Molly's 8th Birthday ~ We've Mastered the ART of Partying!

For Molly's 8th birthday, we had an ART party!  We did crafts and played games that involved art.  Some girls were quick on the draw and some drew a blank!  It turned out super cute. 

The invitations looked like a painters pallet.

Front Row Left to Right:

Andrea - Cambrie - Molly - Bella - Ellie - Alivia - Jaelee

Back Row Left to Right:

Julia - Kallie - Emma - Brinley - Brynn

The girls did CHALK ART until everyone got here

Next they PAINTED purses

Then they PAINTED sun catchers and wooden animals

Then we did NAIL ART

Then we did BODY ART

Then Molly opened her presents

After presents we made PERFECT PORTRAITS!  

The girls had to put a paper plate on their head and draw a self portrait while the plate was on their head!

Then it was finally CAKE TIME!

Then we played PICTIONARY until everyone's ride came.

Diamond Dawg Reunion Party

I can't believe how much I've come to love all these boys over the years, and I can't believe how much I've missed them since they've all went on to their own ways to their own high schools.  We had a reunion party for them and I think I was the most excited one about it!  We had a barbecue with salads, fruit and dessert. 

Some of the parents came to help and...... mostly just because they've missed being around all of them so much too!  Jens really could not have better friends.  They're smart, athletic, talented, good boys.

Jeff had them all bring their high school uniforms for a picture

and then he had them get dressed up in nice clothes for another picture.  Jeff wrote a small book about all the experiences that they had as a team over the years and tied it in to life lessons.  We've placed pictures in it of the boys that coincide with the pictures.  He wanted to end the book with these pictures of them in their high school uniforms.  I can't wait to see it when we've got the book all finished.

Last Day of School 2015

I really love love love my neighborhood with all my heart!

My kids have always been fortunate to have good friends, they've always been lucky enough to have a safe, fantastic place to play / hang out, and they've all been loved by a multitude of mothers and fathers. 

Cade and a bunch of neighbor kids ~ along with all their friends hung out half the evening at the Knudsen's in the tree fort, they spent time playing kick ball in the cul de sac, and then they watched a movie in our basement.

Sidney and her friends had a party at Chloe Hughes house.  

Boys will be Boys!

One day I'll look back at these pictures of Jens and his buddies wrestling and I'll miss it.

I'll miss the noise, the chaos, the laughter, and friendship.

I'll miss all of Jens' friends!

BUT I will NOT miss my house getting broken up by all the rough housing!

Double Rainbow

My mom and I had gone for a ride all day long down to Eureka, Sliver City and Mammoth.  We had visited ghost towns, old cemetery's, Porter Rockwell's home and some old mines.  It had rained most of the day while we were out.  When we got back to my house, the rain was just stopping.  A vibrant double rainbow appeared and it was so pretty!

It was the perfect ending to a fun day.

Dance Review May 2015

WOW WEE!  There were A LOT of tears shed this night!  This was Sidney's final dance review - ever!  She had some bittersweet moments this night, saying thank you to her dance teachers that she's had since she was just a little 3 year old.  Twelve years of dance has come and gone so quickly.  She has loved her teams each year and has made so many darling friends along the way. 

Molly and her cousins who all dance at EDC posing together after the review.

Sidney and Averi have danced together for so many years and it was the last year for the both of them.  Sidney is moving on to high school cheer and Averi is moving on to high school drill team.  

Sidney's team this year

These dance teachers have not only been teachers but have become dear family friends!

Leann Hales - Katelyn Swenson - Sidney - Joni Hales Holmes

(Missing from the picture are Kambri Shenk Randolf - and her ballet teachers.)

This cute little girl is named Emily.  She LOVES Sidney!  Sid has helped her out a few times but comforting her when she was sad and Emily has come to absolutely adore Sidney.  She was super sad saying goodbye to Sidney.

Sidney's friends Kaitlyn Hallows and Brook Viatohi came to watch her final performance.

I'm so glad to not be driving to and from dance 4 days a week anymore!  But at the same time I can't believe I won't be watching my baby girl - who is now taller than me - dance anymore!  I have completely enjoyed every moment this year watching her perform.  I've loved the competitions, the awards, and the time spent driving in the car with her.  It's given us a chance to talk and I'll miss it.

This Boy of Mine

There is not another kid out there like my kid!  I know I'm partial because he's mine ~ but he really is GREAT!  He has the biggest heart and the kindest personality.  He always looks out for the underdog and he hates bullies more than anything!  He big in stature so he can easily defend others.  I found this paper in his "Friday Folder", which is a folder of school work that is sent home each Friday.  I read it and had to take a picture of it.  

It says:

Caden Higginson

Salem Elementary

Mr. Stutz

My Roadmap to the Path of Excellence

This year in N.O.V.A. officer Nielsen taught us about the right things and the bad things.

The good things were to be a friend and not a bully the bad things were to not become friends with drugs, alcohol, beer, porogrufe, (pornography) smoking, and listening to bad music.  In the future I want to stay away from those things.  

THINGS THAT I VALUE

Are my friends and family because they're always by my side when I need them to be my home a place to go where I am safe and protected.  And school because I can go and learn.

THINGS I WANT TO AVOID

Smoking, drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, meth and any more.  Some more I want to avoid are gangs, alcohol, suicide, ponogrufe, play boys, beer.

OPPORTUNITIES THAT I WANT TO HAVE IN THE FUTURE

Football scholarship at Arizona State University, and a family.

What more could any parent ask for!