Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Just taking down my Christmas tree and got a little sentimental thinking about that wonderful Christmas in July that we all spent together. Somehow these ornaments have always been a part of my tree.



I love you all and hope you had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thanks for the Memories!!!
Ace

Forgot to put our Blog on here if anyone wants to check us out we're at http://robertstexastough.blogspot.com/

hadsomuchfun.blogspot. com

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

hadsomuchfun.blogspot.com

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A Christmas card from VaVeeka!

Dear Friends and Family,

Yea! It’s Christmas! We love this time of year not because it is cold and snowy, but because it is so festive and jolly and the only time of year we actually look forward to getting our mail every day.

We’ve had a year of changes. Adam opened his own branch office of Academy Mortgage and began working exclusively from his home office which has turned out to be a great fit for our family. He loves that his commute is a flight of stairs and he can always be home for lunch. In fact after 8 months we have yet to think of any negatives about the arrangement. This new working situation gave us the freedom to move away from busy city life and build a new home in Providence, UT (right next to Logan in Cache Valley). We made the big move in September and absolutely love it here. Cache Valley is beautiful and the kids have adjusted well to their new school and friends. I enjoy volunteering at the kids’ school and try to keep the troops in line on the home front. I love being able to be at home with the kids every day.

Britton turned 7 in August and is in the 1st grade at school. He loves to read, play sports, and has just discovered Star Wars. He is tender hearted and very thoughtful and a lot of fun to be around. He is the first one up in the morning and never stops going all day long. He loves school and spending time with his Dad discussing very important things like college football and the BCS rankings. In a family with girls, they’ve learned to stick together!

Jenna is 5 and in Kindergarten and often declares, “no one loves school more than me!” She spends half the day at school and the other half playing with (and taking care of) her little sister. She is very nurturing and often surprises me by making my bed and getting Korinne dressed and ready for the day. She loves all things girly and already seems older than her 5 years.

Korinne is 3 and keeps us entertained. I’ve always said she has more personality than her little body can handle. Now that she can talk it is fun to see what comes out of her mouth. She loves to tease everyone like her brother, and dress up and play like her sister. She loves to keep Adam company while he works and enjoys going to stores with Mom. She loves it when the other kids are home, but has just as much fun when she’s got Mom and Dad to herself. She definitely keeps us on our toes at all times.

It’s been a great year for our family and we want to send our Christmas greetings to you all. We hope you have a great season filled with the true spirit of Christmas. Thanks for being a part of our lives!

With Love,
Adam, Hilary (a.k.a VaVeeka), Britton, Jenna and Korinne

This Saturday (Nov 8)

When we were at dinner the other night a couple of you said you were interested in digital scrapbooking. The free class I mentioned to you guys is this Saturday, November 8th from 10-noon in Sandy, UT. If any of you (Oakcrest '95 counselors) are interested in what I do I'll be happy to give you a couple CDs to try. I can ship them to you or you can pick them up at the class this Saturday. You can get more information on the class here: http://www.digitalscrapbookmemories.com/takeAClass.asp

Also, guess who I got to go to lunch with? J-Bird. How cool is that? She gave me a video to upload onto the blog. Unfortunately the computer I put it on has some problems so I can't post it just yet. Hopefully soon.

BOO

Sorry that the picture is a little blurry but we had such a fun Halloween week I just had to put in a little note! The picture is me with my little lion nephew, Dalton (my son) the vampire, my sister and my other nephew as the transformer Bumblebee. They were so adorable! I decided to throw together my witch costume and it was so much fun putting it together! It would be great to see others Halloween pictures. I hope you are all having a wonderful fall. The holidays are now on their way! Love you guys! Harmony

HOME SAFE AND SOUND

Just wanted to report that we made it home safe and sound. We touched down on Australian soil yesterday morning and I was so happy to see those familiar faces after going through customs. Thanks to the benefits of Benadryl Rylee actually slept most of the flight - yeah! So glad that we got to have dinner together. I was going to post some pictures, but there are plenty already.

Rylee and her daddy after a long time apart.

Do You Know This Song?

