The boys have really been enjoying swim team, well at least these first two weeks. I should take a poll in another month when they are still being forced by their mean mom to swim five days a week. It is certainly the best $40 I have spent. They will have the chance to swim in two meets this summer. I sure hope the swim coach teaches them how to dive soon...
This morning we attended the graduation ceremony for the 2008 class of Mojave High School. Pictured with us is our neighbor, friend and sometimes babysitter Alex with his little sister Teresa. Alex did a great job at Mojave and graduated 10th in his class. Way to go Alex! The best (or worst) part of the ceremony was when the Senior Class Senator forgot the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. I am not sure if that reflects on a Clark County education or national patriotism???
This is proof that I was skinny once upon a time. I also apparently invented the mullet. This picture was taken about 1980 (yes ladies I am that old so you can close your gaping mouths now). Billy Ray Cyrus wasn't rockin' a mullet until the early 90's so I am definitely a trend setter. Look closely and you can see my sweet Jackie O type glasses. Thank goodness for contacts when I was a teenager and then LASIK a few years ago.
The top picture shows Ashley preparing to start playing Moonlight Sonata. The second picture shows her really getting into the piece. All the proud mommys were showing their children's piano recital videos and photos, so Ashley asked me to post these for her. I am going to contact the Van Cliburn Foundation to see what the age requirements are for this year's competition. Uh-oh they might not want her if they see the poopy pants post! 
This past Friday Mackenzie and her good friends Emalani, Makayla, and Aria graduated from Miss Sherie's class at Kiddie Kollege (preschool). Emalani and Makayla were with Mackenzie in Miss Amy's preschool class when they were four years old. Miss Sherie said this is the first time she has had a child reading when they were done with her class. Thanks so much to Miss Amy and Miss Sherie for being such great teachers and loving our Mackenzie just like we do!
We went and saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull yesterday. I definitely say save your money and rent it when it comes out on DVD. No offense to Harrison Ford, but it is just not the same now that he is 65 years old. The script was really weak and not linked together very well and the funny banter between the Indiana Jones character and Marion just wasn't there. Shia LaBeouf was much better five years ago when he starred in "Holes". It is awesome to see the bullwhip in action again, but other than that I recommend taking a pass on the new Jones movie.
It is officially warm enough to swim in Vegas. Ashley loved it even though the water was still a bit cold. She is going to be fish in no time. Zac and Nic are going to be on the Rec Center swim team this summer so they will be worn out at bedtime. Yay!
Here she is, the famous or is it infamous, super terrific friend Lori with Ashley. She is such a good sport that she came up to the family reunion from Phoenix so we have adopted her into the family or maybe we should call her an honorary member. I have known Lori since I was pregnant with Zachary back in Provo, Utah. I would set her up with Aaron's younger brother, Jess (an all around amazing guy), but she is a nice Catholic girl (she gave up Mormons for Lent) and only likes men with pictures of the Pope on their wall or on their shirt (though Jess does have the latter). So if you know any nice Catholic guys like John Stockton please tell me. They also have to be smoking HOT, work out, must want to attend the Cannata Family Reunion, debt free, no pets, college degree, must have a sense of humor, must put Lori #1, live on their own (not with mommy), must not be a Chia Pet, must not spill food on himself while eating, will ask a woman out and pay for her, is mentally stable, can cook like Bobby Flay, cleans up after himself, wants 4 kids, must like parsley, no tattoos, will buy her a Suburban, will buy a minimum 2 carat diamond wedding ring, likes long walks on the beach, take her on frequent vacations, buy her Brighton jewelry, must have a new (2005 or newer) car, must agree to separate bank accounts, must have a cell phone and know how to text, has to take his meds, must be chilvalrous, he must love pumpkin cheesecake, can pay for concerts and will support her extravagant lifestyle that she has grown accustomed to in her single years. These requirements might seem a bit lofty, but afterall deep down inside don't we all have the same expectations???
The 2nd Annual Cannata Family Reunion got off to a great start at the Nature Discovery Park on May 24. The families included The Warners, Cannata's, and McFadden's (family friends). My super terrific friend, Lori, from Phoenix took the picture. Family travelled from as far away as North Carolina to attend. We had such a great time and it was great to see everyone! We even filled up a few of the benches at church on Sunday.
We are right in the midst of holding the 2nd annual Cannata Family Reunion right here in sunny (what happened to the Sun???) and warm (so really what happened to the Sun???) Las Vegas. I thought I would post this picture in honor of Jess Cannata the one in the center who started and spearheaded the whole Family Reunion idea last year. Thanks Jess! This picture was taken at his Masters Degree graduation from Georgetown University in 2005. And BTW if anyone knows a beautiful and single LDS girl for him please let me know, did I mention he has a Masters Degree from Georgetown? : )
I came back to find that my precious little (ok ok not so little) angel baby Ashley was grievously injured at church by some of my dearest friends. I am considering litigation as she is now damaged goods and the baby modeling and pageant career we had planned for her is out of the question! And the worst part is that she was asleep when the attack happened.... : (
I had a fun and relaxing time this past weekend in southern Oregon with my father and step-mom. Here are a couple of pictures of the places we went. The top picture is a Gorge on the Rogue River the water is 44 degrees, brrrrr. The next picture is Crater Lake with about seven feet of snow still on the ground around it. Thanks to Aaron and my mom I was kid free. Whoo-hoo!
I am thankful for my father's good health. He had some surgery recently and he is doing great and feeling better. I am going to surprise him for his birthday this weekend by visiting him in Oregon. Shhhhh! Don't tell him!
Aaron and I want to thank our beautiful moms for all the years of love and support they have given us! The first picture is Kathy, Aaron's mother. The second picture is my step mother Sue and the third picture in the back row next to me is my mother Merlyne. We really appreciate the effort each mom has taken to be close to our children and the kids love all their grandmas and Nana.
Ok so this isn't that far back for us, but I just thought Ashley looked so little and cute! It really feels like yesterday (not 15 months ago) that she was born. She is such a sweet little angel and we are so glad that we have her in our lives. She is about four months old in this picture taken while we were in California for the First Annual Cannata Family Reunion.
