Young Women in Excellence

As leaders we were trying to come up with the theme for YWIE and get things started.  It is a night where we are supposed to celebrate all that the girls have done throughout the year.  We just couldn't come up with anything, so we turned it over to the girls.  I created a rubric :) and they did a great job coming up with the theme "YOU GLOW GIRL!"
One of the Young Women made up a little dance for us to do to a song by her cousin, Wes Quave, "YOU ARE".  It is a great song!
We did the dance in black lights wearing white.  The girl and leader in charge of decorations got some glow in the dark paint and we painted plastic cups and plates that were super glowy and fun.  It was great because all the girls got involved in the dance and everyone got to feel like they got to shine.
If you want to see the rubric I created to get the girls involved I uploaded it:  YWIE Planning Guide

Scaredy Cakes

I am starting to really love serving in Young Women.  It took about 6 months to kind of figure out what I was supposed to be doing, then about 6 more months to get into the flow of things.  Now Sundays filled with meetings seem normal.  Busy Wednesday nights are the norm too.  

For our combined activity this month I helped the girls put together a cupcake decorating contest.  We brought in 2 guests and had mini workshops on how to decorate cupcakes.  They learned how to decorate using icing, modeling chocolate, and candy melts.  Then they got into groups and created amazing cupcake displays.  I didn't get any pictures of theirs because I taught one of the workshops and helped judge.  I was jealous that I didn't get to do any decorating.  So when they needed cupcakes for the Harvest Festival at Libby's school, I used my pent up decorating energy to make my belated entry into the Youth Scaredy Cake Contest:  SOMEONE IS WATCHING YOU....

I found the "frightening good work" part on another certificate online...but the condraculation part...that was all me!  I  crack myself up ;)

This is page 1, there is also a judging rubric..the kids were super intense about the judging--at BYC they gave lots of feedback about standardizing the judging next time.  I think the fact that they actually had feedback is a huge victory!

Fall Appreciation

On of the things that helps me get through fall (and keeps me going through winter) are the fun clothes.  I found this sweater for Ben at Target.  Since he won't keep a tie on, this is the next best thing!  The kids love having their pictures taken on the way out to church.  

The Bee in my Bonnet

For awhile now I have been thinking about making the girls princess dresses.  I wanted them to have one like a costume I wore in college.  It is super simple and it isn't fitted, so they won't grow out of it right away.  It was made of nice material that I could wash.  So yesterday I made the attempt.  I finished one and am 1/2 way though the other.  Libby kept telling me she would wear it even if it didn't turn out, but then had a massive meltdown that it wasn't what she wanted.  Sarah like it pretty well.  They are both convinced that only dresses that look like disney princesses are actual princess dresses.  I made these out of bedsheets so I didn't have to hem everything.  The patterned one is a disney sheet set.  Very sub-par quality.  But the pink underdress is a king size pink sheet set that was great quality.  Loved sewing it.  Plus, I was working on developing a talent for my personal progress!

She is shaking her booty in this one :)

Pumpkin Patch

Sarah hefting a pumpkin while we waited to pay.

It was sunny in Seattle for something like 80 days straight.  I LOVED it.  I hoped it would never end.  I especially hoped it wouldn't end before our trip to the pumpkin patch with our preschool group.  No such luck.  The day dawned rainy and cold.  But did I abandon ship and go to yoga like I wanted to? No.  I went anyway with all 3 kids.  Even though I am now just past my 10 year mark in Seattle, I am still not the kind of girl who likes (or can even handle) enjoying the great outdoors in the rain.  This was also a pumpkin patch extravaganza.  Lots of different things to do, but no one to guide you.  We wasted time trying to figure out what to do next while we got colder and wetter.  Finally we got on the hayride to collect our pumpkins.  The rain poured on us as Ben slipped and slipped in the pumpkin patch.  We were covered in mud and now carrying slightly heavy pumpkins.  I just about had a meltdown.  We finally made it to the car and transferred our muddy selves into the car (while I helped Sarah go potty right there in the grass parking lot).  I couldn't have made it at all without the help of several of the preschool moms throughout.  Special thanks to Janetta for taking Ben several times.  Special thanks to Julie for bringing bags for pumpkins (brilliant) and carrying Sarah's to the car. It was a great idea.  I just should have gone to yoga and waited for a sunny day!  We did get a few fun pics.