One of Sport's campers found my blog while googling the lyrics to an old Oakcrest song. This doesn't sound at all familiar to me. Does it sound familiar to any of you? Here are the lyrics she put in a comment on my blog:

I looked out over the mountain...
And watched as the fields and the valleys below ...
wake up to greet the sun in its morning glow...
listen in as the flowers seem to tell of the might that has come and gone....
People some are lost and trying to find the music and violen...
Slow down and on your way discover yourself there's a syphany within.

the 2nd part

falling rain brings a rainbow...
a heart is stirred and a child is told with the rainbow comes his prize of gold....
Men like children are searching but the untold path to rainbow is christ...
Its the light within mans eye.

the chrorus

then quietly I ask myself the beauty that I see is oh so simple men can't understand?

Baby Kate Warby

Now that she's more than a month old, I figured I should put a picture on. Katrien (Kate) Warby was born a bit early--September 8, 2008. She's doing well and we're so glad to have her.

(love Fuzz)

Getting Together

Olive Garden Atmosphere

These are the two pictures from my camera for our fun night out. It was so amazing to see those who were able to make it. I am sure the Olive Garden staff just loved us for the amount of time we were able to gab. I think they thought we would never leave!! Maybe we should plan an Oakcrest trip to Florida! I wonder if the sunshine state could handle all of us! =0) I know that Zazu would love it! Better yet, Let's go visit Mickey in Australia!!

Left to Right: Mickey, Flounder, Hershey, Twix, Spot, Twix's little girl, Harmony, Cascade, and Jazz'd

Thanks girls for the sweet memory! We have to do it again! Also, thanks for setting up the blog! This is an awesome way to keep in touch. It would be so great to hear from others who haven't posted yet or even more from those that have. You gals are the greatest!

Fun Stuff!

It was great to see so many of you last night. I loved that after not seeing most of you for 13 years that we could just pick up and chat the night away. Thank you Stacy for setting this up!!



Let's see... on the front row you can see Spot, Hershey, Mickey, and Founder. On the back row you'll find Twix, Cascade (me), Harmony and Jazz'd.

All totally fun cool girls. I'm totally impressed with our group. We are a strong group of people. Go Oakcrest!

Harmony is in the House!!

Hi Ladies!! It is so fun to hear what everyone has been up to over the years! After Oakcrest I went back to Snow to finish my degree.

1996-Graduated from Snow College

1997-1998 Served in the Australia Brisbane Mission

1999-Attended the U of U and taught gospel doctrine!! Yea...for four years!! =0)

2000-Moved Back to Henderson, NV to spend more time with my family. I ended up working for a hospital there as an Admisnistrative Assistant. I met my husband on Christmas Eve this year.

2001-Got married and continued to work at the hospital.

2002-Had Dalton and moved to Salt Lake City (My husband is a snowboarder and a speed skater. He didn't like the Las Vegas heat!!) This year was awesome because I was assistant stake YW camp leader! What a blast!

2003-Moved Back to Henderson NV. (So yea, my boss wanted me to come back and build a new hospital with him...so I did. =0) I moved in to the Teacher development calling at this point. I loved teaching this class!! It will always be one of my favorite callings! I got to teach it for three years so basically I taught sunday school for seven years! They wanted to keep me on my toes!

2004-2007 Pretty much a blur! Crazy work schedules, lots of fun family memories and more crazy work schedules. Then at the end of the year...you got it...moved back to Salt Lake City!! I am here to stay!!

Now I am working at the U of U part time and raising my little man. The picture on here he was trying not to smile! He is such a crack up and I love him tons!!

I am looking forward to being back in school to finally finish my degree! I am predicting that I will be graduating class of 2013! he he I am currently un-busy as far as church callings are concerned. My life has been a little unpredictable since April because of some trials with my marriage but all things are for our growth and learning.

I am looking forward to getting together with those that are in Salt Lake and all the rest of you will be greatly missed! Sure love you gals!!

Harmony

Hello from Thunder!

