Summer

Tia went with this "cutie pie" Lauren....
to Newport Beach for a week.

Clark went with these guys...Ryan, Jacob, David, Nick and Jace...

and Bennett went with these guys...Tanner, Stockton, Hunter and Vance...

to Mountain View Basketball camp at Embry Riddle University in Prescott.

We will catch up with them on Friday to see all that they have learned.

It is pretty quiet around here with just Haley and Cassidy.

Although there is not as much laundry, the house stays cleaner and I am doing NO COOKING...Yipee!!

I still miss them all sooo much!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all that I have called "FATHER"...Couldn't ask for a better father for my children.
He is a wonderful example of all the things I try to teach my children daily...

Curt loves his work and no matter what his job, he has a passion for it.

This guy knows how to play hard.
Ultra competitive doesn't even come close to describing him in a game or competition.

Curt loves people. It doesn't matter the social status, religion, culture, or the language, he just wants to get to know them. He seriously makes friends EVERYWHERE he goes.

I don't think there is a piano recital, game, swim meet, parent teacher conference, awards assembly or church talk that Curt has missed his children participate in. He loves his kids!

He honors his priesthood through his leadership and love to us and to those he serves in whatever position he is called.

Each year, one of his gifts is a photo tie with a picture of his kids.
He, as well as the kids, are always surprised to see which picture he will proudly display!

The tie wearing tradition has come a long way.

This was what he sported in 2000, just 9 years ago!

My dad...

What do you say to the man who loved you, raised you, taught you and still to this day continues to do all those things through his example.

My father-in-law...

The sweetest, most humble and gentle man you would ever want to meet.

We see so much of our "Grandpa Chuck" in Curt. It brings us comfort and many a laugh as we realize "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree". We miss you, Grandpa!

To all these men...I LOVE YOU!

Happy Father's Day!

The Book Thief

I just love to see my kids reading...especially when they are supposed to be in bed!

Bennett loves anything with animals!
He just finished "Born to Trot"

Clark has been enjoying "Faith of Our Fathers".
He unfortunately made the mistake of telling his Dad how good it was.

He has now lost the book to the family book thief!
Clark has tried hiding it, but to no avail.
He is now just patiently waiting for Curt to finish it!
Cassidy just finished "Finding Faith"...loved it!

Haley is not so discriminating. She loves any cheesy LDS novel or dorky highschool romance book.

Tia is busy reading and re-reading her missionary mail along with "Jesus the Christ".

As for me, I am too busy reading my calendar several times a day to make sure I'm not missing any activities, swim meets, sports practices, meetings or appointments.

Who needs a book, besides as soon as I start one, someone ALWAYS steals it from me!

Girls Night

It's not very often that we get a night with the Estes Girls and most of the boys gone at the same time.

In honor of the occasion, we celebrated by making headbands!

Tia was a great instructor with her abundance of knowledge on the many uses of ribbons and lace...
Natalie, Kimberly, Abbey and Katie working on their projects...

All the girls wearing their fininshed products...

There was a lot of red and blue combinations in anticipation of upcoming Mt. View Spirit Days in the fall.

The Glory Days

It is now officially the start of summer!
It has been a busy week with all the various activities that close out a school year...

Clark and Carie were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society...

A piano recital that most of the cousins played in.
It was a special treat to be able to have Grandma in attendance.

Bennett ran for Student Body President and won!

Cassidy, Katie, and Shiersten gave an amazing showing at the Poston Awards Assembly.

Clark also received an award for best 7th grade boy mile time of 6:02.

Cassidy did a great job on stage as she helped hand out awards. We are so proud of her and the many great accomplishments she has made in Junior High.

Bennett's basketball team won the championship...again!

Bennett was awarded the team trophy because of a couple of clutch plays to win in the last minute and a half of the game. He is also sporting his new summer buzz which he has been wanting for months.

Cassidy sold Poston Freshman T-shirts at school to earn some money.

All the kids wore them on the last day of school.

Here are just a few of the friends who bought them.

Thanks Velocity Design!

Tia working on her final package to Anziano Koozer before his departure to Rome!

She has had so much fun taking this poster around to anybody and everybody that knows and loves Buddy to have their picture taken. She has seen old school teachers, Mt. View Security Guards, neighbors, friends, family, former football players and ward members to compile a darling photo send off for her favorite missionary. Here's to a happy and restful summer!

Cassidy's Wonderful Week

On Sunday, Cassidy received her Young Woman's Medallion.

Cassidy has the wonderful gift of being able to take a big project and break it down in order to accomplish it.

This makes my job soooo easy!
No nagging, no reminding...most of the time I don't even know what she is up to.

She does this with school, church, and student council.
(not so much piano, she just chooses to ignore that one!)

She is also sporting the Poston Girl's Track Shirt.
They went undefeated this year!
Go Panthers!

This year in Biology, Cassidy's two lab partners are both boys.
She has taken great care of them throughout the year, making sure they know what they are supposed to be doing, fetching their supplies, and making sure their assignments are complete.

In honor of all she does, they gifted her with a "Mother's Day" gift:
toilet bowl cleaner, rolling pin, wooden spoons, sponge, rubber cleaning gloves and control top panty hose (my favorite!).

She also received the "Mom Award" at the Cheer Banquet for always taking such great care of the other cheer leaders.

I hope these acknowledgements are compliments :)!


And since every "mom" needs to know how to drive, Cassidy got her Driver's Permit today!
I now have 3 teenage drivers! Yikes!
Keep up the great work, Cass! You make us proud!

Love Story meets Viva la Vida

Here's a video of our favorite piano composer Jon Schmidt, who we saw in concert last year.  This video is amazing!