He did it!

We are very proud of Chase.  

Today was his high school graduation!

Aunt Cathy (and baby Ari) came up from Las Vegas too.

What wonderful kids we have...

So far so good

After three years at Ms. Lorna's Preschool, Morgan has now GRADUATED!

We have grown to love Ms. Lorna and we are happy her son, Isaac and Morgan will be together in the same kindergarten class this fall.

Today we went to the awards ceremony at Hailey's school.  The choir performed several numbers.  Below is Hailey, looking very grown up.

And again with her silly choir friends. 

Hailey received an award for participating in Safety Patrol.  The school treated the entire patrol to lunch at:

(lucky for her they have LOTS of vegetarian items...)

Need a little good news?

We had a very busy weekend!  Chase completed the project portion of earning his Eagle Scout award.  The project was painting the exterior of the Dove Center.  It is a shelter for homeless/abused women and children.  We had a great turnout of family, friends and church members.  Working together with us was BioLife Plasma Center.  This company does a community service project each year.  We really appreciated all the extra hands, as it was a BIG undertaking.  Here are a few before and after photos:

BEFORE

AFTER

That is Steve's reflection in the window (white t-shirt).  This Eagle Scout award is not quite finished, so expect more to come.

In the meantime, to add to the good news,  Chase graduated from Seminary today!  All four years--we are so proud of him!  There are not a lot of youth in our ward, so only two kids graduated from the Snow Canyon 6th ward--Chase and our friend Brylee George.

This is Brylee, our wonderful Bishop Edwards, and Chase.

We were almost to the end of the graduation program and ceremony, when the stake president, Pres. Bowden, stood up to conclude.  There had been a lot of youth speakers, testimonies and musical numbers.  President Bowden mentioned he noticed that the 6th ward had not been represented in the program.  He then asked Chase to please come to the microphone and bear his testimony.  Anyone who knows Chase also knows he LOVES public speaking---NOT!  But he did what he was asked and walked up to the pulpit.  He smiled, bore his testimony and even made a little joke.  He did a wonderful job.  Love you, Chase!

The Simmons clan

 (Wow!  I hadn't noticed that Steve and Chase are the same height...and Chase is still growing...)

Grandma Betsy came too.  I thought we had a picture with her, but could not find it when the photos were downloaded.  I should be blogging lots more good things over the next several weeks.  Chase will have his high school graduation, I have a trip to Tennessee for our "sisters week",  Mom and Dad come home from their mission, and Cathy and Mark will be blessing baby Ari!

Sassy summer haircut

Before

After

AKA:  "no one likes to brush me"

Ha, ha, ha....

Thursday night (5/6/09), we were lucky enough to be invited on a night out with Michael and Barbara (Steve's sister and her husband).  They were up from LV to see the comedian Brian Regan at Tuachan.  They invited us along, and even took us to dinner first at The Brazilian Steakhouse.  The food was wonderful and Brian Regan was great!  The weather was perfect and we had a terrific time!

Thanks Mike and Barb!

pet time

Friday is always show and tell day at preschool---sorry, I am now supposed to refer to it as SCHOOL---for Morgan.  This Friday they were asked to bring their pet.  Below is Ms. Lorna, Piper, Morgan and Kennedy (with her pet pony).

Morgan loved showing off her dog, and Piper was actually a good girl!  Here is the whole preschool gang with their pets.  They all thought this was a fabulous show and tell day!

sugar and spice and everything nice

Our church meetings are early (9:00 am), so we have plenty of family hang-out time on Sunday afternoons.  Here are two lovelies who want to play 'make-ups'

Morgan before

Hailey before (yes, this is really the before--she went to a hula birthday party yesterday and has been in a tropical mood since)

Morgan after (too bad you cannot see the gold dust on her eyelids and blue mascara!)

Hula Hailey after

So twinkley and charming!