Photo Story Friday #6

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek Wondering what is in the basket?

It is a YUMMY picnic lunch for 2 lovely little ladies

here they are, ready to get their munch on!

this is the one who used "sugar lips" to get EXACTLY what she wanted. "Would you mind making us a picnic lunch to enjoy outside in the shade...please?" How could i say no to that?yep...i am easy like that! a little bit of sugar goes a long way with this mama!

Dancing Queen Take 4

Every few months our church hosts a Cotillion for the 12 and 13 yr old boys and girls. The purpose of the cotillions are to teach the kids proper dance etiquette and manners. They also usually have a theme for the type of dances they are instructed in and are basically a whole lot of fun. This was Jordan's third cotillion you can read about the first 2 here Dancing Queen and Dancing Queen Take 2. You can also read about the Middle School dance HERE where she had her first chance to try out some of her moves. I ended up getting more video than pictures (the lighting was bad, i need a better camera) including some REALLY sweet moments that are sure to make you laugh. None of the videos are very long, so take a minute to watch them, you will be glad you did...especially if you know J and her personality...hilarious!

A few of the girls from J's Young Women's Beehive Class

resting up and eyeing the boys before the dance started

Cheyenne and Jordan, reunited...C goes to a different school this year, it was fun to see her.

lined up and ready to dance...there were 4 rows of partners, great turn out!!

Jacob ("the cutest boy there") I love how J holds the boys as far away as possible by making sure that her arm is on the inside...he can barely get his hand to her back.

video of Jacob and Jordan. I love that J sneaks a peak at him at the end.

As part of the cotillion there are a few songs they call "refreshment dances" the boys are instructed to escort their dance partner over to the refreshment table. The girls are to take 2 napkins and 2 cookies and the boys are to take the 2 drinks. then they walk together to sit and visit as they enjoy their refreshments. They even give the kids some ideas about what they can talk about and small conversation starters...WAY too cute. This boy asked J to dance a lot, he goes to the same school as J so she knows him. J said he has a really nice personality and she liked that he picked up her drink umbrella after it had fallen on the floor earlier. Who cares if he put it back in her drink after it had been on the floor, she thought it was nice.

I asked Jordan what they talked about. She said, "oh i just asked him how his summer was. He said it was good. Then he asked me about mine. I said it was good. He asked me if anything was new lately. I told him about my birthday party and he thought it sounded really cool, especially about the limo. Then we talked about school a little bit and once our cookies and drinks were gone, i was out of there. He has a crush on Emma, she's my best friend, that was enough talking."

Another two examples of J keeping her elbow on the inside to maintain distance, hilarious!

This video is VERY funny...J doesn't look at him at all UNTIL the very end where she gives him a quick side glance once over...Big Daddy and i have replayed this video 100 times, laughing. It is just SOOOOOO Jordan...really, if you know her you know what i mean.

another bit of goodness...oh how i love that she lets me take video, she loves watching herself. When she watched this one she said, "yea he totally kept messing me up, i was trying to let him lead but he didn't know what he was doing. But he was nice and asked me to dance a lot."

For the final dance of the evening the kids are instructed to keep dancing until one of the helpers excuses them. The boys escort the girls to the door where the evenings hosts are standing. They shake the hand of the host and thank them for a lovely evening.

I so appreciate the Youth Leadership in our Church for the time, effort and energy they put in to making these cotillions really fun for the kids. It seems to me that as the years go by etiquette is kinda dying out, and i am glad to see it 'resuscitated' for MY kid. These little life lessons in manners and social graces are things that will help make her an ever better more well rounded adult. YAY!

It Started Out BAD...

Do you remember Alexander from the children's story about his Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very Bad Day? From the moment he wakes up with gum in his hair, things just do not go Alexander's way. At breakfast, Alexander's brothers Nick and Anthony reach into their cereal boxes and pull out amazing prizes, while all Alexander ends up with is . . . cereal. And so on and so on...and he wishes he lived in Australia. In Australia, everything is upside down, so maybe a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day would become a wonderful, terrific very good day.

Well today i was feeling his pain...in a BIG way i thought i was about to have a Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very Bad Day, from the time i woke up to the sound of the phone ringing at 6:20am.

Me: Hello?
Big Daddy: Hi, my car won't start. I called a tow truck, i need you to come and get me.
Me: (still totally asleep) wait, what?
Big Daddy: After you take Jordan to school i need you to come and get me in Tracy.
Me: what? i don't know how to get to Tracy. Can't they tow it here? What's wrong with it?
Big Daddy: I am not sure but i think it's the starter.
Me: but i don't know how to get to Tracy (i do not like traveling to unfamiliar places alone).
Big Daddy: It's OK i will get you directions, you will be fine. Once you drop off J call me, I will tell you how to find me.
Me: OK.

So i hung up the phone and threw some clothes on and put my hair in pigtails. Even cute pigtails didn't make me happy. I heard J's alarm go off and waited for her to emerge from her room. She walked into the kitchen a few minutes later.

