Happy Easter

Since our kids had off Good Friday and Easter Monday we decided to take a trip to spend Easter with the Richards.  This is what Easter Baskets for 8 kids looks like!

 Here's what the Bunny brought our kiddos.  The Shupe kids got new bathing suits in preparation for summer.

 Dane and Tanner each got new movies while Brynne and Clare got some summer sandals, and Atley got some make-up.

 I just love this picture of Janelle! This is always how I picture her....smiling and carefree.

 

It was a great Easter full of 96 hidden eggs, lots of candy, and great food and company.  Then we got to watch General Conference which made it that much better.

Happy Easter 2015

Stone Mountain

We went to Stone Mountain with the Richards 8 years ago when Callista and Clare were babies and it was just as beautiful as I had remembered it before!

They are not babies anymore, that's for sure!

These two started a friendship on our last visit to Stone Mountain, and it still continues to grow!

 In order are : Chloe 12, Ryan 10, Brynne 10, Atley 16 (but only by 1 day...we got to celebrate with her the day before), Clare 8, Callista 8, Dane 12, and the cuteness in the front is Tanner 4.

 Even though Dane and Ryan are 2 years apart they seem to speak the same language (and Dane is really nice and lets him tag along)!

 Just cuteness!

It was a beautiful Spring Day spent with beautiful friends.

Chloe's First Temple Trip

What a Glorious Day it was to be able to attend Chloe's first Baptism trip to the Orlando Temple.  The best part was that she was baptized for 10 family names, one of them being my Grandma, "Vera Catherine Sweet Patterson Vargo", and my great Aunt "Arraetta Patterson Palmer".

There was surely rejoicing in heaven that day!

Spring Break - MarineLand

We had a bucket list of things we wanted to do before we left Jacksonville, so we did as many as we could over Spring Break.  One of them was going to MarineLand, a dolphin sanctuary in St. Augustine.  The kids and Paul had an amazing time interacting with "Shocka".   I had an even better time standing off to the side and taking photos.  Although these photos that the professional photographer took turned out much better...so I'm using these.

 It was an extrordinary thing to see them so up close with this beautiful creature.  I hope they remember it forever!

Solo and Ensemble

This was the first year Chloe got to participate in Solo and Ensemble.  This is where you rehearse for weeks ahead of time either as a soloist, or as a small group and perform for a judge.  Chloe performed on her oboe in an ensemble along with Kaitlyn Ludlum on clarinet, and Presley Whitehead on Flute.

These 3 ladies rehearsed for weeks and performed the piece "Lift Thine Eyes".  The judge praised them for their hard work and they received a "SUPERIOR" rating.

Chloe also accompanied on the piano 4 other soloists earning her some fun cash to spend on her plane ticket to Las Vegas.  Great job Chloe!

Happy Valentine's Day

Ahhhhh!  My favorite holiday AND I got to spend it with some of my favorite people.  The Richard's came down for President's Day weekend, and lucky for me.....it was also Valentine's Day weekend.  They have a tradition that they do every Valentine's Day and so I thought the Shupe Family would start incorporating it as well.  You make a Valentine's mailbox...here's how mine turned out...more like a Valentine's Treasure Box.

 Then each person in the family has to write a "LOVE" note to all the other members of the family and place it in the mailbox.  Since we did it among the 2 families we said they could be "LIKE" notes.  (A little awkward having the 2 twelve year olds writing love notes to each other.) It was such a fun activity and the letters were hilarious....I can't wait to keep this tradition up in our family!

 Paul bought all the kids small boxes of chocolates which was a huge hit.

 Rob and Janelle- sweethearts for almost 18 years. (Let's not forget we set them up on their first date).

 Paul and Katherine - sweethearts for 18 years and 2 months.

Of course, there can be no Valentine's Day Celebration without frosting heart shaped sugar cookies!

 It was an amazing Valentine's Day and we are so glad we got to spend it with people we love!