June Newsletter Submission

Landon's family, and mine when I get off my behind and do it, have a monthly family newsletter. We write a breif this is what we are doing and compile it all together to keep everyone informed of what we are all doing. This is ours for June. I thought I would include it because not everything from here made it to the blog and vice-versa. So, some of it is repeat for my blog followers, but some of it is new stuff that I want to be included in my family's history.

June was a busy month filled with lots of fun things. Landon started his second part-time job this month. He works as a part-time maintenance man for a senior-citizen apartment complex and has been fitting right in. Just a couple of weeks after he started his boss quit and he was left in charge for a couple of weeks. The residents really like him and he really likes that he doesn’t have to think too hard at this job. Landon also was able to complete his hunters safety course this month. They even gave him a really neat hat. He is so excited and can't wait to get his license now.

I spent the beginning of the month carting the kids to the doctor and to swim lessons. Trevor had to go see the doctor for a nasty wart that he had on his hand. We had to burn it off and it wasn’t a very fun experience. As I was checking us out and getting Trevor his sticker and sucker and speaking with the receptionist about how much our copay was, Trevor announced: "My wart doesn't hurt as bad. I'm so happy!" Everyone in the doctor's office broke out laughing. It was so cute. And he repeated himself several times. Truly, truly, happy that his wart didn't hurt anymore. To reward him for being such a big boy we stopped off at Arctic Circle and got him a courtesy cone.

Swim lessons were a huge success for us this year. We have only been able to do one session so far, but are hoping to get another one done in August before Ellen starts school. Ella completed level 2 and Trevor was in a pre-school level. We are just happy that he is alive and didn’t drown. They both loved getting to swim everyday and Levi and I got to bond a little more while waiting for them.
Ellen and Trevor also got a unique experience in the middle of this month when they got to go for a train ride with my Aunt Linda and Uncle Paul. The ride that was supposed to be an hour long ended up being almost 2 1/2 hours after getting pushed into the siding a couple of times, but they loved the whole thing. Both came back home telling me all about the train. We are so glad they were able to get this experience.

The middle of the month also brought a trip to Boise for us for the Hill Family Reunion and Katie’s half-marathon. It was an all women’s marathon and I am proud to announce that we finished it in 2 hours and 22 minutes. I ran it with my sister Annie and besides being taken for lesbians at the beginning of the race, blistered feet and an achy knee, it all went well. I am so glad that I was able to have this experience and to do it with my sister. Thanks to all those who helped support me financially for this race.

Ellen finished up her piano lessons at the end of the month with a piano party at her piano teachers. They had a party and ate dinner and got to play a song they learned. Landon said she did fabulously. (I missed it because I was at the Twilight premiere. I know… where are my priorities, right, but I still think I would do the same thing if I had to do it again.) Trevor has started potty training at night and seems to be doing well with this new endeavor. Levi continues to learn new words everyday and has become a climber.
Love you all!

Landon, Katie, Ellen, Trevor and Levi