Packer Family Reunion

We had to leave my family reunion a day early : ( in order to make it up to Utah in time for Dan's family reunion at Heber Valley Camp. The weather was so beautiful and such a nice break from the Texas heat (we even had to wear sweatshirts at night and in the mornings : ). We always look forward to this reunion that takes place near the 4th of July every other year. Since Dan's brother Andrew was getting married a week later we made sure we arrived in time for all the family fun. We participated in a COPE course, ate all the soft serve ice cream we could (thanks Uncle Spencer!), told campfire stories, played games with all the cousins and uncles, had a family fireside with Dan's grandparents, and went canoeing on the lake. It was so much fun!

Weston riding the mechanical horse Uncle Spencer brought. All of the kids rode this more times than I could count!

Bleu, Kenzli, and Cicialy in age order (only 5 months separates them)

Kaul, Tanner, and William

Weston and "his Sophie"

Cicialy with her great grandma!

4 generations - our kids, Dan, Bompa, and great grandpa

Weston loving his soon to be new Aunt Tawni and Uncle Andrew

Uncle Jake, William, Bleu, and Tanner

Kenzli and Cicialy in a canoe with me!

Dan's cousin, Weston, and Dan

Freeman Family Reunion

This summer has flown by! Only three more weeks until its over : ( We have had an amazing time (the highlight being our 3 week adventure to San Antonio, TX and Utah), and I am sad to see it coming to an end. If you ask my kids whether they liked our family vacation to Disney World back in September or this summer where they have been able to see all of thier 25 cousins they will without question answer COUSINS!!!

The last week of June all of my siblings (Tiffany, Beth, me, Ken, Matt, and Mark), along with our families, and my parents got together near San Antonio, TX for a few days full of fun. My parents have moved to Scotland for a few years and wanted the family to get together one last time before they left. We spent a day at Schlitterbahn (an amazing waterpark), went tubing down the Guadalupe River, ate dinner one night at Salt Lick (the most amazing BBQ in the middle of nowhere TX), played hard at Six Flags, and spent all our free time playing Just Dance 2 on the Wii and just hanging out. Below are some pictures from the Freeman Family Reunion:

Weston and his cousin Kruize at Grandma's house in Houston before we left

Maddie, Devri, and Cicialy ready for Schlitterbahn

Dallin, Aden, and William in the boys car
Our stop at Buc-cee's

Sadly I have no pictures from Schlitterbahn or Six Flags but here is Daegon, Aubri, Cicialy, and William playing Just Dance 2

All of us that went tubing down the Guadalupe River minus Dan and Jeff who were taking the pictures. All the kids under 6 went with my mom, grandpa, Beth, and Matt and Miya to the San Antonio Zoo.

Daegon and Cicialy getting Hana to laugh, which is no small task. She never gives me the time of day but boy did she love her cousin Daegon!

The guys (Daegon, William, Aden, and Papagator) eating amazing BBQ!

Maddie, Aubri, Devri, and Cicialy enjoying thier dinner as well!

We hope its not too long until we get to see all my family again!

The Bluebird Solo

Cicialy's year end ballet recital was held this past Saturday, and she was amazing!!! Not only did she do great in her group dance (they were Spanish Roses), but she performed a solo as well.

Cicialy performed the bluebird solo from the ballet Sleeping Beauty. She was the only girl in her age group to do a solo and has been working so hard on it since January. She did amazing, and I was so proud of her! Cici is often very shy but you would not have known that watching her dance.

After taking a few pictures her face clearly conveys "ENOUGH ALREADY!"

After the performance Cicialy received roses from Grandma Freeman and her brothers like every ballerina should. Can't you tell that was her favorite part of the event! Cicialy's bluebird costume was so cute! My friend Christa made the feathered headpiece, and I spent two and a half hours Friday night cutting out and handstitching on the fabric feathers along with sequins and beads. It was worth it!

A Good Day

Today was Cicialy Belle's preschool graduation. She insisted on having her hair straightened and toenails painted for the big day! Her teachers gave all the students an award and Cicialy got "most witty". They also asked each student what they wanted to be when they grew up and Cicialy's response was "a ballet teacher." Each student got to walk down the aisle to the pulpit by themselves and Cicialy was so smiley and sweet. I am so proud of my girlie!

Cicialy with Conner, her friend from church.
Cicialy and her two awesome teachers, Mrs. Lyles and Mrs. Heron.

Weston and Connor's little brother Cody acting crazy together, like always!

Finally, Cicialy and I after the ceremony. I sure do love that girl!

The Takeover

For the next two months swim team will be taking over our lives! The kids have practice every weekday and a day long meet every Saturday until the end of June. Go Eagle Springs Flyers!

And this is not related to the post, but Cici just looked so cute rocking out to her pink ipod nano she got for Christmas.

April Recap

April was a great month! We kicked off General Conference weekend with a family campout in the back yard, which included grilling hot dogs, making yummy smores in the microwave(which are far better than fire burnt ones any day in my opinion : ), playing games and watching the portable dvd player all night long. We were able to survive watching all four sessions of Conference with the kids thanks to a little help from the candy game and activity packets courtesy of sugardoodle.

Cicialy had preschool graduation pictures and looked soooooooo cute!

Easter Sunday was wonderful and relaxed. The kids enjoyed thier baskets filled with books, movies, coloring stuff, flip flops, goggles, swim suits and of course candy! They loved the backyard egg hunt after church. Next year I think we might do the baskets and egg hunt on Saturday so Sunday is filled with the more reverant aspects of the holiday.

After a week of rookie camp, Cicialy made our neighborhood summer league swim team. (She's the one in the blue swimsuit). Cicialy and William now have swim practice every weekday afternoon until school gets out and then every morning until the end of June. They are loving it! Ask them to show your thier flyer flexes.

William did great at his 1st grade play/concert, "Frog and Toad". His class had to all wear yellow shirts and were the featured class for the song, "Cookies". The kids and I can't get all the songs out of our heads : )

The last weekend of the month we attended the school district's fine arts festival at the local Community College. We had been informed that one of William's art pieces had been chosen for display, so we had to go see it. He won a first place ribbon! The festival was amazing. There were hands on art stations all over the place. The kids got to make funny hats, magnets, bags, jewelery, sidewalk chalk art and much more. There was even a dance class every half hour that Cicialy got to participate in.

Family Pictures

Way back in November we had some family pictures taken for Christmas cards. They did not get sent out, but here are a few of my favorite shots.