Goldwater Lake, Prescott Arizona

This seems like a lame way to come back. Especially after the crazy awesome year it has been. But I loved this picture. Moments like this make my heart sing. And I guess the quietness and slow pace of the cabin allow time for reflection.
I had been ready to leave the lake for a couple of hours. I had quietly and patiently endured the embarrassment of being the loudest people on the lake. I don't think fishermen appreciate my kids playing "Pirates of the Caribbean" complete with theme music as they attach, ram and try to flip each other over. I am not sure anyone caught a fish this afternoon but I was richly rewarded.

Prom

The last two weeks of my life were completely consumed by this dress. Amber designed what she wanted and I had to figure out how to make it work. I tried to draft it the best I could and then sew a practice dress to work out the kinks.

Amber and Ryan. I love the look on Ryan's face. He does not like getting his picture taken. But he is always a good sport for me.
Again the real motivation behind finally getting his eagle project done. He wanted to drive the Mustang to prom. He has had his license for three whole days and Ron told him he could. Crazy.

baptism/prom

The dress turned out. Thank goodness for easy patterns and for the super shiny, easy to work with fabric Heather insisted on.
I had sent Heather and her friend Catlyn outside with the camera to take pictures before the baptism. It was a "please, get out of my hair" moment for me. But look at what a good job Catlyn did. Heather's pictures of Catlyn are just as pretty.

I am not sure there is anything more awesome than watching your baby boy baptize your baby girl.


I was a little hesitant about the whole thing and left the decision up to Heather. She of course wanted her Daddy at first but after thinking it over and me promising Tyler wouldn't tease her she changed her mind. What a neat experience for Tyler and hopefully a real bonding moment for them both.
It was a stake baptism and Ron is the high councilor over it. I had to wonder as he was conducting the meeting, standing at the pulpit in his suit and tie. If Tyler wasn't going to do the baptizing would Ron have conducted in the white jump suit? That would be a sight.

We had family and friends over for dinner after and this little cutie joined us. Another Katlyn. Tyler met her a EFY. She lives across town but they have a nice little friendship and get together every now and then.

I love her dress! The pictures don't even come close to capturing how pretty it is. It is iridescent with purple hues. The back laces up like a corset. Truly an amazing dress.
Katlyn's prom was at The Science Center. The kids had a great time.

tux shopping & Campjambarama

Tyler has been busy. Too busy. We were not able for the last couple of weeks to get to the tux shop for a fitting. So we were down to the last week before prom and trying to find a store that would a) rent him something and b) not charge an arm and a leg for our procrastination. "We" finally had the brilliant idea to find a used tux and buy it. With three proms this year and his junior and senior year still to go this seemed like the smartest thing to do.
I am a genius I tell you.
It was a crazy, driving around, cranky mom afternoon. But we finally found a little shop in the barrio. Angel's Tux shop owned by two brothers. Very young entrepreneurs so sweet their mother must be so proud. They had one tux Tyler's size. It needed a seam mended and the buttons on the jacket replaced. Apparently the guys at this store can't even thread a needle. They thought the repairs were extreme and sold me the whole thing for $40.
Smoking, smoking deal.
After a frantic afternoon we loaded everyone with a male chromosome that lived in my house plus three into the Pizgaur and sent them off the the Scout Campjambarama 100 year celebration. I hustled home and by nine o'clock I was finally cutting out Heather's dress for her baptism tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Boo Boo

In my present stash Heather found three Polly Pocket sets. EVERYDAY for the last month she would drag them out line them up and then play with them. I am not sure how that is done while they are still in the packaging but she did. She wanted them all for her birthday. Look at the one in the picture. It is a pirate Polly Pocket. How cool is that?


When she said she wanted a Baby Alive also, we had to cut the Polly Pocket set to just one. Otherwise I think I would have had a true mutiny on my hands.

She thinks the Baby Alive is hilarious because it can pee.

I had to include this picture of her.
I have so many pictures of Heather making faces at me. She is so the family clown.







The frosting on these cupcakes is ridiculous. All of the kids went home with stained mouths and hands.







Heather originally wanted Gyros for breakfast. I had to talk her out of that. Can you imagine gyro breath all day? So we had Gyros for dinner. Her second breakfast choice was ice cream! So we compromised and had french toast with vanilla ice cream. It was surprisingly good.








