Aargh!

I'm finally getting around to recapping the fabulous time that was this summer's musical theater.  Thanks Sarah and Sharee for another delightful experience.  This year the kids put on "So You Want to be a Pirate!" and boy did they look cute.  I was out of town for the performance and I am looking forward to getting the dvd so that we can watch it for FHE and I can at last see these talented kids in all their glory.  In the mean time, here are pictures from their dress rehearsal.  Thanks for taking them, big Amber!  ( I have to keep calling her that because my blog friends are thinking that my little Amber is a child prodigy at photography and that's not true as far as we have yet been able to determine. :))

 Ahoy Mateys!

Miranda and her fellow 8 (or soon to be 8) year old pirates.  We have such a great group of girls that age in our ward and they get to do all kinds of fun things like this together.

 Bethany concentrating on her dance moves.

 And Miranda working on hers.

 Tadah!

 The whole pirate group posing on stage.

Miranda and Bethany got the most awesome lines.  Bethany got to say, "Aye, Jack, they look good enough to eat!", and Miranda got to say, "Ya should have stayed home with your mother, matey.  Ya ain't no buccaneer!"  They were so cute practicing their lines every day. Good times!

River Rafting!

My fabulous sister in law sent us pictures of our river rafting trip from their waterproof camera, so now I am posting about the great fun we had  on the Colorado River.  Too bad I'm such a sad sack that all I could think of when I got them was, "Oh, when these were taken, my Aunt Liz was alive and well and 45 minutes away."  Crud!

 Here is beautiful Aunt Betsy and Gwen.  I used to think Betsy looked just like Kelly McGillis in "Top Gun".  Now I think she is way prettier.

One of Bethany's most favoritist cousins ever, Grace.  They are pen pals and make friendship bracelets for each other.  I wish we got to see this great girl more often.

Taking a break from rowing.  Eventually all of the kids got in the river during these breaks.  It didn't last long though. The water was just too cold.

Rowing through the rapids.  What fun!

Chad and Aaron loved these rapids.  Chad kept telling everyone, "Dig, son, dig!"  They want to try out some class 3 rapids next.

We survived.  Yahoo!  I highly recommend this very fun family activity.

Sweet Bethany!

I woke up to find this cute book by the side of my bed.  Being a mom is just great sometimes!  Now if only we can get Bethy's spellling in hand.  This is the fifth grade year after all. :)

Aunt Lizaboo

Elizabeth, Melvin, Darlene, Virginia, Cynthia & Dwight Hurst.

Aunt Liz being sassy.  She was always a hot chick and believe me when I tell you that she had a fan club from childhood on.

It seems that this summer could hardly get any worse, but sadly it has. So, here I am now to memorialize my fabulous Aunt Elizabeth who died yesterday of complications from diabetes. She was my dad's sister and best friend.  He called her Eli and she called him Dwightus.  He would do just about anything for her and I know why.  She was full of fun and spunk and she was the glue that held our family together after my grandma died.  She was in charge of all family reunions and get togethers.  She made it to almost all baptisms, weddings, graduations, etc.  She even went to my kids' games when she was in town.  She made the best raisin filled cookies, dutch oven potatoes, divinity and homemade rootbeer in the world And whenever you came to visit, she would insist on treating you like royalty even when you would assure her that you did not actually need a five course meal.  When my dad died, Aunt Liz made him a personalized floral arrangement complete with raisin filled cookies, a photograph of them together when they were younger, a letter written especially for him and an excellent Rook hand.  It was absolutely perfect. We treasured that arrangement.  Aunt Liz was the first person to head over to Stephanie's house after she died to comfort Aunt Sandra and give her support.  She was the one who sent the flowers.  For that matter, she was always the one to send the flowers on our family's behalf.  She was the one whose house we stayed at on our way to Stephanie's funeral.  My kids called her Aunt Lizaboo and loved her to death.  They felt as comfortable at her house as they do at Grandma's.  They even knew that they could talk her into making them macaroni and cheese even after she had slaved all day to prepare a huge Thanksgiving dinner for the entire family and they hadn't eaten enough to make them full.  That was just Aunt Liz.  She was the light of our family and I don't know how we are going to get along without her.  At least I get some small comfort in knowing that she and big Dwight are back in business after three years. I suspect that was a glorious reunion. Let's just hope Grandma can keep those two reprobates under control. 

You see what she will have to deal with. :)