Pizza, Cupcakes, and Little Girls

This past Friday was Ivy's 8th Birthday Party. We had a cooking sleepover, and by golly it was fun. I made each girl a cupcake apron, and a cupcake necklace.

I think they turned out totally cute!

Ivy was so excited, she talked about the party all week.

By the time Friday got here she was so hyped up I thought she

would bust!

At the party the girls made their own pizzas (delish), decorated their own cupcakes (sweet), and

boxes (adorable) to take cupcakes home in.

For breakfast the next day we make blueberry pancakes (yummy).

It was so cute to watch the girls play hide and seek in the dark,

and dance their hearts out to the Just Dance wii game.

To wind down the evening the girls chose to watch the movie Matilda, and go to sleep.

I'm so glad that everything turned out well, and that everyone had fun.

I think Ivy had a terrific 8th birthday party!

the necklaces
the aprons

Ivy gearing up for some party fun!

Pizza making time.

They made the pizzas in 3 groups.

Emilie, Kambry, and Mary

Katie, and Mckinley

Sarah and Ivy

time to decorate cupcakes. I think

the cherries were the biggest hit.

Decorating cupcake boxes

Ivy opening her gifts. I could barely get close enough to take

any pictures! I think the girls were just

as excited as Ivy.

13 YEARS!

13 years of marriage
10 years of college (collectively)
8 moves
7 cars
4 dogs
3.75 children
3 cats
2 houses
and 1 happy wife.

Happy Anniversary Honey!!

Thank you Laurelwood Ward Young Womens Leaders

To all the Young Women's leaders I've had before,

Thank you. Thank you for all the time you freely gave to a bunch of silly giggly girls. For all the lessons you tried so hard to make spiritual and fun for us. For going to girls camp, and never complaining about it.

For teaching me to keep a journal. A skill I am using today as I write this blog. For teaching me the value of an education. For teaching me what to look for in a young man, and how to behave when I met him.

Thank you for driving us to the temple for baptisms for the dead, and for suffering through Youth Conferences, and stake dances.

Thank you for praying for me; for worrying about me. For being aware of the hard times in a teenage girls life.

Thank you for teaching me to pray, and to love the scriptures. Thank you for teaching me how to lead a hymn, and conduct a meeting.

Thank you for teaching me how to make a quilt, use modge podge, and to make a white sauce.

Thank you for teaching how to pit cook a turkey, build a fire, and bandage a wound, all while singing silly songs, and having a great time.

Most of all, thank you for helping me to become the woman, and Young Women's Leader I am today. Thank You!

The Spirit of Christmas

I am so happy and excited for Christmas this year. Adelaide is really getting the hang of this Christmas thing. We only had to re-wrap 3 presents this year. Ivy is so excited for the lights, and music. She has been singing "Jingle Bell Rock" for weeks now. Emilie is, of course, the little mother. She is keeping track of how much candy the girls have had. If they are being naughty or nice, and trying so hard to make everything magical.
We didn't get the lights up outside this year, and that's okay. We did, however, put up our first "kid" tree. You know, the one with all the ornaments they have made over the years, and a few random ones we have collected. It was so heavily decorated on one side that it fell over once. But we laughed, picked it up, and did some redistribution. It looks like a bunch of kids decorated it, and I love it!
We have had a few casualties this year. Baby Jesus lost his feet, and my Christmas village took a big bang. But Jason was kind enough to super glue the houses back together, and it looks pretty darn good. I may need to keep my eye out for a new baby Jesus for next year, or he may just stay footless. I guess we'll see.
I think my favorite time has been reading our Christmas books together. I wrapped them all up and put them in a big bag under the tree. Each night one of the girls gets to open a book. They love it. I love it. It really helps quiet things down at night, and bring the right spirit into our home.
Of course I have had a crazy time playing catch up this last week. My semester didn't end for me till the 14th. I put off most of my Christmas shopping, and baking, and errands till it was over. It has really worn me out trying to fit all that into one week, but I think I managed pretty well, and even managed to finish with 3 days to spare! Now its time to sit back and enjoy the rest of the season with the family. Which of course means more craziness, and tons of fun. Gotta love those Poyfair Family Christmas's. And yes, our skit for the family Talent Show is even ready to go!!!
Christmas, here we come.