My new hobby!

I can't let 2011 pass without including a post about my new found favorite store to shop...which has kind of become a hobby in a way. It is the DI. Grandma Barb refers to it as the "special store". Kylee told me the other day that she has been there more in the past 6 months than in her entire life. Early in the summer I started frequenting the DI to try to find trek clothes for Kylee and Emilee. I not only found trek shirts but I started finding sooo much more. I was hooked.

We have a DI here in Brigham City as well as a big new DI in Harrisville...only 15 minutes away. I started looking for school clothes for Quincy and Brinley. They loved it. They don't know the difference. They were thrilled with their "new" clothes. By the time school started I had completely outfitted both little girls for school from the DI. It was awesome. They actually have cuter clothes than they would have. I would never pay for the name brand cute things that I bought them at the DI for a couple of dollars. Don't tell Kade...but several of his school clothes came from there as well. In fact, all of us are sporting "new" DI clothes.

Besides all of Brinley and Quincy's school clothes, we have found Emilee an awesome pair of capris, and Kylee found a couple really cute skirts. Quincy found school shoes and we found Quincy and Brinley a "Barbi laptop" that really works. It has worked out sweet for volleyball game entertainment. We also have a giant bag of new Christmas balls for our quite bare christmas tree downstairs! Kylee and Emilee can claim that one. Whenever we need anything...we head to the DI first.

Sooo...when Brinley decided she wanted to be a princess for Halloween...you got it... Chris, Brinley and I headed to the DI to see what it could produce for us. This was probably our luckiest trip yet. They didn't have any great costumes out on the floor but as we walked past the door leading into the backroom I could see what I thought looked like a blue cinderella sleeve. But I could only see the sleeve so I wasn't sure. Chris, being much braver than I, opened the door and asked if these costumes would be coming out soon. The man told us 30 - 45 more mins. So we sat on the comfy couches for sale and waited. Pretty soon they brought it out, but the Cinderella dress was not there. We were just ready to leave when a man came and tapped Chris on the shoulder...he pointed to another new rack that had just barely been brought out that we hadn't seen. The blue sleeve was there, and it was attached to the most perfectly beautiful size 6 Cinderella dress!!! We had to scrub a spot off the front, but it looks brand new. Brinley was so excited. $5 bucks!!! That's the best part of it all. I am sure someone paid $40.00 for this thing. I am glad it wasn't me!! So Brinley gets to be the most beautiful Cinderella for Halloween. I think I might have to claim this as a tithing blessing. It was just too perfect!

So that's it...my new hobby. I love shopping at the DI. I can have anything I find, nothing is out of my price range! It's like a new challenge every time I go.

The kids bettter watch out...Christmas is coming and I don't know if I can stay away from my new favorite store!!!

Emilee's 14th Birthday!

Ooops! We somehow forgot to get out the camera for Emilee's birthday. She just had a famly party this year. She thought about having a friend party but she ended up going to a friends Halloween party on the night she was planning to have it. This seems to happen alot having a birthday so close to Halloween. She didn't know what she wanted for her birthday, so Chris and I took her shopping that night. She found an awesome camera that she was very excited about. Em usually likes surprises but I think she had fun picking out her camera.

We did have a family party. Everyone came to our house for dinner. Presents weren't too exciting because she got money to go towards her camera.

I can't believe she is already 14. She will go into Miamaids now. She can also go to Stake dances if she chooses!! She has a million friends who love her and her fun bubbly personality. I get told almost every week at church how beautiful she is! She does great in school and is becoming a great little volleyball player as well as an awesome saxaphone player. It has been so fun to watch her grow into a beautiful young woman. I am so grateful that 14 years ago she came into our family!!

Happy 14th Birthday Emilee!!

A funny story!

I was sitting in relief society a couple weeks ago and my neighbor who is also a teacher at the High School congratulated me for Kylee. I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about so I said, "oh, congratulations on what?". She said, "didn't Kylee tell you, she left my class the other day to have her picture taken because she was voted the girl with the best personality in the Senior class?" I had to tell her that I had never heard a thing about it.

After church I told Chris and we decided we needed to have a little fun with this. Once we were all home and getting some lunch she did something and I said, "Man Kylee you just have the best personality." She looked at me funny and didn't say much. Then about 15 minutes later it was Chris' turn. She did something else and Chris said, Gees you guys (to the other kids) doesn't your sister Kylee just have the best personality." Still, no light is going on for Kylee!! She is blonde for a reason...just kidding Kylee. She's the smartest blonde I know!! Anyways, then I said, "yeah, like maybe the best personality in her whole senior class". She got this big smile and said, "Oh my gosh, is that what all this is about?" We all had a good laugh. Chris and I asked her when she was going to tell us that she had been voted best personality in her senior class???? We like to know these things as parents! She said, "do you know what my week has been like?? I was so crazy last week I didn't have time to care about a dumb thing like that".

So I guess the moral of the story is....that's why she has the best personality, because she is not into herself and just rolls with the flow! We could all take a lesson on that from her.

I am proud of her. She is juggling a job, volleyball (which is almost around the clock right now), an AP and 2 USU College classes, becoming a Certified Dental Assistant from Bridgerland during a couple hours of her school day, and trying to have time to be the Laurel President in our ward. She even finds time once in a while to hang out with friends and go to a few dances and football games! She has accomplished much this year and is really making the best of her last year of High School. She will have some great memories, lots of friends, and know that she gave it her best and accomplished lots.