Me: Good Morning
J: where is daddy? He makes my breakfast.
Me: yeah, sorry about that. His car won't start i am going to have to go get him from work after i take you to school.
J: but, what's going to happen? (and like a million other questions i had no answers for)

let me stop here for a minute. J and i are total creatures of routine. We thrive on it. We like to know what to expect and be both do not like when someone or something throws a wrench in our plans. So while i was trying to be sympathetic and answer her many questions that i had no answers to, i had a million of my own going through my head.

i kept trying to tell myself to calm down, that the kid was picking up on my internal earthquake and that she did not need to go to school worried about us all day long. Seriously dude it's a car that won't start, not the end of the world. But i was having a hard time listening to myself. Even as i write this i am thinking about what a ninny i am...sheesh!

So i got J off to school and got on the phone with Big Daddy and was on my way to meet him. His directions involved changing like 4 high ways and it sounded complex. He knows me, he knows my rational and irrational fears. He had gone to google maps and had it down to how many miles i would be on each road before going onto another one. I was still a little stressed but i had plenty of time to calm down because as soon as i got on the first HWY i was sitting in traffic that was moving at a snails pace. There was a 2 car injury accident about 4 exits up and it took me 30 minutes to go 7 miles. Finally as traffic started to move and i had passed the accident scene (saying a little prayer for the people who were in that mass of twisted metal and broken glass) Big Daddy called to say it was a "simple battery cable" they were going to fix it now, he was going to wait and i could turn around and go home.

I got back on the HWY going the opposite direction, saw the bumper to bumper traffic on the other side of the HWY and was glad i wasn't sitting in it anymore. THEN out of nowhere a little gold Pontiac sunfire came flying up beside me and pushed me off of the road. i TOTALLY lost control of my car and it took EVERYTHING i had to regain control from the shoulder of the road and get my head clear enough to dial 911 as i caught up the "bad guy" getting his license plate number (ummm yeah, he slowed down enough to watch what he had done to me). As i went past him he flipped me the bird with the hand he was holding his Blackberry in and was busy eating a burger with the 'free' hand...yep 'look ma, no hands'. Once i was on the phone with 911 chick i lost it and started crying. i gave her the info and she told me to hold on while they broadcast it. She got back on the line with me and told me there was a "chippy" close by and he was on it. No sooner had she said that did i see the lights behind me. i pulled over into the far right lane and pointed out "the bad guy". he pulled him over and as i passed by i made sure to give my new "friend" a nice wave...and yes i used all of my fingers.

It was scary...i thought it was the beginning of the most AWFUL, Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very Bad Day!!

My day ended up being pretty good though. I felt a little sick after the scary experience (i have been in 3 "should not have walked away alive" car accidents in my life). But i am safe, i am alive and all is well...OH and the car only cost $80 to get fixed, which is a HUGE blessing!

on to other stuff...good stuff....

Some of my bloggy friends are celebrating their Blogiversary. So here is a flower for SuperCoolMom and one for And then there were 6 from us...Congratulations AND keep on blogging, I big red puffy heart you girls and look forward to reading more, more MORE!!
OH and i almost forgot THIS little bit of Christmas goodness came in the mail for me today! I won a bloggy giveaway over on Raimi's If You're Happy And You Know It Blog. I LOVE it. It totally cheered me up AND reminded me how happy Good Mail makes me soooo i am going to try and get some out soon and spread a little love. Thanks Raimi!!!
Did you get a chance to read all about Jordan's 13th Birthday Extravaganza or watch the video montage More 13th Birthday Goodness ? Cuteness awaits you...go have a look~see!

More 13th Birthday Goodness

Here is a little video montage of all of the birthday goodness. You can scroll down to read all about the birthday party and see a few pics. It was a FABULOUS night and Jordan has not stopped thanking us for an "awesome birthday". I took today to recover, sorry i am so late getting it posted...enjoy!

Jordan REALLY wanted the video done with the song Girls Night Out (G.N.O) by Miley Cyrus. It is only about 3 minutes long, but you get to see more pics of J's fun night with her friends..including some cute hide and seek pics.

I am tired.

Jordan's 13th Birthday Extravaganza

All of the planning, the hunting and gathering of supplies and the late nights laying in bed talking out all of the details (with myself and sometimes with Big Daddy) paid off. It was 100% worth all the effort and the cash to make Jordan's 13th Birthday a wonderful event. AND we were able to surprise her many times through out the evening. The girls all gathered after school and Big Daddy picked them up. They waited in J's game room for the last girl to arrive and then grouped up in the hallway for the grand opening of "Glamorous Spa Thirteen". I had changed our family room and dining area into a girlie and glamorous spa. There was a nail station, hair and make up station, and pedicure station. It was pretty fabulous and the girls were tickled PINK! We had fun music playing and Big Daddy served them beverages with lime wedges and the girls had an amazing time.