I've been meaning to post since Vaveeka first started this blog, but for some reason haven't had the time to sit down and do it. Here is a very brief run down of what I have been doing since Oakcrest and then you can check out my blog for a more detailed look at my life (if you're interested).

summer 1996--worked at Oakcrest again
1997-1999--mission in Marseille, France
Dec. 2000--married Jason Kemp
April 2001--graduated from BYU in Biology Teaching
2001-2002--worked at Independence High School teaching Biology
April 2002--son Britton was born (yes, Vaveeka and I both have a son named Britton, pretty random)
Aug. 2002--moved to Orem
2003-2005--worked at Landmark High School teaching Math
March 2004--daughter Haley was born
Aug. 2007--moved to China, taught math and science at Clifford Bilingual School
July 2008--moved back to Orem

Now I'm a stay-at-home mom and loving every minute of it!
It's so fun being in touch with so many again. Let's keep it going!

Aloha from Smiley!

Aloha from Oahu, Hawaii! This is "Smiley" or Sophie

1995-Went back to Rick's College (It'll always be called this in my mind) Met my hubby, Kelly, two weeks after school started. We worked in the cafeteria together everyday and talked the entire time about the people we were dating, studies, friends, family, etc. but I never considered seriously dating him because he was "just a friend" and I was dating two other guys at the same time. :) Well "Mickey" my roomie, kept trying to get me to consider dating him because he was (and is) such a sweetheart. I finally consented to go on a date with him when we were both in Salt Lake for the weekend. We went Ballroom dancing with his parents--quite a start. Long story short, we were married 11 months after we first met. We just celebrated our 12th anniversary. And they lived happily ever after...
1996-Finished at Rick's, went to Weber State in Ogden, son Elijah "Eli" was born 5 weeks early right after finals...
1997-1999-More Weber State
1999-2003--Case Western Reserve Dental School in Cleveland, OH (my hubby) I worked and took care of our kids Eli and Noah (born in April 2001).
2003-2004--Military payback for school scholarship, Residency in Colorado Springs,CO
2004-Nov., Daughter Eva Sophia born, moved to Germany after 6 Weeks!
2004-2006--lived in Wurzburg, Germany for 18months, toured all over Europe. That was an awesome experience, I can't wait to get back there. We're hoping to go to Vicenza, Italy in 2011 for another military tour of duty.
2006-Present--Oahu, Hawaii. We Love, love, love it here. It's definitely a nice place for the kids to grow and enjoy the outdoors. We're saving on travel--the beach is free! If anyone needs a vacation and a place to crash, we're here!
Hubby is in IRAQ, currently on deployment until November--yeah, it sucks.
2009--We'll be heading to Louisville, KY for Orthodontics residency until 2011.

My blog is Johnson Ohana, I'm still working on it.

COMING HOME FOR A VISIT!!!

Hey ladies. My husband - the best guy in the world - has worked it out so that I can come home for a visit. Since we don't have the benefit of a yearly trip home in our package from the company we originally thought we would just stay the whole time here in Australia. However, I think that he wants to keep me happy for the next year and a half so he has figured it all out. He is going to work from home for three weeks so he can get the two older kids to school and stuff. The baby, Rylee, is coming with me. I am so excited. I will be in Utah Oct 2-21. I was just wondering if anyone in Utah wanted to get together and do lunch or something since I missed the Oakcrest reunion. Let me know!!

Howdy from the great state of TX! Like Fuzzball, this is my first-ever blog. I have a myspace page but only so I can keep tabs on the YW in our ward. Think I'll take a page out of Cascade's book and do a year-by-year update of life after Oakcrest.

1995-You might remember that I had my mission call by the middle of the summer and was in the MTC just after Labor Day, on my way to Marilia, Brazil. So that's where I was for all of 1996 as well. I have to say that experience was the foundation of everything else to come.

1997-Returned from Brazil in March and within a week, had already had my first date with Christian, the handsome guy pictured as Mr. Incredible here. (This was at a ward "Fall Festival" in 2006.) Since I had was at USU and he was at the U, we did a lot of long-distance dating, which was fine since we grew up only 2 blocks from each other. We were engaged by Father's Day and married 2 days after Christmas.

