Endings

Even though it is the middle of March and 80+ degrees outside, I am having a hard time believing we are done with snow and winter and cold temperatures. It never happened for us so it all feels so weird to see tulips and go without a coat and have kids ask for popsicles. I love spring but without winter it's not so sweet.

Erica found and loved the biggest bananas she has ever seen. She told her whole young women's class about them at church the next day and sent her leader a picture of them when she got home. The best part was she actually ate like 3 of them herself.

Sarah had her swim team awards night. 

She got several awards for just generally being awesome.

I started a quilt and here is the progress. It's for America's 250th birthday! I hope to finish it within the next month or so. I wish I would have started sooner because quilting a large blanket on my lap sounds much too hot now.

At stake conference last weekend we were at a church building we don't often attend and I saw in a classroom these little folding chairs. I had a flashback to my primary days where we had these same wood seat chairs. Nostalgia.

Erica had her last indoor street hockey game of the season. It was a rough game since the ref did not seem to know what he was doing and made some odd calls. Plus a week off and the whole team seemed to have lost their zest for the game or they forgot how to play or something. 

Erica still played hard and had fun so that's what matters. Actually what mattered was the ice cream after the game.

This marks the first time since July that we have not had a child in a sport. Nine months of practices and games! I am so ready for a break.

Erica's primary teachers from last year took her class to the temple. It took a couple of extra months to find an appointment and a time where everyone could go but they finally did it today when there was a half day of school. I love Bro and Sis W so much. They love these kids (and everyone) with all their hearts. They made the kids feel so special and made their final year of primary and "temple prep" their favorite primary year. 

Plus a trip for frozen yogurt. Best day ever. And these girls are so blessed to have Sis W move up with them into young women's.

Feel the Love

I love when Erica plays goalie. She's serious and competent and so good at it. She's the smallest one on the court but you wouldn't know it.

Remember kids:

Plus she's just really cool. 

Justin got to step in and coach one night (I volunteered him) and Erica loved it. I think Justin liked it too. 

Happy Valentine's Day! I have one kid in elementary school and this particular kid does not want to make a Valentine box so he's reusing his box from 1st grade again. And he didn't want to sign his Valentines so he was mystery boy in class. He did let me take his picture but that smile was for the camera only.

Check out this picture Erica took of the sky on the way home from school.

This is the one and only picture I took Friday night. We celebrated with our mostly annual Valentine dinner. We had tacos for dinner (hailing back my and Justin's first Valentines together where we went to a hole in the wall taco shop) and I gave everyone a box of candy and a new book. We will continue this tradition no matter how old my kids get. The only way out of it is if they are on a date. Bonus points if they bring a date to family Valentine dinner.

We had our dinner Friday night because Saturday Sarah had a high school dance. It was girls choice so I don't have a picture of her date.

President's Day! That day the kids played with friends all day but that evening we went out for ice cream to Brooker's Founding Flavors so we could reflect on our country's beginning and eat sugar.

We went to the new Spanish Fork location. I think it was very well done inside to feel like an 18th century tavern (such an expert).

I was getting inspired for my own home. 

A little girl in an elementary class I volunteer in spent all of inside recess making this for me.
 

"Five stars, Mrs. Dye." They do 5 star writing exercises every day so five stars is high praise.

Can you tell that James is snow deprived? He laid there for a while eating and studying the snow. He was even late for school (well still on time but not 30 minutes early like he usually is) so he could play in the snow and it was a good thing he did because it was melted when he got home that afternoon.

Erica turns 12

 Well, that can't be right. She doesn't look 12. 

Darn it, I thought that would be funny but that just made me sad.

 The night before her birthday she had an orchestra concert. She's the one with the only black violin.

Her concert was the same night as young women's so her entire class and leaders came to support her and the other girls in the ward that were playing that night.

She stayed to watch the later concerts so James and I decorated the house for her birthday until she got home.

Birthday morning! 

 

This is the dress we brought home from Mexico. We finally got our luggage a couple of days before this so she got it just in time.

She also got Bop-it and a stool for her room. She chose crepes for breakfast.

She wore the new clothes Nana bought her on a shopping trip earlier that week.

I picked up a gaggle of giggly girls from school and brought them home. They played outside (this is the year without winter) played in her room, climbed trees, played ping-pong and decorated cupcakes. This wasn't her year for a friend party but that just means I don't put much effort into things and they have to keep it simple and lowkey.

The girls went home before dinner and Erica chose alfredo and broccoli. Then she wanted to go on a birthday ride on Justin's motorcycle which they had to do before grandparents came over for dessert.

She made us sing in the style of super duper happy.

We sure love this girl.

A few things you may not know about Erica

She doesn't like school this year. I didn't like sixth grade one bit either so I can relate and say all the things to her I can think of to make it better but it's just something she's going to have to adjust to. 

She loves the temple so much. She asks to go all the time.

Don't ever tell her she's short. She hates that.

She gets so goofy sometimes and is so funny. It's a side of her not everyone gets to see.

She's very tenderhearted which serves her well in making friendships but it also means she gets her feelings hurt easily. We talk a lot that it's not rude to stand up for yourself or tell people they are being jerks when they are being jerks.

She first and foremost wants to be a mom when she grows up. She'd also wants to be a 4th grade teacher alongside her 4th grade teacher Miss Blaisdell. 

When she grows up she wants to live next door to us. I'm all for it.