Book of Mormon Challenge...WE DID IT!!!

Wow...we actually did it! President Hinckley challenged the church to finish the Book of Mormon before the end of the year, and we thought it would be a nice tribute to Joseph Smith (who we learned so much about on our trip back East to some of the church history sights) to finish it on his birthday. The kids were all a little late for school so we could read the last chapter of Moroni and say a prayer together. The morning got off to a little rough start and I had my doubts about President Hinckley's promise about love increasing in our homes, but as soon as Lauren started to play Joseph Smith's First Prayer on the piano, the Spirit filled our home and we had a sweet experience as we finished the final chapter. As promised we went to dinner at The Roof (a restaurant in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building) to celebrate the occasion. Grandma and Grandpa Shields came with us.

Santa Claus!

Every year we have the funnest Christmas parties. This year we had the Haslam party early because it was the Shields year for Christmas Eve. The kids always love Santa!

A Christmas Carol

Jacob was well cast as Jacob Marley in the fourth grade play of the Christmas Carol. Jacob and Daniel Ehlert as Ebenezer.

Spencer the Elf and Jake

Mitchel Kirkham, Derek Wankier and Jake.

Basketball Matthew

Matt's first year playing basketball, what a team!

Fall, Firsts and Fun

With fall came homecoming and Lauren's first date. I thought she looked beautiful!
...and Halloween is alway fun! This year we had a Fairy Godmother, a Green Bionicle and of course no Halloween would be complete without a mummy with a little blood.

Sarah

Jake

Matthew

Jake without the mask.

Matthew turns SEVEN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!!

Back to School 2005

The "Back to School Gang" Spencer, Sarah, Jacob, Nathan and Matthew. I think Jake is the most excited! Here's to a great year! Sarah, Jake and Matthew at the bus stop.




First day of first grade with Mrs. Christensen.

Fourth grade with Mrs. Jensen.

Susannah Ungricht and Sarah.

First day of sixth grade with Mrs. Fuller.

Boston Marathon...

Steve and Craig (Kay's husband) both qualified to run the Boston Marathon so we took the girls and went back for a trip.

On Sunday we drove to Sharon, Vermont the birthplace of Joseph Smith.






And Fenway Park for all the Red Sox fans.

Sarah's future is so bright, we had to get shades...

The liberty trail...

Sarah picked Massachusetts for her state report this year, so she got an up close and personal look at the state's capitol!

Sweet Sixteen...

Happy Sweet Sixteen to Lauren! We spent Lauren's sixteenth birthday in California for a competition. We all had a blast and even got to eat at one of Lauren's favorite restaraunts on the pier...Ruby's Diner.

The Hundreth Day of School

The kindergarten celebrates the one hundreth day of school by dressing up as if they were 100! Matthew can now count to 100 by 1's, 2's, 5's and 10's! Way to go Matthew!

I Don't Want to be a Chicken...I Don't Want to be a Duck...

Sarah and Jenessa Erickson dance for the Young Women's talent show...it was hilarious! Send out the talent scouts!

Mirror, Mirror on the wall...

Who is that handsome one holding the doll? Sarah and her friend Leisl Roberts have brothers the same age, so they had a playdate together. I wonder how Matthew and Porter will feel about this picture in a few years!?

Sarah...Welcome to Young Women's!!!

The New Beginnings program was especially fun, since the only new beehive next year is Sarah, so all of the spotlight was on her. It was a literal spiritual pep rally in Sarah's honor. Lauren being one of the oldest girls was able to spotlight and introduce Sarah. It was a sweet moment in time. I am so glad my girls will be able to at least be in YW for one year together. The best part is that I am in the Stake YW, so I will be able to be a part as much as possible. Arise and Shine Forth!