1998-Student taught at Skyline HS and then started teaching math at Kennedy JHS.

1999-Chris was accepted to Baylor Law School in Waco, TX, so I got a job teaching at a great 3A high school there. Despite anything you may have heard about Branch Davidians, Waco is a great place. We loved our 3 1/2 years there as he earned his JD and MBA.

2000-2001-Got involved as a sponsor of the student council, which led to lots of conventions and after school fun such as planning Homecoming and Red Ribbon Week.

2002-Our daughter was born. I only had to finish out 7 weeks as a working mom. We headed to Dallas and Houston for summer law clerk positions.

2003-Chris graduated, passed the bar, and we moved to the Dallas area. Our first son was born 5 days before we moved into our brand-new home. If you're ever traveling I-30 through Dallas, you'll pass within a mile of our house.

2004-We settled into our current life, learning about the ups and downs of homeownership. I served as the HFPE leader, which enabled me to quickly get acquainted with people at church.

2005-Same old thing....except now I'm in the RS presidency over HFPE. Had fun doing Joy School for my daughter and other preschoolers in the ward.

2006-Second son was born and I get called to Primary. What a blast! Chris got a new job as in-house counsel at a regional bank headquartered in Dallas.

2007-I question the wisdom of our bishop in calling me to be YW President. It consumes my life. A definite love-hate calling. It was a blast to go to Girls Camp and I caught myself thinking frequently about Oakcrest. Did the Joy School thing again for son #1.

2008-Here we are. Adore my family, hate the housework. Love spring and fall in Texas, loathe these humid, triple-digit days of summer. It only snows about once a year, which is fine. Hate the ice storms, though. Enjoy jog/walking with the boys after we do the daily school carpool. Lately we spend a lot of time at the neighborhood pool, which is where we're headed in 6 1/2 hours, so I'd better get some sleep.

--Jen "Indigo"

This is for you, Ace

I found my picture of Ace imitating a very memorable camp "incident". Ahh, good times.

On a side note, I LOVE being a stay-at-home Mom, but there are days when this picture pretty much sums up how I'm feeling. Ha Ha

Wow! It is great to hear about everyone and see pictures! I guess we’ve all grown up, I am happy to be in company of such great women!

It's me Ace aka: Emily Gilman Roberts.

Quick update on me. I served a mission from 96-98 in Honduras, Tegucigalpa. Came home, met and married Brad Roberts in 1999. Had first child Benjamin and graduated from BYU in 2000. Worked as a Nursing Home Administrator for 4 years during which Jacob (2001), Audrey (2003), and Eric(2005) were born and Brad graduated(2004).
I then began my life as a stay at home mom. We moved to Amarillo, Texas in 2006 where Brad works as a network administrator for a hospital here. Since we arrived here we have added Stephen (2006) and Samuel (2007) to the mix. They are Irish twins being born just 364 days apart.
So that is mostly what I have been up to. I’m tempted to try and get pregnant before the end of 2008 just to have been pregnant in every year since 1999 making it a full 10 years, but I think I may need a break! For those of you who are counting, yes, that's 5 boys and 1 girl. We love life and enjoy raising our kids here in Texas. We’re right on I-40 if anyone is ever traveling through!

Most recent family picture from Ben's Baptism last month

Back: Brad, Stephen(19 mo), Emily and Samuel(7 mo)

Front: Eric(4), Audrey(5), Ben(8), Jacob(6)

Fuzz Ball's first post ever!

Although I taught computer classes and love reading other people's blogs, I've never contributed before. Hope this works.

Here's Fuzz Ball's last 13 years--the Reader's Digest Version

In 1996 I went on a mission to Albania (for 10 months after leaving the MTC and before getting evacuated) and then finished in Scotland. I came home and finished my degree in secondary education at USU--business and marketing education. I moved home and student taught at Alta High, then was hired to teach at Bountiful High for the graduating class of 2000.

About the time I got hired I met Rich. We dated all that school year and got married in June of 2000. Rich had been married before and has a son, Hans, by that marriage. (Hans just turned 12 this May.) We built a house in Stansbury Park and moved in the Fall after we were married. I taught at Bountiful for 4 more years (5 years total) ---Elly was born in June of 2002 (she's now 6), then our daughter Hope was born in July 2004 (she just turned 4).

