Spirit Week Pictures

I got back from Utah - for Women's Conference - and now have pictures of Katelynn to post to finish out the spirit week for her. Apparently, on Thursday her outfit wasn't all that great (that's what she said), so no one took a picture. But Friday was CRAZY DAY!! I think she took more time picking out the crazy accessories that didn't match than the outfit. Her eye shadow is even different colors. Cute girl!!!

Sports Day!

Wednesday - Sports Day! GO Seahawks!!

Tuesday - Hawaiian Day

Today, Katelynn is dressed to visit Hawaii, but our weather outside does not match, but that did not deter her from wearing her flip flops to school even if it is only 45 degrees. I think the closeup picture is really pretty of her and you can see her with makeup on. She does a really good job. Have a great day!

Spirit Week for Katelynn!

MONDAY - PAJAMA DAY!!

This week is Spirit Week for the middle school. They have a different theme each day. Katelynn has planned out each day what she is going to wear. I thought I would let you see her each day. Today is pajama day. I will take pictures each morning and post them for you. I will try to get Ben to take pictures and post for Thursday and Friday because I am going to Utah for 4 days and go to Women's Conference at BYU with my Mom, sister in law and our good family friend and to visit my sisters and brother and their families. I am so excited for a break from the normal activities of the day.

Stay tuned each day for pictures of Katelynn.

Mother and Daughter Picnic

Allison invited me to a mother/daughter picnic yesterday. We were to bring a picnic lunch, a blanket and a flashlight. We walked to the church and found lots of fun there. I got to hear Allie tell about her first day at activity days in February. We got to meet all the other girls and their mothers. I learned that Allie's favorite colors are pink and blue and she loves to do cartwheels. She learned that I don't have a favorite color and that I love to read. Then we played beach volleyball, tag in the dark with a flashlight and then frisbee. We then went outside to have a picnic lunch together. After all was done we walked home. I enjoyed my time with Allie to be with her and act like a kid(sometimes it is difficult for me) and play fun games.

Katelynn turns 14!

Katelynn and Daniel being "cool" in sunglasses.

I wish I could post lots of cute pictures of Katelynn on her birthday, but my kids seem to love taking videos with my camera and often use up all the juice in the battery and also the spare battery. That is what happened on Katelynn's birthday...so no pictures. Hopefully I can find a recent picture of her. In our house, the girls can wear makeup when they turn 14. So as you can imagine, Katelynn has been counting down the days until she could wear makeup. She does pretty good but you must know our secret.

My mother-in-law Nona, gave me a piece of advice 2 years ago that at first I was resistant too, but was able to see the great wisdom in her advice. She suggested I let Katelynn have makeup of her own and practice, because when she is 12 she will listen to you about applying makeup, but when she is 14 she won't want to hear your suggestions. Well, she couldn't have been more right. Katelynn was allowed to put makeup on whenever she wanted as long as she took it off right afterwards. She would come out afterwards and show me and so I could suggest that something should be lighter and more blended in. She even took pictures of herself to see what it looked like.

But on April 15, my advice and counsel was no longer needed just like Nona had said. Katelynn doesn't want any help with putting her makeup on so I am so thankful for the past 2 years of practicing. She is such a beautiful girl without makeup but I know how it feels when you are a teenager. You feel like you need the makeup.

Unfortunately, Katelynn's birthday landed on a crazy day in our house. School, work, gymnastics, hip hop were all squeezed in there. But to really make us feel busy our favorite TV show "The Biggest Loser" was having their 2 hour finale and none of us wanted to miss it. I gave Katelynn the option of celebrating her birthday one day early and she said NO! So I let her decide when we opened presents and had her cake(which she chose cherry cheesecake). Her solution to this was to open a present during each of the commercial breaks and then during one of the longer breaks we sat around eating cheesecake. Not real normal, but a memory nonetheless.

I would like to say that I am totally enjoying these teenage years so far, but I would be lying. But I can say that there are moments when I do enjoy having a 14 year old at my house. She attended her first church dance a week ago. I got to pick up some of the kids afterwards and hear about it. That was one of those moments. It was fun to hear about her night. She was asked by a few boys which really make a mom happy. But what was really cute was by the time we got home(dance was in Spokane...about 25 minutes away) she was looking like she was asleep. It was about 11:00pm. She is still little inside sometimes and I love that.

16th Wedding Anniversary

Our Wedding Day!

Here we are now!

Friday April 18th, Ben and I spent our 16th wedding anniversary by going out to dinner with a little window shopping. What an amazing thing to look back at all that has gone on in just 16 years. I love Ben more than I ever could on the day we were married. I am grateful for all that these years have taught me and am looking forward to the many more years we have to enjoy, learn, love and grow together.