Warning...long post. I apologize, but over the summer I got way behind and because I someday want to print this for my family history, I needed to start where I left off. Here we go....

For the end of the year recital the kids play on the stage at the college on a baby grand piano. It is so fun for them and for us to watch. Kaitlyn played "The Star Spangled Banner"





This is Jacob's first time on stage playing the "real" piano. He played "King of the Jungle" and did a great job.
This is a random pic that got out of order...We visited Brauk's class for a night of learning about the rainforest. This is some of the family with our poisonous tree frog hats we made. Good times!
Back to the recital...Conner played "Piano Man" by Billy Joel and he did an awesome job!
Jake took this pic of Hailey doing her cross eyes...it's a family favorite!
Happy 10th Birthday Kaitlyn. You are a beautiful young lady!
Kaitlyn had a swim party for her Birthday. She had a great time.

This is what summer looks like for us here in AZ...Swim, Swim, and Swim some more!


Conner's big day! He has been anticipating receiving the priesthood for a very long time. It was a wonderful day and Conner looks so handsome.

Proud parents!
The Palmer's with the Palmer's! Thanks for your love and support!

Conner's 12th Birthday. Happy Birthday and we love you!

Conner, Mike and Josh after their 50 mile hike(which turned out to be 61.3 miles for the boys and 82 for Mike). Long story short, the hike took longer than anticipated. Mike left the group on his own to try to contact the leaders who were picking them, so they wouldn't worry about why the boys weren't showing up on schedule. He hiked out found one of the leaders and hiked back in the next day with food, since the boys ran out of food the day before. They were blessed with many miracles and stronger testimonies of the power of pray and that they are being watched out for. It was a very difficult, but rewarding experience for both the boys and Mike.


Thatcher 1st ward deacons and leaders. You guys rock!


Mike's legs after the hike from breaking trail through catclaw, cactus, and all sorts of other fun vegetation. The trail they went on wasn't a real marked trail, they had to make their own. Josh and Conner's legs and arms looked similar.

Our vacation north...

Jacob and Brauk with some of their friends in WY. Our friends the Smith's had a big BBQ at the KOA. We love the KOA!
It was Jolene's birthday so we are all enjoying her cake. Happy Birthday Jolene, we love you!

Kaitlyn, Olivia, Ashton, and MaKailey had a blast playing together again.

Jacob, Brauky, and friends making a jump into the pool. Right back at ya, Jake!
We love our friends from WY, it was so great to see you all and spend time with you.

Kaitlyn, Josh and Conner riding the sky coaster at Lagoon. They are the little speck being pulled up to the top.
They all loved it! It was so fun watching them...Way to go!


Bear Lake...

Josh, Jackson, and Jacob riding Grandpa's new toy.
Josh's 1st time wake boarding...he love it!
Mike wake boarding...looking good!
Julie and Conner doing the tube thing.
Josh taking his little cousins on a lizard hunt. All the little boys thought Josh was the coolest, he kept them entertained for hours.
Brinley, Kaitlyn, Conner, Taya, and Kylie enjoying the water weenie!
Favorite part about Bear Lake, playing in the sand.
Josh and Conner
Justin, Jacob, and Derek enjoying the ride!
Hailey absolutely loves the tube, she laughs and laughs.


Easthope Family Reunion. We had a great time getting together with everyone. Thanks Chad and Cheri for all your hard work. It was a blast!

Conner and Josh jousting.

Jacob and I don't know?
Logan and Brauk. Brauk could barely lift it, but he still tried his hardest.
Jayden and Kaitlyn. I deleted the pic of Kaitlyn with her broken arm on accident. When we were in WY she broke it crashing on a bike with her friend McKailey. Kaitlyn didn't let her broken arm stop her from doing anything or having fun. She adjusted!
The kids had a blast on the double waterslide they played on this for hours!
Good times!

Conner threw his hat in the mix, and was elected to be the 7th grade president for next year. I felt like his campaign helped get the "W" but we know its just because Conner is so wonderful...You are going to do Great Buddy!!!! We love you.

Kaitlyn and Hailey were trying to look like a tall person...Ha, Ha, Ha. What they ended up with was a tall person with a very large growth on her mid section. Girls you keep us laughing with your imagination, we are so happy you are both so close and such good friends.

