Spring Break

I admit it...I STINK at documentation. I've always stunk at journals, taking pictures, etc., and don't even get me started on my lack of scrapbooking know how!! I am just not creative that way. I'm much better at being creative with my 5th graders to get them to laugh through my Math lessons! But all of that aside, I'm trying to be better. Because the one thing I miss the most are the memories. I just don't remember! Just ask Bryan! Worst memory ever, but it does make me get over things really easy, because I can't even remember to be mad. :)
Well, Spring Break was last week and BOY was it fun! We thought we'd share what we remembered to take pictures of!

This was the best part of Spring Break, Fruzzins!! We love that Stef is back and so close. It is making my life a joy especially because my daughter is happy all the time she is around her cousins. They had some really fun days together, as you can see. They love that swing, and snuggles (is that an inherited trait or a learned trait?!)
Just working on the basketball skills set, prepping for the day she can take on her ol' mom!
Scarlet is so sporty! and daring!! She loved this, and just playing around with the ball.
Tough girl hu!!! She is so much fun :)
Charlee loves this little rider/scooter thingy. She pushes it, rides it, sit backwards on it....anyways she can possibly play with it without actually eating it (although she has tried that as well!)
See what I mean!
She also just loves to be outside in the backyard. She'd be there all the time if we let her. She loves to climb up on this kid wheeler (which doesn't run) I think she feels like a big girl.
This is her normal reaction to being pushed around on the wheeler, ABSOLUTE JOY!!
Seriously...could ya just die. She is so stinkin' cute!!
She is also becoming more adventurous and is starting to really like the slide!

Now, I just loaded on some different movies we took of various backyard activities. One is long, and really only meant for Grandma's, so watch at your own discretion. It is of her getting a ride from her dad on the tarp around the back yard. She loves it so much that every time she see's the tarp she'll come running. Enjoy the shows! I know I will in a few months when I can't remember what is in them! :)

My Parents are Slackers Again!!!!!!!!!

Hello All! I need to apologize for my parents. They have been slackers again. They are never blogging. I keep growing up, and learning new things and they are not letting the world know. So because they are not letting you know, I will do it myself. So here are a bunch of pictures and some narrative to let you know what is going on.

So a while ago I got a measles vaccine and I had a reaction to it, it happens a lot to me when I get a vaccine. It did not hurt and it did not itch, but it looked really bad.

Front side a back side, it got pretty bad looking.

So this is one of the last pictures that was taken of me in my first house, this was the first house that I ever lived in, but we have moved and one thing that I will miss are the stairs. I learned how to climb the stairs here and I would go up and down. Sometimes I would climb to the top and throw things down at my dad below. It was quite funny.

So this is not showing up very much in the picture, but man I got myself a shiner. It was bad enough that everyone asked what was going on, I wish it had a really good story to go with it, but it does not, I just walked into a door after bumping into my dad.

So I love music, just hearing it makes my body move. It starts in my hips and bum, and then goes to my whole body. This little table makes some of the great music, so I will play it, and dance to it. Then I got this great puzzle and it has knobs on it and I love to hold it in my mouth. (Thanks Aunt Trista and cousins)

I love books too, my mom bought some little boxes to help organize the books and stuff, and the best part the boxes is climbing in and having fun with the books. I climb in and have tons of fun.

I love going to school with Mom, she is the best teacher ever. Sometime I go and just hang out in my stroller. I have gotten to the point where I will also run around the school and cause chaos. He he he he.

So this is my new home. We have been here a couple of weeks and we are still getting adjusted but things are going well. We have lots of unpacking and projects, but it is a lovely place, very charming and has the cutest little baby living in it (if I do say so myself).

Well everyone, hope you enjoyed the update, I will stay on my parents to keep you updated better, they can be such slackers sometimes. (They are also super busy. My Mom is working two jobs, working on her Masters degree, and being an amazing Mom. My Dad is finishing up with school, taking care of me and everything else, and he will be graduating at the end of April!!) But we just wanted to let everyone know that we love them and have been thinking about them. Until next time!
Charlotte Raynes Kennedy

Our Dear Father Joseph Raynes

Joseph Lincoln Raynes PhD, age 64, passed away peacefully January 10, 2011, surrounded by his eternal family, after a battle with brain cancer.

He was born June 21, 1946, in Provo, Utah to Beth Milner and Lincoln Francis Raynes; he was the second of eight children. Much of his childhood was spent on the Oregon Coast. While at BYU, Joe... met his beautiful wife, Alice Nielsen, in a laundromat and it was love at first sight. Their first conversation began with his joke about both having red hair. They married in the Salt Lake Temple on May 27, 1969. They have ten children, all redheaded. It was impossible to be around Joe and not know he loved his family, the Gospel, and serving others.

Joseph completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees at BYU and earned his PhD at Texas A&M University. He served and inspired others throughout his lifelong career in Education. He was an Elementary School Teacher, Principal at Joaquin Elementary, Dean of Continuing Education, Dean of Trades and Technology, and Associate Academic Vice President at Utah Valley State College. He was instrumental in bringing the Education Program to the now Utah Valley University. He loved being a Professor of Education. His influence is carried through the countless teachers he molded.

Traveling the world extensively, Joe was always in search of opportunities to serve others. Fluent in both Portuguese and Spanish, he lived in Bolivia and traveled throughout South America with his young family while working with the Bolivian government. He lived in Colonia Juárez, México working with the Juárez Stake Academy, and traveled to Mongolia to develop higher education programs during their transition from Communism. He was a gifted storyteller who weaved his life experiences into tales that both entertained and edified.

He was a dedicated servant of the Lord, and served an honorable LDS mission in the Brazil North Mission. He labored as Branch President at the MTC, Bishop of Cascade 2nd Ward, High Council Member in Orem Cascade Stake, Ordinance Worker in the Mount Timpanogos Temple, and a member of the Curriculum Resource Committee. A gifted teacher of life and salvation, he lived to bring action to the Gospel’s precepts. He was always willfully obedient to the Lord’s commandments, firm in following the Prophet.

Joe was a builder of homes, ideas, and lives. A gentle giant, who was steadfast, thoughtful, humble, and strong; he spent his life in quiet service. His greatness was shown by his Christ-like love, the warmth of his smile, the power of his patience, the richness of his intelligence, his ability and desire to teach even the hardest of hearts, his comedic timing, and his gift to uplift others through his faith, stories, and unconditional love. His love of the Savior showed in everything he did.

He is survived by his loving wife Alice Nielsen Raynes, their ten children: Janelle (Nathan) Gerber, Michelle, Denise (Paul) Pitcher, Alison (Marshall) Smith, Melanee, Stefanie (Nate) Farnsworth, Jonathan (Daniela), Danielle (Bryan) Kennedy, Derrick (Alexa), David (Sydney), and 17 wonderful grandchildren. He is also survived by his father, Lincoln Raynes, stepmother Barbara, and five sisters.

Public viewings will be held on Friday, January 14, at Walker Sanderson Mortuary (646 E 800 N, Orem) from 6 to 8pm; and on Saturday, January 15, at the Orem Utah Cascade Stake Center (481 E Center St, Orem) from 11am to 12:30pm. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 15, at the Orem Utah Cascade Stake Center (481 E Center St, Orem) starting at 1pm. Interment will be at the Orem City Cemetery (1520 N 800 E) directly following the service.

SNOW DAY!!!!!!

So, after a long, long, long, long time, in fact my whole life so far, my parents finally let me go out and play in the snow. It snowed a bunch last night and this morning, so there was lots of fresh snow to play in. I took my parents over to Grandma and Grandpa Raynes' house so that I could play there, luckily Aunt Sydney was there to take some pictures. (Thank you Aunt Sydney, at least there are some adults around that I don't have to train) So here are some of the pictures of me, I will narrate so that you know what was going on and also what I was thinking (for those out there who cannot tell)

I was so excited, I was getting to go out into the white stuff!!!

Look at me in my "Marshmallow Suit" Right after this picture I told my Mom that I needed to go to the bathroom, and she reminded me that I still wore a diaper and that I should "go with the flow" whatever that means.

Look, Look, Look, I made a person that is smaller then me. I set it up and then knocked them down. Muah Ha Ha (in my evil laugh voice)

I have my evil laugh, but I am still an angel, see, proof. :)

Well, thanks for coming with me on my little adventure, I can't wait until I can convince my parents to let me do this again, until next time, Charlotte

Walking Tall

Charlotte has been taking steps and doing a few short walks (2 or 3 steps) for a couple of months now, but today, she decided that she wanted to become a walker, so she did. We got some footage for your enjoyment.

Did you see me? Did ya? Did ya?






I am coming to get you, coming to get you.




So the way to do this is 4 steps which are:
1-Walk
2-Fall
3-Take Dramatic Pause
4-Crawl like crazy
See watch how it is done: