December 2017

December always seems so crazy busy but it's fun to see the girls growing and doing the things that they are involved in.  Sammie had her Christmas choir concert.  I loved the songs that they chose.  She is developing a great singing voice.Sammie and Abby both had a piano recital and Sammie performed the violin in my recital.  That always adds another layer to my life, but I get a great satisfaction out of teaching and seeing my students improve. It's a creative endeavor for me too and I really enjoy it. 

Olivia and I went to see "Miranda Sings" a YouTube star.  There were funny moments and we got to slip away to do something completely silly which isn't really either of our thing. Ha ha.

Abby started taking a ballet class and the studio where she takes lessons puts on the Nutcracker every year.  We loved the show and she has high hopes of participating in it next year, if it fits into our busy fall schedule.  We'll see.

Joey and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary.  We drove up to Folsom on that day.  It really is hard to celebrate an anniversary at Christmas time.  I don't think we thought about that when we were getting married.  We just wanted to get married! It is fun to think back on that busy time of our lives when I was teaching.  I think I taught school on Friday and then got married the next day.  It was all a bit of a whirlwind but I will always treasure that special day and time of life.  So many new things in those next few years with graduating from BYU, Joey's first teaching job, moving and having our first baby and then throw in moving into a fixer upper and a month long trip to Italy with a 9 month old baby in tow.  It was quite and adventure.  My life is definitely in a new season right now with a high schooler and two left in elementary school.

Happy Thanksgiving

As always when we go and visit my parents, we are surrounded by cousins and cousin fun.  Dianna took a great family photo for our Christmas card.  I just love it.  My girls are getting so grown up and I am so proud of who they are. We had a muddy game of soccer on Thanksgiving morning which was a great start to a day of giving thanks.  A visit with cousins wouldn't be complete without going to the movies.  I can't even recall which movie it was that we saw.  Joey and I took Olivia to the Sacramento Temple to do baptisms.  We visited the ducks near Nate and Dianna's new house...when in Folsom.  I love simple fun and I love being with family.  It would be fun to live closer, but sometimes being apart also brings us together. We get to really enjoy one another until next time.

The Green Machines

Abby's soccer team went 11-0 in the season and ended winning every game in their tournament at the end for a record total of 14 wins.  She had so much fun because, well, winning is fun.  She grew as a soccer player and enjoyed the girls on her team.  Abby has so much energy and would just fly across the soccer field.  We enjoyed her success this year.  Win or lose though, soccer season is always something we get excited about.

Good Grades and New Glasses

Sammie had been noticing that she couldn't quite see things as well as she could.  After a trip to the optometrist, she found out she needs glasses to help her see things far away.  She picked these out herself and loves wearing them.  For the first quarter of the school, Sammie received Principal's list and and special award for Academics from her teacher. She works so hard at all that she does and looks pretty cute in her new glasses too.

Halloween 2017

My girls love dressing up!  Olivia was Wendy Darling, Sammie was a pirate, and Abby a nerd.  When Abby dressed in her costume she said, "This isn't even a costume. This is my true self."  That kid.  She loooooved being a nerd.  Their costumes were perfect for each of them.  We of course made our favorite cookies that we make each year.

Sometimes I like to Show up

Sometimes I like to show up on here.  Just me, and some cinnamon rolls.  The cinnamon rolls were for General Conference weekend.  I was so touched by General Conference and it is still on my heart and mind.  There were so many messages that I was ready to hear and I'm grateful for the preparation that I made to listen.  I feel hopeful in this life with its ups and downs.  I'm grateful for my family, the gospel, home, friends, and the simple things.  Everything.  I'm thankful for all of it.

14

Olivia turned 14.  We love this girl.  We love her sense of humor, her smarts, her way of thinking, how she loves to listen to Hamilton and musicals 24 hours a day.  We love that she is quiet, but snarky, and sweet but bold.  She is excited to see Hamilton this weekend with Joey.  It's both of their birthday presents this year.  She had a party back in September on her actual birthday and they played games and watched "The Princess Bride" in the backyard from our projector.  I love have this teenager.

School Days

The first day of school 2017.  It was a great day to get back into the swing of routines after a pretty low key summer.  Abby started third grade, Sammie 6th, and Olivia 9th.  It's been a different dynamic with a high schooler.  I feel like I have a giant child now.  My house is somehow messier the older my kids have gotten.  They leave their stuff everywhere and I don't know what to do with it. When they were small, I just would quickly pick things up.  But now, they have "stuff."  And it's their "stuff." If I move it, it might be important.  They have spaces where they leave things.  I don't know if I can explain that very well, but there is stuff that is theirs and they are responsible and so I just leave it there.  So, messier house.  I love the stage we are in.  I love every stage we have been in, but this one is great.  It's harder to write about the things we are doing but I felt urged to keep it up.
Much of our lives revolves around the high school with Joey and Olivia both there.  We went to football games, pop in to see dad, and Joey and Olivia spend a lot of time together.  I love it.  I love this time in our lives right now.