Famous Kids~

My darling kids were asked if they could have their picture taken to accompany an article in BYU Magazine in January.  They were so cute and we were so happy that they were chosen!  For a few weeks people recognized them and mentioned it to us that they had seen them.  It was fun to see the magazine at Dr. offices and at the orthodontist.  They would point out their picture to the staff.  Unfortunately, they weren't credited next to the article, but I actually don't think they cared much.  They were all just proud to show people how famous they were in an actual magazine!

Victoria's First Date/Dance -- Preference~

Funny story..  When I went to parent/teacher conferences last month I noticed on the wall a poster advertising Preference, the girl's choice formal date dance.  I took a picture of it to take home and show to Spencer and Victoria.  I playfully said to Spencer, "you should make her go."  He thought that was a great idea.  The only problem was that the dance was only about 10 days from then. 

Victoria was furious.  She threw tantrums and yelled and slammed a lot of doors after Spencer informed her of her new plans.  He told her that she had a few days to find a date or he would.  If he couldn't find a date she would take him.  He found her a group in minutes and it was all set.  She fought HARD against the idea of going.  Spencer didn't budge on his position that she would be going.

I thought this whole thing was funny and actually would be so good for her, until I realized that it meant that I would have a lot to get taken care of in a short amount of time!

After the weekend and a few days in school Victoria (with the help of her friends) was able to find a date.  I still am not really sure how all of the asking went down, but she found her own date.

A funny thing happened once she started resigning herself to the fact that we (the mean parents) were forcing her to go to a dance with her friends..  She started to get excited!

She hated admitting it to us, especially Spencer, but after she had a date (3 days before the dance) she was looking forward to it.  We borrowed a dress from our cousin that was darling.  My friend who does my hair was amazing at finding us someone to give her the 'up do' she so wanted.  We were all set.  Now to just get phone numbers for all of the people we would need to contact to get the details from.

It was pretty cute.  She came home on Friday with a list of all of the things they had planned and phone numbers for all of the people we needed.  Her friend wrote that up for us.  Spencer actually called her date's mom to see how well he knew Victoria.  Thank goodness he did because the next morning she called us back to inform us that no one had given her date any instructions or information of what and when they were doing things!

They left pretty early in the day to go and play games and get yogurt and picked the dates up to go take pictures and have dinner before the dance. 

Victoria is so funny.  She was obviously nervous having someone do her hair, but when it was done she LOVED it.

We thought she looked gorgeous.  She was so happy and excited.  The first time is definitely the hardest for her and it was great it was such a fun experience.

Spencer was beaming and so happy, then he realized that he was sending (by force) his daughter out on her first date!  Then he got nervous.

I'm the embarrassing mom that followed the group to the place they met for pictures to be sure to get my own.  It was freezing and Vika just wanted to go inside so we got a few, but not a ton!

They had a very large group that looked like they were a lot of fun.  She had a great time at the dance and at all of the things they did afterwards.

She got home just after midnight and was exhausted.  She was asleep within 15 minutes of walking in the door!  We had to wait to get our story of how the night went.  We were just happy she came home with a huge grin on her face!

Victoria's Big 17th Birthday Bash~

For Victoria's 1st ever 'American Birthday' we had to go big..  She was so excited about everything and invited all sorts of friends from school.  After her birthday lunch out she came home and relaxed and I ran around like a crazy lady getting this party together!  I swear birthday parties are so much stress on the mom and the kid is totally oblivious to any of that.  It's as it should be I suppose, but I was honestly a train wreck.  I had no idea how to throw a party for teenage girls!  I don't know what kinds of things they like.  Victoria wasn't really a lot of help in the idea area so I was pretty much on my own.  I am grateful that she handled the guests and invites.  I was just a worried mom hoping any of them would show!

I decorated the basement and put out all sorts of treats.  I had a few games up my sleeve, but the one I was counting on was the Just Dance III game we were going to give her as our gift. 

We moved the big T.V. downstairs for the big party and she hung out downstairs waiting for party time.  Like I said, I was panicked because to be honest, I've never met any of her friends.  She has yet to hang out with anyone or go anywhere with anyone.  She stays home.  She doesn't call anyone and no one calls her.  Girls are always late so when no one had showed and it was 30 minutes after the time they were supposed to come, Spen and I were in knots worrying!  I think Victoria was too, but she didn't really let on she just kept looking out the window and asking me why they weren't here yet?!  I think everyone she invited came.  phew.   I have to admit it was very refreshing to see her interact with her friends.  She was a totally different person!  She was friendly and very much the perfect hostess.  It was darling.  Why in the world was I worried?! 

I planned a few games, (only one of which was a hit.)  I bought a gift and wrapped it at least 30 times and they rolled until someone got doubles.  The person who rolled doubles got to unwrap it.  This went on until the gift was revealed!  It was a lot of fun for them.  They were all so darling.  It was fun to watch from the sidelines as the mom.  I do admit though that I texted my own mom many times during this party to thank her for everything she did for me! 

My sweet friend made this delicious cake for the occasion.  It was adorable, but also amazing red velvet.  Victoria requested a vampire cake.  Naturally.

Ezra and Ethan were very interested in everything going on at the party.  Vika and her friends were very nice and included them in the fun.  Ezra had to help me with the candles on the 'Famapire cake for Feeka.'

Happy 17th!!  I'm so glad the party was such a success.

We all sang and waited for Victoria to make her big wish and blow out the candles.

A few of the girls played my other games.  Marisa was the obvious winner on stacking dice on a Popsicle stick.  No one really could stack the golf balls though.  Oh well.  It was fun anyway.

The Dancing game was the big winner of the night.  These girls danced like crazy for hours!  It was the perfect time passer for the party.  I enjoyed watching it.  My favorite thing was that Spencer placed his GoPro Helmet cam next to the TV and recorded the whole night.  We got some great video of these girls!

Ashely is Vika's friend from Matveevka, Ukraine (the orphanage) and was adopted around the same time she was.  She lives long enough away that it warranted her sleeping over after the big birthday bash.  I loved how she kept finding Mason and talking and playing with him.  So sweet.  Happy Birthday Victoria!  We LOVE you!!

Victoria's Family Party~

After this month I was so birthday-ed out!  We had a family party for Victoria to open her presents from us and from her siblings a few days after her birthday.  Our presents this year for our kids were mostly clothes.  They both seemed to like that.  Ezra of course was right there in the action helping unwrap everything.

Ethan was very excited to go shopping and pick something special out for Victoria.  All of our boys just adore her.  She's actually quite darling with all of them.
A few things I love about Victoria are:

How fun she can be.
How sweet she is with her brothers.
How thoughtful she is.
How honest and obedient she is.
How smart she is.
How beautiful inside and out she is.
How she never forgets to do what she knows is right.
How she loves to read her scriptures.
How good of an example she is to her brothers.
How helpful she is.
How great it is to finally have her in our family.

These are just a few of the things I love about you!  Happy 17th Birthday Victoria!

Victoria's Birthday Lunch~

Victoria is so funny.  She was absolutely dying that we would send her to school on her birthday.  How could we?  Well, we did go and check her out for lunch so I think we made up for it.  She was pretty excited when Spencer showed up to check her out.  We had told her we couldn't and she was pretty upset and sad.  I have no idea why she believes us all the time!  We went to Smash Burger.  We love that place.  She really just wanted to take as long as possible so she wouldn't end up having to go back to school.

Ezra is the real lucky one... He gets to join all the parties.  He was pretty excited about it all too.  He loves Smash Burger!

He's an adorable pain to take places!

After lunch Victoria suckered us into taking her to Menchie's for Frozen Yogurt.  She still won't believe that it's not technically 'ice cream.'  We will have that fight every time we go there I'm sure.  She actually succeeded with her plan and didn't end up having time to go back to school.  She was thrilled.  Happy Birthday, Victoria!

Ethan and Victoria's Combined Birthday Celebration~

When we were planning birthday parties for two kids in the same week we also had to fit in a family party somewhere!  These two decided that they would rather have it combined and have everyone come over to celebrate them both together.  Phew.

It was pretty low key, although we had quite a crowd in our little space!  We took turns opening gifts, Ethan went first because his birthday is first.  He got all sorts of great things from his extended family.

We even sang to them separately so they both could make their own wish.  They thought it was fun that I got them both different candles even.  Moms sure think of everything, don't they!?

Some of the crowd that was here.  I think there were around 30 people here for the little party!

My mom always cuddles and plays with Mason when we get together.  I'm pretty sure he wouldn't allow her to get away without cuddling and playing with him.  He adores her.  They sat on the couch and kissed a lot. 

Victoria was very excited to get to her turn.  She loved her presents.

She also loved blowing out all of the candles in the cake. 

It's very weird to have a 17 year old and a 9 year old now!  Happy Birthday kiddos!