Starting the Fall of 2004 I was hired to teaching for Tooele District...trying to simplify things since we live in that district. I taught for them for 2 years, and have now been at home for the past 2 years keeping busy as a Mom and in our ward & neighborhood. It's amazing how busy that can keep us, isn't it?

I'm expecting another little girl September 21st--only 8 more weeks! My husband works for Dugway Proving Grounds. He's a contractor and works with Chemical Agents. He loves his job...about an 80 minute commute from here into the desert.

ZAZU's in the HOUSE!!

Zack, KayLeigh and Ben.

Adam and Tennille in London.

My kids: Ben, Zack and McKayLeigh


Me (Zazu) with KayLeigh and Zack.


Okay...is that old-school or what?! Anyway...I am so glad to get in touch with everyone again. This is Tennille Anderson...aka ZAZU! I have been wanting the music to the camp songs for FOREVER so this should be a great way to get it. So, if anyone wants to help me out with this, I will pay handsomely for the new songbook and cd's...okay...I won't pay HANDSOMELY, but I would pay you for it.

Now...here is the rundown of my life after Oakcrest.

After Oakcrest, I went back to SLCC and graduated with my Associate's Degree in Cosmetology and Barbering in 1996. I then started working at a salon in the Kearns/Taylorsville area.

In 1997 I toyed with the idea of going on a mission since I had just turned 21 and although I was kind-of engaged to my boyfriend at the time, I really didn't feel right about marrying him. The Lord kept putting mission in my mind, so I finally turned my papers in and served a mission in Resistencia, Argentina. (Vaveeka and I were actually at the MTC together...I wonder if she remembers.)

I returned home from Argentina May 1999. At the airport was my former boyfriend and a boy, named Adam, that I knew in highschool that I hadn't seen for about 5 years. The following week I dated both of them and it was like night and day. Jake and I never spoke to each other again, basically, and I was engaged by the 25th of May that month to Adam. We were married in the Bountiful Temple Aug. 6th 1999. In October of that same year, he entered Boot Camp for the USAF. And in Jan. 2000, we arrived at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, GA.

We were in GA for 3 years. Our eldest son, Benjamin, was born in December 2000. In 2003, we left for England. My husband was stationed at RAF Molesworth. It was a small base about 1 hour north of London and about 20 minutes west of Cambridge. We were in England 4 1/2 years. Our next son, Zachary, was born in 2004 and our daughter, McKayLeigh, was born in 2006 while we were there. We had a wonderful time there and saw many of the sites...some more than once. I think we went to Stonehenge about 6 times.

In Aug. 2007 we moved back to the states and are now in Florida. My husband is now stationed at Hurlburt Field. It is in the Fort Walton Beach area. We live about 45 minutes away in Milton, FL. At the time it was a great money saver. We wanted to buy a house instead of renting again and there was NOTHING in our price range big enough for our family right on the beach there. But now we are paying for it in gas prices. Oh well...we love it here. We are still not in the WEST like we want to be...you know...closer to family and friends. But we are more west than Georgia. So...little by little we will get there. So, that is us up til now. I still keep up my haircutting skills by doing a few haircuts here and there. But my time is spent mostly on my family now. I have been really lucky to be a stay at home mom. I am slowly scrapbooking all the many pictures I've taken. Someday I hope to be caught up. But all in all....it's been a good life thus far!!

Suds?

HEY...Am I losing it, or is SUDS missing from the roll-call? I ran into her at the store one time while I was in Utah around 2000, but I was in a hurry and I couldn't stay and talk to her. That was the last I've seen anyone from Oakcrest.

3 down, a ton to go!

Ok you guys, I've found e-mail addresses for Zazu, Indigo, and Fuzzball. This is progress. I'm also noticing that Giggles, Pebbles, Magic, Curly, Beep and Pippi were all at the reunion and yet we don't have their e-mail addresses. Did any of you write down their contact info at the reunion?? I've already got a call in to Beep (she is in my stake), but I need you guys to check your notes for the others. Thanks.

