Reflections

So 3 of the 4 kids were really into reflections this year...After working so hard to sew really cool things every year and never winning Taryn wanted to take a break.  The other kiddos each actually entered different categories and all three won. Pretty cool! Cami composed a piano song again. I actually really enjoyed hearing her work through her ideas and come up with a song. I loved how it turned out. 

Jocelyn entered a picture she made and wrote a story. The story won. She wrote the whole thing in cursive because she wanted to learn cursive and for some reason they don't teach it in school here. I am not sure it was entirely legible but she did a great job and spent a lot of time learning. 

Creed wanted to build something for reflections (3-D art). At first he wanted to build a crane but then changed his mind to a fire truck. He spent hours and a lot of wood glue and popsicle sticks  making his project. Brent even let him spray paint it all himself. (good thing I wasn't home) The hard part for him was writing the artist statement...He is working on his fine motor skills and it was a stretch for him but he did it. He won the 3-D art award.

Jocelyn's picture but I didn't get a pic of the book...

Creed's firetruck...

Sorry I didn't get a pic of Cami or know how to attach a file with her song but rest assured she rocked it.

The day she's been waiting for all her life

Taryn's 12th birthday is a day she has been waiting for ever since she discovered make up and I told her she couldn't wear it until she was 12...12 sounded a lot older when she was 5 and screamed for an hour because she wanted red lipstick at the grocery store than it does now...

Anyway, in an effort to make sure that make up stays in the appropriate realm and not the hoochy realm I decided to take her someplace legit where they could teach her. So I set up a date with her and an appointment at the make up store. The lady there was really good at emphasizing natural tasteful beauty. The lady lavished Taryn with compliments and praise (rightfully so...I mean look at her). After her make over we went and bought a make up bag and face soap and had good girl bonding...And much to my relief  Taryn has worn mascara on about three occasions and that's it....because really when you look this good you don't really need a lot of make up...

I love this girl who is growing up so fast but luckily she's growing up so nice too...

Forty

It happened....I got old and I didn't even realize it. Brent out did himself on my birthday. Seriously it was the best day...or maybe I should say week. Starting about a week before my birthday I kept finding notes stashed all over the house from family and friends. Brent had emailed them and asked them to share a memory or happy thought with me. He printed them out and hid them in funny places and just waited for me to find them.  It was such a fun thing to hear from so many that I  love.

The day of my birthday I slept in while he got everyone up and off to school. Then we went out to breakfast and I noticed that he had decorated the neighborhood....which would explain why neighbors kept texting me all day telling me happy birthday...After breakfast we spent the morning at a funeral...kind of fitting for a 4oth bday... but in all honesty it was a blessing in disguise since I got to see siblings who were in town that I wasn't expecting to see. After the funeral we got lunch and I headed out to a surprise afternoon at a spa. Brent had arranged for me to get a facial and massage. It was great. Then my sisters surprised me and met up with me for the best pedi I've ever had (not that I've had too many but it was really great). When I got home Brent was grilling the worlds best ribs...SO Good! It was a really good day and I ended it feeling really grateful for my family and friends.

She's got skills...

Taryn has been taking sewing lessons for the last several years and it is really paying off. She sews way better than I do for sure. She usually does something new on each project...like learns how to line sheer material or how to sew with slippery material or how to sew in a zipper. But her projects are pretty self directed...like she learns what ever she decides she wants to and her teacher helps her go for it.

This was her last project. It is a dress, fully lined, with a high low skirt, seems up the front, and a sheer overlay top thing...and its zippered in the back. Pretty impressive considering that she went to the store chose the patter and cloth and cut it out and sewed it all herself (with minimal guidance from her awesome rock star teacher).  She's had to learn how to unpick and redo and stick to it until its done without swearing in frustration...and that is good to know too (not that she really swears)... Anyway she's got serious skills and I'm so proud of her for chasing her passion and discovering her strengths. I love this kid!

Ableskiever Time

Twice a year the tradition lives on.....and it is such a tradition now the kids ask for it every April and every October....Hopefully they remember that we do this to honor our danish roots...and to give them roots....and honestly because they are just really tasty!

NJHS Induction

Cami was able to be inducted into the Junior National Honor Society. She was also asked to serve as the VP which means next year (grades permitting) she will be the president. School comes pretty naturally to Cami but on top of good grades she also puts forth effort at being super helpful to everyone and follows up on doing paperwork and other requirements. The JNHS here is a very service oriented organization. So far they have done a Halloween carnival with trick or treating for preschool kids and a big food drive for thanksgiving. This kid has a great brain and I am so glad she is using it for being a good person. Love this beautiful girl!

Soccer vindicated

I had given up on any of my kids loving, liking, or ever playing soccer again. After a year break Creed's old coach asked if he wanted to play again because they needed another player on the team. I told them I'd ask but probably not....Well I asked Creed and he really really wanted to play...he begged for like a week...the whole week after I had taken all the cleats and shin guards to the thrift store....So I took him to practice and asked the coach to watch and see if he actually played and was having fun...What do you know? He loved it and ran around like crazy...So I signed him up....and he had such a fun season. I felt a little like soccer was vindicated in our home as fun and not because mom said so. 

Family Saturday

We took a time out from job around the house and took the kids on a family bike ride. They do a good job of riding and keeping up the pace. This ride was actually pretty long and involved us sneaking for a short distance on a tail that ended up being closed but turning around would have been really long...Then Brent treated everyone to Harmon's custard including Taryn since they have a dairy free version (which is a plus for all involved). On the last mile Jocelyn decided to ride diagonally across a busy intersection and scared the crap out of everyone. Luckily the drivers were watching and she was spared...but she did start crying once she realized why we were yelling so loud. Anyway, lesson learned and we are all glad that all members of the family are alive and well and wiser. Good times as a family on Saturday!

