All that Talent

This year Caia and her friends were on the Lena Talent Show Committee.  They got to make posters, hold auditions, and tell the different acts if they got in or to try again next year.  They decided they wanted matching t-shirts to set them apart, so this is what we came up with. 

Payton and her friend decided that they wanted to play Ode to Joy since Payton was learning it on the piano and her friend on the guitar.  They brought me their music and it was in the same key so we gave it shot.  They were so cute working on it.  They would come over here to practice and you could see Payton listening and waiting they were a great duet!  So cute!!!  I couldn’t believe how much time they put into practicing when they were together.  They did such a great job!

And Mr Dallin Man.

Just Jam’n!

 

"Funnest" President's Day Ever!

So just for Elyse who wants to know why funnest isn't a word. Today was the "funnest" President's Day ever!
Our President's Day Bake Off was a blast. Caia and her friends are so much fun to be around.  They decided they wanted to do a cake bake off.  (thank you  TLC and Buddy)  It did require 6 hours and 3 kitchen clean ups, (that the girls were really great about) but the end results were delicious and creative, especially when the whipping cream and sprinkles came in to play.  Addi and Caia both tried a new cake recipe that we will be making again.
 Every one took turns leaving the room while everyone else took a bite of  cake and gave a score to it.  Everyone went home with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula award!

 Best Tasting 

 Most Original Shape and Decorations

Best use of Sprinkles. 

During the baking time a little dancing was involved.  Addi brought this game but it looks like we'll be making the investment, it too was so much fun.  

Oh the Paparazzi!

When you find a  copy of 

in your husbands hands the first question you ask is "did you buy that?"  (said with much disgust)  And the reply is "no Brother So and So brought it to our Stake meeting. His daughters co worker showed it to her and she took it to her dad who brought it to me."  You expect to see: 

You even expect to see:

You don't expect to see:

Best Buddies

So after 3 1/2 months of waiting Dallin's best buddy finally made his grand appearance.  It was fun being pregnant with such a great friend.  I love this picture taken at their first meeting.  I have no doubt it won't be long and we won't even notice the age difference. Today we took them on their first shopping trip together.  Isaac's big brother was so cute when he declared so excited "they get to sit together for the first time!".  He knows how important a best buddy is.  Yes the first and I'm very sure not the last.  Congratulations John's family.  We are so excited for you!!

Harry Potter

So we heard a little rumor about items from the set of Harry Potter movies being at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle.  Wouldn't you know the rumor was true!  Being only 5 hours away I  figured we'd better make the excursion and I'm glad we did.

 The girls were so excited about the hotel room and The Princess Protection Program that they were quite happy just hanging out in the room.  It was a great hotel!

 Okay so Elyse did get bored watching TV but found a hiding place!

The only thing more fun than hitting the exhibit with the family is going with friends who love H.P too! 

These two are the cutest little buddies! They are in the same grade at school and he is only a couple of months younger than she is.

There was no photography in the exhibit, and use of cell phones was prohibited as well.  So these were the only pictures we took.  Not only did they have museum staff in every room, but armed police walking through the exhibit.  They meant NO photographs.  Standing in the line to get in a lady, selling the use of audio tour devices, offered a free one to anyone who could answer a H.P trivia question.  Before I or anyone else could process the question Caia's hand was up, not only did she get chosen she answered the question correctly!  Way to go Caia!!  Then we got into the first room Caia and Payton were selected to be sorted by the sorting hat!  Caia was put into Hufflepuff and Payton in Gryffindor!  I was so proud!!  We saw a lot of the sets and props used in the movies and sat in Hagrid's giant chair!  At the end they had an amazing gift shop and we all went home with a t-shirt and Payton bought Hermione's Time Turner Necklace.  (I'm trying to steal it because I'm convinced I need it more than she does!) 

He was such a trooper!  Slept through the exhibit, endured the crowds, light rail ride, and mall excursion.

Here's Hedwig bringing my muggle born kids their acceptance letter to Hogwarts! Again I'm so proud!

 In our PJ's and on the road home.  It was a quick but very memorable trip!  

We can't wait for the next movie!

Halloween Fun 2010

Here it is errors and all.  I can't quickly fix the problems, so I'm setting aside the perfectionist side of me and posting them as is.  Because usually it's all or nothing.  But I'm practicing my new motto:  Something is better than nothing!  So no complaints please.