Break a leg....

Abbie has been taking acting lessons after school on Thursdays and Monday night was her first performance. Their class put on a series of short works from the library of Shel Silverstein and a couple of original works as well.

Abbie loved the class. She had a couple of friends in it and made a few new ones as well. Her teacher, Miss Tina, told me she asked to be in every play. Abbie told me that as well and I hoped she wasn't being annoying but turns out it was very endearing and her teacher just loved her.

She had lots of fans show up, family, friends, her piano teacher (thanks again Smiths!!!!)...dad even took the red-eye that night, arriving just in time to walk into a meeting, so that he could attend the performance.
Kyle and Daisy were good audience members and cheered her on. They also both presented her with flowers at the end of the show. It's nice to have a brother and a sister....
Abbie really did a great job. I know moms always think that so take it with a grain of salt. She didn't have any stage fright, looked straight at the audience, understood her purpose and the directions for her in each skit and just looked like she was having a ball. Bravo!

Possibly the highlight of the evening for Kyle, however, was realizing that he is now as tall as Alora. He has never, ever, been as tall as Alora or even close. I don't think they've seen each other since the summer and he showed up and was thrilled to finally be "tall". That is a BIG Kyle smile and Alora is a very good friend/sport.

Daisy Scouts

Daisy Scouts has been quite an adventure. We've been crazy busy since holiday break with cookie sales and all kinds of activities. Abbie and I ran in a Shortbread Shuffle to kick off the cookie sale phenomenon (Tripp took the photos on some weird video contraption that I don't have access to nor do I know how to operate so you will just have to imagine it). Abbie ran the entire mile with me. I was really proud of her. After the run, we went to the official Cookie Carnival at the Girl Scout office...lots of fun.

Then it was time to sell some cookies. Abbie set a goal of 100 pre-sale cookies and she sold 168+. We also manned three troop booths and she sold cookies door to door in our neighborhood out of her red wagon. She definitely took this thing seriously. One of her first cookie sales at a booth was to her brother, who stopped by to support his cute sister...what a guy!

During cookie sales, we experienced our first World Thinking Day. The girls got to travel around and learn about other countries, trade pins and try yummy treats. Some won raffles, many got snow cones and all seemed to have a good time. We also earned our first "Fun Patch" which was rather exciting.

After a couple months of grueling cookie sales, we heard about the premier of the Build a Bear marking Girl Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary. This special bear is limited edition and has a special Daisy (or Brownie or Cadet) outfit to go with it. It was party time! The girls spent a Friday afternoon building their 100th Anniversary Bears and earning another fun patch.

I really didn't know what I was getting into with these girl scouts but what fun they are! I couldn't be more blessed with my co-leader, the parents and our cute, cute Daisies. Lots more Daisy fun to come (including a day of camp this summer!!!!!!)

Family Time

We had a wonderful family weekend Friday, Saturday & Sunday with what Lindsay affectionately calls "The Marz Clan" but means aunts/uncles/cousins that come from the Marz side of the family.

Friday night was baby Ryan's 2nd birthday party. He's not a baby anymore. Lindsay did a great job and we had a ton of fun. Three of my aunts came along with two uncles and a cousin (with her darling son Will). It was so fun to see everyone. Run was sooooo excited about everything that the party was hilarious and darling. Later that night, Tripp came home from two weeks away and it was mighty nice to see him as well. Having daddy home is THE BEST.

Saturday, Tripp took the girls and Kyle to a movie, lunch and the park while I met my family (girls only except for Will) out for lunch and shopping at the District. I haven't done that forever and the company was marvelous. That evening, we all got babysitters (well, Linds and Ashlie & I shared) and headed out as a huge group for dinner and a movie. Dinner was great...movie just so so but sitting near your uncle and hearing him belly laugh at things that make you blush sure makes it fun.

