Homecoming 2016

 September 17th was Homecoming for #3.

Man, I love this kid. He cleans up pretty well.

Here he is with his friends and their dates whom I had the pleasure of hosting for dinner.
I served a pasta bar complete with cheesy garlic bread, and Italian Sodas to drink.

Each one of these kids is a keeper. They were all  polite and thanked me a thousand times for feeding them dinner. 

Homecoming Dance!

 Last Saturday night was the Homecoming Dance!  

 #2 didn't have very long to find a dress.  We left one evening around 5:30 and five stores and three hours later, she had found it! (Since you can't see me, let me tell you- I'm doing a Happy Dance!)

 She looks super pretty and cute!  I love that her dress is something she can wear again (like to church on Sunday).

#6 put herself on look-out duty.  She asked #2 what color car he drove and what color hair he had.  Then she waited and watched for him to arrive.  

When she spied his car driving down the hill street she hollered, "He's coming down the street!" 

 When he turned onto our actual street, she checked to make sure the driver had blondish hair then announce, "Yep, it's really him!"  

She watched him get out of the car walk up the front walk, then turn around to return to his car.

"He's turning around."

  "He's going back to his car!"

 "He forgot your flower thing!"

"Okay, he's coming back."

"He's ringing the doorbell."
Then as she's opening the door, "He's HERE!!!!!"

Haha! You'd think having little siblings would be "Like SO Totally Embarrassing", but #2 just laughs and thinks it's funny. She's such an amazing big sister.

p.s.- I think #2's date looks similar to Lucas Grabeel, aka Ryan from High School Musical.

And we know how much #2 is smitten with anything HSM!

Weekend Happenings

In no particular order. . . .

 Clint's little cousin Samantha got married Saturday in the Mesa, AZ temple!  I was so very sad I could not be there.  She looks beautiful!

 Today (technically not part of the weekend, but . . . .), I began another Bikini Body Mommy challenge.  This will be my 3rd.  My goals this time around are:

1.  Gain more muscle

2. Lose more body fat. 

I'm not sure exactly where I am, but I think I want to lose about 3-5% more.  In order to accomplish this I'm going to have to really work on goals 3 and 4.

3. Eat more veggies, less fruit, and increase my healthy fats.

4. Move more!  Sometimes I think I eat out of boredom.  I think I'm hungry, but really I'm just looking for something to do.  To combat this, I'm going to try going for a walk whenever I think I this might be the case. 

 Yesterday, Sunday, we had a good two hour visit with Gram.  She seems to be doing much better acclimating to her new life in a retirement center. We went for a walk around the grounds, visiting the duck pond, and floating leaf boats down the stream along our way.

Friday afternoon this was mysteriously dropped off at our door.

It was a invite for #2 to Homecoming.  The dance is a week from Saturday. EEK! We're going shopping today.  Wish us luck!

That's What Make You Beautiful

 Dearest Daughter,

Looking back on these photos from your Homecoming date last weekend, I still cannot get over how beautiful you are.  True beauty is more than skin-deep.  You seem to know this secret.  While you are gorgeous on the outside, what truly makes you beautiful is your countenance.  It is aglow with Godly virtue and happiness.

This happiness creates your beautiful smile that I so often see.  It brightens a room, and cheers others.

You know that modest is hottest.  And instead of drawing undue attention to yourself, you seek to glorify God.  That's what makes you beautiful.

 "True beauty can’t be painted on but is a gift of the Spirit. It is literally letting your light shine before men." (source)  Keep Shining your light!

Love,  Mama

Just Dance

We've been in total dance mode around here this past month.

First we had Sadie Hawkin's (Girl's Choice).  Why they chose to do Sadie's before Homecoming, I'll never know.

 #2 used this cute "I'D BE A DING DONG IF I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO THE DANCE!" idea from lilluna (thanks lilluna) to ask her date, 'JB', (the nickname we gave him) to the dance.

His answer was found in this gigantic cake.

 -Cut the cake to find your answer-

 and that she did

 After a little digging she found it. . . . 

 YES! 

This was definitely the funnest idea yet. 

 .   

The theme for the dance was Grease (you know, as in the movie),

The dance took place on a "Su-hum-mer ni- hite"

For their matching outfits, they decided to go with 50's black 'Greaser' t-shirts and jeans, which made it super easy to Hand Jive in.

Doesn't this photo just scream 

We go together like rama-lama-lama-ka-ding-it-ty-ding-de-dong!

Okay, enough of the bad Grease puns

 Before Sadie's even came and went, this showed up at our house-

an invitation to Homecoming.  

This dance asking/answering is so much fun!

Her answer back:

"ICE CREAM YES!"  (Get it- I scream yes. . . )

Last Saturday we spent a long day shopping for a MODEST semi-formal dress.  We found two, which she is still deciding on.

Dress 1

Dress 2

Decision, decisions.  What's your choice?