Susie Turns 8

We had a fun birthday at our house. Susanna turned 8! We planned a few fun things to make it special. She had a few friends over for treats and friendship bracelet making fun. The bracelets took a long time and so no one finished before they left. But Susie and her friends had a good time. 

Susie and I went on a birthday date to the mall. We got lunch and went shopping. So fun! I love spending time with my girl. I asked her our birthday interview questions and we had fun talking. 

She got to pick the whole week of dinners. She wanted pizza one night, grilled chicken, alfredo, sausage and pancakes, and tacos. On her birthday she asked for chicken pot pie bake. She's had that every year on her birthday for 3 years now! The next day Aunt Livy and Uncle JP came so we had her very favorite, baked chicken and gravy. And a Descendants cake :) She got some new chapter books for her birthday (she loves the Berenstain Bears ones), a skip-it, a sequins shirt, and a game called Sleeping Queens (it's SO fun!). Great Grandma and Grandpa came over because they were in town for her baptism and gave her a little necklace too. 

The next day was her baptism. It was a very special day. We had lots of family come to celebrate with us. Paul has been focusing on the steps to baptism and the first principles of the gospel for Family Home Evening for the last 6 months so I think Susie felt prepared and knew that this was an important choice in her life. 

Her cousin Samantha sang a song called "Choose Him Again" and Grandma Suzy gave a talk at her baptism. Grandpa West said the closing prayer and Paul baptized and confirmed her. 

Susie is a really special girl. She loves to make people laugh and spend time with her family and friends. She is a big helper around the house. She wakes herself up in the morning and gets ready for school and makes her bed. After breakfast she practices the piano. She is doing really well in piano! And she is doing great at school too. Her teacher told us at parent teacher  conferences last month that she can read more wpm than anyone else in her class! She loves to read. 

Valentines Festivities

We had fun in February celebrating the month of love. Paul and I always do the "14 days of love." We try to do something nice for each other each day. I made a few of his favorite dinners, he vacuumed out my car, I surprised him with treats at work, he bought me flowers, etc. The very first year we did this tradition I tried to make jello legos. I used our mega blocks and it was a hilarious and ridiculous mess. So this year I bought a lego mold and they turned out great. 

(This was the first year I did it back in 2013 haha!)

We had a little Valentines party with some friends in our ward. We played games and made Valentines and had treats, it was fun! 

Grandma Suzy bought this shirt for Susie and she was excited to wear it during the month.

I got together with a neighborhood friend and we made a bunch of cake pop valentines to deliver to women in our neighborhood. It was really fun. Everyone needs a little extra love in February. 

Our family service project for February was to take Valentines to the Beehive House so we did that together on Valentines day. We are getting to know some of the residents there and that is fun. 

On Valentines day we wrote the kids notes. The kids had fun making Valentines boxes and couldn't wait for their class parties. I got to help in Braden's classroom. We had a yummy family dinner later that night. Jalair came too. It was a happy Valentines Day! 

Winter Happenings

Here is a few pictures from the last few months. 

I got to have a few girls days with my mom and sisters. There was a temple trip and good eating and  shopping and a sing-along version of Bohemian Rhapsody. All excellent. 

Braden turned 5 1/2 so we had a little half birthday donut celebration. We also celebrated Jalair's birthday last week. She is a friend from church. 

Morgan took some family pictures and they turned out cute. We wanted a few of Susie by herself to celebrate her 8th birthday.

Timothy had a half birthday too! We didn't do donuts for him but we did do oatmeal cereal, haha. He is getting the hang of it slowly. 

We've had eye doctor and dentist appointments. No cavities but we were surprised to find out that Susie needs glasses too! She wasn't very excited about them. She is nearsighted, just like me. The boys are farsighted, although Braden is so farsighted he can't see near or far. They get their eye problems from my side of the family, sorry kiddos. I think she looks adorable. 

My great Aunt Ila died and I got to attend her funeral. She lived a good life and it was a happy day with family. 

Paul has been teaching Susie a lot about baptism and what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ. I love listening in. Susie tried on the dress that I wore the day I got baptized. It's a little yellow and a little big for her but still cute. We got her a new dress for her special day and we are so excited for her.