PROM 2009

The long awaited, highly anticipated, repeatedly requested PROM pictures!


 

                                Ok, this is my favorite of them all.
 

Ariel with mom & dad.              Shawn with mom & dad.

And, perhaps the BEST prom picture in the history of prom pictures...

Ariel's 'Prom Escort'!

For those of you not aware, Ariel is not yet 16 (almost 2 months to go), and therefore is not allowed to go out on 'dates'. However, Ariel was THE one that Shawn wanted to take to his Jr. Prom (he's 17, dating isn't an issue for him). So, to make it as 'un-date-like' as we could, Don and I joined them...in a sense. We took them to Steak & Shake for dinner (one of their favorite places to eat, and not the typical 'prom dinner' place, trust me), and then they followed us over to where the prom was being held. Don and I took the motorcycle as the weather was SO beautiful! We went to the bookstore, and then sat down to have something to eat and read until prom was over...then we went back over and they followed us back to the house. Ariel has expressed more than once, in more than one way, and in perhaps more than one octive, that this was the BEST night of her WHOLE LIFE!! Too bad we don't have pictures from other kids at the prom! If I get my hands on some, I'll be sure to post them (also, we are exchanging pics with Shawn's parents, and I still have to get the pics off of Ariel & Tori's cameras).

Jr's 6th B-day

March 24, 2009: Jr turns 6 years old! We just had some family members over for cake and ice cream as it's not one of our 'big' birthday years (8, 10, 12 & 16 get 'big' parties around here). I made a small castle cake that Jr loved (not my very best work, but pretty ok). I actually bought store-made cupcakes to take in for her class at school...they were a HUGE hit! 

Can you even believe how big she's getting!?

 

Oh wow!

Hey there! WOW! I hadn't realized how much I've neglected my blogging! I doubt I'll be able to 'catch up' everything, but I'll try to hit some highlights from the first 4 months of 2009 at least!

In January (that IS the beginning of the year after all), Don took a trip to Utah on his own. This trip kind of started last summer when he began e-mailing his daughter from a previous relationship for the first time. Her name is Jodi, and she's 21 years old. Don and Jodi had never met, or been in contact before, so this was a huge thing. Don went out for a few days and spent some time getting to know her, and helping his mom out as well. 

February was Don's 40th birthday, so I put together a small party. We had some friends over, and I made a power point presentation (my very first one ever!) to 'document' his life for the past 40 years. Here are a few of the slides:

 

 

His BIG gift this year was a 1989 Goldwing Motorcycle (ok, so it's not exactly 'from me', but it still counts that I was on board for it!). It came with a matching trailer, and it's SO nice! We both really enjoy it, and the kids get a kick out of occasional rides (it hasn't been 'motorcycle weather' very much so far this year). Here are some pictures:

 

In February, there was a Stake Youth Valentine's dance, and it was a formal dance. This was Tori's very first formal dance (and only her 2nd dance since turning 14!). Here are some pics:

  What a lucky guy, huh? 3 beautiful girls to take to a dance! From left to right: Tori, Ariel, Shawn and Katie.

In March, we celebrated our 17th anniversary (hard to believe it's been that long, doesn't seem so!). Then, we celebrated Jr turning 6! My little baby girl is SIX!! How fast they grow up, it's absolutely amazing. This is Jr on the 100th day of school. The kids were suppose to dress up as though they were 100 years old (I thought she was TOTALLY cute!).

 

April was rather busy with some business trips for Don, and Spring trying to make it's way here (snow in April is NOT my idea of a 'happy Spring' surprise!). 

We are now looking forward to next week because Jodi is coming out here to visit the entire family and meet everyone. We're planning some fun family activities while she's here ('cuz it's kind of awkward sitting around the house and staring at each other all day...gets very boring (anybody know the movie reference there?). 

At the beginning of June (after school is out for the summer), Don and I are going to drive the Banta's truck out to Utah for them as they are moving there at the end of May. It will be sad to see them go, and we wish them the very best of luck! We'll be loading the motorcycle into the truck so that we have transportation back home, and we plan to enjoy our first 'road trip' on the motorcycle! With any luck, we'll see old friends and family in Utah (we'll only be there for about 24-36 hours!), and stop in Colorado to see Leslie and her family. We'll do some site seeing along the way, and camp out to save on hotels (please, everyone, pray for no rain!!). 

I'll really try harder to be better at my blogging, I promise!