The big 12th Birthday Bash

Lelu lucked out that her birthday landed on Friday so that she could celebrate all day long. There were 12 girls including her, for pizza, swimming, playing games, watching movies and half of them spent the night. I have a rule in my house, no sleepovers after 12 - so this was the final hurrah! Half of the girls' parents have the same rule - which was so nice because when Aub was that age, none of her friends had that rule. I was the overprotective mean mom!

The difference in sizes of these girls was incredible too. I'd say half of the them are like Lelu, still look like little girls and the other half are women. 4 of them are like 5'6" to 5'9" and 12 years old. I think girls are getting so much taller than when I was that age. There was only like one or two that were tall like that. I think everyone had a great time, there were no super dramas and they all got along pretty well considering there was quite a mix of girls from our new ward, old ward, old school and new school. Today she gets to go to YW. I think that's where she'll really make good friends and feel included.

First Day of 7th Grade & D starts 11th

But I have a Disclaimer for not posting a first day photo of D: He decided to take early morning seminary against my recommendation, so he leaves at 6:10 am. I do not wake up until 6:30 and even that is a difficulty for my "late night reading time". So the truth is I didn't get up or take any photos. I tried to get him to let me take them after school but he said that's being dishonest. Thus my disclaimer! This was of he and B playing thumb war and it's from this week, so this is what he looks like right now anyway.

Lelu is now attending the neighborhood middle school. She is very excited about not having to wear a uniform, but the crowds are a bit overwhelming to her. There are apparently 37 kids in her first class and 40 in another class. I am not too happy about those numbers, but it's too late to send her back to the charter school. She only knows a couple of girls at this school so this is going to be the year of making new friends. The first couple days she couldn't get her locker open because it was jammed. The school times their bells differently for 7th grade and then 8th and 9th, so they aren't all in the hall at the same time. But her locker caused her to be in the hall when the older kids were let out and she literally got knocked down and trampled a bit. Not so fun for the 2nd day of school. It's funny how many people comment to me that 7th grade was their hardest year. I've been telling her that the large majority of 7th graders all just want friends and to be accepted. Be friendly and accepting. But the fact of the matter is: Jr. High is the pits!

A Role she Was Born to Play

Some little neighbor girls (the tall ones in the back) love acting and decided to do a little acting class in the neighborhood. They put together a production of "Alice in Wonderland". So my little Ari went to the class fully intending she'd get the lead role because "I look like Alice" and indeed she does. The big girls thought so too, so she got the role. I was very worried about it because she has selective stage fright. They practiced 4 hours a week for a month and took it very seriously. Thursday night we went over to the church for the big performance. It was very exciting for her. She totally got into it and played the total diva smiling and bowing etc. The big girls worked really hard trying to keep all these little girls remembering their lines and what to do for over an HOUR. I'm afraid I've got another thespian on my hands.

My kids had never seen Alice in Wonderland, so I went on a hunt to buy it or rent it and couldn't find it. The neighbors had a copy and so the twins watched it. Mr. T thought it was awful "mom they smoke in it and chop off heads, that is not a kids movie!" This from the kid who lives for Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean. He'll probably love it when Johnny Depp is the mad hatter, but in a cartoon there's apparently a moral code to keep to.

The Twins Start 2nd

Does anyone else feel like they are living in a time warp and someone just keeps cranking up the speed?
So half my children still living at home started school last Monday. They constantly tell me how unfair it is that Lelu and D don't have to go. It doesn't seem to matter how much I try to strip them of their blissful childhood by telling them that life isn't really fair, they still proclaim their outrage. But so far so good, they like their new teacher, who've I heard is quite strict, and they aren't completely devastated that their BFF's from 1st grade aren't in their class this year. They still have each other. I love that the school gives me the choice whether or not to keep them in the same class. Until and unless they each figure out that the other is better at a subject (and I am not verifying anything on here since they read this) and that particular twin can do one set of homework and vice versa.......they'll stay together in class until Jr. High when I'll no longer have the choice.

Now to get D and Lelu off to school this week - the house will be mine for 6 hours a day, woohoo!! It'll be clean for about 4 of it.

Lelu's Favorites

I am adding an element to my blog called Favorites. My kids love to play this game in the car by asking each other their favs. Since it seems to change rapidly I thought it'd be fun to record them from year to year around their birthday. Lelu's is next week. Big 12!

Movie: Legally Blonde

Color: Turquoise

Restaurant: CPK (California Pizza Kitchen)

Birthday Treat: Chocolate Molten Cake

Food: Shrimp

Day: Friday

Holiday: Christmas

Song: Clocks

Musical Artist: Chris Martin (I have a lot of influence at this point in her life;)

Vacation: San Francisco with Mom (see above)

Book: Harry Potter

Animal: Panda Bear

Career Choice: Elementary School Teacher

How many kids in her future: 4 (2 boys 2 girls)

College: BYU

Dream Place to Live: Maui

Quote: Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

She wants to have all of her kids before 30 so that her poor kids won't be embarassed by how old her parents are.

