Congratulations Alyssa!

On Friday, June 11th, Alyssa graduated with Magna Cum Laude Honors from Crestview High School. She was ranked 19th in her graduating class of about 400 students and as the honor students get their diplomas first we didn't have to wait long to see her walk. We're proud of her! Graduation took place on the school's football field and we sat in the bleachers to cheer her on. Here's a couple of shots from the night. We love you Alyssa!

There she is the shortest one in line!

Count twelve over from the girl in the white dress from the goal post...that's Alyssa.

Unfortunately the walking across the stage and diploma acceptance shots were blurry...here she is diploma cover in hand.

The happy family, we're all glistening a bit...even though it's 9:30 at night!

Proud Daddy!

The real diploma...she had to pick it up after the ceremony outside.

Crestview High School's colors are Red and White. After the ceremony, I told here it was time to switch her colors...and gave her these blue paw earrings. They're not official BYU Cougar paws but watch out anyway BYU because here she comes!

Alyssa loves to wear bold and bright colors. I made her this graduation dress and belt in her signature color...bright orange!

"May" be life goes by too quick

Sometimes you just never catch up. This is one of those times. So since my last post 7 months have gone by and now it's May 2010.

There's just 17 school days left in the year and the kids are ancy for it getting done. They want to sleep in, be free from homework, and swim when they want. Oh to have such freedom!

Since October:

Ken's started his Finely Wood business and set his Air Force retirement date for Feb 2011.

Ashley became engaged and finished her 2nd year of college at BYU-Provo.

Alyssa was accepted to BYU-Provo and graduates from CHS June 11th.

Audrey started driving and wrote for the CHS newspaper.

Andrew became an official teenager and became a top AR reader at his school.

Aaron grew some inches and lost a few teeth...some with and without the help of the dentist.

Kim got behind.


Alyssa just had her senior pictures done. Here's a a few of my favorites for you all to enjoy.

Yikes and Yahoo, it's October!

YIKES, another month has gone by and I havent' blogged. YIKES, it's less than three months until Christmas. YIKES, Audrey has her permit! YIKES, Yikes, Yikes...the list could go one, but I won't bore you.

The other morning on the radio as I was driving to work, the DJ was discussing the seasons of Northwestern Florida. Basically, we have two seasons--summer and NOT summer. Summer lasts six months and thus so does NOT summer. We had a cool morning this last week and today I actually curled my hair without sweating. NOT summer is finally starting, YAHOO!

Alyssa got her license today...no more driving to and from seminary, YAHOO! (or is that a yikes, too!)

Well onto old news.... Alyssa was able to get her braces off in August. Audrey had hers put on the during the last week of July...they had two weeks of braces on together. Aren't they cute!

This was Alyssa on her birthday in 2007, just weeks before she had her braces put on. She looks so YOUNG!

This was the happy day those braces came off. Don't her teeth look great...she loves to smile! And she's matured so much...can't believe she'll be in college next fall.

Disney World Trip

During the month of August, Grandma DeSpain (Ken's mom) came to visit. We took her to Disney World as she's never experienced any type of Disney Park. We had 5 days of fun...despite the August heat! It'd been five years from the last time that we went. So I stuck in a few old pics so you could see how much the kids have grown in the past five years!

We all loved the 3-D shows, but by far our favorite 3-D attraction was the Toy Story Midway Ride!

Andrew then and now at King Arthur's Sword in the Stone!

Character greetings are always fun...Pluto was really fun...he was almost "Goofy!"

At the monument to Roy Disney and Minnie...then and now!

At the Mickey Mouse Garden in front of Magic Kingdom, then and now!

Bye Ya'all!

June and July Happenings

We've been busy... okay it's a perpetual state of being at our house. But here's some highlights from June and July thus far.

BACKYARD WORK

We're on the eternal plan for our backyard projects. This year it's building a shade wall which is reminiscent of a pergola and half-gazebo like structure all rolled into one.... So does that make a half "gazegola?"

KEN'S BIRTHDAY

This was Alyssa's gift to her Dad...a Shirley Temple DVD. She was getting back at him as he gave her his dirty boots for her birthday in May!

AUDREY'S BIRTHDAY

She's 15! Oh no permit time. She had her favorite...cheesecake!

Girls' Camp

Alyssa the YCL and last year at Girls' Camp. Gotta love the camo with her magenta high tops and turquoise laces...sorry the high tops are in the shadow.

Audrey at Girls' Camp. Her 4th year. Here she just returned from her 4th year High Adventure outing which was snorkeling for the day near Panama City.

Ken and the girls at Girls' Camp right after Bishop's Devotional Night.

AARON'S PACK MEETING

Yeah, he earned his Wolf!

May's Final Days

May's final days at the Hammlet ended with a "bang." We had a ward social on Alyssa's birthday and worked in the yard. Sunday we rested!

Aaahhhh...a beach bag full of goodies.

The much requested sewing machine!

The gift whe was still trying to unwrap on Sunday. Ken always comes up with a creative way to wrap at least one gift. This time it was with expandable foam!

Hhmmm... is 17 too big for the playground?!

Ashley enjoying ice cream at the ward social. She came straight from work.

BYU baseball cap.

BYU polo.

One happy BYU daddy!

That "splash" in the drainage pool is Andrew being thrown into by our 2nd bisphoric counselor and the missionaries.

I think this was before the dunk!

Happy 17th birthday Alyssa!

Andrew swinging while being squirted with water guns by friends.

Our picnic dinner spot.
Audrey resting in the heat.

Whoever gave the orders on digging this 5 foot deep hole needs glasses!

The middle of the hole should align with the middle steel rod!

I hope all that dirt means you've been productive!

It's okay you'll dry it was only an isolated shower!

Playing at the Beach...again!

Ken took three days off this week to relax and celebrate his birthday. On Monday Andrew left for Scout Camp, so Ken and the rest of the kids went swimming in the springs 45 minutes away. At a cool 68 degrees they didn't stay long and opted to go to the beach instead. Since I wasn't too far away from them, they picked me up in Defuniak from work and took me to the beach with them. The water was much warmer! After playing in the gulf awhile we went out for seafood. We left for home that evening filled with shrimp, crabcakes, steak, dungeness crab, chicken strips, and hush puppies! YUM!

Note I just rested on the beach as I didn't have my suit with me!

Chatty sisters.

Goofy sisters.

Guess Audrey needs a haircut!

Aaron burying himself in sand.

Watching a C-22 fly by.


Catching the waves...this is a close-up. (see below)

They actually are out quite far!