The first day of school for the 2011-2012 year at North Star Academy. They were all a little nervous, as usual, for the first day of school. Ashley and Megan were sad that summer was over, but right when they walked into the door at North Star, kids came up and gave them hugs. Kaitlyn was super excited. She woke up a 3:00am, came in to our bedroom and asked if she got to go to school that morning. It was like trying to sleep on Christmas Eve for Kaitlyn. She is ready to be in Kindergarten. Ashley will be a 5th grade senator, a student body officer position. Good luck in school girls!

Old School

USILA National Champs 1997 - Lacrosse

(Nothing more needs to be said)

Miller Family Reunion '11 in Yellowstone

Old West Photo, don't mess with this family (click to enlarge)

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What a trip! We just got back from the Miller Family Reunion in Yellowstone. I haven't been there since I was 11 years old. It's a beautiful place and I already can't wait to get back and see all the stuff we missed, plus, I'll bring a fishing pole next time. We stayed in West Yellowstone just a half mile from the West entrance to the park. Yellowstone is the first national park and the largest park in the lower 48 states (I think Denali in Alaska is the biggest). I won't list everything we did, but we had a great time that included seeing wildlife, geysers, stinky sulfur pots, hikes, swimming, and fun. We went to Bear World in Idaho and we went to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone.

The Old Faithful Lodge

Bear World

Some bison off the side of the road in Yellowstone

Norris Geysers -- Kaitlyn thought that they were extra stinky.

Hiking the 350 steps down Uncle Joe's trail to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and the Lower Falls.

Kaitlyn getting hatchet throwing instructions from Grizzly Adams.

Megan learning to throw the hatchet at the mountain man rendevouz.

Megan's Baptism

Megan chose to be baptized last week and we are so proud of her. She has been waiting for this day for a long time, ever since she saw her big sister Ashley get baptized several years back. We had a lot of family in town for the baptism, Tara's entire family, plus we had Grandma and Grandpa Davenport, Dori and Kids, DaNae and kids, Di and Gordon and family, Eva from Guatemala, plus Grandma Shirley and Aunt Carol. There were also a lot of friends and neighbors too. It was a packed room, so luckily it was only Megan getting baptized that day from our ward. We had a little reception for her after the baptism and she received some presents too.

New Scriptures and case from Grandma and Grandpa Davenport

A new book on baptism and the sacrament.

Davenport Family Reunion '11

The Davenport Family Reunion this year was held in Bear Lake this July. Most of us had never been up there before. The lake was high from unusually large snow fall this year. Hence, there were no beach areas so the lake was really rocked on the shoreline. We had a great time. We stayed in a home that had like 18 bedrooms. Every family had their own bedroom, plus, a lot of the cousins had their own rooms as well. Here's what we did:

- Every morning we had a devotional and a theme "What a wonderful . . . life, world, family, etc.

- Every evening we had a family activity . . . international night, talent show, minute to win it games, family history, etc.

- If the kids were good, they could earn "Grandpa Dollars" and then during the week, every couple of days, the kids could buy toys and treats from "Grandma's store".

- We took out the wave runners and boat, swam in the lake, and played on the rocky beach.

- We visited Minnatonka Cave and some of us went to a nearby ice cave as well.

- Family fun run.

Fun trip.