Updates...

It has been a busy, crazy week around here!
Here are some fun pictures and updates...

Ally and Amy climbed the "Y" and enjoyed the view of beautiful Provo

Kaden, Caleb and Jackson think it's fun to be cool cousins!
Happy Birthday tomorrow Jackson...I can't believe that you are six already! Well, Grama thinks you are the most awesome six year old in the whole wide world!!
I love you buddy...

Taylor, Olivia and Kate think it's all about "Girl Power"

Kate and Taylor put on fabulous dances at their ward talent show and Jackson displayed a creative art masterpiece...

Kaden thinks he is "Indiana Jones" and lives in his cool hat...
He's certain it gives him special powers

It's a good thing that the jacuzzi was hot on Memorial Day...The pool was freezing!
It was so fun to have Ally home for the weekend...only a couple of more weeks and she will be home for the summer!! Amy has been in Texas for a few days... we are just hoping that she will give us at least a couple of weeks home this summer before she is off experiencing new adventures.
Kate is quite the little maniac dancer!!! Check this out...

A snake named Gary.

Yes, it is true, we have a new snake at our house. This is a new experience for this grandma....having all girls, we had kittens and dogs, never rodents, and definitely not snakes. Since Kaden lives with us four days a week, and he wanted to take his snake to school today, Kaden and his dad brought Gary the snake to our house. It is a corn snake and does not bite, thank goodness...but it is still slithery and a little creepy. And besides that you have to feed it frozen baby mice once a week!!!
The kids all came over yesterday, and Kate declared, "I don't like snakes!" But after all the kids took turns holding it, she decided she liked him, but still did not want to hold it. That's my girl Kate. This morning when we went to get the cage ready to take to school, Gary was no where to be found! My heart stopped for a minute until Grampa Al found Gary hiding under all the straw stuff in the cage. This raising boys adventure is way different than raising girls!

My Beautiful Mama

Colleen Gentry Huntington... My wonderful mom

Since Mother's Day was yesterday and my mom celebrates her birthday June 5th, I wanted to give a special shout out to her today. She is the most amazing mom in the universe and I am so blessed that she is mine. She has always been my dearest friend, confidant, adviser, teacher, greatest supporter, mentor, and sweetest example of what a mother should be. She has always loved us six kids unconditionally and has shared that tender love with each of her 18 grandchildren and 6 1/2 great grandchildren. The name Grami Colleen brings smiles
to every heart who knows her.
We all love you more than words could ever express...

Happy Birthday Amy and Caleb!!

Amy is 22 years old today and our grandson Caleb turns 5... Woa...time is moving way too fast! If they are that old, that means I am way too old!!

We all love you both so much and hope you have a Happy, Happy Birthday!

Some of my favorite things about Caleb...
He gives the best hugs.
He is always happy.
His smile can melt anyone.
He is so loving.
He loves anything that moves.
He has the cutest laugh.

He is sweet and such good boy.
He is absolutely adorable.

Some of my favorite things about Amy...
She loves without limits.
She gets a lot more joy out of giving and serving others than getting.
She is open minded and non judgmental.
She wants to make a difference in the world and I know she will.
She loves the Lord and honors Him by the way she lives.
She is such a hard worker and expects and works for excellence in all she does.
She is an amazing teacher and role model.
She sets goals and then does everything possible to achieve them.

She is fearless and always willing to try new things.
She is beautiful inside and out.

Have a great Birthday and know how very much you are loved by all of us!!!
Happy Birthday to Aunt Mary too... May 7th is a busy birthday day!

The Ark, The Fan Club and The Boys...

Last night we went to our Sandstone Stake play... The Ark.

It was great! I am amazed at all of the hours and time that went in to putting on this production. Everyone did an outstanding job and definitely deserved the standing ovation that they received. Grandpa Stacy (Chad's dad) was a cool cow in the play... Here is a cute picture of him with some of the kids after the play!

Ally, Courtney and Becca came home last week end and a couple of their friends from Provo stopped by to see them at Kaden's baseball game...Kaden loved having his own fan club!

Ivan and Yamil came in town today to do some volleyball coaching and so they came by to see the kids. Kaden and Jackson ended up wearing them out with a little baseball, football, racing and water gun fights! I think they were glad to get in the car and drive back to Provo...but, it was sure fun to see them, even if it was just for a little bit.

Kaden wanted to race Ivan and so Jackson was the finish line and whoever touched his hand first won... Well, when Ivan tried to touch Jackson's hand, Jax, the little sneaker, quickly pulled it away so Kaden could win... these cousins know how to stick together!

