Crazy Hair and Clothes Day

 It was so much fun to get Taylor and Hallie excited about Crazy Hair and Clothes day this year for Spirit Week.  They came up with their hair and clothes designs all on their own days before!  I'd say they look pretty crazy!

Fast Sunday

Fast Sundays are hard for me sometimes and they have not always been hard for me.  In fact, when I was in college, I quite liked them.  I liked them so much that I didn't only fast one Sunday a month I fasted every Wednesday of the week.  Now, after being either pregnant or nursing for the last 10 years it's been hard to get back in the swing of things.  Not only do I not have an excuse not to fast but I have Taylor, who has recently turned 8, who is trying to develop her own testimony of fasting.  So, we've done a few things at our house to make fasting a little easier.  We had a good thing going when we had church at 11:00 until 2:00.  Taylor would fast until after church.  We would begin our morning with a prayer. She and I spent the time the other kiddos were eating together reading scriptures or talking about fasting.  But, now that church isn't until 2:00 and I don't think she HAS to fast until 5:00 we have started fasting for breakfast and then letter her eat a light lunch before church. 

We'd been up late last night at BYU Young Embassadors so she was tired and pretty hungry when she woke up this morning.  I told her it was fast Sunday and talked to her about fasting a little bit more. Then I was reminded that for some strange reason when I was a Sophomore at Ricks and Jake was my neighbor I liked to make cinnamon rolls on Fast Sunday so we could smell them while we fasted and enjoy them when we got home from church.  I told Taylor about that little tradition and she instantly wanted to make cinnamon rolls.  

Now anyone who's ever baked cinnamon rolls knows it's pretty hard not to taste that melted butter, cinnamon, sugar mixture but Taylor did awesome.  She didn't even lick the beaters after we made frosting! 

When her fast was finished and the cinnamon rolls were still warm she did savor every bite.  As did the other girls.  

Some times it is hard to do the right thing when you don't yet understand why or the natural man in us takes over our bodies. I am proud of her for sticking to it and fasting today that she would understand the importance of fasting more and feel the Spirit of fasting in her life.  Wow...I have a lot to learn from these sweet spirits who reside in my house.  Today was a great fast Sunday.  Our meetings were edifying. Our Break the Fast as a Ward was well attended and a good way to feel united as we fast.  I need to remember these Fast Sundays and all the blessings I receive from fasting.

Here's a little picture of what my budding chefs made this morning! (same recipe as I used in college only this time we added brown sugar for a more caramel effect).  The girls did a great job setting the timer for the dough to rest, rolling out the rectangles, spreading the cinnamon and sugar.  

BYU Young Ambassadors

Taylor and I had the opportunity to go watch the BYU Young Ambassadors perform tonight in Hillsboro.  They did a wonderful job. I remember as a young girl going to watch them and then our family hosted one of two of them. I remember wanting to be like them. I was certain this would be right up Taylor's alley so we got tickets.  She was then invited by some of the BYU Alumni Association members to join the Ambassadors on stage for a number. She was able to practice with a few of them before the show started. What a special treat.  (Taylor is in the black and gray stripes).

Birthday Fun

One perk of Rendell traveling so much is that we occasionally get to enjoy an evening at a hotel for free because he has so many hotel points.  Hallie had really wanted to go swimming and Rendell had been gone all week AND since it was Kenzie's birthday we decided what the heck, let's pack up and go to the Embassy Suites (just down the street) for a family night out.  We had pizza, played games, went swimming... Kenzie, Evie and I fell asleep telling stories and singing songs while Rendell, Taylor and Hallie stayed up half the night watching NBC Family movies.  This little adventure we get to go on occasionally is just a fun way to refresh ourselves from the "normal" routine.  I'm sure glad it's available to us. (We did leave the hot tub but not that much.  Evie wouldn't leave it. She called the hot tub "bubbles" and cried every time we left the pool area because she couldn't get enough).

Birthday Girl

I can't believe it's been 5 years since my water broke at the Gardiner's house and I drove myself to the hospital in enough time to deliver a healthy, baby girl, who has blessed my life immeasurably.  Kenzie really is a light in my life. She is constantly reminding me of the importance of simple, pure, childlike love and life.  She is a delight to be around. She has a little fan club of kids who are younger than her who love to play with her. I'm sure it is because she is patient and so gentle with little ones.  Kenzie and I spend a lot of time together because the older girls are in school and Evelyn still sleeps so much during the day.  I have learned to be a better mom so I actually some days spend hours drawing pictures, playing Barbies or pretending to be a princess or queen from long ago from a far way land.  I can't imagine my life with out our Kenzie girl.

On her birthday she requested pancakes with strawberry syrup, blueberries and strawberries on top and whipped cream. 

 Since she didn't want to wait to open her doll house until her birthday I hid her present from Gramie and Gramps so she'd have something to open on her actual birthday morning!  She was so excited...

 the beautiful package...

 the beautiful package inside the beautiful package and the card

 the Holiday Barbie - of which she said, "I always wanted one of these but you'll never spend that much money on a Barbie!!!"

Late that day Kenzie's little friend McKenna came over for lunch.  Mac and Cheese (from the box - is how McKenzie specifies Kraft Mac and Cheese not homemade!) with more blueberries and strawberries.  Then lots and lots of Barbie playing!

 And as tradition would have it a picture in front of your birthday wall of fame!

Happy birthday McKenzie Lou Who. We're so lucky to have you!

Early Birthday Gift

McKenzie has wanted a new doll house for a long time and with the move and everything we promised the girls if they got rid of their old doll houses and some of their older toys we'd get them a new doll house. That's what Kenzie wanted for her birthday more than anything. Since I don't have much time during the week when I am not with McKenzie she was with me when I got her doll house and she did not want to wait for her birthday to play with it.  It's been hours and hours of fun this week.

Photo Shoot

Taylor and Hallie have been trying really hard to set up a photo shoot for them and their dolls for their new room.  They coordinated their outfits, did doll hair and then begged Rendell to let them use the nice camera to get frame worthy photos for their new room. 

Pretty good if you ask me.