Theatre Camp

Brinley was able to participate in a drama camp at the Permian Playhouse.  She loved the classes on dance, production, music and drama.  She also loved dressing up for the theme days. (Dress like a nerd, wear your p.j.s, 80's clothes etc...)  Brinley also enjoyed making new friends and hanging out with them everyday.

My shirt, Aubrey's skirt, a lovely boppin' side pony,
plenty of spunk, and she is set! 



Bryn and Stevie (cousins).  Girls, just wanna have fun,
Oh girls, they wanna have fun! 



Nerd Day....Scary!!



Love her nerdy expression here....go bucked teeth.



Stevie's high waters were excellent....luckily these girls
are in costume only!  They are looking too scary.

At the end of the week, they put on a play.



Brinley filled in this act at the last minute.  She memorized several lines and perfomed
amazingly!  She was a kid in the backseat of the car trying to annoy her mother.
It was kind of weird seeing her speak meanly to her little sister....so out of character in real life!



On stage!

Stevie.  She and Bryn both LOVED this camp.

The performance was great!  It was fun to see campers of all ages
performing their songs, dances and lines onstage.



NowTHIS is our Brinley....not nerdy, or bee boppin to the  80s, or pretending to be mean to her sister and mom!



One Last Reunion Post....

Grandma and Aubrey working on the apple puzzle Grandpa made.

Logan, Parker and Tanner BEGGING Aunt Karol to let Logan stay one more night.  (It didn't work.)

Grandpa, Bryn, and Grandma

Wrestling w/ Uncle Bruce.  He taught the boys a
few tricks....like how to "pants" their father!

Snuggling w/ Uncle Scott

A Few More Reunion Pictures

Doesn't Tanner look adorable?  Surf Pro!

I can't just post ten pictures when I have over 200 I would love to share!

Brinley Boogie Boarded a ton but was always willing to
pass the board on to another cousin who wanted a turn.

Aunt Sarah was so cute to take time to chat with each of our kiddos.

Megan, Brinley and Kaitlyn ready for Jamberry nails time!

Tanner was an expert on helping Denise and Lindsey apply their Jamberry
nail shields....too much Jamberry at home maybe??



Me and Kaitlyn making her toes so beautiful!  (Southwest Diamond)

 



Multi Colored Chevron, Southwest Diamond, and Multi Colored Polka Dot!

  





Nurse Megan assisted by Lindsey and Parker take care of Tanner's wounds from his long boarding crash.

 


  


 


 




Grandpa doing his crazy pig song for the kids.  They are always mesmerized.



Some giant Redwood trees
we stopped to check out.



Bryn, Tan, and Aub inside the trunk of a dead Redwood tree...so huge!



Our Gwilliam Family Reunion!

     We were able to go to California for our Gwilliam Reunion this year.  So fun!  The kids LOVED seeing so many cousins, aunts, uncles and of course, Grandma and Grandpa Gwilliam.  Thursday afternoon we went to The Boardwalk.  Friday and Saturday we spent two days at the beach.  The second day was freezing, but the crazy kids stilled played in the water most of the day while the adults huddled together and enjoyed visiting.  Sunday, we drove through some redwood trees and our family stopped to take a closer look.  (We are a little tree deprived in West Texas!)  Karol and Mike did a great job of planning delicious meals and organizing a good mix of planned activities and hanging out for this year's reunion.  We had a wonderful time being with family and just wish Eric, Kris and kiddos could have made it as well.


The Group!




Back row: Megan, Emily, Kaitlyn, Brinley, McKayla, Sam
The very back row: Andrew, Conner,Kyle
Middle row: Tyson, Logan, Lindsey, Parker, Caronline, Blake
Front row: Aubrey, Ruby, Tanner




Yea...pictures are over!  Really just everybody being goofy. 




Tanner and Brinley...they did great at Boogie Boarding.




Grandpa, Grandma, Karol and McKayla




Mike is always good to bring his toys.  Mike, Keith and Bruce flying Mike's really cool kite.




Smores!  The older cousins are really good to include the younger ones. 
These are Keith's kiddos mixed  w/ Aubrey, Brinley and Parker.




