Middle School Talent Show

Alexis tried out for the middle school talent show and made the cut!  She played a piano piece called Gathering Wildflowers.  She did a great job!  I am so proud of her for playing in front of a crowd!

Alexis' 13th Birthday Party

Alexis got to finally have her friend Birthday party.  She had three friends over and they had a Hunger Games party.

Sydney, Maira, Alexis, and Valerie

Audrey got to have a friend over as well to keep her entertained.

As soon as everyone arrived they played a survival game.  Alexis had put together backpacks with crackers, water, flashlights, and a ball.  At Audrey's countdown they all ran to find a backpack.  The goal is to get everyone else out by hitting them with a ball (a soft one).  They had lots of backyards to run through and hide.  We played three rounds even though it was pretty darn cold!

Audrey and Allison hanging out on the porch.  When someone got out they would bang a pot to let the others know.  They also hid the balls and bags.

A celebratory leap by Valerie after winning.

Sudden death between Alexis and Valerie!

Audrey and Allison finding a lost ball.

After the game the girls headed downstairs for a jeopardy game that Alexis made about herself.  The winner of the game got to pick which bed they slept on.

Playing jeopardy.

At Alexis' request Janet made a yummy cake---a brownie bottom, mint ice cream on top of that, and then a chocolate sauce on top.

After cake came presents.

Alexis and Valerie

Alexis and Sydney

 Alexis and Maira

The girls ended the night with playing games and then watching The Hunger Games.  They claimed they went to sleep at 1:30am.  :)  As you can see, these are some seriously cute and silly girls!  What a fun party for a very special girl.  I love you Alexis!

Fun pictures

I found these pictures on my camera.  I don't remember taking these and I have no idea why they were taken but I love them!  

Lego creations

Audrey has made some pretty awesome lego creations.  I thought they were worth sharing.

Alexis turns 13!

I can't believe it but Alexis is now 13.  She is the best teenager ever.  I really am blessed to have her as a daughter.  She is not really emotional, is a great student, and is a social butterfly.  She has so much confidence in herself and a dedication in doing things well that I wish I had a tenth of it.  She is still playing piano--going on 6 years now--and is really good.  She is self motivated with her practicing and has been known to practice for an hour at a time on Sundays (when others are trying to nap haha).  She is also still drawing on her own and recently started a drawing class at a local contemporary art gallery.  Alexis recently got braces as well.  Her first two weeks were painful and difficult but she rarely complained.  She will most likely have them for 18 months which means she will get them off in time for high school!  She never complained about getting them on either.  Alexis is still invested in running and plans to try track again this Spring.  Alexis reads the Bible every night.  Last year she read the Book of Mormon every night.  She is a sweet, funny, silly girl.  In her moments when her teenagerness comes out I can usually always tease or laugh her out of it.  I love that she can easily acknowledge when she is grumpy or out of sorts and tries to change it quickly.  She really is an easy going girl and I am so lucky to have her as my daughter.  I love you Alexis!

I know this is a bad picture but it shows that Alexis is still in love with Teddy Bears.  She has a whole collection!  Her is her latest one for her birthday.

We had the Schafer kids the week of Alexis' birthday so they got to celebrate with us.  Alexis requested ice cream sundaes for her birthday treat since her teeth were still sensitive because of her braces.

Gymnastics Meet with WI Friends

Our good friends from WI ventured down to Indianapolis for a gymnastics meet for their daughter Maddy.  The girls and I decided to join them and stay overnight in Indy and then watch Maddy's meet. It had been months and months since we've seen them.  Our girls were all best friends when we lived in  WI and it's always fun to catch up with them.  It's always like no time has passed at all.  

Audrey and Isabelle--holding hand while walking to dinner.

 All the kids together after the meet.

Three amigos--Isabelle, Audrey, and Hailey

Audrey and Logan

Audrey and Isabelle at the meet.  

Ears Pierced!

One of the girls Christmas presents was to get their ears pierced.  The girls were a little nervous but they did it anyway.  Alexis was fine the whole time but Audrey almost didn't do it.  I was able to talk her into doing it because I knew she would regret it if she didn't do it.  

A picture before they got their ears pierced.

Alexis after.

Audrey after.

Both after.