Two Buddies at the Phillies Game

Steve got some great seats at the Phillies game and we decided to take Evan and let him invite a friend.  He asked Ayden, a boy in our ward at church.  We even got to sit in the Hall of Fame Club!!  As the photos clearly show, the boys had a great time!!   

Glad you could come with us!!

Happy 18th Birthday, Nathan

Well, it was bound to happen.  Our future missionary turned 18 on June 14th.  We did the traditional "wake him up early" on that morning so that he could open his gifts and we also had a Sunday dinner where family and friends got together for cake, etc.  Here are a few photos from his big day!!

Opening gifts in his bed

Lots of missionary type things

Gathering on Sunday to celebrate

Classic Nate face

Singing "Happy Birthday"...

.....and Nate doing the honors!!

Happy Birthday, Nate.  We sure love you!!

Baseball - In the Championship Game

Evan enjoyed a great baseball season this year.  He had three excellent coaches and a fun team.  They started out kind of slow but got better and better throughout the season and ended up in the championship game.  It was a nail biter, but in the end they came up just short of a victory.  They received the second place trophy instead.  

Great job, guys!!

Evan at the plate

Lining up after the big game

The team with their coaches...Coach Wade, Coach Decker and Coach Lee

Coach Decker presenting Evan with his trophy

You're number one in our book, guys!!  Great season!!

It's Always Fun When Family Comes!! - Lorelei's Blessing

It's especially fun when our house is the meeting place for people coming from multiple places who haven't seen each other for a while....or at all!!  With Emily and her family already here at our home, we welcomed Stephanie and Karsten in late May for a few weeks and then Janelle and her family were able to come down for a few days in early June.  This was the first time that either Steph or Janelle had seen baby Lorelei and also allowed all these family members to be here for Evan's play and also for Lorelei's blessing.  Very exciting!!  It also made for some very fun cousin time.  Here are some of the pictures taken during our visit.

A lovely concert courtesy of Jimmie and Karsten

Enjoying a nice drink

Good morning, Baby Lorelei!!

Some delicious pancakes!!

James playing with Lorelei.  He was just fascinated with his little cousin!!

Jimmie's new water table was a big hit with everyone

Lots of fun!!

Pretty good little sharers

A trip to Johnson's Farm was a big hit with all the kids

...and Grandpa Foulk, too!!

James climbed all the way up by himself....very proud, too.

A little go-cart racing, anyone?  Go, Alan, go!!

Nate and....

....Evan got in on the fun, too.

Wow, James, look what you started!!

What can I say....... he's wrapped pretty tight around her little finger.  :)

The fearsome threesome (Karsten, Lucy, and Jimmie) on the swings out back

And another yummy breakfast...looks like Swedish (also known as sweetish) Pancakes this time

It's always a tradition to have Swedish Pancakes at Grandma's house

Delicious!!

Even with his little shiner that he got falling on the stairs, 

Jimmie loves his yummy Swedish pancakes!

We also took some of the kids by work so that they could see the big oil trucks.

They were a hit!!

The other very special thing that we got to do while everyone was here was to have Lorelei's blessing.  Here's the gang outside the church on that day.  So glad you are a part of our family, Lorelei!!

Thanks so much for coming, everyone.  It was so fun having you here.

The Magical Land of Oz

Clear back in February, Evan came home wanting to try out for the school musical.  Since our other kids had never been involved in a musical in middle school, I wasn't sure what to think.  He seemed very confident, so I didn't want to squelch that, but I also told him that since he was only a 5th grader, others with more experience may get chosen instead.  He was set on trying out for the part of the scarecrow and said that if he didn't get that, he would be happy to do stage crew. Nathan had just participated in tryouts for the high school play so he helped Evan work on the musical selection and we all gave him advise on making sure he spoke clearly and with feeling.  

He went in to the tryout after school one day.  I stood out in the hallway and waited.  When he came out he said he kind of messed up one of the speaking lines, but that his musical part went well.  He had learned the part with a recorded track, but when the directors asked if he wanted to do the tryout with the track or try it with piano accompaniment, he opted for the piano.  When they asked him if he would take another part if offered it, he said that he wanted to do the scarecrow part but would do stage crew if he didn't get that part.  Pretty gutsy answers, I thought.

Bottom line.....he got the part!!!  He was so excited.  He had to learn 90+ lines and even had a little solo in one song.  By all accounts he did a great job and many people approached him and said so.  It was super fun that Stephanie and Em were here to see it along with Nate, Grandma, Steve, and I.  Janelle's family also made the trip down from Massachusetts to see him in the play.  Even the cub scouts came to see him.  Pretty cool!!!  Way to go, Evan.  You were a super Scarecrow!!!

We are so proud of you!!!!

Cowardly Lion, Dorothy, and the Scarecrow

The program

Dorothy meets the scarecrow for the first time

Near the witch's castle

Tin woman, Dorothy, Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow

Talking to the Wizard of Oz

With Emily and Grandma after the first night's performance

His cub scout friends....Payson, Destin, Carter, and Tennyson

A cast group shot

Nathan, Steve, Evan and Alan after the final performance

Proud Mama and Papa with Evan the Scarecrow

And with his directors......they all did a super job!!!