Will You Go to Winter Formal With…

 

Katie came home on Saturday to a room full of balloons and an invitation to her first formal dance.  Funny thing is she hates balloons…. 

We didn’t take pictures of how she answered her date, but we drove to his house while he was at church on Sunday and decorated his yard with balloons to say “yes.” 

Showing our True Colors

The girls dressed for church with style on AFC playoff Sunday with black and gold.  GO STEELERS!  Such a great game against the Jets.  Can’t believe we are going to the SuperBowl again. 

Friends for Dinner

We had our good friends the Wards over for dinner on Friday night.  This is a big deal for us since we usually don’t do much inviting….  It was so fun! Their kids match us for age groups and they get along great.  Breanna has been a terrific friend for Katie.  Dave used to be our home teacher and has always been such a great friend to Mike.  Such a sincere and genuine guy.  And Julie and I work together in YW’s.  I love her willingness to serve and work and just be so happy about things.  Last year we went skiing with them a few times and hung out in the lodge at Mt. Spokane.  Hanging with them makes us feel good!

We ate beef sesame and had fun with fortune cookies too.  After dinner we played a card game that Melissa taught us called Egyptian Rat Screw.  All of us were around the table laughing and slapping the cards.  Julie was the best at it followed by Melissa!  It was a great Friday night for the whole family.  We love the Wards!

Lime Green

We moved the girls into their own rooms and they’ve been having fun with their own “space.”  I’m having a hard time giving up the idea of my 2 little girls and their blue and white room with bunk beds.  But…. I guess they must grow up…  So Melissa wanted to paint her room this weekend.  Lime Green.  I swear it glows when the sun hits it but it is terrific and fun just like Melissa.

We cleaned the carpets while we had everything out and now it is fresh and clean… and green!

She’s been working on some finishing touches.  She made the letters of her name and hung them above the window, turned her old school desk into a vanity area and dedicated her closet door to Taylor Swift.

Cute room Melissa!

The weekend before Katie painted her room yellow.  No more bright pink and green stripes thanks to 2 coats of primer!  Whew that stuff was hard to hide!

Megan’s room is still light blue but it’s on the list to paint – she’s thinking turquoise blue. 

Typical Home Decor…

This is what my family room looked like tonight…

Life with a guy… Mike and his guns… I really don’t even know how many he has.  But he doesn’t ask me about shoes or purses either.  We get along great!

Mike’s Marine Reserve Unit

Mike went to Ft. Lewis this weekend for a change of command ceremony.  His good friend Troy Liddy is taking over as commanding officer of his old Reserve Unit, the 4th LSB. 

I know these Marines look similar in their cammies and short hair cuts but they are all so unique and different.  They have been great friends to Mike.  Great guys.

Wes Sousa – this guy is amazing and is the one Marine who knew enough about the red tape and paper work needed to get Mike back into the Reserves several years ago.  We will always be grateful to Wes!

This is Troy.  Great guy.  He’s a police officer in California and is taking over as commanding officer of the Reserve unit.  Mike really likes him.  He’s been a great friend.

  So this is what Mike does on his weekends away. 

Officially caught up on my blog!!!!

Christmas Break

Oh I love sleeping in, lounging in the morning in my robe, playing games with the kids, making and eating treats everyday, staying up late watching Hallmark movies, playing Christmas songs on the piano, getting cards and letters from friends, sitting by the tree enjoying the lights, seeing the Christmas lights in the neighborhood, having Tammy and Toby come and visit, NO SCHEDULE. 

This year we went to see the Disney movie Tangled – soooo cute.  And we took the girls to the Jim Brickman piano concert.  A lot of fun.  I am not ready for Christmas break to end….