Lovely Mornings

This is the best way to start out my day. She gets up and dressed and makes her bed. Then she eats fast and hits the piano until she has to go. No whining or complaining involved. It is so fun to listen to her play. She is really starting to figure the piano out...and seriously she is so stinking cute!

Good Neighbors

So in August when we were up north my neighbor texted me a picture of this table. She knew I had been looking for one for the entry hall but couldn't find one the size I wanted that I liked. It was a gray wash but she said it would be easy to paint and was cheep. So she bought if for me and I paid her back when we got home...but then it sat for a few weeks while kids got started with school and life settled down. Then she came over one day and we made a plan. I painted it white and she came over and spent a whole day helping me antique it...like sanding and staining and more sanding and staining. Then we went shopping to buy stuff to go on it...In the end I love it so much. I have the best neighbors who look out for me and hook me up with the coolest stuff...then spend hours helping my decorating deficient self have cute things. Seriously love this and love her! 

Ready to Rodeo

So we aren't really rodeo people...at least Brent and I aren't. Its not that we don't enjoy a little country music and boots...Its just the seats are rock hard and I feel bad for some of the animals and its so loud and long...We got away with going only once when Cami and Taryn were little...after that we told them we'd all ready been and it doesn't change much between the years. 

BUT this year Jocelyn and Creed BEGGED to go...and since Thursday night is kids go free night we decided to do our one time duty and take them. So they spent huge amounts of time trying to find their best cowboy/girl outfits. Creed thought he looked legit on the tractor in his gear. 

We grabbed more Rigatti's pizza and picnicked at the park then walked over for some serious bulls and mud and wranglers....It was great. We sat by some dude who seriously knew what the riders were getting graded on in the bull riding-it was way more fun when you know what to look for. 

Cami in teenager fashion ditched us when she saw her friends. Jocelyn and Creed were fascinated then tired and had their fill. Taryn read a book. It was great for all involved and now next year we don't have to go again! 

8 is great...so is shopping

So Jocelyn's 8th birthday is a big deal since in our church that means a child can decide whether to be baptized a member or not. Jocelyn chose to be baptized and wanted a special dress for the occasion....one with ruffles and pretty beads and a puffy skirt....I told her she might not find that all on one dress but we'd go see what we could find....What we found was a store with a million puffy dresses. After trying on every single one her size she found one with all her requirements. She seriously spent like 2 hours trying on everyone and twirling in front of a full length mirror. But she came back to the one with ruffles, beads, and puffy skirts...So we bought it quick and called it good. She felt like a princess so mission accomplished.

Ninja Warriors in St George

We love watching American Ninja Warrior. The ninjas can do amazing physical challenges and they all cheer for each other and get excited when their competitors do well. It's like the best example of good sportsmanship and athleticism I've ever seen...totally what I want my kids to see. Anyway, while watching Jocelyn is usually scaling walls and door jams. So when Brent came home from work one night and said guess what they are building right by my office everyone jumped for joy when it was a ninja gym. Three ninjas from the show live here and decided to open a gym. Jessi Graff (super girl's stunt woman and fellow ninja) was supposed to come so we were all over going. She is a favorite in our house. We went and the gym was great. Jessi ended up not being able to come (hosting some awards show on TV) but the gym was super fun anyway....I have a feeling we will definitely be spending some time here as a family.

Four Eyes...and what beautiful eyes they are

All summer Jocelyn kept saying she couldn't see things...then she would secretly sneak Taryn's glasses. I thought she just wanted her own face jewelry. Anyway I just ignored it. The first day of school I was at the school making copies. I just happened to walk past her classroom and glance in. She was sitting on the front row squinting and leaning forward...So I took her to the eye doctor and sure enough she needed glasses...I hate it when I'm a bad mom and make her go for months without being able to see...but she can now...At first I was sad and didn't want glasses hiding her beautiful eyes but then she got her glasses and she looks so cute in them!  And she can see so win win!

First day of school x 4...and an eclipse

Most years I dread school starting because I just feel like I didn't get enough summer...This year I was OK with school starting so I could catch a break...and get on a normal schedule. I like routine. But I still do miss the kids when they are gone. And honestly this year was harder knowing Creed was in school too. He is such my little buddy helper but he's so ready...And the kids are at three different schools with different schedules and Creed's kindergarten schedule is different than anyone else's (so four different schedules)...It's crazy....BUT I am thankful that they go to good schools and are successful students...

So Taryn starts the day off before half the world is awake...but it works since she's a morning person and wants to be out of bed early...

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Cami leaves next and values sleep more so she rushes like crazy. Her need to be in bed rivals her need to be on time so her mornings are little more chaos than strictly necessary. But she pulls it off....

And she can finally walk to school so I'm not involved in getting her there....

And Jocelyn and Creed are the last to go. They are usually woken up by the other girls which is good because they are ready early and have plenty of time to practice piano before school. They also come home later. Jocelyn went to school this year without tears or being too anxious which is a really good step.
Creed actually only had testing one day in the first week of school...But he wanted his picture taken too and he's super cute so of course I did.

And then came his real first day and I was ready to cry...but then he was so excited and kept doing goofy stuff like dabbing so I laughed instead. But I don't have any normal pictures of his actual first day...Love this kid!

There also was an eclipse his first day and we happened to have a trip to the eye Dr planned to get Jocelyn's glasses...they happened to have extra eclipse glasses so that worked out great and Creed was so excited.