June 3rd

*June 3, 2011*
Today was Brittley's LAST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!!! Tate and I went to watch her participate in field day at the high school football field. She did a relay race, hula hoop, and tug-of-war; in the relay she did really well I think she came in third or fourth pretty good out of the entire kindergarten! I cannot believe she has completed her first year of school already, just yesterday I was bringing her home from the hospital now she's moving on to the first grade!

June 4, 2011

~June 4, 2011~
Today we went to the Western's Day Parade to actually watch! Well the kids have watched but we did not have to be up bright and early to get there we got to go at 10 when the parade started because this was the first year in 3 years that I was not in it for cheer! So it was very enjoyable to just enjoy the nice weather (finally!) and watch the parade with my kids. Jett was in it for Magic Valley Band & of course I enjoyed watching my old girls show their Bruin pride, but I was very content with my kids and my parents! Afterwards we just went over to my parent's house to enjoy the nice weather and hang out together...great way to kick off summer :)

The funny thing about these pics (not just my face lol) is the sweatshirt I am wearing; it's one of my mom's winter sweatshirts with a christmas scene on it...very teacherish but she wears them all the time. Anyways I went home and Clay walks in the door stops and says, "what are you wearing?????" He was like I hope you are not going to start wearing those! I just told him when I get cold I always grab one of my mom's sweatshirts to put on; it was just funny that he thought I was going to start wearing them for fun? or when I teach? ha ha ha

My silly mom :)

June 10th

*June 10, 2011*
*Today we went to Boise to kick off our INSANE weekend! Clay took Friday off and we headed to Boise in the afternoon. We went to the mall first to check out a few things & then headed to our hotel to check in and get ready for our family pictures! I was super excited because we have not had family pictures since Brittley was 3 and Tate was 1!! I mean just about THREE years of nothing but just fun pics that we take randomly. SO I took things into my hands and started scoping out Craigslist for photographers in Boise....I know right I looked on CRAIGSLIST for a family photographer; someone I did not know, but I would look at photographers' ads and then check out their websites and finally found one that had a great price but a great website and great shots so I found Portraits by Cynthi! Not only did she do our family pictures but my sister's wedding as well for a great price! 95 for our family pics and that was all the pics on a disc for us to print whenever and wherever..and for the wedding 100 an hour! I searched high and low and not one other person had that great of a deal for weddings! So our pictures turned out fabulous and I could not have been happier. After pictures we headed to Panda Express ASAP then went swimming in the pool at the hotel!! A fabulous day with the family!

June 11, 2011

~June 11, 2011~
On this day we celebrated the union of my sister and her new hubby: The Morses! It was such a fabulous wedding especially since I decorated!! Obviously not the park, but I did all the centerpieces (except the one on the cake table) I've always wanted to decorate for a wedding and I had a lot of fun doing it. My sister had an afternoon wedding at Alpine Ponds and Event Center in Meridian; she had 5 bridesmaids: Myself, Martice, Nikki, Mandy, and her maid of honor Sarah. There were 4 groomsmen as well, but I only know Jett's name! Brittley was the flower girl and she was so excited about it she talked about it for months...she did a very good job (took her job very seriously) so proud of my little girl! It was a very short ceremony, about the same as my own, or maybe a little shorter but it was sweet. Jame's sister married them (she got her ministry license just for it :)) The best part about the ceremony though was my sister covered their kiss! She was nervous so when she walked down the aisle she put her flowers in her face so when they kissed she moved them in front of them.....I made them kiss again after it was over in the same spot so everyone could take pictures!! Another unique part about the wedding was James's mom and sister performed hula dances for everyone; then they taught us all how to hula it was very entertaining and fun to participate in. I am so happy to welcome a new brother into the family and so happy for the newly wed couple!
Congratulations James & Amanda we love you guys!

The tablerunners I made with the help of my mom-in-law; I just bought actual tablecloth material, cut them in strips and then surged the sides voila! Amanda picked out the flowers from michael's and I had almost all of the vases at home. The other centerpieces were created by using Cari's idea from the cheer banquet; I borrowed the plastic vases put decorative gems in the bottom; water and then floated real carnations on the top. The other centerpieces were created by using long circular vases; decorative gems and then real roses inside floating with the stems (I saw it on a blog but they had candles floating on top...they must have weighed down the roses because I couldn't get them to not float oh well it was in the afternoon anyways!)

The girls in the wedding!

Amanda being walked down the aisle by our dad! His last daughter is married!

The two new families together (minus John oh and Vanessa she was there but must have been running around lol)

The second kiss ;)

Miss Brittley's beautiful dress was made by my fabulous mom-in-law! She is so extremely talented I was going to help but being a new sewer I was glad I asked her to help because I could not have done this on my own! She made the entire thing so stinking cute....it turned out perfect!

Learning and watching the hula

Ode to fathers

To my loving husband and father of my children:

As a young girl you always try to envision what your future husband will be like; his looks, personality, skills, ect....but one of the greatest qualities any guy can have is their ability to be a father as well as a husband. I could have never found another equal compared to Clay when it comes to being a father. We may have our differences at times, but one thing I know for sure is his love for his children. There is not a day that goes by when he is not playing with the kids, showering them with affection, or rialing them up into craziness; Clayton loves his kids more than anything and would do anything for them. I could not ask for anything greater than this because it is one of his best features. Everything that he does for our family is done specifically for us and how to better our lives. I love how hard he works to provide for our family and because of this our marriage has strengthened beyond measure. I love this man more every day and am so greatful for that strong feeling I had that this was the man I was supposed to marry. Thank you Clay for being the greatest husband a girl could ask for, but most of all for being the greatest dad to our wonderful children. I love you so much and hope your Father's day is relaxing and everything you hope it would be!

Love forever and always, Bri

Dear Dad,

I do not know if I can ever express the true gratitude I feel towards you because of the ongoing love you continually shower upon my life. Growing up we always had a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and food in our bellies because of your continuous hard work to provide for our family. Everything we had in life was because of your determination to make sure we had the things we need. When I was younger I know I did not appreciate this to the full extent, but as an adult and mother myself I am so greatful for having a father like you in our lives. I have a stronger bond with my own family now because you always made family your number one priority in your life. I never had to doubt your love for us kids because we always knew you loved each and every one of us. Thank you for all of the hard work, but also for alway being there whenever I was in need. Whether that was emotional or finacial ;)...I always knew you would never turn your back on me or any of my siblings. Now that I am with my own family the only thing I try to do is make your proud of the adult I have become. I continually work hard to let you know that everything you did for me when I was younger was not taken for granted. But the best thing about you now is what a wonderful grandfather you have become to my children. There is nothing in this world that you would keep from those little monkies and although they may be too young to realize the love behind the notion I am so eternally greatful for everything you do for them. Thank you dad for being the best dad a girl could ask for and the best grandpa a kid for ask for. I love you forever and always and no matter what; I will never ever forget everything you have done for me and my family because without it I would not be standing on my own two feet today. I hope your Father's Day is fabulous and filled with family time with me :).....I love you dad forever and always!

Love always, Brianne Hazel Hall Stanger