Some Homemade gifts

I do a few homemade gifts every year and try to have my girls do the same.  This year they both decided to make gifts for their Grandmas.  Jayda decided to make these no-sew coasters- she had a great time using the hot glue gun and she cut out all the shapes by herself.

 Olivia decided to do some embroidery and put the last initial of each Grandma on a flour sack towel.

 Both projects turned out great and both Grandmas loved their new gifts (of course)

Christmas Recital

Olivia had a Christmas recital and did such a fantastic job!  I was a very proud mama.  She played 3 songs- one solo, a duet and a song with 3 (what is that called- a trio?)

 Her teacher is so fabulous- she lets us come in the morning (which is great!) and she is so talented and great at teaching and inspiring- so glad we found her!

Listening to the beautiful Christmas music really put me in the mood for Christmas- bring it on!

Birthday Girl

My Olivia turned 10! That's double digits!  I can't believe I have a daughter that old!  She is such a sweet girl with so many talents- she's good at most things she tries.

 Another thing that I love about homeschooling is that we can play the whole day when a kid has a birthday- especially if it falls on a Friday (we take Friday off)  This lucky girls birthday landed on a Friday so we partied all day long!  She is really into Hawaiian things so she got a Ukelele and...

Spent the day shopping for clothes, eating lunch at Nordstrom cafe and went surfing. We went to Flowrider in Ogden- what a cool place!

 Both girls were so excited to try the boogie board or the surf board

 But Jayda was finished after one try (I think it went a little fast)

 Olivia was way into it- she got really good at the boogie board

 and tried really hard at the surfing- I think she'll get the hang of it next time.

 We had her dinner of choice: honey baked ham and funeral potatoes.

 And of course, Grandpas cream cake for dessert.

She also got to have a friend late-over with a few of her best friends- birthdays are awesome!