Princess' party at jumpstreet

 after a nice lunch at Chipotle...

 We were off to jump street.  Jump street is a trampoline party place and so much more!

 They have a under 8 area.  Sweetie wasn't too impressed.  She stayed close to Dad most of this trip.

 Agent J played dodge ball the WHOLE TIME!

 The girls pretended to be scared of the foam pit, well... one of them did.  The other couldn't help but laugh.

 RHM did flips. 

 All in all, it was a great late birthday party (We are thankful that Sarrah could come.  Two of Princess' school friends cancelled last minute.  It was sad, but we made the best of it.).

 Practicing the toe touch.

RHM plays hard and amazes me everytime we go here that he doesn't break his neck.

Travis lost a bet and had to dance at my party...

So I bet Travis that Outback Steakhouse was on the south side of the street, he said the north.  Background - I AM HORRIBLE WITH A SENSE OF DIRECTION.
I was right.
He promised me a party and a dance.  Funny guy.

Pajama Day at Pre-School

 The CUTEST thing happened today.  I dropped Sweetie off at preschool and Miss Debi said, "Come on in to the bear den.  We are playing quietly so we don't wake the bears.  They are sleeping." 

 Sweetie and all the other kids were doing it.  PLAYING QUIETLY.  It was adorable how quickly their little minds and precious souls bought into the "bear den".  See their bear ears above.  I took a few pictures at the end of the day.

 They each made a bear cinnamon roll.  YUMMO Miss Debi!

 There is my Sweetie leaving preschool with her bear ears and bear doll and holding on to that yummy roll.

This is Sweetie's sweet boy friend, who depending on the day might or might not be her boyfriend.  :)

Cute kids.

Cheer Clinic at the high school

 Princess had a chance to cheer with the high school spirit line at a girl's basketball game.

 She loved the hair ribbons and wore them the next day to school (that's how I can tell she liked them.  It's not like my 12 yr old to come up to me and say, "Hey, Mom, I really like these ribbons!"  Yeah.  That would never happen at my house).

 Princess was probably one of the oldest, but she did a great job and had fun!

 There were treats afterwards! 

 Lots of candy.

 She really didn't want me to take her picture, but

 earlier at home she let me take this one. 

 Not sure if she will ever be a high school cheerleader.  Not able to do the back hang spring - yet, but she is doing good at what she does this year in 6th grade as a cheerleader at our K-8th.  She is a base and catches the "flyers" quite well.

 We happened to know a few of the basketball players and their parents.  Karen, my friend, took these pictures of my Princess.  THANKS KAREN! 

 These action shots are GREAT! 

 The high school cheerleaders are in black and the "future cheerleaders" are wearing the white shirts.

 The cheer clinic was the Saturday before and the game they cheered at was on a Tuesday night.  That night Princess had cheer practice at her school until 5 p.m., ran to flute lessons at 5:15 p.m., and then home to change and eat and off to cheer at the high school game.  She did her homework the next morning and missed band at 7 a.m. on that Wednesday.  Crazy girl.  She is busier than me!

 I wonder if she really watched the game or was too busy cheering?  I don't really know what cheerleaders are thinking and how they multi-task.  Whatever the case, our team lost and the away team had an intense coach.  She was fun the watch. 

Half time show was fun to watch and this is Princess' favorite song of this month at least.  She is in the 3rd row on the left behind the cheerleader in blue.  Enjoy!

Teaching Moment

I have been praying lately to be a better teacher.  I was doing this in preparation for the trek meetings and Ma/Pa training that I am helping with at church.  Well, I guess the prayers rubbed off in other areas.  I was teaching a song to a boy and I said something that I have never said before.  I couldn't even repeat it if I wanted to, but I knew that I was prompted by the Holy Ghost to say that sentence so that that student could learn that song the fastest and best way for him.  I have taught that song at least 20 times before, but this time was different.  I said what I was prompted to say and that boy started to play that song like it was easy.  I knew that my prayers were being answered.  I feel blessed to have that moment and that feeling will last with me for a long while.

Princess turns 12!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!  You are growing up so fast and are such a great Young Woman.

 

The birthday events started the night before when out front yard was heart attacked by the Beehives!  

  

 She loved it!   We gathered the hearts and kept them in a vase.  Sweet messages were written on each heart.

  

That day at school I brought her Panda Express for lunch.

 

 That night we had her favorite dinner - ravioli.   She opened a few presents.  Agent J (the Oldest) gave her a month off from doing laundry.  Anytime she is asked to do laundry doing the next 30 days, Agent J will do it.  GREAT GIFT!  Best of all, he did it all on his own.

 

Princess got a pair of shoes she has been wanting.  Only in Phoenix can you give these as a gift in January and wear them outside!  Crazy, but true!

We LOVE our birthday girl!

Where did my baby go?

 My second child was born 12 years ago on January 11, 1999. 

 This pictures reminds me of a sad time when she was 6 - 12 months and she had failure to thrive.  She grew out of it, but scared us for a while. 

 She is just so dang adorable.

 I remember Papa and Nana buying this outfit for her.  Love the matching hat and purse.

 What I remember most about my Princess when she was a baby was how much she was needed in our family.  Agent J was the oldest and only child.  He was the boy his father prayed for to pass on the family name, but Princess was the girl needed to balance our family out.  She brought dolls, kitchen toys, and verbal modeling to our young family.  At age 18 months she could talk better than Agent J (age 3).  That was a blessing.  Because of my Princess, we sought out speech therapy early and Agent J is now fine.  Thank you Princess.  You are the girl this family always needs.

 

Yep.  That's her name, but let's pretend I blurred it out, K?  Thanks. 

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN!  LOVE YA, BABE!