I can't believe my baby is eight.

Easter

We had such a great time over the Easter weekend. We did all of the traditional Easter things. I love it when conference and Easter collide. Best weekend ever. I just loved all of the talks on family. Lots of guilt but more hope, encouragement and ideas to help our family. It is the first Easter our family has ever been apart. Kind of sad but so worth it because Ron took half of the kids up to see General Conference. As a bonus Ron and Ty watched the priesthood session in the Tabernacle with Lance and Uncle Marv.

Tennis Anyone?

Have I mentioned how much I love tennis! It is the best!
Tyler is undecided whether or not he will play tennis or return to track next year, but I am sold. My top ten why tennis is my new favorite spring sport.

5. No new equipment purchases. We have some old ratty rackets in the garage.
And your school shoes will do just fine. (you have to buy spikes for track and field)

4. If your kid is not that good they play on the far side of the courts. Tyler started the season as 2nd alternate on the JV team. This
really translates to....you can bring a chair and sit under the shade of a tree at the far end of the parking lot..

3. Tennis matches take a while. So your kid can call you from home when it is finally their turn and you can run over to the school and not miss much. As apposed to a track meet where you have to wait all afternoon for you kid's events that last a few seconds.

2. If your kid gets better and is ranked 2nd on the JV team he moves to the middle of the courts...you can actually park your car right by the courts. You never even have to get out of your car! You can sit on your fanny, listen to the radio and sew while you watched. Just don't encourage anymore practicing because if your kid makes varsity your fun is over. You will have to go sit on the bleachers and clap with the other moms.

1. Last match April 20th! Those poor Track mom's are still out there cooking in the bleachers in mid May.

I love tennis

Spring Break at the Cabin

We spent the tail end of spring break in heaven, Groom Creek, AZ.
I guess this is what spring is like for most of the country. The snow is melting, little streams running and the weather perfect. Even though it is very nice at home right now it was nice to get away.



We took the baby chick and duck up with us. Duck enjoyed swimming in the creek. It looks so grown up.

Ron and the big kids could only stay a couple of days. I must not have been in photo mode while they were around.



Our week was full of picnics and games.

I love this picture of Heather in a snowball fight, barefoot!










I got a bit of sewing done from my favorite spot on the porch.

Dolly Donations

I finally got time to make some dollies for the Haiti Dolly Drive. They were fun and easy. I only wish I had been able to get involved sooner and spread the word (the deadline is next week) about a good cause run by an amazing young mother, Sarah. These girls on the web astound me. I remember having that kind of energy when my kids were small and doing lots of volunteer work. But this younger generation has a vision we lacked.
Amber did all of the face painting. She is very talented. I am all thumbs with a brush and was so grateful she was so excited to help. Aubrey helped with some of the sewing. She has a good eye and a very straight stitch.
Hopefully there will be another Dolly Drive because all of my girls want in on the action.

Aubrey's birthday

Weekend

We had a fun filled weekend. Our chicken laid her first egg.


It snowed again! This time we really got it.
The kids had their regional choir preformance. It was amazing!

Another Birthday Girl

Underneath that sheet is Alexa. In honor of her birthday we did a little kidnapping pay back. We had planned on just taking her to the newly released Percy Jackson movie. But we ended up with a little time on our hands.




What is a captor to do with time to kill but some cruel and unusual torture! Alexa was such a good sport. I love her as Angel Moroni!









The kids are wearing toga's. These days Aubery wears one to school. They are studying ancient Greece and mythology in social studies.










The unveiling! Isn't Lexi such a pretty girl, well young lady! Super sweet, fun, musical, gorgeous and she SEWS (yeah)!

Grand Slam

I had some early morning fun with the big kids. Thanks Denny's!

Spelling Bee Queen

It is hard to believe I contributed any genetic matter to a kid who could win a school spelling bee. I never made it out of the classroom for one of those things. The picture above was taken after winning her school spelling bee. The bottom picture is from the district spelling bee held on Jan 14th. Our district includes jr. high schools so she was bumped out pretty quick. Aubrey is one smart kid. I have warned the older children they will be working for her when she takes over the world.