Oh, and this is for Zazu, "and slide (clap clap), and slide (clap clap), and slide."

Cascade Year by Year (April Thorup Oaks)

Hi guys! Here are some of the bigger (positive) highlights in my life since Oakcrest:

1995 – I came home from Oakcrest and went to school at SLCC. I also returned to work as a teacher’s aide at a school for handicapped kids (Jordan Valley School)

1996 – Met Keith Oaks and married him 9 months later. Got my real estate license and bought my first house in South Salt Lake. I was still working at the school too. I got called to be the stake camp director for the next two summers. That was a lot of fun. I’d love to be called to that again.

1997 – Bought our second house in Sandy. It was a total fixer upper but we loved the area. We still live in that house.

1999- Started selling Real Estate full time.

2000- We were able to travel to some neat places the first few years we were married. Our favorite trip was a big one in 2000 to Australia, Fiji and New Zealand.

2001- Luke was born. What an amazing experience!

2002- I got called to be primary president. That was a good opportunity for me.

2004- Megan was born (the kids are actually only 2.5 years apart). I have always loved scrapbooking so I started messing around on the computer and figured out how to scrapbook digitally. I made all my own papers and embellishments and starting thinking of ways to market them.

2005 – I started my own company called Digital Scrapbook Memories. It’s taken plenty of time to build up but we have our CDs in stores like Michaels and Hobby Lobby. No more real estate but my parents still sell if anyone needs help :)

2007 (ish) I started an exercise challenge and happened to be assigned to a group with JAZZ’D!!!! That was a lot of fun. It was great fun to exercise with her. Where are you now Becky? We are both bad and lost touch after a while (probably after we both took a break from the gym). She is the only one I have really seen since the year following Oakcrest.

2008- Hummm…. Nothing big to report but if you are ever in the mood to read my blog it would be fun to chat with you there too.

This is an OLD scrapbook page of my family. Two or three years old but it's my best picture. I shouldn't tell you that, huh? Although I take pictures ALL THE TIME and scrapbook a lot we seriously don't have an updated family photo. We have lots of snapshots of everyone but we really haven't ever taken a family photo. I think that is so bad!!!! I've got to get a session scheduled!



I still plan to post more Oakcrest pictures... just have to make some time.

Hershey's Hugs & Kisses XOXO

First let me say thank you to Va Veeka for setting up this blog, this is so fun!

Yes, I married Mickey's brother. Who knew Oakcrest would be how I met my husband? We've been married for eleven years now, and we have one son. Eric is nine and loves to camp as much as Robert and I. So we have a great time every summer. I love being a Mom and am lucky to be able to stay at home.

We built a home in West Valley about 7 years ago. The girls in our Stake just came back from Oakcrest and it is so fun to listen to them talk about it. It brings back so many memories. So with the spirit of Oakcrest I bring you my top ten list of things I'll never forget from Oakcrest:

10. the "Jello" song. Every time someone says the word Jello, it runs through my head.
9. Scraper duty. Wished I had one at home.
8. Sheperd's Pie, My son is in heaven when I make it. In the oven of course, not crazy enough to cook in a dutch oven when I don't have to.
7. The mouse who pooped on my bed, every time we were gone on the overnighter. Needless to say I always made my bed.
6. The skunk who tried to steal my jacket on West. I was using the jacket for a pillow at the time.
5. Mickey pounding on the table and asking if I kissed her brother. My girls wanted all the details.
4. those staff shirts. My SIL (at O. in 99) thinks they are the ugliest out of the whole 50 years.
3. Ash fights. I need not say more.
2.Walking around at night and serenading the girls with "Walk Tall". I still love that song.
1. Having fun and teaching the gospel all in the same breath. A goal I strive for with my own family.

Have a wonderful time remembering Oakcrest.

-Hershey aka. Marie

M-I-C-K-E-Y

Hey Mickey your so fine, your so fine you blow my mind...

G'day from Oz!!! This is MICKEY or Stacy to everyone else!!