What did Ben want to do?  Splash in the puddles.  I had tried to buy him rainboots the day before but they were out at Target, so cloth shoes.  Boo.  Eventually he fell or sat down in this puddle, so he was wet before we even started.  

Libby and Sarah on the tractor.

Ben loving the ducks.  He actually loved all the animals.  When I took out his binkie he just yelled all kinds of animalish sounding things at them.  

How cute, right?

Sarah's Birthday Festivities

Last Sunday Sarah turned 4.  Amazing.  She is growing up!  I decided to do her family party on Sunday evening, then a friend party on Monday right after I taught her little preschool.  Note to self, this was a ridiculously stressful plan.  I had to plan very carefully to try and get everything to time out right.  It was also a little overwhelming for Sarah.  But, she had a good time overall.

Sarah posing in her "Birthday Princess" sash

A couple of years ago I made Sarah a cake like this.  Libby went and got the photobook with the picture of it and showed me how Sarah wanted a "witchy" cake again.  But with a purple face this time.  My purple coloring didn't do a very good job, but I loved decorating it with chocolate melts.  Libby got back out of bed while I was decorating it and pointed out that the witch didn't have any hair....thus the green string green vanilla melt hair.

Derek made some great bread dough and I shaped some scary loaves.

Sarah's other request was pumpkin cookies.

Some guests at the family party remembered to come in costume!  Thanks Aunties Maren and Jen!

Spooky veggie tray

At the friend party we had a "parade of the witches" and we played a game where they each got to stir the witches brew and pick something from the cauldron.  When I sang the "stirring song" the first time (which ends in shouting BOO!) I scared some of the kids pretty badly.

We also painted pumpkin cookies.  They were supposed to make them into jack-o-lanterns.  Either the kids ate them right away or made them into orange and black blobs.

Our Homecoming Princess

Our niece Paige was on the Everett High School Homecoming Court.  She is so awesome!  I am so proud of the way she is totally herself--a fun unique individual.  She is senior class president this year.  She is a great girl, one that I want my girls to look up to!  Originally Paige thought Libby could be her escort onto the field, but then the district vetoed that and made only parents be escorts.  But, Maren and Clark took the girls down to see Paige on the field anyway.  The girls loved it.  Sarah's only complaint was that "She didn't get to touch the field," which was totally untrue.  I think it was just getting a bit late, since the game didn't start until 8.  And it was wet and cold!

But it was worth the late night to celebrate Paige!

Libbyism

So every day the girls have to do one chore.  Lately Libby has been putting up a bit of a stink about it.  Derek was napping one day this week when I was trying to get Libby to do her chore.  I said things like, "I do so much work around the house, I make sure you have clean clothes, clean dishes to eat your food on, food to eat," etc...I was going to finish with, "so don't you think you can help a little with all the work I have to do."
She interrupted me as I listed all the work I do and she said, "I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE YOU.  I WANT TO BE LIKE DADDY!"
It was so hard to keep a straight face.  I guess I am not the only one around here who forgets sometimes how hard he works since 3 hours of his workday happen before I even wake up.

A Post for Derek

Derek worked 3 double shifts this week.  Here is a message we sent him ...the pretzel dogs are exclamation points.

Another Great Jen-eral Conference

We just LOVE our Auntie Jen!  We are so lucky to have her come and see us!  Today we went for a great walk and she even pushed the stroller for me.  Libby cried for about 1/3, Sarah cried for about 1/4 (Libby walked almost the whole thing and got pretty tired, just the thought of walking made Sarah HOWL).  Ben happily walked for part of the time (notice he isn't in the picture) but he kept wandering off into the foliage on the side of the trail.  He did one amazing face plant into the weeds.

What does it say...

about Ben that he likes to wear the princess shoes around the house?  And likes to bang on things with a wooden spoon?  And that he LOVES popcorn?  And that he couldn't get enough of having Libby pull him around the house on the sleeping bag?  He is a man who loves noise, good food and adventure!

Later he dumped 1/2 the bowl on the carpet...dang!

Playing in the tepee with his sisters

I started this, but I didn't feel like I should keep doing it--so Libby took over (Sarah pulled him a few times too)

Notice the wooden spoon on his tray?  He was eating the bread dough off of it.

Why is he so happy?  Notice the shoe on his right foot. Sparkly Ariel shoe.  Very noisy when he walks.  He loves it!

He actually eats with a fork.  I know.  Crazy.

Enjoying our Sunday walk today.

LIbby's Biking Skills!

When we first put Libby on a bike a few months ago, she basically had absolute panic attacks if she went faster than a snail's pace.  She would freak out and slam on her brakes (which creates an even more terrifying scenario for anyone who has tried this).  Anyway, Maren really helped her push through that on the Labor Day ride, but we haven't had time to get out there again until today.  (I know that seems lame, but it is tricky because unless Ben is asleep, he wants to be outside running in the streets with us).
Today Libby was a champ.  She rode without a parent touching the bike.  She started and stopped by herself.  She wanted me to take the training wheels off she she could try it, but I am not cleared to run yet after my surgery, so I told her it would have to wait until next time.  Our neighbor has this great circular driveway that is super smooth, so she rode the loop several times.  She only had one minor incident when she was looking at the neighbor's garage and ran into a sign.  We are still working on LOOKING where she is RIDING.  But I am very proud of the progress she has made.
Now if she will only start writing her name on her school work and stop telling her teaching we are moving to Chelan we will be doing great overall!

Two Great Reads

I have been so busy since I started working with the youth at church that I haven't had much time to read.  Our youth nights are the same as book club, so that is partly what killed my reading as well.  Anyway, I made a goal to read at least 2 books as a part of my surgery recovery (which is going very well by the way).  

I took 2 recommendations from my mom.

Book 1:  The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Release Date: March 25, 2008

Read the description...

Super, Super LOVED this book.  It was really a fun read.  Fun language, fun references to P.G. Wodehouse...Fun ending. 

Book 2:  Ten Girls to Watch

Read the description...

This book was written by a girl who went to my high school and graduated a few years after I did.  The writing is fun, the story is really intriguing.  I enjoyed reading a bit about NY since I was just there recently.  I LOVED the insights she got interviewing the Ten Girls to Watch winners from the past 50 years.  Fiction, but based on a the real story she did for Glamour magazine.  

Who has some more good recommendations?  I really should just join Good Reads or something...But who has time?   

Oh Ben Ben Part II

I will say that he has learned to say a very breathy bye bye while waving, blow kisses, and make adorable kissing sounds.  This cuteness trumps all things mentioned in the previous post.

Oh Ben Ben!

One of my favorite books is called "Oh David!"  You can see from the cover what kinds of things David gets into.  Ben is moving into that phase.  Here are the things that have made me say "Oh Ben Ben!" in the last few days.
1.  I found him sitting on the couch staring and pointing and grunting at the TV, like he was saying "TURN IT ON!  I WANT CARTOONS!"
2.  I found him sitting on top of the kitchen table, using Libby's homework crayons to color on a paper (thankfully there was a blank paper there!)
3.  I opened my eyes during family prayer to see him dancing, YES DANCING, on top of the little table in the girls room.
4.  I am finding I have to keep all wooden spoons out of his reach because he thinks they are drum sticks, and he thinks the library step stool in the kitchen is his drum.  And the combination is REALLY LOUD.
5.  He LOVES popcorn, and he demanded a bowl two days ago, but then dumped 1/2 of it on the floor.  I am a slow learner because he did it to me twice in one afternoon!
6.  He tried for the entire hour at Libby and Sarah's dance class to open the door to the studio and get in there with them.
7.  And finally, I found him last night putting pieces of toilet paper into the toilet, then pulling them out and EATING THEM.  (Thankfully the toilet was clean, but I had just finished wiping Sarah so it hadn't been clean for long.) GROSSSSSSSSS!

He is such a BOY!  (Although my girls were quite mischievous too.)
Sarah asked my mom and I on Monday, "When is Ben going to turn into a girl?"