Once everyone was totally glam an changed into their party dresses the Limo arrived to pick us up and take us to dinner. We were shocked to see the limo pull up because it was NOT the one we had reserved. They upgraded us at the last minute and instead of the stretch town car we ended up with a stretch Lincoln Navigator...big enough for 20 people, with a little room to spare. The girls thought it was big pimpin' and they were right. The driver told us he had driven Flavor_Flav in it that morning. This little bit of news did not impress the girls (and kinda grossed me out a little, cuz of the company he keeps etc.) whatsoever...maybe if it had been the Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus they would have been excited. Anyway the limo was HUGE (and really really clean) and the girls though it was AWESOME. Since the ceiling was mirrored and had all kinds of fancy lighting and stuff none of my pictures inside the limo turned out that great, but you will get the idea.

The restaurant we went to was FABULOUS. The food was great and our chef was so much fun and had the girls impressed and giggling all evening. OH and there was Karaoke too...but it was in the lounge area so the girls were not able to sing...and they totally would have. I am seriously going back cuz as y'all know i loooove me some Karaoke .

After dinner we had the driver take us to Cold Stone for dessert. There was a little girl there that was VERY excited about the limo outside. Jordan went up to her and said, "The limo is for my birthday party, if it is OK with your dad you can come out and get in it and take a look around." The little girl was thrilled and i was proud of Jordan for sharing her special gift with someone she didn't even know.

When we got home the girls went for a late night swim and were out there splashing and having a grand time until around midnight. They came in and changed into their Pajamas (yay they all fit) and spent the next few hours playing hide and seek, giggling, doing each other's hair, giggling, dancing and singing, giggling, putting on fabulous puppet shows, giggling and winding down with popcorn and a movie. OH and giggling some more.

So here is a small little snippet of our evening in pictures for you to enjoy. I am also going to post a video montage for more pics...there were soooo many to choose from and Jordan asked me to make one using "Girls Night Out (G.N.O)" by Miley Cyrus.

Glamorous Spa Thirteen...open for one night only!!

The girls waiting in the hallway for the "spa" to open! (my little shorty girl in front)
manicures first!
silly Sammy had all the girls laughing!
Jordan was telling me, "I can't believe you did all of this, it's so cool!" That is the reason there is a HUGE smile on my face and i scrub and polish little stinky feet...i AM cool, like that! I'm not sure why Emma is making that face, I'm pretty sure it was something Big Daddy said though, those two have a pretty funny relationship and love to make each other laugh.
Emma getting her "hair did"!! I did all of the girls hair and makeup.
Glamor Girls ready for a GNO!!
The WAY TOO BIG Limo...stylin'!
a 20 person limo for 4 little girls, Big Daddy and Mamarazzi

"wow we can totally make faces at people and they can't see us"4 little ladies ready to order their dinner

Emma and Jordan impressed with the show our chef was putting on for us!

our talented chef making an onion volcano

a little video of our chef tossing zucchini in the air for us to catch with our mouths, some of us (not me, which is why there is no video) were more skilled than others

YUMMY!!!

almost as tall as i am...wow! (i know, i am short!!)
awww daddy's little girl
enough room for laying down on the drive to dessert

playing telephone

COLD STONE for dessert!!
a night swim

sparkling cider from the limo...CHEERS!! To the Birthday Girl!
the puppet shows were VERY entertaining!
" a beauty/hair chain"
at 3:30am everyone was asleep

so the party was a TOTAL success and i am sure it will be something the girls are going to be talking about for a long time to come. MAGIC, all of it...pure magic!

Photo Story Friday #5

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

It's funny. She turns 13 in a week. I have been going through pictures for a fun little video montage (Iwill post it on her actual birthday) and I am realizing that I spend a lot of time and energy trying to capture as much of her childhood as I can (she doesn't call me Mamarazzi for nothing!). She is entering a new chapter in her life, the teen years. I am so glad that to know that because of the quality time we spend as a family that she will not be shutting us out of her life. In fact she seems to be pulling us in more and more these days. She has had a few chances just recently to spend time doing something with friends and instead she wants to spend time as a family. Her favorite thing to do as a family is play games. We have A LOT of games and are always looking for new ones. I feel pretty good about the fact that J comes to me for advice knowing that I will not only give her my honest opinion but that she is able to freely express her opinion with me without fear of judgment or ridicule. J knows that she can 100% be herself and that her daddy and I love her no matter what. She knows that if she comes to either of us with questions that we will answer her. She knows that what she says matters to us and that we value her place in our family. So yeah our world totally revolves around this kid, and I know that all of the time and energy we spend creating special moments for her is time well spent.

Adorable!

Silly!
Outdoorsy!
Fancy!
Funny!
Sweet!
Playful!
Girly!
Adventurous!
BEAUTIFUL!
Compassionate!
Smart!
Free Spirited!
Soooo here's to a VERY Happy 13 Birthday MY Beautiful Girl

...oh the MANY adventures that are in store! YAY!