Family Pictures Aug 2013

 All of a sudden, I realized it would be a long time before we were all together for a family picture, so our patient and very happy children endured a photo shoot just a few days before we left town.  Enjoy!!!

Off she goes....

 The last day in their room together - sad faces!

 

 Rachel's new home away from home - The Fine Arts Center

 

 Taylor Hall at Helaman Halls

 

All moved in and ready to start being a freshman

Dear Sister Holbrook.........

 For several days, we have been watching the mailman drive up, hoping he is depositing a large white envelope.  Yesterday, this was the look on Lauren's face when she went to look inside...

 She has been called to the Utah Salt Lake City Mission - reporting to the MTC on October 9th.  She is soooooo excited and can't wait to get out there and teach!

 Rachel finally came home - it was a quiet 6 weeks without her, and now we only have 5 weeks until she leaves us again.

 Greg, Wendy and family came to visit in between all their stops on a church history trip.  They are a darling family - we ate, played games, put together legos, journeyed to the aquarium and laughed a lot.

May for the Rest of the Family

Nathan turned 13 on May 22nd.  He has grown an inch since Christmas - look how close he is to my height!

 

 Lauren came home on the 20th for all the festivities. 

 

I just put Rachel on the plane this morning for a 6 week trip to Utah.  She is heading there to help take care of Jeff, Carly and family (see below).  Little Zachary is still in intensive care and Sammy has a unique set of challenges.

 Meanwhile, Megan has posed for all the pictures, attended all the grad parties, smiled for all the birthday celebrations and stayed up studying for finals while everyone else has begun their summer.  She also prepared a beautiful clarinet piece for church last Sunday!

 Rachel's last day of school was the last day I picked Megan up from school too.  She is now back on the bus and even drives herself to physical therapy.  What a good sport!

Finishing High School

Hello everyone, this is Rachel! It's been quite a busy few weeks I've had finishing high school.

 

My last day of high school next to my first day of kindergarten

 I went to prom with my friend Bobby!

 Seminary graduation

 I turned 18!!! And Mom gave me the best present ever :)

 My very last band banquet. It was fun but very sad.

 Jeremy is my trumpet buddy, and I am going to miss him so much next year!

 My friends and I all wore a tshirt from the college we will be attending, and we took pictures together at a park. I will miss them all next year!

 GRADUATION DAY!!!!!!!!

 This is how excited I am to be done!

 My Hawaiian friend, Kia'i- the only other member of the Church in my graduating class

I love them all so much!

Early May

Megan's progress - The 2nd week in April, she got the okay to start putting weight on her foot.  Then she quickly graduated to only needing one crutch.  This was one of the first days she could carry anything herself.  We were all soooooo excited!!

 

 Look Mom - 2 free hands

 

 Now, she struts her stuff without even needing the brace.  She works hard in physical therapy and is making great progress - she even has permission to use the vacuum now.

 

 Nathan earned his First Class Scout award - he and his dad are quite the hams!

Here goes the first of the lasts...... It was sad to listen to Rachel's final band concert.  But it was such a delight to see her enjoying the music and her fellow trumpet-players and know how much this has shaped her life.  Here she is receiving the John Philips Sousa award - for the outstanding musician, and, as her director said, a shining star!  My favorite part of this picture is that all those boy trumpeters are standing up in her honor.

 Mr. Thompson - Band Director extraordinaire.

 Megan did a fabulous job at the concert as well.  She plays clarinet in the Symphonic Band and the piano for Wind Ensemble.  Everyone says that these 2 look alike - What do you think?

 Finally, things are blooming in Chicagoland, so I took Rachel on an outing to the Botanic Garden.  She wasn't missing much with only 4 days of school left.