Elise's Baptism, and End of School Stuff

On the first of June, Evan graduated from his last year of Joy School!  The moms compiled a few photos, of which these were my favorites.  Evan loved, LOVED Joy School.  He was able to learn a bunch and make great friends.  They're all cuties.
  

  

The graduation party mostly involved kids playing on the swingset and jumping on the trampoline at our friend Kelsey's house, but there was a little bit of formality when they shared their favorite parts from the past year, and received their "diplomas."
   

My sweet girl Elise was baptized the first Saturday in June.  She was nervous and excited, both, but it was an amazing day.  We tried to spend a lot of time this year teaching her what baptism means, and making sure it was a decision she felt she wanted to make.  The program was awesome - a combined baptism with our friends the Bartys.  We'll keep the interview video he made of Elise forever.  Aunt Helena came, and gave the gift of her own childhood CTR ring, which Elise wore on a chain the next day for her confirmation.  She also got her own set of scriptures, and a giant cookie (of course.)  I'm so grateful for the things my children learn, and the help they receive from having the Gospel in their lives.
    

Elise had costume day, picture day, dress rehearsal, and her dance recital, which are kind of all the same experience.  She did a great job, and has gained a lot of confidence this year!
  

Instead of a Bouquet

Also, Elise attended the bridging ceremony for her Girl Scout troop.  She didn't bridge this year, but we went to support the other girls.
  

I found these crafts and decided to preserve them for history.  The only funny thing about them is that they're not by the kids.  They're by little Ryan Merrill Brown!  Thanks Helena, for the boxes of keepsakes!
    

As soon as dance recital ends, we consider summer officially begun.  The kids, with no prompting from me, got out a piece of poster board and made their Summer Fun List.  I think it was a bit too ambitious, but great nonetheless.
  

Ryan planted an avocado tree in the back yard.  To protect it from marauding deer, he careully placed a chicken-wire fence around it at deer height.  Unfortunately, we now have some adorable baby deer in the area, so they snuck under and ate the top off!
  

  

Some kid took these pictures.  They're kind of cute, though, so I'm keeping them.  (The pictures and the kids, I guess.)
  

One afternoon, Ryan went out to throw something in the yard waste bin, and saw a live rattlesnake looking up at him!  It couldn't have climbed in by itself, since there's a heavy lid and no holes, so we figure the yard guy must have scooped him up in some leaf litter and dumped him in the previous Friday.  Poor yard guy.  I showed him the picture, and he just laughed.