Teenagers are Great!!

On Lizzie's Birthday, Uncle Mikey gave her a Target gift certificate for 100 bucks!  she was super excited so late in the week, she and I went on a date! and I have to say we had the BEST DAY EVER!  We laughed and teased and talked and laughed some more!  We shopped, had ice cream, lunch and then went to go watch Breaking Dawn!  The Final movie in the Twilight series.  My baby girl is now 13.  A teenager and she still likes hangin out with me...So far I'm likin the teenage years!    I know she had a great time too because the next day she leaned over to me at church and "Mommy,  I wish it was Saturday again..."  Me too baby girl, me too.

And her Favorite Color?

oh we have more choices,  but for some reason,  we always run out of red....

Our Gratitude Tree and a Bear

This year I wanted to try and make a cloth tree.  I'd seen something like it and so it took a while to get the tree up this year,  but we still did pretty good in filling it up even with the late start!  of course it helped when Stevie realized he needed to make some for Molly, Toffee and Pumpkin, Our pets!  'I am thankful for Bones and my Frisbee, love Molly." Stevie the Dag whisperer.

At the end of the month, Jimmy got his Bear award.  he has great leaders who worked hard to get him through it,  lets face it,  he was in it for the fun.  But they pushed him and when they couldn't, they made the activities fun so he had a great time and made it through!

Birthday Celebrations Galore!

Elizabeth and Jimmy,  who share the same birthday, decided this year, they both wanted their very own birthdays in their very own styles! Since it was a 'big' birthday for both, we decided we could do this.  Jimmy, turning 10 was an all boys late-over bash! and Lizzie turning 13, was a  friends only Minute to Win it night.  They both were really fun!  and they both thought theirs was the best party they ever had so yeah fir me!  :)

I was not prepared for the all out knockdown wrestling match that occurred when I turned my back for a minute!  its was crazy.  i was starting the party off with some minute to win it games and I turned to reach for the cookies for the next game and it was on! They earned tickets for the games and they used those to 'buy food and treats for the movie in the back yard. If they needed more tickets, they had to do something to 'earn' more, like sing "I'm a little tea pot" or tell a joke.  (this turned out to be very popular)We had hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones and treats! They watched Avengers,  when we started to loose them,  Steve pulled out his official light-sabers (they really light up and make all the right noises. Pretty cool).  a food fight broke out at cupcake time too. An All Boy Party was harder then I thought,  but Jimmy had a great time so that is all that matters.  and everyone he invited came!

Elizabeth wanted a nighttime party of all Minute to Win it games with a homemade Pizza Bar.  She invited 19 friends from school,  but because of how crazy life was this month we got the invites to them only a 8 days before party.  and then I forgot the Address!  we quickly added that with stickers on the back and then after they were delivered, we realized we had the wrong RSVP Phone Number!!!  so i sent out an 'Oops! card with correct info and said a prayer.  I was so afraid no one would come!  In the end 5 friends came and it was a perfect number.  they were all so sweet!  They started the night playing Just dance on Wii and then we started Games,  so much laughter and silliness it was great!!  We finally took a break from all of that to make their pizzas and then they watched some of Brave the movie outside under the stars,  but mostly they just laughed and chatted through it all.  :)  We did presents and then more Just Dance while we waited for pick ups.  Lizzie's friends were just so sweet and they each gave her really sweet thoughtful gifts!  I was so pleased and best of all she had an amazing time and I know she will never forget her 13th birthday.  My only regret is I never got a picture of her with all the girls.

Happy Birthday Dear Sweet Elizabeth and My Ever Sassy Little Man.  I Love You Both So Much and Thank My Father in Heaven for the Blessings of You in My Life.

YW in Excellence!

The beginning of November was our Young Women in Excellence, the girls were all asked to choose a value and do a 10 hr project on it.  Elizabeth and her partner Brookly, chose Faith and they made a video.  It was so beautiful and I have to say I was really very proud of her.  they interviewed many people like  sweet little kids, the YW Stake Pres. and our Bishop, and asked them,  " What was Faith?" and "How do you show your Faith?"   It turned out really amazing.  I love my dear Daughter and I will always be proud of who she is, and the Young Woman she is becoming!

Family Visits!!

Our Dear Friends from Vegas, might as well call them family, the Jentez! came to visit us the week before thanksgiving!  what a fun time we always have together.  We hung out,  went hiking. and then a quick visit back to the Ghost town,  for some souvenirs!  We Love Our Family!  We get to go  Vegas to ring in the New Year!  Cant wait!!

The Great Carrot Caper!

Daddy has planted a wonderful garden in the backyard,  and the harvest was last month....But guess what was hiding behind the apricot tree....

Pumpkin Patch

In October we went to the local Pumpkin Patch with Jo's preschool.  we had a lot of fun!  when we weren't lookin for Katie that is.  Jo is a wanderer and this trip was no exception.  all open area and kids running like crazy.  And then off she goes!  finally her school teacher,  my friend Alicia, whips out one of those kid leashes! I have never used one of those before but it was great! ( for me.)  Jo wasn't as impressed.  Stevie had the day off so he came along.  All the kids love him, so he was super popular!