everyone loves girl scout cookies

Lu reached her girl scout cookie selling goal this weekend.  She wanted to sell 1000 to get an e-reader, but we set a more reasonable goal of 115 so she could win the stuffed giraffe.  They were super easy to sell.  Everyone loves cookies and anyone we asked bought a couple of boxes, or more. 

This weekend was busy.  We had soccer games, a primary activity, a stake dance that I chaperoned, and today was ward conference.

Conference was wonderful.  I especially enjoyed our ward council because the Stake President gave us some great council and I learned a lot.  We had a linger longer after with tons of delicious food & great company.

Lucy celebrates turning 7

This month is Lu's birthday month, her actual birthday isn't for a couple of weeks but she wanted to celebrate while Dani and Tatum and Jenna were still here.  She wanted to have Sierra here too but it didn't work out.  She wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese.  A couple of years ago Andrea and Yoho took her there and she loved it and has wanted to go back ever since.   We've been watching Veggie Tales "wonderful wizard of Ha's" so Tate was excited to go to the "land of ha's" the most fun place on earth :)

We had a fun fun time.  We ate expensive pizza and soda and salad bar.

The kids played lots of games and won fabulous cheap plastic prizes.

We ate some cute monkey cupcakes with purple frosting.

And Lu was very happy with her presents and her party. 

soccer

 This morning bright and early we convened with all the other soccer families for a friendly game, ...right.  The boys all filed in, like little warriors, each decked out in their uniform and wearing on top of that emblems of their passion, whether it was a Barcelona jacket, a hoodie with DC United's logo or Beckham's number on a shirt.  They gathered at the net and watched the game before theirs with the intense interest of those knowing it was their turn to next battle.  Finally the whistle blew and the moment they've been waiting for all these long weeks since the fall season ended was here: game time!  Our little "Freedom Fighters" were playing a team that was both older and bigger than they were, but they had not a doubt that they would dominate.  And dominate they did.  It was a fast paced, exciting game ending in a devastating 9-0 loss for the opposition.  E scored 2 goals himself, which pleased him very much.  Our boy loves soccer.

 Fast forward a couple of hours and we were back at the same court, this time for Lu's first soccer game ever.  She met her team, got her jersey and was ready to play.  The game was cute as can be as little kindergartners and 1st graders ran after the ball.  They kicked, they swerved, they touched the ball with their hands, they fell down, and the ball sometimes got near the net.    She had fun and after we went out to Big Larry's for some celebratory ice cream :)

going home

Greg left this morning, Sierra left yesterday.  It's very sad.  It's been so fun having everyone here.  We took this picture on NYE when we went out to eat after our temple morning.  It's a little blurry but I still really like it. 

Lucy is a writer

This week for homework Lu had to write about her best friend, and draw a picture.  She thought about it a lot and just couldn't pick one of her real live girl friends so she decided to write about Notdog, her very first elephant..which lead to writing about her whole herd and how much fun she has with them.  Instead of drawing a picture we took one of her with the herd and she was proud of her good work.  She writes very neatly with lovely penmanship, she also writes with a lot of detail and interesting thoughts.  Every week her writing gets a "VG" which stands for very good, she loves to write. 

our week

 lots of baking

 bathing

 tower making

tea party, barbie playing

New Year

New Years Day we went to church and the propane tank was empty so it was chilly.  The Bishopric decided to only have Sacrament meeting and we got out early.  After we went to the Martines' for dinner to celebrate little Alexis' blessing day.  It was yum-my! We spent a last nice evening with all the family here.

This morning we got up early and I took  Greg, Dani, Sierra and Jenna to DC so they could catch the bus to NYC.  They were excited (me too cuz I get to keep Tinkerbelle for a couple of days!!) Dad stayed home to get the kiddos off to school, vacation went by too fast.

When Tate and I came home  DH and I de-Santafied the house.  I am always happy to put up the Christmas decor, and equally happy to take it down.  The house always looks like a clean slate after we take everything down.  Our house really turned into a tornado since Christmas so even though we cleaned a lot we only got one floor done.  I guess Tate and I will do the other two tomorrow. 

Then we went shopping.  Got some warm gloves for J to take to Romania (where I am afraid she will freeze) and some running pants for R, who is now a runner and a Tinkerbell outfit for little miss who picked it herself and walked up to R and said, and I quote, "Grandpa, do you want to buy this for me?".  He said yes. 

Then we went to Panera.

Tonight we had a nice FHE.  We sang lots of songs, played bingo and wrote letters.  Now princess pony and little Lu are snoozing and we are watching NCIS with the "big kids".

Sierra and Greg won't be coming back.  They will go from NYC back to Utah.  Si is excited to go back and looking forward to school and seeing her friends.  I am glad, and sad to see her go.