Rachel's Sweet Sixteen

We survived Rachel’s Sweet Sixteen birthday bash on Saturday.  It was a big success.  We had about 30 kids filling up the backyard- enjoying music, the trampoline, hammocks, chairs, swing, and playing games under the arbor.  The party was to go from 7-9:30 pm, but the last guests left at about 11 pm.  The backyard looked great- Melissa had strung white lights all along the fence, around the arbors, and had decorated mason jars with candles on the wall and in the plant pots.  When they all gathered inside to sing happy birthday they barely all fit in the family room.  I made banana cupcakes and served Tillamook ice cream and toppings and soda.  Everyone seemed to have a good time.  Rachel was a good hostess and bounced around to her different friend groups (Bethany ward, our ward, band, and school).  She now has plenty of spending money from all the gift cards, a bag full of candy, and a stack of cards.  Rachel will officially turn 16 on Wednesday.  The Laurels have a fun Pasta activity planned for her to welcome her into the class.  She had her last driving lesson this week.  Now she just needs to put in the hours and wait for her 6 months to end in Jan when she can take her driving test.

53 Years Old!

Dear Kevin (& family)-

Well Dad did it- He survived another year and is now 53 years old! To celebrate he got to speak in church. The meeting was “How having a missionary in the field blesses our family.”  Sis Laney spoke, Sis Jensen spoke, then the YM sang “Armies of Helaman” and dad topped it all off.  Well, I guess you could say that you were really the concluding speaker- dad had your binder of letters with sticky notes on the pages he wanted to read from.  He was a hit when he read “Baptisimo” and raised his arms and fists above his head.  The second time he did that the Lambert boys were all giggling and laughing (along with other kids).  The third time he didn’t have to say anything but just raised his arms up.  It was so good to hear of the experiences John, Matt, and you are having - In totally different places (Salt Lake, Poland, and Brazil) and having great, although very different, spiritual and growing experiences. You guys are really doing a great job and working hard.

We served dad some of his favorites for dinner:  roast beef, mashed potatoes, cauliflower, sour dough bread, and even some shrimp.  We later had cake and sang Happy Birthday with Jennifer on Google + and Jessica on the phone.

First Day of School

Senior

Sophomore

There are some interesting things going on over at Westview High School with all the budget cuts and teacher layoffs in the school district- some of the classes have over 50 students- with two rooms opened up together and some students not even having desks to sit in.  Melissa got in a Lit & comp 12 class (she didn't get her choice of class and still needed another lit to graduate). Her teacher was a Librarian and had them all write their names on Popsicle sticks for him to draw out of a cup to ask questions.  It reminds her of Primary.  She got asked the question:  “What is plagiarism?”  She is having a hard time dealing with this class- hopefully she will survive- not at all like the AP classes she’s been taking.  Many kids didn't get their choice of classes, and there has been a lot of schedule mess ups- one kid got two periods of seminary, and AP music- which he didn't sign up for, and others that wanted it  didn't get in. Oh the drama of high school and low budgets…  I've heard good things about the new band teacher- Rachel says he is adjusting to teaching High school as opposed to Middle school.  It is weird not having a family member in marching band this year.  More free time after school and on Saturdays.

          

Jennifer headed off to Rexburg  for her last semester at BYU-I.  She has a great line up of art classes, and is excited for her art field trip in October to Washington DC.  Can you believe she will be a college graduate in December?

Jessica is settling in to her new semester at BYU Provo now finishing up her second week.  She texted us a picture of her 3^rd row seat in the end zone at the football game.  She said she got a great show from Cosmo, however the game was long and a little boring (not quite the same as with a sax in hand I guess).

Lazy

The house is quiet during the days now as the fall schedule settles in. Kind of nice:-)