Reading the Scriptures...

During family scripture reading Abbie asked to read the last verse, per usual. But instead of having me whisper it in her ear and then just repeating what she heard me say, she wanted to read the verse herself. She did it! Ok, Coriantumr was a stretch for her...but isn't it for most of us? Otherwise, she did the entire thing by herself.

Maybe it's my turn to sit back and let someone read the scriptures to me for awhile....

5 Fun Days....Zero Photos

We just got back from five days in Salt Lake. Unfortunately, I only have one blurry Instagram to show for it.

We (two girls, one mom) left Wednesday after Abbie got out of school and drove to my Aunt Leslie's house in Utah. We were part of a baby shower for my cousin Ashlie on Saturday morning (lots of fun). We had a great time hanging out with Leslie, Ashlie, Will, Kenna, Briley, Alexa, and Leslie's really darling Sister-in-Law Taffy. We snuck in a couple of visits with Tina as well. My girls really fell in love with Taffy...she is something special. The weather was rainy but they still managed to squeeze in some time outside. We also fit in a trip to the Children's Museum at Gateway.

Saturday afternoon Scott and Lori invited us over (after our zoo plans got washed away by the rain) for some play time at their house. The girls discovered how much fun a train set with Brigham and Gavin can be. Hopefully we can try the zoo with them another time.

We drove home yesterday with both girls wanting to stay another day or two...the mark of a perfect trip!

Day Without Shoes...

Tripp and I participated in an International One Day Without Shoes today. We spent the day walking around without our shoes (which the girls thought was hilarious). I wore flip flops in Costco, the post office and the Girl Scout Store. Tripp carried his with him but didn't end up wearing them and had several really good conversations with people about what we were up to. Tripp's really good at pushing the envelope and doing that...I'm a little more tentative. He's a good example to me.

We were trying to raise awareness for those around the world who aren't blessed with shoes for their feet. And let me tell you...it really wasn't fun. The girls caved in a matter of minutes. My feet are so sore tonight. The sidewalk was really hot today. I wasn't meant to be a pioneer, that's for sure. Tripp isn't grumbling so who knows how he is doing...seemingly well from the looks of it. I'm looking forward to my Toms tomorrow.

If you are interested in learning more, visit here.

Happy Birthday Ruby!

Our favorite BFF Ruby Ru turned 6 last week so we set off to LA Tuesday to celebrate. Nikki asked me about 8 months ago if I'd be up for taking the girls to the American Girl store with them for Rubes' birthday. Sounded like a great idea! We've had a pretty excited group of girls for the past eight or so months, eagerly awaiting one little birthday.

We set out early Tuesday morning and made our way to the store. We arrived in time to make appointments at the hair salon, confirm our lunch reservation and do a little browsing before our big birthday lunch. They seated us in the most darling little room and we had a wonderful lunch with our birthday girl. All our American Girls (Lanie, two Kananies and a Julie) had a nice lunch as well.

After lunch we shopped (Lulu had a Christmas gift card, Rubes got her birthday gift and Abbie & Daisy had a bunch of Aunt Susie money and allowance they saved for the occasion), got the dolls new hairdos, visited the AG Library and then got ready to make our way home. We stopped for some pancakes (or fish and broccoli if your Abbie) at IHOP before the long ride back. The girls watched American Girl movies and the moms got a long overdue chance to chat. Posie was a real trooper the entire day. She is a wonderful, wonderful Bitty Baby in the making.

Girls at the fountain. What a lovely day in CA. Could have sat outside forever if we didn't have a long, long ride home. Thanks Butler Girls for inviting us for your day of fun!!!!

Visions 6

Tripp and I spent last weekend finishing the triad of seminars that culminated with Visions 6. We started this journey with "Discovery" when Kyle was at Horizon Academy in the fall. When it was clear he would be leaving, we decided there was still a lot of value in us staying the course and completing the rest of the seminars (Focus and Visions) so we continued on through the Fall, Winter and now into the Spring. This last seminar was split into two parts (weekends) with 10 weeks of work in between. We've made some amazing friends along the way and learned incredible lessons to boot. Looking back, I don't think either of us would have done it any different. We attended what was only the 6th Visions workshop. Most people don't make it that far. Our class was noteworthy in that it was incredibly large (nearly 30 people strong) and more than 3/4 of us came from the same Discovery group. Unprecedented from what I understand. So...here was Visions 6 Weekend 2.

Friday was a blur. I got there just in the nick of time but Tripp was able to visit the Salvation Army with a good portion of the rest of the group to deliver coats we collected to the homeless. There was in-house session work that afternoon and evening. And as always...homework.

We woke up Friday and headed (after a slight detour...thanks for not grumbling Jay, Jen, Shannon & Terri) out to meet the group for our big day. This is Tripp and I upon arrival, ready for whatever we had in store.

Tripp leading our team on a log and board course.

Tripp and I on the Leap of Faith

Ali repelling

These two are Visions BBFs (our friend Shannon featured with Tripp)

Day three was an in house day that involved our two year vision boards, a trip back to Focus and really wrapping everything up. It was quite a day. Satisfying to be done but hard to say "Goodbye" to some of these folks. Never fear, they have Visions Reunions!

Marjory, my Visions small group leader. She was also my Discovery small group leader, which is also quite rare.
Vanessa, who so aptly says, "Obviously, I don't have a kid in the program...." She is in recovery and has applied to UNLV. We are keeping a room open for her!!!!!!

Tracy, my Visions/Focus BFF

Gus, Tripp's Focus Buddy, Tracy and us...lifelong friends

Shannon, Tripp's Visions BFF

The Lee's, more lifelong friends. Janae was Tripp's Visions Buddy and Kimuel. They (well, mostly Kimuel) bought a double decker tour bus and put our Visions 6 logo on the side...that is commitment.

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!!!!!!)