Life's The Sum Of All Parts

M's school program 2011

M got to do a program this year about the pioneers.

They had a special group that came in and sang songs. The kids got to demonstrate different pioneer games and dances. M got to do some square dancing. She had fun learning the dances.

A's school program 2011

A did a school program about heroes and the military.

I always love going to the girls school programs. I always get a little choked up. It is fun to see them learning and growing, but it makes me sad at the same time.

She did a great job. I think I need to get their earlier so I can take pictures and video without so many heads in the shot! :)

D had a Bishop's youth discussion at our house. I was in charge of cleaning the house and making treats. I made a whole pan of mini cream puffs and a pan of mini cupcakes. I had gotten a new frosting tip that I was excited to try out. The Bishopric talked to the youth about their lives and experiences. And then they had treats. There was not one left! They must have liked them.

M's science fair project 2011

In 4th grade the girls get to do a science fair project. This was our first experience doing a science fair project. We didn't really know what to do for it. She chose to try to float eggs in different solutions.

She chose, salt, corn syrup, and sugar.

She had fun doing the experiment in our kitchen.

A' baptism...

A chose to be baptized to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

We were so proud of her decision. She is such a sweet little girl. She is such a joy to have in our family.

We have started a tradition of giving the girls real pearl necklaces, earrings and a bracelet when they get baptized. We have a little poem that goes with them that talks about them being clean and pure and white just like the pearls.

The bracelet was a little big, and she couldn't wear the earrings yet because she still had to wear her studs, but she got to wear her necklace after her baptism.

Mom and A.

Dad and A.

It was such a neat experience, especially for D. He got to baptize her, confirm her, and give Bishop's remarks. He shed a few tears! It was such a special day. He will get to do the same thing when K turns 8.

A looked so pretty in the baptism dress. We are so proud of her.

A's Alice In Wonderland Friend Party 2011

A wanted an Alice in Wonderland birthday party with friends this year for her birthday. When the girls arrived we had them go down to the basement to watch the Disney Alice in Wonderland movie. While they were watching the movie M and I got busy and turned our house into Wonderland. I made a rabbit hole out of cardboard boxes that led to our stairwell. Along the walls in the stairwell we taped pictures of household items so it would be like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. When they got to the top of the stairs they had to go through a cardboard box with a little door and then they were in Wonderland.

I had hung streamers from the ceiling and set up the Cheshire cat in a tree. I had the girls all draw mouths to pin on the Cheshire cat. We blind folded them and spun them around then they had to put their smile on the cat. They came up with some pretty fun smiles.

Then we had a tea party. I had spent weeks going to the thrift store looking for fun tea cups. When I started I wanted fun colors, but I could never find any, so I went with plain white ones. All of them were a little different and the plates were too. We just had finger foods: carrot sticks, olives, finger sandwiches, pretzels, bunny shaped crackers, and fruit. We also had un-sweetened pink lemonade. I had sugar cubes that the girls got to put in their pink lemonade "tea". I had put labels on the handles of their cups that said, "Drink Me" and ones on the food that said, "Eat Me".

We also had cupcakes and ice cream cups for dessert.

I stuck playing card all over the walls. I gave out a prize to the first girl who could find the Queen of Hearts. We also played a tea cup toss game. I had a big yellow tea cup that we tossed a ping pong ball into. Then A got to open her gifts. She got so many fun things. She has such cute little friends.

Then we played a game of musical chairs. We played it a little differently. Instead of a person getting out, we took a chair out, so in the end we only ended up with one chair.

All the girls had to pile onto that one chair. It was so funny. They all fell just as I took the picture.

We sent all the girls home with little goodie bags with a Capri Sun (with a tag on it that said "Drink Me"), a mini bag of cookies (that said "Eat Me"), bubbles, little spiky balls, bracelets, and kalidescopes. It was such a fun party. I love planning theme birthday parties.

A's 8th birthday...2011

A wanted a Alice in Wonderland party for her 8th birthday. I made her a tea cup cake for our family party on her birthday. We had a friend party a few days later.

We have given the girls the option of getting a toy for their 8th birthday, or they can get their ears pierced. A chose to get her ears pierced. She was very brave and didn't make a peep when they did it. Her eyes got REALLY big though.