Fun and Games with Family

Keith took that Kids on a Father and Family activity to Boomers where they played golf, rode in go-carts, bumper boats and even did the climbing wall. Here is Jenna getting ready to practice her driving skills.

Connor tells us that his sport is "Miniature Golf."In this picture you can see his great form; Tiger Woods better watch out. We had a number of "Holes in One" in this game so if must be in the genes.
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Here is Haley getting ready for her putt. Riley and Jenna are also in the picture. The day was beautiful , but extremely hot!

Jenna is Driving! I have to say that she does a great job. My knuckles are no longer white and I can breath easily as she drives me around town. Her behind the wheel test will be this Dec 17th. Good Luck Jenna! As you can see, her braces are also off and her teeth are ready for those Hollywood close ups.

This summer the boys put together a make believe paper game for Connor that they would play nearly every evening. Jarret or Riley would be narrator and they would even have back ground music playing on the lap top to add texture to the game. Connor loved it as you can see by his face in this picture.

Connor has been "blanketed" by his brothers. It doesn't look like he is to worried about it.
He seems to like the torture and abuse that they put him through.

Here Shaun and Riley are with their captive, guarded by a pistol Riley brought home from his mission. It looks totally like the real thing, I don't know how he got it back into the country.
I hope that my sheets and blankets survive this latest hostage taking.

This summer the family was addicted to the "Bean Game" and we played it nearly every night. Amazingly enough, Connor was usually the winner even though he gave his cards away with no thought of repayment. Somehow this strategy worked for him.

Here we are at the "Club" enjoying the pool and again Connor is being tortured. We had a tradition of going to the club nearly everyday this summer. Riley, Keith and Jarrett would do p-90 together. While Jenna and Haley worked out in the weight room, I would walk around the golf course or swim with Connor. Connor would sometimes do p-90, play raquet ball or shoot some hoops while waiting for his brothers. Then everyone would jump in the pool to cool down before going back home for dinner.

Shaun came out to be with us nearly every weekend. It is great to have the entire family together again after so many years. Shaun was six years old when he first started swimming in this pool. The SOS club has really changed over the years. When the kids were little is was full of families. Then they took out the diving boards, kids fountain and brought in the swim team that took over the pool. Now we are usually the only family swimming on the weekends. We are not complaining since it is fun to have the pool and barbecues to ourselves.

Wicked Trip

In May, the guys and I decided to make a trip into San Fransisco to see the Broadway musical "Wicked" together. It was a tremendous experience that we all enjoyed. We had seats that were only four rows from the stage which made the performance all the more magical. The last time I had seen it, I was on the back row in the far balcony.
Jarrett laughed throughout the entire production and I was a little worried that Riley might break into song when his favorite number "Dancing Through Life" was sung. Shaun took care of us all as usual and enjoyed being with his younger brothers.

Here we are at the Hayward BART station trying to figure out how to purchase tickets into San Francisco. This was trickier than we thought.

Jarrett is getting the hang of feeding his ticket into the ticket taker. It brings back memories for both Shaun and Jarrett using the underground in Brazil.

Riley is a pro at this and also spent a great deal of time on the trains in Hong Kong. We are all excited to be seeing Wicked together. Riley really wanted to see it before his mission. Luckily it is still going strong three years later.

When the boys were little I use to take them on BART into the city a great deal. They loved the museums, parks, battle ships, China Town and especially the trip in and out on the train. Here they are again standing on the same tracks. But instead of 5,3, and 1, they are 25,23,and 21. I guess you could call this BART trip our 20Th year reunion.

Shaun and Jarret use to scare all the passengers when they were little. They would run up and down this platform waiting for the train. Some were certain that they would fall on the tracks and felt it their duty to grab their arm or scold their mother to watch them more carefully.

Now they have grown up and aren't running about, but I think that they were just as excited to ride the train together like old times. These three brothers have always had a special relationship. They like being with each other more than ever and the brotherhood seems to grow stronger every year.

It's a good thing that Riley insisted that I get in a few pictures or no one would ever realize that I came on this trip with them. It's fun being with my grown up boys. They take such good care of me and are everything I hoped they'd grow up to be.

Riley can't help but be the comedian. It was fun listening to his stories of the Hong Kong underground and his contacting a real Nija on board.

The train trip was longer than expected, but time flew with such good company. I hope that someday we'll be able to see Wicked again. Until then I hope that we all can be found "Dancing Through Life", "Defying Gravity" and most of all "Changed for the Better" I know I have been because I have known; Shaun, Jarret and Riley and look forward to being with them forever.

Haley's Graduation Class of 2010

Here is Haley kissing high school good by! She was so excited as she put on her cap and gown and made the last minute preparations for her graduation.

Haley is ready to walk out the door. Everyone has been humming the Graduation March for her all day with an occasional reading of the graduates name. Each time there has been a smile, laugh and even a punch or two.

Grandma and Grandpa Mills made the long trip out and sat on hard seats to support Haley on her big day. Haley was surprised to receive a graduation check that helped to pay for her Apple Lap Top. Grandma and Grandpa Butters also surprised her with a beautiful new suit case that she is looking forward to packing soon.

