Great to be Eight!

My New Years Eve Baby has finally reached her 8th birthday!!! She didn't think it would ever come and she is excited to say the least. This is a monumental birthday and with it comes big responsibility. She has now reached the age of accountability and with that comes big choices. Her first choice she wished to make was to have her ears pierced. Now I am of the persuasion that when the girls ask to have them pierced then I would let them. Paul however is of different thinking, this being that they should wait until they are 12. So she set about persuading him that at the age of 8 she was old enough to take care of them and responsible enough to not lose every pair of ear rings she has- and she won the battle (being that she has him wrapped around her finger!) And so, amid the frigid temps, drifting snow and sheets of ice that were the roads, we made our way to the mall to begin her celebration. Now it must be told that while Paul did finally give his approval to the action he did then begin to fill her mind with horror stories and tales of blood shooting out her ears and passing out because of the excruciating pain that would envelop her (all to try and have her change her mind). Non of this swayed her but as we walked into the shop her nerves were jumping out of her skin!! I don't think I have ever seen her so excited and soooo nervous at the same time!! But she climbed up in that chair, clutched the teddy bear they gave her tight and went for it!!Oh, and these two- they looked on in complete amazement of her bravery!
They look great on her!! She didn't even cry, she was so brave! We followed up by having lunch in the food court and shopping for some new shoes. She declared it the best day ever! When we got home that evening she ran in and showed Paul and he declared "You really look like an 8 year old now"!! I don't think her grin could have been any wider!!

Happy Birthday Abby- good things really do come to those who wait!!

Pageantry and Tradition

And the month begins. This week I feel very busy, lists have been made (I'm not even a listy kind of person), my calendar is marked up and we will see if I can make it through this week! My month of holiday festivities officially started last Thursday when we attended Olivia's theatrical debut in her Kindergarten Devotional.
Those lucky little ones get to do the Christmas themed one each year and Livvy was so excited. I was surprised at her confidence on stage, she is a pretty shy little girl, but she jumped right up and delivered her line clear and precise without any hesitation. She really wanted to be an Angel and play the musical instruments (like Abby did when she participated) but she was assigned the part of a stable girl who swept it out in preparation for the savior's arrival- they sang the song "A Stable Fit For a King". It was cute and she did a wonderful job!

Next we had the Ward Christmas Breakfast on Saturday- and we even made it in time to actually sit and have some food this year!!! High fives all around for that accomplishment!!

The girls had been preparing for their meeting with Santa all week. They wrote down their wish list and took it with them that morning. This was to help them discuss what they really wanted without anything being forgotten or lost in translation. That darling Santa had them place each list in his sack to take back to the north pole- he didn't want to make any mistakes on Christmas Eve!!
Up next? I get to help Abby's class build and decorate Gingerbread houses and then I will be at Liv's school helping with the Teddy Bear Hug Service Project they do every year to benefit a Homeless shelter in Ogden- I look forward to both!!

Honestly...

These two can entertain us for hours!!!! (Abby and her friend Louisa)
One day I found them taping up their faces and they had us all laughing uncontrollably
Then the next day they are standing in the sun and giving all the friends a sparkly shirt reflection dance show (because they always seem to be wearing the same things, I don't know if the girls have the same taste in clothes or if it is their mothers!)

This picture really doesn't do it justice- the ENTIRE room- walls, ceiling, floor- was covered in sequin shimmers!! All were oohing and awing at the display for quite some time and the hip shake dance was the finishing touch.

I am sure they would come by invitation to your next party, but there will be a small fee of sugar and craft supplies- at least that is what they charge me for this one of a kind entertainment.

Christmas break should get very interesting...