HAWAII COUNTDOWN!!!

Aidan, Briana, Shannon and I leave for Hawaii in 12 days!!! The countdown is on! Whoo Hoo

Miss Teen Idaho International (Part 2)

Well, the pageant craziness is over! It was very fun to watch Briana compete grow from this experience. Here are a few more pictures. Enjoy.

Saturday morning getting ready to head out for rehearsals

Getting her hair done at Oliver Finley. They did such a good job, only down side is it took soooo long to curl all of her hair!

The finished product! Gorgeous!

Aidan was so good hanging out with us, he was very proud of his big sister!

Getting her make up done. YAY for fake eyelashes ;-)

Miss Teen SW Idaho Int. back at the Civic Center for more rehearsals

Proud Daddy and Brother after the pageant waiting for Briana (2nd runner up) to come out

Briana and Aidan after the pageant

The Fam after the pageant

Briana and her best friend Chrissy

Flowers, flowers, flowers

Briana and her friend Alyssa (1st runner up) in their fitness wear
If you would have asked Briana a few days ago she would have told you that this is her last pageant. However after her experience with this pageant she is re-thinking that. :) She had so much fun and learned so much that she is looking forward to either doing another pageant or working as a pageant coach in the future. Whatever she chooses I know that she will do an amazing job!

Miss Teen Idaho International

For those friends and family following Briana's pageant experience this year I thought I would give you a little update on my blog. :) Last night was the Judges Interviews. There are 5 judges who interview the contestants, the highest and lowest score is thrown out and the remaining 3 are part of their overall score. Briana felt that she did pretty well with the interviews but also glad about the high/low rule (she could not get one judge to even smile at her). The interviews are over now though and it is just time for fun on the stage. If you would like to go watch the pageant it is tonight (Aug 14) at the Nampa Civic Center. Doors open at 6:30.

Getting ready for hair and makeup for interviews

Mom's amazing job on hair :) I have never been a very creative hair fixer but we just started playing around with her hair on Thursday night and came up with this. It looked really cute!

The finished product. Full interview outfit. RC's Mom helped her pick this outfit out, it looked so cute on her.

Waiting for interviews with a few of the other girls, getting tips from Mrs. Idaho International 2010

Today she is busy with rehearsals, hair, rehearsals, makeup, and more rehearsals. I will update again after the pageant tonight! Good Luck Briana!

Who Done It?? CLUE!

For Aidan's 9th birthday party we turned our house in the CLUE Mansion! He loves playing CLUE so we thought what could be more fun than really playing clue?

When the kids walked in the front door they were greeted by Mr. Boddy in the entry way.

Linguini was "Mr. Boddy"

RC, Jon and Briana fingerprinted, booked and took mug shots of the "suspects"

Aidan aka "Colonel Mustard"

Baylee was just "Baylee" but she was so darn cute. She wanted a mug shot too and was so funny when we told her not to smile for it!

We ran out of Clue names so we had a few extra Investigators. Hayden was "Agent Black"

Dallin aka "Captain Camo"

Ian also just wanted a mug shot so he was "Ian Man"

Megumi aka "Miss Peacock"

Ricky aka "Mr. Green"

Zeke aka "Professor Plum"

Daelynn aka "Mrs. White"

Mackenzie aka "Miss Scarlett"

RC printed out and laminated their mug shots and fingerprints for them to take home

Although the kids didn't believe me it was completely random chance that the murderer turned out to be Colonel Mustard. Once the kids chased him and captured him they took him to "Officer Jon" to be handcuffed.

Caylee and I decided that with all the chaos and craziness going through the house we had better hide out...in disguise :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIDAN

FOR ALL PARENTS

"I'll lend you for a while a child of mine," He said.

"For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he's dead.
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,
But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
You'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief."

"I cannot promise he will stay; since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.
I've looked the wide world over in My search for teachers true
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love, not think the labor vain,
Nor hate Me when I come to call to take him back again?"

"I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy will be done!
For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay;
But should the angels call for him much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand!"
Edgar Guest

In Loving Memory of James Aaron Cook
July 13, 1991-August 5, 2005

LOOK WHO'S 9!!

On Monday August 2nd Cleve Aidan Cook (he was named after his Great Grandpa Cleve) turned 9! Wow, I can't believe it has been 9 years already. He is growing up into such a fun, amazing boy and we are so thankful to have him in our family. He joined our family at the ripe old age of 3 days. What a precious gift to us! I thought I would share a few "fun facts" about him.
1- He is VERY good at building things with legos, k'nex, and lincoln logs.
2- He loves the movie 7 Brides for 7 Brothers and went to the play with me and my friend Liz.
3- He made "team" in gymnastics and got to compete for the first time this year.
4- He loves to read and is starting the Cronicles of Narnia series.
5- He loves to play the game Clue.
6- He likes to play his Nintendo DS, especially lego games.
7- He wants to be a chef when he grows up and loves to watch cooking shows. One of his favorites is Cake Boss.
8- He loves playing with little kids, especially Baylee.
9- He is in cub scouts and is having lots of fun.
10- He is an amazing son and brother. He loves his brother and sisters!

Here are a few highlights of this last year:

He played basketball for the first time and had a great time

Aidan is on the Gymnastics Team for Gem State and loves it

With Gem State for the Dairy Days Parade

Hanging out with Mom after playing in the leaves and having a leaf fight

Showing his support for Aunt Shannon's School :)

Thanks for being such a great Son Aidan! We love you!