Katie's Creativity

Katie creates beautiful snowflakes that amaze me! She cuts with only a pattern in her head before she begins, and rarely ever has to start over again. Currently, they grace my front glass door:

School has arrived!

School has started again, and yes, I am a little late posting a "first day of school" edition...better late than never!

My children have been blessed with good teachers. A few of them have even been great teachers. I love being a part of their lives through school by volunteering, or helping with homework, or just being a listening ear. I love education and learning!


Here are my chili peppers, as I lovingly call them, on their way out the door. Except Thomas, who slipped out before I could get a quick pic!



The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book. ~Author Unknown



The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder. ~Ralph W. Sockman



Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. ~Albert Einstein



Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. ~Chinese Proverb

4 more favorite summer activities...

1. Spontaneous outing to Seattle, via the light rail, with two of my teens:

Dinner at Red Robin's on the waterfront, a stroll along the piers, good company and a much needed break from the routine:


2. A trip to the Zoo with my youngest 3 boys and our friend Ryan:

Camel rides, baby tigers, animal shows and jellyfish...just what we needed:


3. Fishing expedition with our friend Jill (previosly posted):


4. Outing with just the boys with a stop in at a greasy burget joint, they make me smile:

Miss my girl....

My Katie girl is away visiting her BFF for 10 days! Like a little piece of sunshine is missing from my heart....



Glad she'll be home this week!

"Isn't she lovely?"

Yes, I already did post about Katie's birthday! But these pictures from her Surprise party and night of her play performance were sweet....

15 year old beauty queen...

She (being my daughter Katie)...


Ran for Sophomore class VP, performing a fantastic rap for her candidate speech...


And, despite some people's counsel that it wouldn't work...WON!

Last week she turned 15, which is a pretty great age, even if it's right in between 14 (going to dances) and 16 (being able to date)!

Here are some things I've observed about her this year:
She has successfully navigated the murky waters of high school, and thrived
She has stood up for her values on multiple occasions, even when other LDS friends thought it was too hard
She is the only voice in her health class that advocates abstinence, sexual purity, and conservative definitions of what "Sex" is and isn't
She refused to "smoke" for her part in the school play, instead her director, out of respect for her values, found something else for her to do as a nervous habit
She took part in said play, as her first role - an understudy for Lily Belle in "Curious Savage", performed 2 nights and did a fabulous job!
She attends Seminary, an early morning religion class, getting up at 5 AM (cause a girl's gotta primp) on her own, without complaining
She has been a listening ear to friends in need, without compromising her stand on right and wrong, still learning to be empathetic

On her performance night of the play, the audience was 1/3 to 1/2 family, friends, Church leaders and 2 guests from Canada, who cheered her on! Cause she's that loved!

Katie is someone I admire and love very much. She's my daughter, my friend, my shopping partner, a female advocate in a house of testosterone, a sincere and steadfast young woman.

Happy birthday Katie, only 350 something days till you can date! Sorry dad, but it's gonna happen!
Love,
Mom

Day 27

Drum roll please..... Katie and her new 'do:

Day 26

Katie got a cute new haircut so here are two pre-haircut pictures. The first one is not so flattering of her face (I didn't take it :-)) so I included a second one that shows her cute smile:




Tomorrow I'll post pictures of the NEW hair-do!