Weddings- and all that comes with it

My niece got married the first part of November.

 Valesca and I hosted a bridal shower for her at our home.

 It was a beautiful day and she was a beautiful bride.

 Our family helped out in the kitchen preparing all of the food for the reception as well as keeping the drink dispensers filled.  It was a bigger job than we had anticipated, but we all worked together to get it done.

 Valesca and Noah had a a good time dancing...

and Elijah danced with his mom.

17 years old- how did that happen?

 So, my "taller than me" son turned 17 years old yesterday.  For some reason I have always asked my kids what kind of cake they would like on their birthdays and I find some way to make it happen.  Josh's requests are getting more and more difficult.  This year he wanted a sphere or globe!  What?!

 So I carefully figured out how to make a round sphere and then I had an idea...I could surprise him and make it a Death Star cake instead.  Well, I began making the frosting and then there was this EXPLOSION of powdered sugar all over my kitchen.  No kidding- it was clear across the room.  I cleaned the floor 3 times and it is still sticky.  Then I spent hours trying to bring the whole idea together.

So, about 25 minutes before he came home from school, this is what I had come up with.

He was very surprised and by the smile on his face, I think he was pretty happy with how it turned out.  Happy Birthday Josh!

"The coolest kid I have ever met!"

Today I went to watch Elijah participate in the Veterans Day Program at his school. Later I went to have a special birthday lunch with him. A 4th grader sat down by me and asked who I was waiting for. When I told him he said "I know Elijah, he is the coolest kid I have ever met!"...I think so too.

2012 Homecoming Dance

These are some of the pictures from the Homecoming day activity and dance.  Glad to see the pictures of the girls in their dresses since most of them changed before they got to our house to make cookies that night.

Missionary service

This will effect some of our family members.