Fourteen

I should be in utter shock that I have a 14 year old, but somehow I'm not. And while I'm keenly aware of the short 4 years I have left with her in my home, she views it as a long, tortuous 4 years that she is going to have to endure. Yes, this lovely young woman was sent here to help me learn the song of persuasion -- and the second verse to "Long Suffering." [See Elder Andersen's talk] No, you can't see a bit of that in these beautiful photos, and for that I'm grateful. She has an amazingly sweet spirit that just shines through.

She really wanted a birthday party this year. She started planning it months ago, so I was fine with her doing all the work. She made her own invitations, designed and printed out her own "happy birthday" bunting, everything! She wanted pizza for the party (but made me choose most of what we ordered), and she settled on cheesecake for her cake.

We started off playing "The Name Game" outside on the carport. She'd had grand visions of getting the yard just perfect so we could have her party outside. The snowstorm we got this week kind of put a damper in us doing much yardwork, but it was nice enough on Saturday to enjoy some time outside. After two rounds of the game we went inside for pizza.

The guest list changed almost daily -- no fault of Chloe's. In the end her friend, Emily, from our neighborhood came and lots of family (Jason brought Elsie and Archer, Grandma & Grandpa ended up being able to come down, and Lark).

She got a lot of fun gifts from everyone. She meant to put "please no gifts" on the invitations, but forgot so she just told people but they didn't listen. That's OK, she enjoyed being spoiled is grateful to be so blessed.

We played the game "Telestrations" at our friends house on New Years Eve and enjoyed it so much that she added it to her wishlist. G&G Nicholls got it for her, so that changed the party plans. We had to play it -- immediately. And it was just as much fun as the first time we played it.

Then it was time for cheesecake! It took her two breaths to blow out all those candles. Maybe she can still have her wish?

She got a kite as a gift, and the windy day was perfect to take it out to try. They made several attempts to get it up out in the field, but we thought it would be a good idea to take it somewhere a bit more open (and no power lines in sight), so they went to the park.

I went and met them at the park after a while because I was supposed to be getting some photos of Archer. That didn't work out as well, but the kite flying was perfect. They had a blast, and Emily was happy to stick around for hours. Everyone else eventually took off, but they spent the whole day with Emily. I'm so glad she was able to make it! At one point they were coming upstairs and I overheard Emily say, "this is the most fun I've had since..." And then she stopped! I told her I wanted to know since when?, to which she thought about it and then said, "well, since last summer." So, I guess the party was a success.

The girls wanted to walk to the library, but I pointed out that it closed in less than half an hour, so I offered to drive them there and then let them walk home. They called me on the way back to see if they could go to Emily's house, which I was fine with. They reported that in YW's today for "good news moment" Emily said "I got to spend 8 hours yesterday with Chloe and Sophie." Do you think she had a good birthday? I do.

And did you hear what she chose for her birthday dinner? I told her we could go out to eat on Saturday night or do something special at home on her actual birthday. She chose to stay home and have salad. Man, I must have done something right!

Really, It's About Easter

I was going to post all the fun things we've been doing in the last month+, but I didn't take many photos so I don't have a whole lot to show for it.

Lark moved out on the first. I think she was more than ready to be in her own place, but we sure miss having her around. One of her last days here I realized I needed something to show for her time here so I grabbed my camera when I saw them coming back from a bike ride.

I took Sophie to another STEM fair. I think she's had all the exposure to those she needs for awhile. It really is not her area of interest, so I think we'll focus more on things we know she likes for now. It was a 3 day event, so I was hopeful that the crowds would be a little more spread out than the last one, but no. It was very likely worse. Sophie was so frustrated with the kids who don't know how to be polite and wait in a line. We agreed that the public schools could do a little more training in the manners department, but they don't know how to fit that into a science, technology, engineering or math course, so it gets neglected :)

One of the girls favorite things about moving to Riverton is that they're not too old for Easter egg hunts. They have a teen hunt the night before the little kid one. They do it in the dark, and they have to bring flashlights to hunt for them. Here they are getting ready, all huddled in with the crowd, and then a photo of the field with the goodies spread all over. I wasn't able to get any good shots once the lights went out -- the kids were scrambling everywhere and it was very dark.

The next day we got to listen to General Conference. The girls dyed eggs while we listened, and during sessions they wanted to do their own egg hunt at our house. I just spread them all over the yard and let them go find them. Brandon worked on the garden during this, and I was worried he was going to come along and mow all the eggs I had just "hid." I don't even have to fill the plastic eggs, they're just happy to search for them.

On Sunday they woke up to find their baskets filled. Chloe must have been worried her mother wouldn't buy any junk food (I have been known to do that), so she went out and bought everyone her own gifts. No junk for me -- I got a new whisk! And yes, Brandon got a mop bucket. I know, I spoil him too much!

Chloe got her cast off! The doc said it healed perfectly. He was showing me on the x-ray how he can tell from her bone positioning the she is not yet done growing. I found that fascinating. And a little worrisome; well, not really, but aren't moms supposed to freak out at their babies getting so big. But then again, she's not a baby anymore, is she?

We got to go take Eli's baptism pictures. I thought we could go a little early and take some of Chloe for her birthday pics, but the lighting wasn't right that early so we just had fun walking around temple square.

The girls got to spend Lark's birthday with her. She took them to Tracy Aviary and then to get gelato. She sent them a "thank you" card afterwards (for spending the day with her), but they were a little confused -- they thought they were the ones who got the special treatment. Either way, I'm glad they could all have fun together.