Perfection!

Enjoying our beautiful backyard, a quiet Saturday night, S'mores, homemade cookies, a fire, and some family chatting.  What could be better than this? (Other than a Disney Cruise, of course!)

Trav's Birthday (that wasn't so great)

So, Trav's 43rd birthday was at the end of a very long weekend.  We had celebrated Valentine's Day on Friday night, Mormon Prom on Saturday night, and then Trav's birthday was on Sunday.  Unfortunately, I woke up very early Sunday morning with a nasty stomach bug.  My worst fear was that I hadn't cooked the chicken long enough and I had given food poisoning to all the Mormon Prom kids. Luckily, that wasn't the case, and it was just me. Unfortunately, it made for a not so great birthday for Trav!  (I was supposed to play the piano for the choir that day too ... I tried to go (and even showered) but I was so sick they had to postpone the choir number to the following week).

 Travis did get some love from the Primary that day!  They made him this great poster that says, "Bishop, You make us feel like 100 Grand whenever you shake our hands!"  Then, the kids traced their hands and wrote their names and some notes.  He also got some 100 Grand candy bars. 

 Earlier this month, the activity day girls brought over a spaghetti dinner that they had made and the young women decorated his office. His birthday lasted a long time this year.

Sunday night he had requested Lasagna for dinner.  Luckily, I had made it the night before so all he had to do was throw it in the oven (along with the garlic bread), and put together a salad.  My parents were out of town, so just Andrew and the kids came over for dinner.  Drew brought a dessert and I did hear them sing to him.

We were supposed to go to Benihana for his birthday dinner on Monday night, but we postponed it until the following weekend since I was still not feeling great!  I also make cinnamon rolls for birthdays.  This year, he got his cinnamon rolls a week late too.

They tasted just a good and made his birthday last all the more longer!

Happy Birthday Trav! Hopefully you felt our love and know how much we love and appreciate you!

Letterman Jacket

Parker earned his Varsity letter during the Fall of his Freshman Year when he ran Varsity Cross Country.  He also lettered in Volleyball his Freshman year as well.  We had asked him several times over the years if he wanted to get his Letterman's Jacket, but he was never interested in getting it.  This Fall after qualifying for the state Cross Country Championships he finally decided that it was time to get his jacket.  We gave it to him for his 17th birthday (that he got several months late).  

 Here he is in his (very expensive) jacket.  He also received his "Gold C" this year for 5 seasons in Varsity Sports.

 The back with his State patch (with room for another one maybe).

 NCS Volleyball patch from 2013.

 NCS patch from Cross Country this season. (Along with his graduation year ... which is coming too fast).

(He's never gone to NCS before because we've always been on vacation during the race.)

As we were walking in to pick up his jacket we realized that Trav and Parker matched.

Supporting CHS Volleyball!

Congratulations Parker on all of your accomplishments!  Wear it with pride!

New Beginnings

 I can't believe that Calissa will be 12 this year and heading into the Young Women's Program!  Where has the time gone?  Last Wednesday was New Beginnings for Calissa.  They had an awards program and were supposed to wear a fancy dress.  We found this one at Good Will.  At least she felt like she got to dress up!

 Her brother (all smelly and sweaty from Volleyball practice and Basketball practice) escorted her down the red carpet.  (Although it looks like he was on the red carpet, and not her!)

Smiling for all the cameras.

 She warmed up a little!

 Strike a pose, Calissa! 

 The handsome boys who walked the girls down the red carpet posing for some photographs! 

Calissa and the incoming Beehives this year.  Em J, Calissa, and Jocelyn.

Should be a fun year!

Mormon Prom

Last weekend was Mormon Prom.  Parker went with Morgan March.  They have been friends since they were three.  He asked her to Prom by having friends and family (who's cell numbers she didn't know) each text a word to her.  They were "Will - you - go - to - Mormon - Prom - with - me?  Parker texted the last word to her (since she knows his cell number).  The area codes came from California, Utah and Arizona.  She texted back later that night from two different numbers, "heck yes!"

 Looking handsome in his new suit jacket and tie! 

 Beautiful flowers.

 We took two cars over to her house to take pictures.  Parker was driving our new car with two other couples to the dance at the Interstake Center in Oakland.

Putting on the corsage ... 

 and boutonniere. 

 What a great looking couple!  

 Her dress was beautiful!  After a lot of pictures, they headed off to the von Savoys' house for appetizers with four other couples.

 Then, all 10 kids came back to the March's house for the main course.  We had a ceasar salad, chicken, tri tip, asparagus, rolls, and potatoes.  The table was set beautifully!

 Of course, we needed to take more pictures once all the kids got there.

Parker and Tyler in their matching jackets. 

 All 10 kids. 

 These boys are weird sometimes!

(I think I have almost the same picture from last years prom).

 Tyler, Morgan and Parker

 The Sunday School class.

 Enjoying dinner.

After dinner, they headed off to the Rossi's house for dessert and then drove out to Oakland for the dance.  They had a great time and had lots of fun together.  So glad they were able to go together!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day was on a Friday this year and I wanted to make the day a special one for the kids.  

 I saw this idea on Pinterest and decided to copy it.  I got donut holes for the kids to put out at breakfast and left them out on the table along with their favorite candy and a small gift card to Amazon.  Travis got the same.  He got me a license plate holder that says, "Alumni Brigham Young."  We had a nice breakfast and then everyone headed off to school and work.

After school Calissa came out with some flowers and a big smile on her face. Calissa got some flower grams from a couple friends at school, (and one from a boy)!  Yikes!  

Travis and I went out to Pasta Premavera for dinner and enjoyed a yummy dinner there!