Sunday morning Kyle spoke in his ward. Dad, Leslie and Linds/Wes and their crew joined us to watch him. He did a marvelous job. That evening was one last big family dinner at my parent'shouse. It was wonderful to see everyone one last time before they set out for Utah today. Dinner was yum and Allan brought a zillion delicious pies. Yay! for family.

Be Mine

We had a hyped up Valentine's Day at the Thompson House. The girls woke up EARLY and wanted to go downstairs right away to see if we gave them anything. It was like Christmas all over again. Abbie told me she tried to stay up all night...ugh.

We had the usual class parties. Daisy told me she had fun and played games at her party. Abbie's was surprisingly low key compared to the last couple. They worked on a Valentine writing project for a good portion of it so that kept the gang settled down. Abbie enjoyed handing out her Valentines and hanging out with her friends. Both girls ended up with a bag full of loot.

After a doctor appointment for each girl, we had a late lunch at Metro Pizza. Heart shaped pizza please!
We had some gifts for Kyle and dropped them off before he came home from school so he would have a surprise. He surprised his sisters later with a doorbell ditch and presents for them that night. Here they are with the glow sticks he chose for them.
Both Abbie and Daisy told me I was their Valentine...can't go wrong there. And I'm glad they didn't want to be connected with any boys. Our favorite Valentine, Tripp, was oversees but we snuck a little package into his luggage last week so he would have something fun to open. He told us today that he went to yoga and it wasn't busy. For us, that is the next best thing to being with your Valentine(s).

Our Newest City Councilman

That's right...the newest City Councilman for Ward 3 is none other than John F. Marz. I went to his swearing in ceremony tonight and joked with Lindsay that I saw the news trucks pull up outside and it must be a really slow news night. But she let me know that it's been all over...there was a big article about him and all of us in the paper today. Well, I don't get or read the paper so I was happily clueless about that. But now I feel like I need to watch the news tonight!

I am really happy for my dad and proud of him as well. He has been serving on the Henderson Planning Commission for 2 1/2 years now and really just wanted to help make a difference here in Henderson. He promises not to run when the 1 1/2 term ends (he was appointed when a seat was vacated) so no elections for this family (Yay!). He's a good seed my dad and I feel safe knowing that for the next year and a half, my little part of the world is in his hands. Now, if he can just do something about our recycling....

Angie's Celebration

I had the pleasure of attending my cousin Angie's Life Celebration on Saturday night. She passed away earlier this year from cancer.

She didn't want us all to mourn her at a funeral and asked instead for a party...a celebration of life. Her husband, best friend, and family put together a beautiful party in her honor. Joe, her husband, made these amazing posters of her...the one at the birthday party is my favorite. They had photos around the room, different collectibles from her life displayed and a beautiful video to watch. We all had the opportunity to write a note of cheer or advice on a slip of paper then send it up to the heavens on a bunch of balloons. Hopefully someone will find our messages and have some good chi added to their life.

An organization was set up in her honor on the Susan G. Komen website...none of want to lose another loved one to breast cancer. It is entitled Angie Gibbs DeSantis "My Right Breast" and can be found here.
Angie's husband, Joe, is just darling. Sadly, I met him Saturday during set up for the very first time. He started a drum circle with his brother-in-laws and had the kids drumming with him...so fun. I'm certain Angie was loving that. She had an incredible love for her nieces and nephews...quite an aunt.
The entire drum circle. Corbin (Nicole's son) liked the drums so much that Michael handed his over. They went on like this forever.
I have a lot of fun memories of Angie. She was always this beautiful older cousin that did so many amazing things (Miss Reno, acted, lived in L.A., etc.) and was always so funny and up for anything. So was always just cool. I found out so many other amazing things about her that I didn't know and had a good cry over her beautifully written eulogy. She is missed but her energy and joyful spirit lives on and has touched all those around her.

Another one bites the dust...

Will my poor girl have any teeth? At least two of the five she's lost have grown back in. She got two dollars from the Tooth Fairy this time and instead of wanting to give one to her sister she told me this morning that she wanted to give one to the temple fund. Love our toothless wonder....