First Day 2015-2016

And they're off!

First day of 7th, 4th, and 2nd grade. Hoping this will be their ONLY first day of school this year!

Twelve

Another big milestone birthday for Andrew...and I must say, he has been really excited for this birthday to come. It's funny how we don't want our kids to leave a certain stage, but somehow, they act out just enough to make us happy that the milestone has finally arrived! Andrew is so happy to be done with Primary and on to Young Men's. And I am really excited that he will be the peon again. It somehow makes me feel better! (what kind of mother am I?!)

The last year for Andrew has been another hard one in many ways. And it's been a hard one for his Momma too. I feel reminded on a daily basis how quickly my time with him is slipping away. Yesterday, on his last day as an 11 year old, I taught him how to make pancakes from scratch---  and as he would say, "My pancakes are beast!"  (So we got him a waffle iron for his birthday....and I'm retiring from waffle and pancake making!)

Andrew asked for a "baby harp seal cake" for his birthday. He has a fetish with cute little harp seals (they are really adorable)--and generally a fetish with all things that have to do with snow--and snowy places...obscene amounts of snow. (Don't tell him if you get more snow than us--he will become angry with you!) Byron said he was too old for my cute seal cake (which Andrew loved) and wanted a bloody shark attack on the seal----the only compromise we could come to was a shark lurking around the corner.

Andrew has the coolest "Big Momma" ever and I took the gang to the beach for the day--like a Boss!

Opening his new gifts---and my Saturday morning breakfast!

Happy Birthday Andrew. We love you and are so excited #12 has finally arrived for you. We look forward to a new priesthood holder in our home....and some pretty sick waffles too!

(Please note: I do not use the words "beast" "sick" or "boss" in my regular vocabulary---However, I have been informed that these, and other lame words, are "cool." And since I will soon no longer be "Big Momma" I guess I'll learn to be "Cool Momma." NOT!)

Seven

Today is Lucky #7 for our not so little Ava Bug!

It has been a very good year for Ava. She has been through a lot of changes, and through it all, she just kept smiling and making new friends! I was always amazed that in every new school and classroom, she was never nervous, she just went with the flow and adjusted herself to all the new happenings. Her outgoing and friendly personality is such a blessing in our home. We have lots of reservations around here, so her carefree personality is desperately needed! She is also the epitome of the perfect middle child. She knows how to squawk just enough to stand out in the crowd, but she has this amazing ability to adapt to being one of the guys or being the little Mommy of the twins!

For her Birthday this year, Ava picked a Butterfly cake. 

And she decided to get her ears pierced. She's talked a lot about it lately and we decided that if she felt ready, we didn't mind. I must admit, I had $50 on her chickening out at the last minute, but once again, she surprised me. I'll call it "the epipen effect." When they pierced it all she said was, "Owe?"...just like she was asking if that was supposed to hurt. I will attribute that to being a much nicer stab than an epipen and therefore, not worthy of her hard earned tears or screams!

Happy Birthday to our sweet Ava Bug. We are so grateful we have the most wonderful middle child a family could ask for!! (and she is at the back door screaming and crying cause her brothers are being.....big fat big brothers again...Til next year....)