Happy Birthday Olivia

WOW!! Olivia celebrated her 8th birthday today.

Did you notice her big birthday request?  Look closer. Yep, she finally got her ears pierced, despite her almost overwhelming nerves!! She was a champ.  Also, she wanted this pony cake more than words can express. Her love affair with the "My Little Ponies" show on the HUB network is pretty big.  Mix that with her love of collecting and you will understand how we have been looking for that elusive orange "AppleJack" pony for months.  How perfect it was to find it gracing the top of this birthday cake at the local bakery!!!

This afternoon we met up with four of her favorite people at Jack and Jill Bowling Lanes and knocked down some pins together.
 

They all had a great time, this one even rolled her very first strike!!

The excitement and joy was overflowing.

These are some pretty fun and silly girls :)

Next week I will be taking her official photo's in her new white dress.  I will try my best to get them posted up in a timely manner!!

We love you Olivia - It sure is GREAT to be Eight!!!

Twelve

  When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold
And just like these old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No: I won't give up

I'm still looking up, I'm still looking up

-Jason Mraz

We just returned from a fun three day getaway celebrating our anniversary. We had a lovely romantic weekend enjoying each others company and reconnecting. The Heber Valley is so beautiful this time of year. It is nice to close the door on year 11. This past year has been more than a little crazy.  We have been working through A LOT of stuff together.  We have been really trying to make our marriage stronger and better.  I won't lie, I am happy to close that door and open this next one- the sun is shinning bright in there and it has all the promise in the world to be our best yet!!

Happy 12th Anniversary!

Love you P-Nut!!

Volcanic Eruption

Wow, that was a posting break!!! I am so tired of seeing that last post, I'm sure you are as well :) To be honest, now that I'm not doing my Project 365 anymore I just don't know what to post!! I have been doing that for an entire year and now I just feel kind of lost creatively.  Paul told me I should just keep doing the photo a day then, but I don't need the self inflicted pressure of not completing it right now :)

 Lucky for you this last week Olivia set about making a volcano project for her science class at school.  She was thrilled with the idea of creating her own masterpiece and having it erupt in front of her class in all it's gooey goodness glory. I'm sure in her mind it was going to be EPIC!!

Paul came up with the master design plan of water bottle/cardboard structure and to then cover it in  paper-mache'.

After that was completely dry, I gave her the paints and she went to town for, oh, 3 hours at least!!

Then she took it to class to show it off and see what all the other kids created.

Finally it was Olivia's turn to erupt her volcano

Perfection! She was delighted with the results!

365+1 Week 52

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a very fun time ringing in the New Year.  We have had a fun time this last two weeks with the girls out of school and lots of time spent together as a family.  Tomorrow they go back and we are all back to the routine- everyone knows I love that, but the first morning is going to be rough!!

And now for the final week of my Project 365

Photo's #359- 366:

Christmas Eve.  Abby's prayers and hopes for a white Christmas were answered as the snow began to drop that afternoon and all through the night.  She was more than happy to go out and help her dad shovel it off the walks while we waited for our holiday dinner to cook.  Later we all cozied up together and watched "A Christmas Story" before we sent these excited bodies off to bed.

Christmas Day - the girls slept in until 8:00am!  Sure enough Santa had arrived bringing all that their little hearts desired.  Then we ate our traditional Cinnamon Roll breakfast, took a nap, and made our way to the Davis' for a fun evening of more gifts, dinner, and cousin fun.

The snow has continued to fall again all day.  This time the girls bundled up and went out for some playtime.  Upon their return it only made sense to warm them up with a cup of Hot Cocoa. We have many flavors- each has their favorite- currently I am obsessed with the Raspberry Cheesecake.

We spent the afternoon with my mother.  It was the perfect time to make a mess of her family room with the Lego's.  These are the originals from my childhood, and the girls love to create together and be a little silly along the way.

Friday we went horse back riding with my mother and lots of my family.  My mom and her sister's own and board a few horses down in Payson at a place with an indoor arena so they can be enjoyed year round.  While I took many photo's of all my girls, I chose this one because Olivia once again faced her animal fears head on and found that she enjoyed these gentle giants to the fullest.  Just look at that grin from ear to ear- I was very proud of her!

Saturday we celebrated Abby's birthday with a small party at home with a few close friends and a couple cousins.  She was delighted when I told her that her cousin Laurynn could come Friday night and have a sleep over before the party!!  After all the celebration we drove up to the Olympic Oval for some family ice skating time.  This was the one activity that Abby wanted to do during the break and I was happy to oblige.  The surprise of the day was how well Eva took to skating- I mean really really well, she LOVED it!!

A shot of the snow globes that we made for an activity during Abby's party.  My girls LOVE them.  They were fun to put together with all the party goers, but I do have glitter still turning up all over my kitchen :)

Birthday Photo Shoot with my Abigail.  10 years old and just a complete joy in my life!!

