Youth Stake Halloween Dance

Benjamin dressed up as his version of Frodo Baggins.

Marissa settled for a scarecrow, 

which she has done before.

Emily got really creative and went as ...

pumpkin pie!

silly fun people

I am still working out the kinks in my picture taking strategies. I have another lens that just stopped working on the automatic focus setting. So now I can take pictures but I have to manually focus them. It takes longer that way so sometimes my subjects don't cooperate very well. Oh well, at least I am able to take pictures. I am not sure how many I will take but I will try.

August 5, 2018

August 8, 2018

She grew cantaloupes in her garden!

Sweet home grown goodness!

Finally complete

I was able to find a frame that worked really well with Marissa's painting that Kevin bought during the fundraiser auction a couple weeks ago. I think it looks great and is ready to go to the office.

She does have such a wonderful talent for art and I hope we can continue to help her develop and enjoy it. She impresses me with her skill and devotion to improve.

Two going to Girls Camp

Emily was excited for her first year of girls camp. She could have gone last year but figured since she was the only one (and it happened at the same time as our Payne Family reunion) she could wait a year. She was so excited to go and see what it was like and meet new people. She was a little nervous but I reminded her about the singing camp where she didn't know anyone but made lots of friends. At least she has girls from her ward and she has met some of the girls in the stake at Primary activities so she would be fine. She felt much better and was ready to go.

Marissa was excited to go again, since she chose to miss out on last year's camp. She was going to do both 2nd and 3rd year but decided to just do 3rd year so she would have a bit more free time to do whatever she wanted (crafts and so forth). She was looking forward to seeing friends from the stake and was just ready to be out and away!

After birthday excitement

I forgot to have her open her card from Grammy and Gaffa.

She opened it the next day and we loved it.

She was able to finish her bird house already (5/10).

She hung it on the side porch right out the window behind her.

We are thinking it might be a little late for birds to actually use it. Maybe next year.

Happy birthday to our Marvelous Marissa!

When I asked her what kind of cake she wanted, she couldn't decide between a Star Wars cake and a Harry Potter cake. So offered that instead of trying to combined them onto one cake, she could just make two one-layer cakes. She loved that idea! This is what she came up with:

Strangely enough, I didn't take pictures of pancakes and ice cream breakfast - but she had fun with that as well. I also didn't take pictures of her yummy dinner either - wild rice soup with Grammy rolls (delicious). I wish I would do a better job of capturing those things.

We were all excited for the party. Kevin didn't want to ruin the cake designs with candles so he just put them all in one place and it was quite the flame!

She blew them all out!

And the smoke all went into Harmonie's face.

A wonderful present from Grandma and Grandpa Graham.

She asked for some cake decorating tools!

Flare for the dramatic.

Present from Grandma and Grandpa Nicohols.

They were not able to attend the party.

Cake mixes so she can decorate 

and felt so she can create!

Naomi enjoyed the Beanie Boo from the Grahams.

What could it be?

Chocolate from Kemiah! 

How very sweet!

Watch out for the swinging bags that 

sometimes get out of control!

She's very excited to do some painting!

She asked for plain tee shirts and fabric paint.

I hope fabric markers will work.

More cake decorating stuff!

New outfit - she will look so cute in it!

The Force is definitely with this one!

Present from Xiomara...

Yum! Hopefully she'll share.

New Sunday shoes.

She tried them on and they don't fit.

I guess we'll go out and get some different one.

Bummer.

Drawing books to help her learn to draw people realistically.

Good thing Camdilyn ducked...

she must have known what was coming.

Her own bow and arrows!

She asked for this and is very excited to try it out.

Some decorations her sisters put up for her.

Harry Potter and Star Wars characters.

The red streamer is a light saber.

Their efforts at the Deathly Hallows from Harry Potter.

It most certainly was a ...

Streamers were cris-crossing the ceiling.

Yummy cake and ice cream.

What a wonderful day to celebrate Marissa! She is so creative and fun and witty. She loves to draw, read and play with others. She is a good student and tries very hard to do well in her classes. She is social and loves to be with her friends. What a wonderful big sisters and helper! We love you!