18 - this is CrAzY!!

This is crazy that it's been 18 years since we brought this beautiful girl home!  Time has gone too quickly but it's been a wonderful journey having her in our family.  She's an amazing big sister that sets such a great example, not only to her younger sisters and brother but to me and her dad as well.  We celebrated her birthday gifts a few days early since she was lucky enough to get to spend the real day in Hawaii (I'll post about our trip later)!

Getting ready to open gifts  - I will add her gifts are all practical!

 A new comforter set for her college room!

Look at these CUTE skillets - PINK!!  I just had to get them for her -

 Dishes, she needs something to eat on when she goes to college!

 This is on her real birthday, Feb. 20 - we were walking around Lahaina and just had to stop for Hawaiian Shave Ice - it's delicious!  She wanted Pina Colada and Strawberry, with vanilla ice cream and sweet cream drizzle!

 This photo is our of order but this is her birthday breakfast.  Blueberry pancakes and scrambled eggs! I was going to give it to her in bed but since she was on the fold out couch in the living room/ kitchen, I sort of woke her up making it!

 We went to the store to get her a cake and they had this amazing cheesecake with fresh fruit on top - blowing out her candles.....(out of order again)

The cheesecake tasted as good as it looks!  We also went to a luau in the evening on her birthday - I hope this was a birthday that she'll always remember!!
She is such a wonderful daughter of God! She makes good choices, studies hard to get good grades and is a fabulous person to have around.  We are lucky Heavenly Father sent her to our family, we have loved being able to raise her and she has made parenting very easy for us.  She has made the choice to attend BYU-I and has been accepted on their fall/spring track - thinking of her leaving makes my heart hurt!  Happy 18th birthday Lindsay - We sure love you!

She got spirit, yes she do!

A couple weeks ago, the middle school had spirit week.  This particular day was 'wear your school colors' day.  Emily, with the help of Makenna made this tulle skirt in black, gold and white (Sandcreeks colors).  She went to school and her class voted her 'most spirited' for that day.  She texted me later in the day to tell me she won - she was awarded a soda pop - hey, that's big time for a 7th grader! Congrats Emily!!

To Baylie, From Ali

A few days before Valentine's Day Ali had a girls achievement activity.  They got together and made a valentine for someone.  Ali came home with hers addressed to Baylie.  I thought it was the cutest thing ever and Baylie was over the moon about it!

Inside the valentine she wrote, " I love you so much whenever you need help if I am there I will help you. you are the cutest little girl by the way do you like this heart  from Alison to Bay"

I typed it exactly as Ali wrote it, without punctuation and with run on sentences.  I loved it!  It is the little things like this that the kids do for each other that makes me think we are doing something right!

Valentines Day homework

Ali had a homework assignment to create a Valentines Day holder for the cards and treats she'll get in class.  I looked around and found an almost empty fruit snack box and decided we could make a robot without having to go buy a bunch of stuff to make it.  I had the tin foil, the box, the empty toilet paper roll cardboard, the pipe cleaners for antennae - we were set!  Ali loved the idea and we went right to work.

Here is our finished 'robot'

I did get the pink ribbon, just to make sure everyone knew it was a female robot and the heart doilies I was using for a singing time idea so I gave her one!  I think it turned out pretty dang cute - Ali is such a fun spirited girl that it's fun to create things with her - she gets so excited and giddy over such simple things!

Sweethearts 2012

Last night was Hillcrests Sweetheart dance.  It's a girls choice dance and Lindsay asked Kayden Finlayson. These two have gone to school together since 3rd grade. When we moved from our old house, they moved too and Lindsay and Kayden started Sandcreek together in 6th grade and they knew no one but each other. They have stayed friends through all these years!  His mom also happens to be a dear friend of mine!  Here she is with me and Chris before leaving to pick Kayden up.

Jenny came over to tie her sash for me.  I don't do bows well but she does and this is actually the second time for a dance she's come over to make sure Lindsay's bows look perfect! Thanks Jenny!!

All ready to go

A close up

Megan Searle did her hair again and I'm always amazed at the wonderful job she does!  She's done it now numerous times and she's never done the same hair style twice!

Nicole was generous enough to let Lindsay use her convertible Mustang again.  We love having this car around, it's so fun - Kenna is sure this car is her destiny!  Since it's February and still cold, she had to keep the top up!  Here she is leaving to pick Kayden up

They were in a group of 14, for dinner they did a progressive dinner.  I made the lasagna for the main dish but our house served the 'light' dessert. It was the final stop before the actual dance.  They had frappe and I didn't think that was enough so I made Oreo truffle pops and had some fun heart shaped gummy candies too! After the dance they went to Avery's house for the real dessert -   Here is Kayden and Lindsay enjoying some frappe

I couldn't let them leave without taking a few pictures but getting them all together for a good picture was quite the challenge.  Here are a few of the boys 'planking' in my living room - Yep, Kayden is on the bottom of this pile

Strike a pose!

And a few of Lindsay and Kayden

Wait, one more before you leave!!

This was such a fun evening for them all.  I can't believe this is Lindsay's last girls choice before she graduates, it's been such a fun time in our house getting ready for dances.  Not to worry, Kenna turns 16 in May and it will start all over again!  This was a fun group of kids to have over and I've said it before, Lindsay has some really great friends!

Can you do that?

The other day I came into the living room and found Jace watching a cartoon and this is how he was 'sitting' - it made me laugh so hard!  He then asked if I could do that, to which I said, 'heck no!'