Mikayla Honor Roll

Mikayla received Gold Honor Roll today at school.  She has all A's and 1 B.  Today was their last day of school for the next 11 days.  It was a busy day for Mikayla.  Her class just finished reading the book Chocolate Fever, so they had a Chocolate Fever Valentines Day Party.  I was able to borrow Teresa's chocolate fountain, so they had a chocolate fountain to dip strawberries and marshmallows in, chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup, chocolate sprinkles, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, M&M's, hershey kisses and chocolate milk.  Talk about a lot of chocolate!  The party went well.  Unfortunately I did not get any pictures.  I was assisting the kids with the fountain so there would not be any cross contamination and messes.  I know her teacher took some pictures, so hopefully I will get some of hers.

Mikayla is in the middle

Young Women's New Beginnings

This year I volunteered to do the decorations for our ward's Young Women's New Beginnings Program.  This year the theme for youth in the church is "Stand Ye in Holy Places".  The girls decided they wanted the colors to be red, white and pink, with a heart theme since Valentines Day is near.  So I decided to have the theme be "Feel the Savior's Love as You Stand In Holy Places."  Here is how things turned out.

We had heart shaped brownies, heart shaped Resses Peanut Buter Cup cookies, red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, chocolate dipped strawberries, and mini cheesecakes with cherries on top.  The banner says: Feel the Savior's Love.  Ashlee made the tissue paper flowers on each side of the banner.

The heart shaped vases had each of the 8 young womens values in them.

Our little group of young women.

These vases I made.  Mason Jars with temple pictures that say Stand Ye in Holy Places.  I mod podged the pictures to the jar, tied the ribbon on them and put pink, red and white carnations in them.  There was also a little stick that said:" Feel the Savior's Love As You Stand in Holy Places".

Everything turned out well.  I am thankful for Pinterest.  I was able to find lot's of ideas and incorporate them to fit our theme!

Ashlee's 12

Our little girl turned 12 today!  How and when did this happen?  We decided to keep things low key this year.  No party.  Ashlee got to pick where she wanted to go to dinner.  She chose Red Robin followed by Cold Stone Ice Cream.  She also got a new hairstyle and some money to spend on a future family vacation.

Today Ashlee was  awarded with several awards at an awards assembly at school.  She received a Life Skills Award for being efficient.  Her teachers said that she always" goes the extra mile" and goes over and beyond what is required of her.  She received an awards certificate and an engraved key chain for her participation on the school volleyball team, and she received a certificate for having a 4.0GPA,which is hard to do at our school.   Our school has different grade cut offs than most schools.  We basically do not have minus grades.  So technically a B- at a regular school is a C+ at ours.

Ashlee's new hairstyle.  She got bangs and some layers.

Ashlee receiving the Life Skills Award for being Efficient

Volleyball Award

Gold Honor Roll 4.0 GPA

All the 6th Grade Gold Honor Roll Students

Happy New Year-A Fresh Start

Happy New Year.  A time to clean and wipe out the old and ring in the new.  A time for a fresh new start.  I must admit I am more uncertain about 2013 than I have ever been before.  I do not know if it's the state of our government, world, economy, the rising crime taking place around us, etc, or a combination of things.  I just have an uneasy feeling heading into 2013.

I think some of the un-easiness I may be feeling is being brought on by so many of the uncertainties going on in our own lives, and wondering where this year will lead us.  Here are some of the things I am feeling uncertain about:

-John's employment
-Ashlee and Mikayla's school (i.e. Is there a better option available? Is this the right place?)
-Trying to make it with me working one less job
-Rising taxes
-Health care changes going into effect
-Rising cost of living, food, etc.
-Trying to run a successful business and hoping we can make it, without being ran out of business because of taxes, and people who choose to take product, but not pay for the product.

I like the idea of taking a word and using that word throughout the year and I also like the idea of just listing some of the things you want to improve upon in the year to come.  I cannot think of one word that encompasses everything I wish to accomplish this year, so I am going to list some things I hope to improve upon, all the while looking at 2013 as a time for a fresh new start, and dealing with things one day at a time. 

-Family
-Faith
-Health and fitness -eating healthier (less sweets, more healthy choices) and finding the time and motivation to excercise!

"We would do well to slow down a little, focus on the significant & truly see the things that matter most." Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day

Christmas Eve was celebrated at our house.  My brother and his kids, my mom, and Terry came over. We had Mexican food for dinner and cookie cups for dessert.  Exchanged gifts and visited.  My girls have known for a while now that we are going to Disneyland in February, but my brothers kids just found out on Christmas eve that they are going too.  Ashlee belongs to a club at school and they get to go to Disneyland at a discounted rate(anywhere from $75-100 per ticket less).  We are allowed to get as many tickets as we need, so my mom is helping pay for all of us to go(her gift to all of us for Christmas).  The kids are so excited.  We have not been since 2008 and cannot wait!

 

Christmas Day John  had to go to work.  The girls did not think they could wait until John got home to see what Santa had brought and open their gifts, so we got up early and let them open their gifts before he went to work.

 Santa brought them a laptop.  Our desktop computer is on it's last leg.  And everyone fights over the one computer to get their homework, bills, etc done.

 Ashlee got a cell phone (I am not sure about kids having cell phones, but with carpooling, and her starting to babysit I felt it was necessary).  So many people these days do not have home phones, so when she goes to babysit, she has no way of calling for help if she needs it.  She also got a knitting kit, a sweat outfit, and some boots.  She has been knitting way.  So far she has made a scarf and a beanie hat.

 Mikayla got a knitting kit, boots, duck tape, and clothes.  She has been knitting away too.

Ashlee opening her cell phone

 When John got home from work we went to my moms for Christmas dinner.  I woke up Christmas morning sick and was not up to taking pictures, the rest of the day.  I know, I should have....

Christmas Baking

My mom gathered up the supplies and her, my nephews, and neice came over today to do some holiday baking.  We made several simple treats, assembled them in packaging and delivered them to friends, relatives and neighbors. 

Hailee, Mikayla and Ashlee

Songs of the Season

Tonight Mikayla had her school Winter (aka Christmas, you have to call it Winter so you do not offend anyone these days!) Performance.  The program was called Songs of the Season.

Mikayla is in the middle with the green reindeer ears.
 

Mikayla is the 2nd one in from the right.  Her and her friends Allison and Brooke had a little friends skit in the song, but I could never get a decent picture.