There you have it!!! I can't believe that I actually did it- 366 photo's documenting my daily life for an entire year.  Thanks for joining me along the way!!  I had so much fun doing this project.  I feel like I know my camera so much better, and my appreciation of the everyday has completely increased.  I really enjoyed finding something each and every day that made me happy, smile, or I was thankful for. I would almost call this a Happiness Project.  This last year has kind of been a rough one, but when I look through all these photo's I can see so much to be thankful for.  So many good things, happy times, and fun was had.  It was very strange to NOT take a photo yesterday!!  We will see, I have this new habit of documenting details, it isn't going to just disappear over night. 

Here's to 2013- I can't wait to see what it brings my way!

Double Digits

Happy Birthday Abby!!!

10 years old today

She loves winter- fitting since she was born in the heart of these chilly winter months

She loves snow - how delightful that we had a perfectly timed flutter during our photo shoot.

She loves this new Christmas outfit (thanks Grandma)

right down to these rockin birthday boots!

Love you Abby girl!!!

365+1 Week 51

Merry Christmas everyone!! Can you even believe tonight is Christmas Eve?  Can you even believe that I only have one week to go and I have completed by Project 365?  I can hardly understand how this last year has gone by so quickly!!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!!!

Photo's #351-358:

"Beauty"  This a a photo of the beautiful flower's that my sister and niece brought for Liv after her dance performance.  She ADORES them!! Thanks again you two :)

"Lunchtime"  My favorite dressing to put on my favorite home lunch, a spinach salad.  That must be specified because my true favorite lunch would be going out somewhere, anywhere!!

"Candy Cane"  We are all starting to get very excited for Christmas!!

We went with the Davis family to a live Nativity up in Cottonwood Heights.  It was FREEZING!! I don't think I have ever been so cold- OK, that was a little dramatic, but really- it was 15 degrees outside.  But, they had lots of fun animals, and a tour of old town Bethlehem, and the girls couldn't get over the real baby in the mother's arms. A really beautiful sight to see.

My Santa Babies!!! A neighbor friend brought these by for Eva and Liv.  So silly and fun- they had a blast walking around with them hanging from their yummy suckers all afternoon!!

"Elf"  This is our version of an Elf on the Shelf.  Abby recieved him at school during her class 12/12/12 celebration.  We quickly looked up the original book and instructions (because I am that out of the loop on "hip parenting" and had just heard of the real thing 2 days before) and he has been reappearing in some pretty silly places ever since. I have been discovering Eva almost daily having conversations with Elvis (as the girls have named him) politely instructing him to PLEASE PLEASE bring her a real puppy on Christmas morning and don't even worry about what her Mom says!!

The Lights at Temple Square.  We met my brother and his family, as well as dragging my father along.  It was just about the most perfect night to go strolling through the lighted grounds.  After freezing earlier in the week, it was nearly 50 degrees that evening and we had a glorious time together.

Paul and I dressed in our best Christmas Sweaters for the Griffiths Family Party!  We have been wearing them out together whenever we could this month!  The moment I saw that Green Reindeer hanging on the store rack,  I just knew Paul HAD to have it!!! It just brings a great big smile to my face!!

Merry Christmas!!!!

365+1 Week 50

Photo's #344-350:

"Wrapping" Every year I pick a different color scheme and this year was dominated by pattern.  I love the green dots next to the bright red stripes.

Every year the girls participate in a service project at school called "The Teddy Bear Hug".  Each student is asked to donate a small bear, one that can easily be carried by a little child, to donate to the Ogden Homeless Rescue Mission.  On the day of the event the entire school lines up in a HUGE line, weaving around the school, and they begin passing the bears down the line.  Every child hugs each bear to send it off with their love to another child who has very little and is in need of something to comfort them and love.  It is a truly wonderful thing and my girls very much enjoy participating each year.

"Celebration"  Tonight Paul and I attended his work Christmas party.  It was adult only this year at Thanksgiving Point's Harvest Restaurant.  It was lovely and we enjoyed a delicious meal as well as playing some fun games and getting to know all of Paul's coworkers and wives better.

Today we addressed, stamped, and mailed our Christmas cards.  Olivia had her best friend move to California last month, so she decided to send a card to her as well.  She also included a small gift inside and I hope it arrived safely!!

"Lights"  I love to sit by the tree in the evening and read a magazine.  So beautiful, so peaceful and calm.

"Hat"  In the fourth grade Abby gets to study Utah History.  I remember doing the same thing at her age.  She is enjoying the subject and was very pleased to dress up in period attire for school today and have a Pioneer Christmas celebration in class.  She looks pretty cute :)

Olivia's Christmas Ballet Concert.  I wasn't able to get very good pictures, but she did a great job dancing as a sugar plum fairy.  Thank you to all my family that made it to the event- she was so excited to have you there.