was an all around great day! Here are a few pics from the special day!

Ari and Mommy
Daddy Kissing his little girl
Daddy and Ari
Elder VW, Ari, Elder Poulsen


Grandma, Ari, and GrandpaUncle Alex, Ari, Aunt Desi, and Aunt Steffi
Noah, Ari, Jinelle, and Aiden

My pretty little Princess
Morgan, Ari, Pam and EmmaOma, Ari, and Papa D....


Ari (blurry, sorry) with her Layer cakeClose up of the clake

Ari with Kasey's familyAri kissing her Uncle Matt
Ari with the Stokes Family.

There are about a hundred pics, but I don't want to bore you all, so this will have to do for now. If you want to see anything else, comment me or look at my face book. I put a bunch on there!