Young Women Pep Rally

Was very busy last week getting ready for a Personal Progress Pep Rally we had for the Young Women.  It was lots of fun.  We did a cheer, had some pep talks, gave out "playbooks", played games, and ate some yummy loaded nachos.  Ashley gave it good ratings.



Cheer by the YW Presidency



One of my responsibilities was for the Personal Progress Bingo game, called PINGO.  Who knew the girls would like playing it so much?  I guess everyone loves Bingo, especially when there are prizes! 

As a part of the prize baskets I made these cutes fabric covers that hold PP books, journals, and FTSOY booklets. That's right, it involved sewing! This isn't actually one of the three I made, but I used this tutorial to do it. I just didn't have time to take pictures of my finished product.

More Serious

Sometimes I like to think of this little blog as my diary or family history.  And in someways it is, but in other ways it's really not.  First of all, there are other people to consider and although they are part of my family, they haven't chosen to blog, so I do have to respect their privacy and their wishes.  There are just some things that they don't want to share with everyone else.  I absolutely get it, because I have felt the same way about some things.

I've been thinking about this because it seems like this past year there are have been a few things that have had a big impact on our family, but I have decided not to blog about them.  This has got me thinking that I probably need to do a better job of 1)personal journaling, I would like certain things to be part of our family record for future generations to read but not the internet public.  2)try to include more thoughts, observations, and serious stuff on my blog, not just a catalogue of events.

So in honor of #2 (hee-hee, okay not that #2).  I am going to go off on a political diatribe.  Just kidding.  I'll save that for later.  I'll actually start with the uproar in our neighborhoods over changes in school boundaries.  I've been talking to and meeting with neighbors lots more than ever before because of proposed boundary changes in our area.  Basically the schools in our district are overcrowded on one side and under-capactiy on the other.  This means that some kids from one side of the district are going to have to incoveniently be moved to schools on the other side of the district.  No doubt the distance is pretty far and technically in a whole different city.  Of course, no one wants to do it.  So it has become an all out battle between elementary schools, neighborhood v. neighborhood--each trying to prove why they shouldn't have to be the ones to move.  It's pretty frustrating.

There isn't even an offical proposal yet, but rumors and ideas are running rampant and so everyone feels like they need to make sure they are heard and their concerns are taken into consideration.  So parents at every school are organizing, planning, and turning up en masse at school board meetings, which based on how the district is handling this process seems like the only option anyone has right now. 

The plan is for the boundary changes to take effect next year, so the district has got to make a decision soon, because they are opening a new school.  Some schools have cancelled/delayed IEP meetings because they have no idea what school kids will be at next year.  It's pretty crazy.  An official proposal is supposed to be presented next week---then the crap is really going to hit the fan.  I'll keep you posted.  Hopefully, Ashey won't be at a new school next year :(

Fun Fair

This past weekend was the elementary school annual Fun Fair.  It is a big deal and a huge fundraiser for the PTA.  They needs lots of volunteers to make it work and the organizers put in tons of man hours.  For the past two years, I have had Ashley and one of her friends volunteer to run games at the fair, while I take Paige and let her have fun.  This way our family supports the fair by both volunteering and spending money!

Once again, everyone had lots of fun.  Ash and her friend were in charge of a tossing game, marked tickets, and handed out tokens.  After, they got a free lunch then walked around playing a few games themselves.  They each won 2 liters of pop.

Paige played lots of games, got her hair done in a spray-painted, glittery up-do, and ate soft pretzels and cotton candy.  I mostly just walked around with Paige and visited with other parents.  Although I will admit to getting some of my own cotton candy---seriously I LOVE that stuff.

It was a great day of fun, that ended with Paige winning in the cake walk.  As her prize, she chose some Little Debbie snacks called "Star Crunch."  I have to admit I was thinking, "should of have taken the brownies," but once we got home and tasted the Star Crunch, I ate my words (and the Star Crunch.)  Those things are yummy! 



getting an up-do



hoola hoop contest



lunch time

smiling with all the goodies we won

Chinese New Year

We always like to acknowledge the Chinese New Year.  It's pretty much an excuse to have fun or at least eat Chinese food.  This year is the Year of the Dragon.  The new year also happened to fall on America's observance of National Pie Day.  Another great thing to observe! 

Chinese food and pie!!!  What a combo!!

We went for simple and easy this year.  We ate at Panda Express and I made a banana cream pie for dessert.  I made banana cream because Dave's very carefully watching what he eats and I knew banana anything wouldn't be a temptation for him!

Here are our fortunes for the year, from oldest to youngest-
Dave to Paige.  I'm a WINNER!

Paige Funnies

1st story -Paige had a bad dream this week and came into our room in the middle of the night and asked if she could lay down next to me for a while. 

"I had a bad dream, I tried to go to sleep again,  but it came back."

Wanting to get back to sleep myself, I let her climb in. 

A few hours later when it was time to wake up she told me about her dream.  First she dreamt that Voldemort was standing in her room...SCARY.

That woke her up, but she tried to go back to sleep, then she dreamt that she was in our bedroom and Voldemort was in bed, sleeping in her dad's place...even SCARIER.

Glad I let her climb in bed with us.

2nd story- We had to get up really early one day this week.  It was still dark-dark outside. 

Paige turned to Dave and said, "this is really early.  Did you know that Muglims have to get up this early during Ramadan to eat?" 

They have been learning about other cultures at school.  Too bad she didn't learn it is "Muslims."

School Pictures

Here are the girls pictures from school this year:

A few years back I made the decision not to do the whole "school picture" thing.  They never turn out and are outrageously expensive.

Guess what?  I bought school pictures this year.  We were so busy this Fall that the convenience of having the pictures done at school won out over my better judgement. 

Guess what?  The pictures were overpriced and turned out horribly.

Guess what?  Both girls had to do re-takes

Guess what?  By the time you have your original picture taken, wait for the pictures to be sent home, decide they are unacceptable, what for re-take day to roll around, have the pictures re-taken, and wait again for the re-takes to come in, you pretty much are getting the pictures in December.

Guess what?  Even after re-takes, you aren't really crazy about the pictures and the weird angle they tell your kids to hold their heads, but at least they are better than the original.

Guess what?  You should definitely skip doing pictures at school next year.  It really wasn't that "convenient."

Off and Running

The Smith family has started 2012 "running".  Running to the bathroom, running a fever, running a constant video cycle on the tv, running on Gatorade. 

Are you getting my point?

Every single day of the new year has so far been a sick day.  First it was me, now it is Paige.  I was able to leave the house for the first time in 5 days today.  It's not pretty.  I'll spare the details.

The bright side---I am back to my pre-holiday weight and I have had time to catch up on my blog.