June 2023

Hayden's new student council for 2023-2024. Last day of school = first meeting for the new council!

Averly's last piano recital at our church. As always, Nicole was a gem and came to support.

Jan even made it!!

Averly and Lilly Hill

All of Averly's piano students. Harrison's, Chatelains, Hills.

The morning of Averly's high-school graduation. Mom spoiled her and made Gma Barrus's delicious sweet rolls!

The Barnums came over for Averly. SO cute having Teagan hand her the "Congrats Grad" balloon. 

Danielle Bateman came over and was so kind to write the words of Averly's favorite scripture on her cap.

Nice decorations, mom! Balloon arch + pictures of Averly from Preschool to 12th Grade!

It was pretty cool that the graduation was held at the new arena we have here in Idaho Falls. Very spacious, nice climate, fit everyone perfectly. That was our first time there. 

Pretty cool that all the teachers wore hockey jerseys (the arena is often used for hockey)

View of graduates and stage

Averly's foreigh-exchange friend from France, Andrianne.

There's Averly! Getting her diploma from principal Ty Salsbury

Nicole getting her diploma

Time to toss the caps! Way to go, Averly!! Suma cum laude even! Amazing!

Picture time outside after the graduation.

Besties

Nicole Winder's family

On our way to get Averly's favorite: PIZZA!!!

After pictures at home, we went down to the Woodland Hills park. Melanie bought Chinese lanterns. Averly's always wanted to do those (probably because of Tangled). 

It was SO cool! Fortunately, we didn't set anything on fire (that we know of)

Then, off to the fire pit to roast Mambas and Starburst. We had so much fun just talking and being goofy! Kaleb and Averly hauled the couch out there (just from the back patio).

Sunday was seminary graduation. Beautiful beautiful program (good job, mom!). Averly played a gorgeous Piano/Cello duet with Hailey Pratt to open the meeting. 

Great job, Averly! So proud of you earning this very important diploma!

The sign of dad getting moved :( . He was moved this year from Hillcrest seminary to Bonneville seminary. Super sad about not being with the kids anymore. This is his new office (Melanie encouraged the couch stay in his office).

Verity's tooth! DAD pulled this one out! She was so brave and got $3 from the tooth fairy! I think she's down to 2 or 3 baby teeth left is all.

This was a quasi-father's day since we'd be on the family reunion for the real father's day. Verity made Alex the sweetest card. She always does!

FAMILY REUNION TIME! We took a long 7-hour drive from Idaho Falls to Cedar City to spend a day and a half with JaNae. Loved being with them again! (Given couldn't wait to see their family finally).

Our family, Andre's family, and Mom and Dad Dutson (see grandpa in back) met up for baptisms at the Cedar City temple. It was pouring rain when we got out!

Here's mom Dutson's picture of us crowded near the baptisty entrance while she's getting rained on to get this picture!

The Chatelain family reunion was in St. George this year, and we got to stay at a really nice condo that Chris rented for us from her friend!

Wally invited Verity to ride their rented 2-person E-bike from the condo to Snow Canyon. She had a blast! 

First mountain we climbed

At the top

At the top, and Averly stole baby Genni!

I hope Allie didn't fall down the crevice!

Oh good, Antoinette rescued her!

All of the family that made it to the top of the first mountain

At the bottom of the mountain with everyone!

On our way up the 2nd mountain we climbed up

At the top of the 2nd mountain

Melanie taking a picture of Wally taking a picture of Maddie (it was beautiful scenery!)

Ready? Set...

JUMP!

And after the jump

All the kids gathering around Allie's camera to see if the jump picture worked

Wally and Verity making rock faces

Look at that air over the cairn! Nice jump, Kaleb!

After our hikes - sending love to Dallin and Sarah who couldn't be with us this year :(

Finish off an awesome day with a little corn hole

And a gorgeous rainbow. That was our scenery from the condo!

Grandma Dutson with baby Genni

Saturday morning we went to the Tuacahn market. Lots to buy (but no one did)

Picture of the gorgeous newly renovated St. George temple through the front gate (not open yet)

Saturday afternoon pool time! Everyone got FRIED. They had a waterslide and a lazy river that we played in, too. Super fun place!

We got a surprise for dinner that night - Great Grandma Dutson joined us (here with Connie)

Chris and Jayson brought their signature game - the Saran Wrap ball! Probably the best one ever!

It was so funny because we were passing the saran wrap ball around the circle, the dice, and then someone had the idea to pass around Genni, too. It was hilarious and she took it like a champ!!

Nice view of the main floor of our condo.

Alex got to go on an awesome ride with his brothers! They drove out to Gunlock Falls, where Jayson took them all on a 1 1/2 hour ride. If you look closely, you can see the falls above Alex's head. It was so good to be with the brothers again!

After church on Sunday, we all went to the Veteran's care center where Great Grandpa Dutson has been for about a year. It was SO great to see him and talk with him.

Averly wanted this picture: four generations of piano players!

The Veteran's center was decorated nicely. Jer served in the air national guard.

Five generations! Sheldon holding baby Max, named after Grandpa Dutson.

We played Mormon Bridge and Golf with Grandpa, just like we always did with them in Emmett. Alex and Grandpa were on the same team for Mormon Bridge, and they won. Grandpa seemed to really enjoy doing that. (Our luck ran out when we played golf, though)

To honor M&M, Max and Myrna

Beautiful picture with everyone! So blessed to gather and honor Grandpa together on Father's Day!

Back at the condo afterward - Averly with baby Max

Cousins (sort of) Baby Max and Genni - fascinated with each other

Then we gathered for Kaleb's epic "How well do you know your family game". We had a lot of good laughs and it was so fun to all be together. 

Hayden sharing his devotional. He did a great job!

Good-bye St. George. Good-bye baby Max. On our way home, we visited Grant and Clarissa and picked up . . . Oliver from Provo (Marcie and Brian in Germany)

For scriptures, we did our "truth or dare" activity. Oliver couldn't answer the question, so his dare was to eat ice cream with barbecue sauce on it. 

I think he loved it! 

Verity hanging out with good buddy, Addi Hawkes while mom is away at girls camp.

3rd Girls Camp Mel has participated in as a member of the Stake Young Women's Presidency. Here's Malissa Zirker being fun.

A picture of all the young women in our stake from 9 different wards, gathered for an evening devotional.

This is the before picture of our Stake President, Von Crofts, before his involvement in a ward's skit.

This is a hilarious picture of President Crofts because he is bald as a cue-ball!

The Young Women's Presidency of the Boulder Creek Ward did these awesome bobble-heads of the stake leaders. Melanie's face is two in from the left. 

Stake Presidency

Happy birthday to Malissa!

The beginnings of YM camp - Hike day to the Darby Wind Caves. Hayden 2nd in from the left.

Thursday of camp. Scripture-study experience at Nate Clark's house. He gave the boys an irod-rod experience in his back yard!

On our way to white water rafting. Little Caesar's lunch in Alpine, Wyoming.

White water rafting! Hayden in the middle of this boat.

Kaleb and Alex's boat

Kaleb riding the bull!

Camp time at West Piney. So fun to have Given there as the Assistant Camp Director - playing a little bball with the boys!

Chatelain boys playing Spikeball Friday night. Good good times!

Sweet experience to have dad there with all the boys!

Given was the man the boys passed off their Aaronic Priesthood memorization to. Here's Payton Boyd and Evan Bateman passing it off.