Let's see what have I been up to for the past 13 years?! Well after camp I went back up to Ricks (BYU ID - still can't call it that) with Sophie (Smiley) as a roomie. After that I transfered to BYU and got a degree in Sports Medicine. A degree which sadly I have never used. During this time Hershey (Marie) also married my brother. So she is the one I have obviously kept the closest too.

While at BYU my best friend came home from his mission and a year after he was home he decided that he liked me as more than a friend. What?! I told him that I didn't feel that way about him and left it at that, until three months later. We went to a play with a bunch of our high school friends and I was sitting next to him. The spirit whispered in my ear and said, "Are you sure you made the right choice when you told him you wouldn't date him?" Now what was I to do? Well here is where the stories get a little fuzzy. Depending upon who you talk to I held his hand first and basically confused the heck out of him - that's his version - really it wasn't like that. Anyway, we only dated for about three months before we were engaged, but after knowing each other for about six years and already being such good friends it was an easy choice. We were married in the Salt Lake Temple and have been married 10 years next month.

We have three children, Madisen (Madi) who is 7 next month, Cooper who is 5, and Rylee who just turned 1. Cooper was my maiden name so that's what I named my little boy - I love it!! The jury is still out as to whether or not we will have any more. I have had to go on fertility drugs to get the two girls and have had three c-sections. Not sure I can handle another one of those. We have always felt that adoption may be in our future so we are still wondering if we should go that route, but things will probablly wait until we move back to the States.

Ever since I have known Kev he has wanted to work internationally somewhere. He served a mission in Japan and knew that he didn't want to raise children there, but wanted to go somewhere. I on the other hand was very content to stay in Utah close to family and in my comfort zone. He started working for American Express shortly after his mission taking phone calls in the call center and using his Japanese almost every day. He has been working with them ever since and we love it because they paid for most of his schooling. Every once in a while he would bring home print offs of job opportunities and leave them on the counter. It wouldn't take long for me to throw them in the garbage. However, soon after he got his MBA he brought home a job for Brighton, England and for some reason I didn't throw it away. It sat on the counter for a few days and I finally thought I better give it some more thought. I finally told him that I would go but they had to speak English. Originally we looked in England, but then thought maybe we couldn't afford it. Then a job came up for Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia at the same time. He applied and got interviews for the job in Auckland so quickly. By now we had found out we were having baby #3. However, then AMEX put a job freeze on new jobs so we were put on hold. Soon after the jobs in Auckland and Sydney were made into one and Kev was on the short list. Well, to make a long story short we are here in Sydney. We didn't know if we were going to have an American or an Aussie baby, but in the end things were pushed back due to VISAs and we were able to have the baby in Utah. Then they were kind enough to give me two months to recover and we were on a plane to Australia.

We have been here a year and are loving it. We are learning to use the right words and the kids are getting a little accent. I get homesick sometimes, but technology is so amazing and helps keep us in touch with family and friends. To be honest my testimony has grown so much from moving to Australia. I have never lived somewhere where people don't know about the Church and where I have to explain my beliefs. For this I am very grateful. We are trying to see as much of Australia as we can while we are here and are making so many memories. We promised we would stay for three years. So in a few years we will have to go through the job search again and find another opening in Utah to transfer back to.

Anyway, that is what I have been up to recently...

I was so sad when I got an e-mail from my SIL (who also worked at Oakcrest a few years after we did) and knew I couldn't come to the reunion. I want so badly to look through my pictures, but they are in storage in Utah, so it is so nice to see everyone elses photos.

Here are a few pics:

Madi

Cooper

Rylee

Hi There.

