New

New dress she bought for herself: check. New sparkly, dangly earrings she got from the Easter Bunny: check. Beautiful teenager: check!

Golfing Buds

Logan has been enjoying learning to play golf. He wanted someone to walk down to the park's big field to try out some of the new-to-him clubs he'd bought, and Eli was happy to come along and try out some for himself.

Shoes

Logan wanted some really nice shoes, so he pitched in some of his money to what I was willing to spend and was pleased with them.

He also decided to buy another pair all on his own, a pair which he designed! Pretty fun that Nike has that option. He loves them, and got lots of compliments, even from the moment he stepped on the bus in the morning.

Creator

Here are some of Jake's latest creations: a birdfeeder

A dog house:

A quiz/maze:

He has also created a movie and a magic show. I love that he has such varied forms of creativity.

Band Concerts

We've enjoyed a couple band concerts this winter and spring.

"Mom, you've taken this exact picture before!" Me: "Yes, but you've changed!" Almost High School for these two.

Artist too

Eli enjoys drawing too, and he gets better with each one.

Pretty cool that he can do it with chalk too!

Strawberry DNA

Logan was absent one day, so Ali brought home the science experiment they had done. Their teacher is a really cool lady who comes up with really fun things for them to do. This experiment had them extract DNA from a strawberry-those little bubbles are DNA! So cool!

Happy Birthday Jake

Jake has been beyond excited for his birthday (he's been more or less counting down since Christmas). He had huge ideas and plans scripted out in his mind. I was a bit worried it wouldn't pan out the way he'd dreamed, but he had a great day.

His party was a Notebook of Doom party, a book series I guarantee none of his friends have even heard of, let alone read. But luckily the series is mostly about defeating different monsters, and that is a language most seven-year-olds speak. 

For his cake he asked for donuts with "night crawlers" (aka huge worms). Easiest "cake" ever.

I made this beanbag toss cut out back before I even had kids, when I was in Young Women's and we were in charge of games for the ward Halloween party. I can't even count how many times I've used it since! We also had a monster piñata, pin the eyes on the three-eyed-glump (you've never heard of one?! Read the books!), a guess the ghost game (which friend was under the sheet), a keep-the-monster-balloons-off-the-ground game, and a spooky craft. It was so much fun, and even Jake's high expectaions were met.

On his birthday, Jake finished his illustrated Book of Mormon again, which he thought was perfect timing!

We sure love our creative, smart, passionate, funny Jake!

Artist

Ali still spends a lot of her spare time drawing. She is getting so good!

Service

These two are learning from their dad the rewards of service...the edible ones as well and the non edible ones!