A Princess Party

 Lucy got to have her first friend party this year.  She was so excited to have her friends over.

 We had all the girls come dressed in their princess dresses and we played lots of princess games.  I didn't get any pictures of the them playing games… trying to get seven 5 year olds to play games and listen is hard work!!  The girls also got to decorate their own princess tiaras!

 Opening presents...

 We had princess cupcakes with ice-cream for dessert.

Rachel, Ambree, Emily, Lucy, Elizabeth, Ainsley, and Gwen.  Lucy has some fun friends and cousins that came to celebrate her 5th birthday.  We had a lot of fun pretending to be princesses and celebrating Princess Lucy!

VIP Lucy

Lucy got to be the VIP at pre-school all week.  I have never seen a girl so excited!  She got to be her teachers special helper, her poster hung up in the classroom, she shared treats, and the class asked her questions about herself.  It was a special week at pre-school for her!

Daughter of God Week

 Being in the Young Women's presidency has been one of most challenging, but most rewarding callings.  Over the past couple of months we have felt as a presidency that our girls really lack self- confidence!  We felt really strong that if they understand who they were… A Daughter of God that it could help them understand so many things in their life.  I found this idea on line from another ward that had done this week for their girls, and I suggested that we do it for our girls.  We were all on board because this week took a lot of time and thought.

We started off on Sunday with a combined YW lesson to kick off the week.  Andrea taught an amazing lessons on each of the girls worth.  We then handed each of the girls a gift bag with 7 envelopes.  Each envelope was day and on that day they opened the envelop.  We each took a day as their YW leaders.  We shared scriptures, stories, music, and pictures that we hope would inspire the girls each day.

On Wednesday we had a combined YW.  We listened to the talk "Who's that girl" and the girls painting nails and made bracelets while they listened.

On Saturday, we met to watch the movie Cinderella and have a pizza party together.  After the movie, we all knelt down as a YW and had Brother Whiting open our fast.  We all fasted the next Sunday for our sweet YW.  The YW were fasting to gain a testimony of their worth.  All the leaders, bishopric, stake YW presidency, ward council, and the girls parents all fasted for the girls on Sunday.

During YW on Sunday we handed out paper for the girls to write their testimony on it.  At first we thought we would have a testimony meeting during YW, but at the last minute Paige felt like the Lord wanted them to write their testimony.  This ended up being so neat!  The girls wrote amazing testimonies and experiences they have had this past year that have helped them draw closer to the Lord.

That evening we invited all the girls to the church with their parents to break the fast, have dinner, and a small YW excellence.  All Sunday I felt the spirit so strong.  Not only did I feel it strong for the YW, but had the spirit witness to me again that I am a Daughter of God that Heavenly Father loves me and is aware of me.  Even I need that every once in a while!!

 I thought the gym looked so pretty!  We wanted it to be really special for the girls.

 I took pictures of the girls one Sunday and then we set them out on the tables with their accomplishments from the year.  We also set there testimonies on the table.  As the parents came in to look at the tables many parents were in tears.  Many of them had not heard their daughters testimony, and it was special for them to read it!  Many girls said they liked writing it better because some of them do not like to express their testimony in front of everybody.  We were so glad we listened to the spirit on that one!!

 We had dinner of Soup, rolls, salad, and dessert.  The Stake YW spoke, Bishop Olson spoke, and some of the girls shared some of their talents.. dancing, piano, and violin.  We then put together a slide show of the girls.  We asked each of the parents to email us 3 qualities ( not physical, but qualities that come from their Heavenly Father)  We had their name with their picture and the qualities that their parents see in them.  We had the slide show go with the song "Lighthouse in the Night" by Jenny Phillips.    I do not think there was a dry eye in the room!

We really do have amazing YW and they shine with so many qualities that come from Heavenly Father.  They are so kind to each other and really show me what true Charity is!  I had so many girls come up to us after thanking us and letting us know that this week really effected them.

I hope this week becomes a picture in their testimony scrapbook.  When times get hard they can look back on this week and know that Heavenly Father loves them so much!!

 My Beehives!  Kate

 Kami

 Katelyn

 Brinlee

 Aubrinn

 Jessica

 Marin

 Miamaids and Laurels    Tiana

 Hannah

 Abby

 Katelyn

 Brynlee

 Lily

 Courtney

 Cailee

 Ashley

 Gracie

 Maddy

Marlee

Anne's Dance Recital

 Anne had her last dance recital with South Valley Dance.  Ms Sheri had to close her doors and we were really sad about it.  Anne has loved Ms. Sheri so much and she has helped Anne love ballet.  So, they made this last performance their best!  I loved Anne's costume this year!

 Anne is an amazing dancer and I love watching her do something she enjoys!

 Some of her dancing friends!

Anne and Ms. Sheri!  We will miss her, but know there are great dance studios all over where Anne can improve and continue with her dancing!

First 4.0

 We are so proud of Jason and his hard work in school!  His first term he got straight A's!  He had to work hard sometimes staying after school to get help or retaking test.  I loved his determination and willingness to keep trying.  It paid off with a 4.0!  Way to go Jay!

Happy Anniversary! 14 Years!

 Our anniversary fell this year on Sunday so, we celebrated the weekend after.  We took the kids to Grandma Youngs for a sleep over, and then Mike and I stayed at the Grand America!  I had never stayed there before and it was so nice!  When we walked in they had made a special cake that said Happy Anniversary on it.  It was super yummy!!

 We went out to dinner at the Garden and watched the temple lights go on while eating.  We then headed back to the hotel to sit in the hot tub and swim in their fancy pool.  It was just super relaxing and fun to have Mike all to myself!

The next morning we went out to breakfast and then went to go pick up the kiddos.  I am so grateful for my marriage to Mike.  I enjoy being with him so much and I am so lucky to have married my best friend!  It was the perfect weekend and these past 14 years years have been the best with Mike!

Happy Halloween!

 We had a great Halloween this year.  In the morning Sydney got baptized so we went to that and enjoyed being with family.  We then came home and got ready for all the fun in the evening.  This will probably be Jason last year trick or treating.  He got together with a bunch of guys from the neighborhood.

 Anne decided to head over to Uncle Paul's neighborhood.  She wanted to get a lot of candy and when you got with Uncle Paul's family that is what you get.  She came home with 9 pounds of a candy!!

 Lucy was Alice in Wonderland.  She had a fun party at her pre-school too.

Eliza was Cleopatra.  She decided to stay home with Lucy and go around our neighborhood trick or treating.  I went out with them and it was fun to watch them go from house to house.  It got pretty cold once the sun went down so the girls were done around 8:00.  We made some hot chocolate and went through their candy.  Jason and his friends then came over to hang out after trick or treating.  Another Halloween on the books!  I love this time of year and enjoy the Fall so much!