May - for my Mom :)

While talking with my beautiful mom this week, she kindly informed me that my 2016 blog book is only going to be 2 pages long since I have been such a horrible blogger this year. 
Mom- I apologize and will do better. 

Right now- my Brucey is at a birthday party, Jane is at a YW stake party, Kate is at a birthday party so just James and I are home.  He wanted to get "Goosebumps" from the Red Box- so that was our fun date tonight.  The guy I usually date is working in the garage on his canoe.  Speaking of the canoe- it looks so awesome.  This week he brought home a fiberglass sheet.   

He spread it over the canoe and then poured epoxy all over it to get it to stick.  

 It was pretty interesting to watch.  

Other things that have been going on: 

My man made me a "Time Machine" out of PVC for my sharing time lesson. 

 We had "Arts Fest West"  Kate & James have TaLeNt!

 Jane and a few BFF's went white water rafting two Saturday's ago.  My friend came with me and we went hiking around the beautiful Letchworth State Park.

 Bruce hung out with 150 of his closest 5th grade friends at the party last Friday.

 It was parent observation week and dance.  Here is Kate with one of her BFF's  in their costumes.

 Sometimes James likes to take my phone and do crazy things...

Kate does too:

Sometimes, he falls asleep in the stairs:

 

 These two finished 1st and 2nd in their archery class:

 Jane also received a Silver medal in the Science Fair this year!

 My guy made these trophies for the Praxair- "Ted Talks."

 This guy LOVES soccer and he also loves his new jackets from Josh.

 This is his BFF from Pre-school & fellow travel soccer teammate.

 He also got to be "George Washington" in the living museum.  (Not nearly as awesome as my friend Megan's son who was Jimmy Carter with make up and all- loved that!) 

 One Saturday I took the 2 little guys on a special date golfing.

 We also went to Rochester on a different Saturday.  We had a great time with this climber while his sisters were at "Girl Scouts Go STEM."

 

 

 A few weeks ago some friends invited us to go with them on an "Underground Railroad" walk.  It was really special and I learned so much.

 We walked with candle lanterns.

Happy Mother's Day Mom- I love you! 

Muucchhh Needed Update...

December- really? December? It has been since December that I have updated our blog.
 To my moms- I apologize.

We are alive and well and have actually been pretty busy doing fun things. Today and yesterday we were able to watch General Conference and hear the words of our prophet and church leaders.  Here is a link: https://www.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng

Here's a quick recap and I'll follow it up with some pictures.
We did go to "Cold Stone" on Valentine's Day - a 15 year tradition! 


Brad:
* Still working hard at Praxair.
* Is in the process of building a canoe in our garage. (Pictures later.)
  ~ it will be ready when we host the entire Damstedt family in the Adirondacks this Summer.
* Just got called to be the 2nd counselor in the bishopric, but he's also still the YW counselor with the deacons & scouts.  His dad came out for the weekend!

* Loves playing games with the kids and we recently acquired, "Forbidden Island."
At the Crayola Factory with James: 


Eliza:
* Teaching full time at Maple West Elementary (where Kate & James are.)
* Primary President (& still Stake Primary Secretary)
* PTA President
* Kate's soccer coach
* Jane's Girl Scout Troop leader
* Is up at 5:30 every morning at the gym- in bed early too ;)
* Is trying hard to keep up on laundry & dishes...

Jane:
* 7th grader- taking advanced classes already.
* Loves Rock Orchestra
* Really loves listening to new music- 21 Pilots, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance
* Swims, takes Susie on walks, and hangs out with friends
* Was in the district Art Show! 

Bruce:
* 5th Grade
* Plays travel soccer
* No more broken leg :)
* Enjoys playing on his X-Box 1 that he purchased with his own money.

Kate:
* 3rd Grade
* recently finished a project on the great wall of China
* Dances on Thursdays
* Soccer on Saturdays
* Activity Days & Girl Scouts

  * Went to Cincinnati in Jan for Natalie's baptism: 
 
James:
* 1st grade
* Loves to play games with everybody
* Loves to read on RazKids
* Loves to play "Play Doh" with Kate at night
* Loves dogs and watches "Paw Patrol."

James and Kate at the Strong Museum: 
 
For Spring Break we went to Philadelphia!  We saw the Mint, Betsy Ross House, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Redding Market, Franklin Institute, Rocky Statue, and the temple that is being built.

 

Happy Easter:


I do still write in our journals and will do better about posting on the blog.
All of us at Niagara Falls:

 Ice skating:

 Families are Forever:

 A cool rainbow: