Way to long!

Oh goodness...where to begin? I have totally neglected my blog for almost 4 years now. So sad! My kids miss it! I miss it, too! I have missed out on so many journal entries/memories so I decided to start back! I hope I can keep it up...I have to many daily blessings not to make a note of them all!

Summers End :(

Our summer is quickly coming to an end. We have one more week of fun, then back to school the kids go :(

I always get so, so sad when summer ends...I hate it! I just love not having a schedule and for all the kids to be home with me. We have had a full, fun, and very exciting summer though. I have to say, and I think the whole family would agree, this has been one of our best summers yet!

I will be back to blogging soon, and will share our summer fun.

Meredith-

Meredith is such a good student. She always tries so hard to get the best grades she can. She is always studying!!! She first got inducted into Beta Club in 6th grade at her middle school, and once again in her new HS, she has been inducted into Beta. 

One of Meredith's hardest classes this year has been her English Prep class. Her teacher is a HARD, HARD teacher, but Meredith loves and respects her so much. At the beginning of the year Meredith struggled tons in this class. She stayed after many days with her teacher and peers trying to keep up. After several months she turned a corner and began to rise to the top. Her teacher has used her papers as examples, and she compliments Meredith's writing style a lot. 

Meredith was thrilled a couple of weeks ago when she received this post card in the mail from that teacher.

Art-

Meredith excelled in this year! Her teacher has enjoyed her work and compliment her  work all year. He thinks she is so gifted at it, he insisted she take AP Art next year. He has pushed Meredith in her art ability this year by grading her a bit harder than others in her class. She has enjoyed this class though, and is looking forward to the AP Art class next year.

 I love her Merilyn Monroe picture. I couldn't believe it when she brought it home. I will be framing this one for her room! The picture below was her guide. I think she did great! She only got 89% on it though, which shocked me!

 She got 96% on this paper bag. I love all the detail! 

 Physics!-ugh!-Not one of Meredith's strengths!!! And I definitely couldn't be of any help to her, nor could Michael. So, we got her a tutor. A WONDERFUL tutor, whom we have loved, loved, loved having in our home. She has been such a help to Meredith. Meredith's grade came up to an A with her help!!!! Yay!!! Meredith, who was usually the one in class always asking for help, was excited to come home and tell me that kids in her class were actually asking her for help a few weeks ago. Emma (the tutor), came for an hour and a half each week. She even came one morning at 7AM before Meredith's last big test!!! Did I mention how much we LOVE her :) 

Last week was Emma's last week with us though. She and her husband are going back to China for the summer, then coming back to the US and he will start graduate school at Harvard University...yeah, one smart couple!

 Emma will be missed!

Can you tell this is the 7AM day. Meredith looks like she just rolled out of bed :)

Hair, Make-up, Pretty Dresses, & Tuxedos = Prom 2011

Saturday night was Meredith's first high school prom.

Our house was hoppin' on Saturday! I let the little girls each have a friend over to watch Meredith and her friends get ready for prom. It was SO much fun!

I have to admit, this made me feel old! It seemed like yesterday it was me getting ready for my first prom. I remember how exciting it was for me, to find the perfect dress etc. It was more fun being the mom helping find the perfect dress, and helping with the hair and make-up! I loved it!

 Speaking of the perfect dress...

we didn't find Meredith "the perfect dress" until  late Wednesday night... Nordstroms on-line! We had bought a dress from Macy's, and tried on what seemed like hundreds of dresses she could've borrowed from others, but none of them seemed to be the right one.We tried our luck and had this dress overnighted. It got here on Friday 20 minutes before she got home from school. When she got home, she ran in and tried it on, but it was a little big. She quickly drove over to a friends house, whose mom is a great seamstress, and in less than an hour it was altered perfectly! 

I thought she looked stunning in it for Saturday's prom!  

 Meredith was so glad that Rachel and Sam got to come from TN. 

When Meredith and Rachel got home, I  stayed up with them talking about how much fun they had. They had a blast!

Fun, fun times!

Southern Lights: Atlanta Temple Youth Cultural Celebration

Last weekend on the 30th, my kids, along with 2700 other youth in our church, got to participate in a Cultural Celebration for the re-dedication of the Atlanta Temple that has been closed for almost 2 yrs. for renovations. I was fortunate enough to get to chaperone this awesome event. I wouldn't have wanted to miss seeing all the kids as they came off the stage for the world! It was an amazing experience they will never forget. As President Monson told them, "One day you youth will look back on this night and it will bring June flowers to your December days".

Easter Weekend 2011

Our Easter weekend was awesome!

It started by us going to tour the Atlanta Temple on Saturday. It was so beautiful! One of the best parts of being there was running into some of our dear friends from back home!!!

We wanted to get an individual picture of each one of the kids in front of the temple to hang in their room. One day each one of them will be back in that same spot for a picture, but they won't be alone ;)

The Easter Bunny hid Easter eggs all over our house ;) The kids had fun finding them all.

Our friends wound up coming over Saturday night then on Sunday, too. They are one of the sweetest families I know. We had so much fun with them! 

Happy Easter!

Spreading the word...

Our dear friends are fundraising for their adoption. Please go check out their new blog The Solomon's Sweetie  to see all the cute things you can order. Happy shopping!