Parker dug a HUGE hole.





Ruby and Aubrey were fast friends!






Jack's birthday party.  To bad he wasn't there:(
(Eric got sick at the last minute so they weren't able to come.)

 


Tan Man just a little sandy.




Park having fun with Blake and Logan.



Popsicle Sales!

     This is the third summer we have been involved in selling popsicles.  Two summers ago, we just subbed occassionally for our good friends, the Hemonds.  Last summer, they sold in June and we sold in July and August.  This summer, they moved (frowny face) and we have inherited their ever changing popsicle route (smiley face).
     What is a popsicle route, you might ask.  Well, we sell Otter Pops to workers at construction sites in a certain area of our town.  Almost every afternoon, Brinley (11), Parker (9), Tanner (7) and Aubrey (5) go to work, and work it is!  They get out under the scorching West Texas sun in the middle of the afternoon, and offer popsicles for "a quatah each" as Aubrey's says it.  (That is "a quarter" for those of us who need a little intrerpreting.  She is still "woking" on saying her R's.)

Tanner being goofy for the camera.



Only Brinley and Tanner went on this day. (More money when you only have to
divide it with two siblings!)  I can't remember where Aubrey and Parker were.

      The construction workers are awesome.  They are very kind to the kids and really appreciate the refreshment on a hot afternoon.  They often tip them (maybe a quarter, fifty cents or even a dollar or two.)  When we don't go for a day or two, they are quick to ask the kids were they have been and maybe tease them a bit for slacking off.  They are friendly and patient as the kids count out the popcicles or search their ziplock bag for the right amount of change.
     I love that our children our learning several skills.  They are learning how to approach others and speak to strangers.  (Not that I want them to practice that when I am not there, but just thinking about future job interviews, their missions etc....  I want them to have people skills, not just the computer/texting skills I am sure they will gain as teenagers! )  They are practicing adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. 

1500 Otter Pops in our pantry will last about 10 days.  Craziness!

     They are learning how to run a small business.  They are learning the value of a dollar.  They are saving for personal items, for a mission and paying tithing.  They are learning to work together.  They are learning to make tough choices.  Sometimes they would rather sell that day and make some money but other days they would rather go swim or have a friend over.  I like the balance of work and play, and I like that they discuss it among themselves and decide mostly all together what they are going to do for the week.  (Sell three days and take two off, for example.)  They usually want to all go or all stay because they know if just two of them go, the other two make a ton of money without them!

Aub Daub counting some of her summer savings.

     I don't know if we have the dedication that our friends the Hemonds had.  They were faithful and went almost everyday.  However, we will go many days and I will enjoy spending the afternoon watching the kiddos sell the popsicles, divide the loot, and restock the freezer.  And don't worry, if you stop by our house, you can have a popsicle for free anytime!

Family Movie Night

Bedtime can be a little crazy at the Gwilliam household at times.  Trying to get everyone to bathe, brush teeth, get p.j.s on, sit quietly during scriptures and prayer, not delay bedtime by asking for a million snacks etc...etc...etc... can be trying.  Sooooo, Brian and I decided to bribe set up a reward for the children.  As they earned little colored cotton balls for peaceful bedtime behavior, they earned a family movie night.  It was definitely a win-win.

Tonight, I went out and stocked up on lots of candy (Milk Duds, Tootsie Pops, Sour Gummy Worms, Gobstoppers etc...) and we stacked up in front of the T.V. to watch E.T.!  Of course, I had to search a couple of stores to find some Reese's Pieces to share. The kids were fascinated and had lots of questions about aliens.  "Are they real?"  "Are they mean?"  "Why isn't he green?"  I think they liked the movie overall, and I know they loved having a candy/movie night. (Brian was present for most of it, but not pictured.)

We might have jumped the gun with Aubrey.  I think it was Family Fright Night for her.  We turned on "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" in the other room for her, but she eventually decided to watch again. I hope we don't have kiddos with bad dreams this week. That would definitely ruin our whole point of having a more peaceful bedtime experience!

Family FRIGHT night for Aub Daub....E.T. was too scary!

All in all, a fun summer evening together.