The final update...

I am finding it hard to continue to back track when our summer fun is in full swing, but continue I must! I feel that I need to have these things documented so that when I finally get around to scrapbooking these photo's I will remember what was happening.

And so we continue with the middle child, the lovely and talented Olivia:

The biggest highlight of her winter was creating her volcano, and then celebrating her 8th birthday, but most importantly she finally was able to get her ears pierced.  Now this was a HUGE event, not only because out of the three girls my little fanshionista was going to enjoy them the most, but because she also harbors the most fear for things unknown, especially when they will involve some pain!  She thought about this for months, and I told her by no means would I make her do it, it had to be her choice.

 She finally decided she was brave enough so we went down to the mall for the spa treatment at Claire's and she was a champion!

 She couldn't have been more excited!!

The day before Paul's 37th birthday Olivia had her baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Paul told her that this was the best present she could ever give him and after her father preformed the ordinance he lifted her up into his arms and gave her a huge embrace.  It was priceless and I hope she remembers just how loved she is and how happy she was about making this choice.

In the Second Grade they study all the different Native American tribes in our country's history, but mostly focusing on the ones that lived and still live in Utah.  Olivia loved this subject and was thrilled the day they had a grade celebration and everyone was able to dress up for the day.

In March my Aunt VaLoice passed away.  She had lived a long full life and she was such a character to be around.  VaLoice had lived with and been a part of my family for almost as long as I can remember and my girls over the last few years loved taking her out to see movies together.  While we were all sad to have her gone we are so happy for her to be reunited with her parents that passed away some 50 years before- I am sure it was a moment full of joy.  I am including this picture because the funeral took place in Clarkston, UT on one of the coldest most bone chilling days of the year - and I know that if I showed her this picture of my girls all bundled up she would be giggling for hours at how funny they looked out freezing to death in the wind and snow!! 

Continuing in her studies Olivia was assigned to read a book about Sacajawea, create something that represented what she learned and then give an oral presentation to her class.  She went for it! She did all the reading, decided to make a Tepee like the ones the Shoshone Indians lived in and tell the class about how they were hunter/gatherers until she was taken captive and found her way onto the Louis and Clark expedition discovering and mapping out the Western United states.  My favorite part?  That little fire she put on the inside- so awesome!!

She made me these most delicious flowers for Mother's Day in her Activity Days group.  This girl loves to craft up a project so this was right up her ally.  Also, can you believe she is old enough to be going to Activity Days?!!

On the final day of Shakespeare week at the school they have a feast.  Abby's class and Olivia's class joined together for the celebration and I was part of the food prep/party planning committee so Eva had to stay after her class and join in the fun too.  All the other kids were so funny about these three sisters together and just kept saying how they all looked exactly alike.  I don't really see it, but it was fun to have them all together for the party and to watch the professional Jugglers put on a show during the feast.

However by the end of the afternoon I couldn't help but smile and wonder what I am in for with these three cute girls because I looked up to see them surrounded by the boys and working their audience!!! :)

The last day of school arrived and Olivia was so sad to see it come to an end- she LOVED her teacher Mrs. Gorrell who really embraced her strengths and desires.  This was a perfect class for her this year, such a safe and loving environment for her while she one by one lost 3 of her best friends over the course of the year.  It is a hard age to have best friends move and have to find a new friend, not even thinking of doing it 3 times in one school year.  We had lots of tears and some sad days but she is such a fun loving girl that it all was fine in the end and I am thankful to her teacher who was sensitive to her needs and a class full of really great kids.  She also did well in her school work this year and walked away with the award for Excellent Artist of the 2nd grade, and the Math award for the mastering all her math facts that year.  Way to go Olivia we are so proud of you!!

Her final event of the year was her Dance recital on June 8th.  Olivia LOVES to dance!  She can just feel it in her bones.  Mostly she loves to tap dance- she likes the rhythm and the speed that goes with it.

I also have her taking a Ballet class because that is where she learns the body control and discipline and long lean lines that a dancer needs.

 Sadly her tap class shrunk through the months (as girls her age switch to jazz and hip hop) and in the end she only had 3 in her class and they didn't put a tap routine in the show- but she had three other fun dances and two different costumes so she was OK.  This year the studio did a Disney Princess theme and many of the classes learned routines to different movies.  The oldest professional group all dresses up as the different princesses to introduce each class- it was really cute and fun and all the students LOVED it- almost better than Disney Land :)

 Here is Liv with her Rapunzel - so cute.

A flower and panda from grandma AND a trophy- doesn't get much better than that!!

For your viewing pleasure here is her Rapunzel Dance- she starts out on the far left, but she travels so keep a close watch!!

And now Olivia is ready for summer!!