Here is the happy family! Riley yelled " That's my sister" as Haley walked across the stage. The rest of cheered and clapped loudly as they read: Haley Kanani Mills.

Joleen, Brennan and Amber came to cheer Haley on as she crossed the stage and tossed her hat.

Haley is enjoying Connor's kiss of congratulations.

Proud Dad gives a hug and congratulations. Haley is now out of high school forever!

It was a great graduation and smiles weren't hard to come by. I still remember the day I graduated on the Brighton High football field. I know that Haley had a lot of happy thoughts on her mind as I did that day.

Brennan and Haley are both 2010 Graduates. They use to play on the swing set together and now they are both off to college. Brennan will be at BYU and Haley at BYUH.

Jenna Mills singing for audition in the Valley's Got Talent!

Yesterday, Jenna tried out for the Valley's Got Talent! This was the second round of auditions. She had to sing in front of six judges and did a great job! She wanted me to mention that she messed up a little in the middle of the song and started singing the ending, but luckily she realized. Also our camera quality is really bad and we are still trying to figure out why. Jenna is still waiting to hear if she was selected as a finalist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYQks0u1ZV8

"Tell the Teacher we're Surfin"

May 3, 2010--We played hookie and went to

Santa Cruz. It was a beautiful day with a perfect

low tide which meant great wave riding.

Disclaimer-Kids don't try to talk your parents

into doing this. Keith and Laura deny any knowledge

of this outrageous activity ever occurring.

Here's Jenna and Haley paddling for the same

wave while trying to avoid the gremmie (beginner)

in front of them.

This is a great shot of Jenna posing for the camera. You

can see her whole ride in the video section below.

I couldn't resist this shot of Haley paddling right past me.

This angle gives you a real feel of what it is like at water

level. She stood up a few seconds later.

There always has to be at least one group shot in every

trip. Hope the truant officer doesn't see this one.

Nice day but the cold water makes wetsuits still a necessity.

When you have a wetsuit on it always feels like it's summer

on the inside.

Laura and Connor overlooking the bluffs of

Santa Cruz. Note how tall Connor is getting!

Here's a great shot of Laura and the three Truants with the

Santa Cruz Pier and Boardwalk in the background.

Haley was coming straight towards me on this

wave. I thought she was going to run me over.

Note her extended arm ready to Hula.

Check out these videos of us shot from the water. The conditions were perfect for filming and riding the waves. We had the best time together cheering and rooting for each other. This is what Surfing is all about...the joy of riding waves!

Central Valley Clogging

Happy 18th Birthday Haley!

This past Sunday we got together and celebrated Haley's 18th birthday Hawaiian style. Grandma Mills went to extra effort to give the party a island feel. Each lei represents a happy birthday from one of her grandparents, family, cousins or aunts that were there.
Haley wanted to have Hawaiian Hay Stacks for dinner and she made her own lemon, rasberry jello birthday cake, it was wonderful.
Here is the special birthday picture board that Grandma Mills made for her. She has always been a beautiful girl, even more so now that she is 18.

Haley modeling her birthday dress that will go with her new Hawaiian wardrobe.

Connor's Challenger Space Mission

Connor is excited to begin his Challenger Space Mission simulation. This was taken before he boarded the space shuttle to work on the probe.
Connor got the award for the best rocket design. All the kids had 30 minutes to work on their rockets using limited supplies given to them. Connor's eggs didn't make it through the crash landing, but it got a really tremendous ride. Connor loved this electrical storm machine below.

Here is Connor working on the Navigation Team at Mission Control

His job was to find Hailey's Comet and make a navigation plan for the shuttle so that they could successfully intercept the comet. He was very professional and followed all the protocol perfectly. He really enjoyed working in mission control and helping the shuttle navigate and complete it's mission.
Here he is talking to the space shuttle and helping them make some course corrections. Connor really loved wearing the head phones and using the mic. He took his job very seriously and got a round of applause from mission control and the shuttle when he discovered the comet.
Half way through the simulation, Connor was transferred to the Space Shuttle so that he could experience that side of the mission. His assignment there was to work on the probe that would be launched into the comet to collect data. It was an exciting experience for him. All three of his brothers did the same mission years ago and interestingly enough they were all assigned to the navigation and probe teams.

Family Hike at Caswell State Park

Here we are hiking in the area of the New Hope Colony about 10 minutes from our home. In 1846, 20 Mormon pioneers from the ship Brooklyn arrived in the valley and built a settlement, later known as Stanislaus City. They planted wheat, built houses a saw mill and a Ferry. Unfortunately, the river overflowed that winter and made life miserable. Slowly the group disbanded; some returning to Utah, others seeking gold and moving elsewhere.
Here is Haley overlooking the Stanislaus River on a bike trip we took later that same day.

Connor and I are ready to start our hike along the Stanislaus River, but first we had to swing back and forth on this gate for fun.
Haley was the photographer on our trip and here is her self portrait. She was also our fearless leader and found the way back through the maze of paths, twists and turns without any problem. Both Keith and I need a GPS to get anywhere and were thankful to have her along.

The river and woods were beautiful. There was also a great deal of poison ivy we had to stay clear of. There were hidden animals rustling through the bushes and birds singing from the trees. We were the only people around which made the hike magical.