Double Piercing

Miss M has been waiting for - according to her - a BILLION YEARS to get her 2nd piercing in her ears. Since her first one was when she was 2 months old, it was the first one she got to be a part of. She wanted one last year and we made her wait. She thought she was getting it for her 14th birthday, but we made her wait 'til 8th grade graduation (much to her anger and frustration - Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!)

But that long anticipated day finally arrived!!!!!

She got them done and she will now have them for her graduation in 2 days! (Happy girl!)

These photos were taken RIGHT after soccer training, so she looks a little red & sweaty, but, you get the picture!

Random Daughter

These are just 2 photos Miss M took of herself.

Silly.

Babes In Arms

Miss M's 8th grade Theater Production class did "Babes In Arms" this year. She was very disappointed to get such a small roll and we were sad for her. She did GREAT with her 7 lines though and - as you can see from her facial expressions - she mad the most of her time on stage.

This was the end to 2 years and 4 productions in Theater. She doesn't think she will do theater in High School, so this is the end of an era.

Miss M as Nancy

Taking a bow

Miss M's Heart

This post from Miss M's Tumblr (like a blog) today is written about her experience at lunch at her Jr. High this afternoon. She told me the story over dinner and I listened, teary-eyed. I am SO glad she wrote it out. I couldn't be more impressed with the heart and character of our kids! (There is NO WAY I would've done that at 14... my unspoken motto was "every man for himself".)

"Today at lunch i was doing what i did every other day, just standing around. But today as i was standing around i head the “popular group” laughing really loud, i turned to look at the bench where they always sit. As i do so i notice they are all looking at this one kid who had just thrown a trash can to the ground, and now the trash was spilled all over the place. The kid started digging through the trash on the ground. Meanwhile the popular group is all still laughing at him.

So i turn to my friend and i said “lets go see what hes doing.”

Now normally i would have just looked, noticed, and gone back to my conversation. But something about the way they were laughing at him made my heart get all angry and furious and i felt bad for the kid.

So my friend and i walk over to him and ask whats going on. He then started to tell us how he threw out his retainer. He sounded so distressed. He was worried about his parents getting mad. And even more mad cause he had done this once before already.

I looked at the popular kids (still laughing) and back at this very upset seventh grader and then i got down on my knees and started digging through the milky gross trash. It was the grossest thing i have done it a while. And i sat there and did it for about 15 minuets. He finally stood up and said “its no use.” then he walked away.

We never found his retainer. And i bet he didnt think twice about the fact that me and my friend had walked over and helped him. But all i know is that on the way to the bathroom to wash our hands, my friend looked at me and said, “wow i feel really good right now.” I silently said a little thank you to God. and finished washing my hands.

We didnt find his retainer. We didnt shove the popular kids in the trash can…even though they deserved it. We really did nothing but tried to help him.

For the rest of the day every time me and my friend looked at each other we just smiled. It felt so good to do a little thing like that. No point at all to do it. But just because he looked like he needed it.

I have been on mission trips, i have volunteered at church events, i have served God in a lot of ways. But today was the weirdest thing. I felt better than i ever had felt on a mission trip and dont know why. It was refreshing to think that i could serve God in little ways around my school for people who might not think much of it. Of course it felt awesome to just defy the popular kids and show them that laughing was not what was needed, this kid just wanted to find his retainer. But in the end it wasnt about defying the popular kids. It was about glorifying God in the little actions throughout my day. And today i feel like i did that very well."

*sigh*... humbled and blessed.

From the Archives 1

This was Mis M in her 80's costume from summer church camp in 2007.

Adorable.

Miss M's Backyard Camp Out

Miss M had 2 friends sleep over and even though it is EARLY Spring and still pretty chilly, they begged and begged to sleep in the tent in the back yard.

When i picked them up from church and they asked, I told them "No"... it was too cold, it was a pain in the neck, wait until summer etc. etc. (all the while knowing Daddy had already set up the tent in the back and it was waiting for them). OH how they worked it and cajoled and wheedled, but I held strong.

When we got home, I told Miss M (a little sternly) that I needed to speak with her and to step out back. She followed me, seeming a bit ready to argue and then she saw the tent already all set up! The reaction was worth the torturous 15 minute drive home from church.

Was it cold? Yes! They said it was freezing in the middle of the night! (Sometimes Mother might actually know best :)

Miss M Videos (MORE)

Miss M's newest video with Em, Chels, and JB. Enjoy their talent & creativity!

Jouey

Here is a great photo of Bijou taken by Miss M. Bijou is hard to photograph but she loves Miss M... and Miss M just has talent!

Miss M's First Mission

Miss left for President's Day weekend (and Valentine's) on friday at 7:30AM. (They return Monday at 5PM.) They are going on an Apache trip to Whiteriver, AZ. They will be helping to paint houses, light building tasks, trash clean up, and even working at a Carnival for the local children.