Fun in Jackson Hole!

Even though I moved and left all these amazing friends back in my old ward, they take pity on me and invite me to hang out with them. For some reason I am just not settling in to my new ward. Maybe these girls are just too awesome to compare to. B tells me it's my oxymoron - I have a lot of great friends but I am antisocial. Hmmm, I'm going to ponder on that awhile.

From the left we have our new friend "Soon Yun Lee", Staci, Angie, Sharon, Antler Biker Dude, Heather, Cherie, Stephanie (crouching) and me. Soon Yun just showed up in our photo so we went with it. Behind the girls is our new friend Moosey who just seemed to be annoyed by our antics outside of the cabin. The cabin belongs to Angie's parents and she was kind enough to invite all of us. I came home with a scratchy voice having talked way too much but feeling so much less stressed after some good group therapy and only a couple bruises from a slip down the hardwood stairs. A cold front came in and it was a little cold, but fun to put on sweatshirts and breathe the clean air! I swear every mom needs to do these things to be a better mom. Our husbands rock for holding down the forts while we went!

Melinda Visits and Give a Reason to BBQ

Roman is definitely an AZ pool lover!

A couple weeks ago Melinda came up from AZ and so everyone came over to BBQ. We even had the pleasure of Aunt Ramona, my cousin Andrea & her cute daughter Riley, as well as my other cousin Ashley and her baby Roman. The teens stuck together, the adults enjoyed catching up and there was way too much food. Porter & Mr. T hit it off and were lost in Lego heaven too. D convince his "really cute cousins" Kari and Kalee to go hang out with his friends playing night games. They were really good sports and D's friends were impressed. It was a nice night and so fun to see everyone!

Another Girl's Camp, Lucky!

Hello, this is not Lelu blogging about girls camp because she has her friend staying with us for a few days, so I am going to write about what she told me.

First of all, this ward has 18 beehives so she went with a much larger group. She is officially the youngest and smallest girl to go too. She doesn't even turn 12 for another 2 weeks, but since she's going to 7th grade she was allowed to go. All the girls were asked to bring a charm for each girl there that represents something about her. We searched and searched for a a cheap running shoe, (since she had to bring 36 charms) and couldn't find one. So we settled on a charm with a peace sign, a heart and a musical note. Lelu is definitely the peace maker in our home, loves everyone and they love her and she loves to sing and is learning to love the piano (Chris helped with that!) Also since she was the tiniest she got lifted up to do all the obstacle course activities. This summer was a great entrance for her into Young Women's. And I stole all these photos off one of D's friend's facebook. Thanks Linda!

The Smiles and Bummers of Summer

One of the other mom's sent me this soccer photo & I've added a photo of B's hamstring pull from sprinting against D and the one swim party with friends.

The Smiles & Bummers of Summer:

Smile: D beat B twice, sprinting, after working out the other day.

Bummer: B pulled his "hand-spring" (everytime he calls it that, I want to scream HAMSTRING, now he just says it to bug me) sprinting against D. It's painful enough to go to physical therapy and he can't run & it left a big bruise.

Smile: We love having a pool to swim in every day!

Bummer: I've only had friends over once to have a swim party. I better get on that, time is running out.

Smile: B and D went on a river trip and had some really cool spiritual moments.

Bummer: I had to hear about those moments in testimony meeting today from another guy.

Smile: I am proud to say I worked out for 1 1/2 hours without my ipod!

Bummer: My ipod died after 2 songs into my workout (this is usually when I decide my workout is over)

Smile: I got released from Primary.

Bummer: I got released from Primary. Someone else got called to be Beehive advisor.

Smile: Lelu is going off to girl's camp tomorrow in our current ward.

Bummer: Lelu is going to be gone for 5 days at girl's camp.

Smile: Lelu is playing competetive soccer and they won 5 straight games this weekend to win the Park City tournament.

Bummer: She practices 6 hours a week not including games.

Smile: The kids start school again in 3 weeks.

Bummer: Summer is almost over and Lelu will be in Jr. High, twins in 2nd grade and D in 11th. Time is flying by.

Smile: Mr. T's hair is this totally cool surfer dude blonde and longer than ever.

Bummer: Ari got stung by a bee for the first time.

Smile: We are staying up late and sleeping in almost every day.

Bummer: My house doesn't stay clean and my laundry is not done.

Smile: Ari's jeans have grown too short, so she's had a growth spurt this summer.

Bummer: I need to get her new uniform pants.

Smile: Aub is working for B and we get to see her a lot more often. She is very happy to leave her job and join B's office, which has a very happy and productive environment.

Mostly our summer has been lazy. I still owe the kids a trip to Lagoon (Bummer!), a class at the Young Chef's Academy and a shopping day with mom. Stay tuned, I'll keep my camera close.