The Graduate!

It has been an amazingly crazy few days... Last Thursday we went to Provo and arrived just in time to get to Amy's BYU graduation at the Marriott Center. It was sooo great! Elder David A. Bednar was the speaker and he was amazing. He is so filled with the spirit that you can feel it radiate from him, even in a place as big as the Marriott Center. We all went to dinner after to celebrate. (Ally even brought the other three members of her double date to dinner so she could be with the family... they were all good sports to come.) Then, Friday morning was Amy's McKay School of Education Convocation at 8am . It was held in the Smith Field House which made it extra special for Amy. As we were sitting there, I was thinking how quickly the time has gone by... It seemed like just a couple of years ago that she was 7 years old attending her first volleyball camp in the Fieldhouse... and now here she is a BYU Graduate!! Elder L.Tom Perry was on the stand and shook each graduates hand. It was the first time Amy has shaken the hand of an apostle. It was a great day, and a wonderful sweet memory.

We are so proud of you Amy... Congratulations Graduate!!

The BYU men's volleyball team played in Long Beach Thursday night, and Friday morning at 6am Ivan Perez flew to SLC so he could be at his Electrical Engineering Convocation which was also held at the Fieldhouse. He then flew back to Long Beach Friday night at 8pm so he could be there for the Saturday night match. Amy, Allyn, Ally, Kaden and I and Ivan's family, who had come for graduation from Puerto Rico, all drove to Vegas right after pictures and lunch. Ally and I got home an hour before everyone else and so we had a huge meal all ready for them when they arrived. Then, Saturday morning Amy and Ivan's family drove to Long Beach for the volleyball match. It was so sad that BYU lost to Pepperdine in 5 after winning the first two games!! Ivan truly had a (3 time All American) great volleyball career at BYU. He is now going to be amazing on the P.R .National Team as they try to earn a bid to the Olympics, and then he is going to play professionally in Europe. Go Ivan!
Amy's plans right now (they change frequently) are to go to Austin, Texas and teach high school and work on her master's degree at the University of Texas.

Sunday morning they all drove back from Long Beach and then on to Provo. We had a BIG Sunday dinner all ready for them when they got here. I am now on strike from all cooking!! The kids all just laugh when I say that... but I really mean it( at least for a couple of days!) It's now Monday and Amy and Ally just left to go back to school... I am always so sad when they leave. Amy has a few classes she needs to finish up for spring term and Ally is doing spring classes too before she comes home for summer. Now it's too quiet around here and I am missing them all ready.
I am grateful for my family and I love each of them more than words could ever express...I am so blessed.

Yea! Ally Kay

We are so proud of Allyson... She got 4 A's and a B+ for her grades this semester at college!!! She really rocked in English! She got a 97 on her huge research paper and portfolio of all of her writing assignments since January. We keep telling her she should be an English major or do something with creative writing because she is so good at it. We just want you to know, Ally Kay, how much we love you and how awesome you are... you are amazing!

Ally, Courtney, Chelsea and Ciji just hanging out in their apartment in Provo.

Aunt Amy is Home!

Amy and one of her best friends, Rachel had a few days before graduation and so they came home. Needless to say all the kiddos were very happy to see their Aunt Amy! Kaden whispered to Amy when they first came, "Is that #44 Rachel?" Amy said yes... Kaden said, " She's my favorite player... she's got skilz!!"
The kids have kept them very busy playing baseball, kick ball, and of course volleyball. The girls got to spend one day swimming and relaxing at the JW Mariott Spa, and now they are out getting pedicures! What a life...

Happy Birthday Kate!

Princesses...Princesses...Princesses!!! Kate turned three today and she had a wonderful Princess Birthday Party. The birthday girl was the prettiest princess of them all. Kaden and Jackson and their friends Luke and Taylor were princes and welcomed all the little princesses to the party. A very special surprise guest came...Cinderella! She read them a fairytale (Cinderella of course) and they put on sparkly make up, made crowns and learned a dance with beautiful wands that Jennie made for each princess. It was as Kate said "The best day ever!"

So You Think YOU Can Dance...

Taylor sure can!! She is the cutest seven year old dancer on the planet! Today was another dance competition and Taylor's team took home two first place trophies. Yea TayTay!

Jennie, Chad, Taylor and Kate... I am lucky I got this picture since Jennie hates having her picture taken when she is pregnant! We are all excited for this little boy to get here the end of June... Jackson was at his baseball game, even though I know he would have much rather been watching his sister dance...OK maybe not.