It is supposed to be VERY cold (low at night of 25 degrees - Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr). Several of Miss M's friends went too. So hopefully, they will each grow in the Lord, grow as Individuals, grow and friends, and HELP others. (Albert Einstein said "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."

- Nice!!!)

Ready to Go.

Miss M and Tess

Friends!

Bye Mom

Bye Dad

Waiting to get on bus

Do YOU want to spend 10 hours on a bus with 45 Jr. Highers??? (God bless those volunteers!!!! :)

Miss M & BFF Videos

Miss M and her friends are really into making these FANTASTIC videos these days... they are so talented! (It takes hours and hors to film, write backward, edit, etc. but they have a great time doing it!... Wish this had been around when I was a teen!)

[YOU MIGHT WANT TO "MUTE" THE MUSIC PLAYER OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE.]

Enjoy!

Miss M & Chachael


Miss M and Mary Kate


Miss M & Tess


Fun video from church to have students bring cans!


Miss & Chach again.

Better Late Than Never - Miss M is 14

Miss M turned 14 back on November 2, 2009.

It was a day off school - but not a holiday - which made for a PERFECT Disneyland day!

GREAT friends Tessa & Parker had the day off too so the 3 of them were excited to spend a FUn day at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Mom & Dad came too and were at the park all day... but it was more like a date for us because although we checked in with the teen periodically, they certainly never "hung out" with us (unless you count 10 whole minutes on Tom Sawyer's island!).

We had a great day though, and so did they.

Lots of fun!

Waiting for the Tram.

Buying tickets

Brace Face No More

Well, it's final.

Miss M got her braces off today after 3 1/2 LONG years!!!!!!!!!!!

Her snaggletooth grin is no-longer.

It has been replaced by a straight, gleaming set of pearly whites.

BEFORE

AFTER

Thanks Dr. H!

I can't BELIEVE we are actually DONE.

Wow!!!

Great job Miss M! (And thanks Katie for the inspiration!)

Miss M's "9 in the Afternoon" Video

Miss M's made a video for church with her friend Chaechel to the song "9 In the Afternoon" by Panic! at the Disco.
(You might want to "pause" the website music at the right.)

November Bdays '09 - minus Jade

For the November birthdays, we went to see Drew (29) picked lasagna as the dinner and Miss M (14) picked apple pie as the dessert. We missed have Jade (22) there... he was celebrating in Kenya.

The two birthday celebrants

We didn't all get their memo...

Cutting the birthday pie

FULL from yummy lasagna dinner!!!!!!

Grampie assuming the position :)

Mmmmmmmm... banana cream pie

Birthday wishes

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big Bear

The kids had Monday off for Yom Kippur we we had a long weekend and we were able to spend it with friends in Big Bear (THANKS Frank & Dawn & family!).

Miss M went up on Saturday with Tessa and family.

D and I stayed home for TWebb's 40th "totally radical" 80's party (pictures coming soon).

We headed up Sunday morning.

(Devon stayed home with Grammie & Grampie - sick :o(

We arrived around noon.

We missed go-karting and kayaking.

We went down the Alpine Slides.

You could go pretty darn fast!

Then GLOW bowling at the bowling barn!

Showing off my 80's dance moves from the night before.

Then we went zip-lining.

Here are the girls in their harnesses.

Our whole gang in front of the spectacular view.

Couldn't have BEEN prettier.

79 degrees.

GLORIOUS!

Miss M zippin'

Me. I have never done this before. FUN!!!

D zippin'. It was his first time too!

What a GREAT weekend! Too short... but definitely worth it! Wished all the kids could've been there to enjoy it.

xo

Miss M's Silliness

Let's not leave out Miss M.

She had a bunch of friends over to the house on Friday after school.

They hung out for several hours and then went to church together to the Jr. high event "The 3" (every 3rd friday for 3 hours and 3 dollars).

Killing time, they apparently had LOADS of silly (bored?) fun on the Mac.

Why didn't they have this stuff when WE were kids???????

Jr. High SUMMER Camp

Lando & Miss M took off for church Jr. high Summer camp (Lando as an Assistant Counselor/Miss M as a camper). What FUN for them to both be there together!!!

We heard the Droopy's had a BLAST with their Assistant Counselor, Lando.

And we know HE sure had a fun time!

Miss M and her cabin had a BALL as well (With Bethany, Emy & Jade B. as Counselors!) Their cabin was PURPLE and MAN, was Miss M decked out!... She had some SERIOUS cabin spirit! (She came home with purple hair spray embedded in her scalp.)

Miss M said it was the BEST CAMP EVER! She was happy to come home but now wishes she could go right back for another week!

On a bummer note, it APPEARS H1N1 (swine flu) was being passed around the camp. At least one camper (a good friend of Miss M's) and one counselor have been confirmed - ugh!