Joshua took 2nd place in the Jr. High School Track finals. He lost out to an 8th grader and plans on winning it all next year. He came along way and by the end of the year he was really looking like he knew what he was doing. We are proud of you Josh, and you did great. Joshua wanted to give a shout out to his Grandpa Palmer who helped his with his form and motivation.

Explosion, Explosion

That 8 lb ball feels like a feather, 34.3 ft. and the second place award in the Jr. High Championship good job Bud!!!

Conner running just to run, 6th graders are not allowed to compete, so Conner would go to track every day and workout with the distance runners. His coach put him in the last track meet of the season. His event....the 400 meter. He was a great sport and took last...lol We love you Conner next year will be different when you are running the mile!

Joshua's 4x200 they took 4th in the finals..."the bad news bears" of 7th grade track, Ha, Ha, Ha. Give it a couple of years boys and nature will take care of what you currently lack. Your awesome and way to give it all you have!

Happy Mother's Day...Brauk and a friend decorated a cake for thier mother's they had a blast and could choose any decoration they wanted that was on the table. If you look closely Brauk decided that he would like to use a cross as the center piece...I wasn't aware that we were catholic. What says happy Mother's Day like a cake, a cross, and some beautiful flowers? We love you Brauk.

Finished the basement, and we love it. It really turned out nice and as you can see the essential decorations were added....ha, ha, ha. I got my T.V. and Julie got her couch. So great...everyone is welcome to come and see it, we welcome all visitors.

My new bedroom...see ya around 2:00 am Julie.

Jacob's Baptism

Jacob was baptized April 9, 2011 by his dad. It was a wonderful day with lots of smiles and a few tears. Jacob asked Josh to give a talk on baptism and his Grandma Jeppsen to talk on the Holy Ghost. All the Palmer kids sang "When I am Baptized." It was a neat program with a wonderful spirit present. We are so proud of Jacob for his decision to be baptized. We love you!

Proud Parents!

Grandma and Grandpa Jeppsen were able to come all the way from Utah to see Jacob. It was a wonderful visit. We love you both!

Some of the college kids came to support Jacob for his baptism. Big Conner, Megan & Brian. Thanks guys!

Update

Conner finished up his basketball season by playing on the All star team. He had a great time and did really well.
Some action shots...

For Christmas I had Aunt Carly make Kaitlyn some bracelets and headbands. She looked so cute, so I had to post it!

Conner on a hike with the 11 year old scouts.

Hailey ready for church.

Hailey with her BFF Miah Hunt. They wanted to dress like twins at church, so Hailey is wearing Miah's old dress and Miah is wearing the dress that her older sister grew out of.

We celebrated Jacob's 8th birthday by having a party with his friends at the park! He had a great time and got alot of fun stuff.

Jacob's birthday fell on a Sunday (how boring he said) He got his own scriptures and a CTR ring. He was loving it.

Happy Birthday Jacob....we love you!

Mike and I celebrated 15 years of marital bliss on the 15th of March. We were able to spend a whole 30 minutes alone together for lunch. Life's way to busy! Maybe we'll do the cruise thing on the 20th anniversary. Ha Ha! Here's a picture of our family at 15 years. We are so blessed!

Brauk's 6th birthday party was also at the park. Gotta love Arizona weather.

Brauk told me that for his birthday he wanted to have Cinnamon Toast Crunch...I love gifts like that.

Brauk's birthday was on a Sunday as well. He asked me if every birthday was going to be on a Sunday and I told him no and he said "Thank goodness!"

Brauk trying to unwrap his present....so funny!

Happy Birthday Brauky....we love you!

7th Grade Basketball

Basketball season has come to an end. Josh's team went 15 and 3 making it to the championship game where unfortunately they lost to Safford. Josh started the season off with Pneumonia and missed a couple of weeks of practice and a few games. He was able to come back and earn a spot as a starter. He worked really hard and improved a ton throughout the season. We are really proud of him. Here are a few highlights.

Thatcher's 7th grade team with their second place trophy. Way to go guys!

Josh had another wonderful thing happen...he got his braces off! Hip-hip-Hooray!! He's lovin' life!

He was also voted "best smile" out of the 7th grade and got his braces off just in time for the yearbook pic. He was sure happy!