Lion of the Quarter!

 Sadie got chosen to be Lion of the quarter!  It's a pretty prestigious award at her school.  We got an email telling us to keep it a surprise which was a bit hard since she is in NJHS and they were helping a lot with the event.  It was nice though, because she had to dress up and so she was looking nice for all the pictures that got taken.   

Here she is with the principal and a teacher that does the NJHS. They were saying that the teacher have to all submit a name for students who they thought deserved the award.  Then they all had to come together to vote on only 6 people from each grade.  

This is what the teachers had to say about Sadie.  It makes me happy to know that others see the goodness in her.  

So fun to surprise Sadie and see her at school!  We got a yummy breakfast in the library.  Breakfast burritos and fruit and cinnamon rolls.  We love our Sadie.  And look how much taller she is than me!

Mom's day of rest

The last day of fall break, the kids gave me a "day off."  They wrote down a whole schedule of activities and told me what to do the whole day.  It was amazing.  I woke up and they told me to stay in bed.  Emery made delicious coffee cake that they brought to Rob and I in bed.  I heard them cleaning the house while I enjoyed my breakfast.  I came out to enjoy the clean living room and then at 9:30, Zac looked at the schedule and said "Mom!  Now you have to go take a hot bath!"  Don't mind if I do!  

After my long bath, I came out and Sadie and Zac were scrubbing the bathroom in the basement.  :)  At 10:30, Emery led me in a short yoga session.  It was great.  

We did a tree pose (I don't know if that was actually what it was called...)

Then we did downward dog.  We did lots of other things.  It was fun and relaxing.  

After that they banished me to my room again so they could make me lunch.  It was sandwiches with chips and yogurt and apples.  After Zac helped make lunch he went to his friend's house to play Magic, then he made sure to be home by 1 so we could do the next thing on the schedule.  That thing was a rousing game of Big Booty.  So fun.  Then we went outside and played basketball and volleyball for a while, after which I treated them to a few races on Mariocart.  

Then I got sent to my room again so they could make dinner.  

They made brushcetta, rice a roni and spinach.  Yummy.

Sitting down to feast.

I decided I wanted to reward the kids for giving me such a relaxing day, so we took them to Fiiz and got them each a drink.   

I felt really special to have the kids plan such a day of service for me.  They really are great kids.  It was mostly Sadie and Zac keeping it going, but they all helped.  
 

Scott, Christie and Cade came to visit

Scott and his family came over for a week.  The older kids weren't with them, which my older kids were sad about.  But they all LOVED having "cousin Cade" around.  Our fall break didn't sync up with theirs, so we were still busy with orchestra concerts, basketball practice and games and church cleaning...etc.  

We love having visitors, especially when they involve a cute toddler!

Finley and Cade were little buddies.

While they were here...Finley got her hands on some scissors and gave herself a haircut.  It doesn't look too bad!

At least she didn't do what I did when I was younger...which was pretty much cut my bangs all the way to the roots!  :)

Finley and Cade coloring.

Then we went to Scheels to ride the Ferris Wheel.  This time Cade was tall enough to ride this time!  Hooray!

Then we have to wander the store of course.

Emery had a couple of friends with her.  

Scott showed Cade how to do the shooting game.

The kids posed with a monster truck...

Then we got ice cream.  

Cade got licks of everyone's ice cream while he waited for his.  ha ha

Ha ha!

Time to go home.

These girls are fun.  Sadie and Zac didn't get to come with us because for some reason the younger kids had the day off of school but Sadie and Zac did not.  So they missed out.  

 

Finley's Birthday

Finley has been telling me what she wanted for her birthday since the day after her birthday last year!  Every time we were at the store she would find half a dozen things she would want for her birthday.  :)  Even though she didn't get nearly the amount of things she's asked for over the last year, she had a great birthday.  She is just so fun to have around.  She's always making us all smile.  She is sensitive and quick to apologize, especially if she accidentally hurts me or someone else.  She started preschool this year and she's pretty timid until her best friend Lily gets there.  Then they hold hands and Finley runs in with her.  It's adorable.  She is constantly singing her made up songs and dancing around the house.  We sure love our Finley!  

She got her own helmet.  Now her and Riley have matching helmets.  

We got this book from the library and Finley said she wanted this cake.  I think Sadie and Emery did a fine job recreating it.  ha ha

Birthday girl.  5 years old.

Love these kiddos of mine.

This is her face while we're singing happy birthday.  

Blowing out the candles.

I think she had a great birthday.  I often heard her telling her siblings that "I get what I want today because it's MY birthday!"  

Riley's 8th birthday

 

Back in July, Riley turned 8!  She is such a joy to have around.  She loves playing with anyone and everyone who wants to.  She loves to learn new things.  She is really good at avoiding practicing her cello...ha ha.  She was very excited to be baptized.  

Her baptism was a great day.  My mom and dad were in town and my dad gave a great talk on baptism.  Kaari Gale (her primary teacher) gave a good talk on the Holy Ghost and Emery sang Peace in Christ.  It was beautiful.  

Here are some pictures from baptism day.

The stake primary president told me that one of her favorite pictures from her baptism was one that her mom snapped right after she got out of the water.  She told me I should try it.  So I got a couple and I love the pure joy on her face.  

Pure joy.

Jumpsuit picture.  

Family picture.  I love how much taller Sadie is than me.  In my defense, she is wearing heels and I'm wearing flats.  

I took Riley to the temple to get some pictures before her baptism.  She wore Sadie's white baptism dress because the dress she wanted was purple, but she wanted a white dress for these pictures.  :)

Ha ha.  I had to strategically align the sun up behind the temple because it was so bright.  She wanted a jumping picture, but I'm not quick enough to make it look like a jumping picture.  This looks more like a falling picture.  ha ha!

On her actual birthday we just hung around at home.  It was a Sunday so we went to church and we played the throw the whipped cream in the air and catch it in your mouth game.  It was a fun day just spending time with each other.

Looks like Zac and Finley helped Riley blow out her candles.  

8 is Great!

My kids really like the store bought cakes with whipped cream frosting.  I need to learn how to make that stuff because it is so yummy.  

Early morning birthday picture with dad.