Its me Gabbie. AKA Shannon Hadley. Thanks VaVeeka for setting up this blog. And by the way what's the story behind the name VaVeeka I never asked? My family and I had a great time at the reunion. Is was fun to see some of you. Wish we could have seen everyone. My kids tried out the zipline and had a blast. My daughter who is seven smacked face first into the mattress but still loved it. Let me catch you up on what I've been doing the last few years. Two months after camp I got engaged to my missionary, Brett. Some of you may remember me talking about him and my collage of pictures of him by my bunk. We got married shortly after and have been married 12 years. We have adopted two beautiful children. We got them both when they were two days old. It has been the greatest experience. Our daughter Emilie is 7 and our son Logan is 5. We live in North Ogden. We built a home their about 4 years ago. My husband owns his own electrical business called Master Electrical. He loves his job. I love being a stay at home Mom. There is nothing better. My newest hobby is our blog. At this point I think I am the only one who ever looks at it because it is so new. So please check it out! I can't wait to catch up with all of you!

httl://hadsomuchfun.blogspot.com.

VaVeeka, Velveta, VaFreaka, VaVa. . .the list goes on

It's kind of like the first day of camp when no one wants to be the first one to introduce themselves, so I'll go next.

Hello, I'm VaVeeka (known as Hilary to civilians). After camp I returned to Utah State for a few years and when I hit the ripe old age of 21 went on a mission to northern Brazil. I guess a summer spent camping just wasn't enough, so I headed to the Amazon Jungle for another 18 months of pure camping fun. (Um, I must admit that I haven't been camping since. I think I'm good on camping for a lifetime!) Loved the mission! Upon returning home I went back to USU for my last semester of school and met my husband, Adam, at a hockey game. (He loves telling people he met his wife at a hockey game. It sounds very manly, doesn't it?) We both graduated at the same time, got married and moved to Atlanta, GA for his new job. It was fun to live in the south. I added a lot of words to my vocabulary and said things like, "I was just fixin' to call all ya'll over for dinner!" Ya'll is singular while 'all ya'll' is plural. That is very important to know when living in the south.

We lived in Georgia for about 4 years and came back to Utah with 2 Georgia peaches in tow- Britton and Jenna. We've been back just about 5 years and love it here as well. About 2 1/2 years ago our 3rd child, Korinne, joined the bunch. My pregnancies were, how shall I say it. . . .NOT good, so we feel really blessed to even have our 3 kids and are just fine with calling it good. Now I'm the quintessential soccer mom-- I drive a mini-van, shuttle my kids to soccer and dance, wear running shoes with my jeans, put my hair in pony tails and always try to look very grown up and responsible! :) (There are some who call my bluff, but usually I can get away with it) I love being in my 30's and think this is a great time of life.

When I got married and moved to Georgia I pretty much lost contact with most everyone. It has only been in the last few years that I have slowly been getting in touch with all of the many people I hung out with "in my youth." I must say that it has been really fun for me to reconnect. Here I am with my family on Christmas Eve last year:

My girls and me.

My oldest child, Britton

That me in a nutshell. Tag, you're it!

Hellllllllooooooooo!

Hi! It's me, Cascade. VaVeeka found me while googling the Oakcrest reunion because I had just posted about Oakcrest on my blog. Here is the link to that specific blog entry. I could re post all the pictures here if you guys think it's better. I have a lot more pictures and I'll eventually post more of them here. I quickly clicked on all of your blogs listed to the right. It's so much fun to see what you have been up to. I will definitely post messages on your blogs later.

Thanks for starting this VaVeeka. I noticed you (VaVeeka) have a few more Oakcrest pictures on your blog. Here is a link to that entry for future reference.

Welcome!

Ok girls, here we go! This is our blog to catch up, laugh about the good times at Oakcrest and reconnect. We can all post and comment on each other's posts and have a great time in the process. As soon as I get e-mail addresses I can add you to the author's list so you can write posts. If you are new to blogging and aren't sure how to proceed, e-mail me @ Oakcrest1995@hotmail.com and I'll walk you through it. The more participation, the better! We are starting with quite a few of us, but there are still a lot more to find. So, ask yourself this question, "who can I find?" Little by little I bet we can track down most everyone. I have put e-mail addresses next to everyone that we currently have contact with and a few of us have links to our blogs. If you have a blog you would like on the list just let me know. I plan on doing a post soon to let you know what I've been up to the last 13 years, but first here are a few moments worth remembering:

Pre-camp, and no, we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. :)

Just a typical day at camp

ABBA anyone? (Do you really need to ask?)

Hope to hear from all of you soon!