Isobel is an "APRIL"zing speller!

When ever I tell Isobel that she's amazing - she says, "no I'm not, Eva's aMAYzing - I'm an APRILzing."  Little sassy, eh?  Well, whatever she is - she's fabulous!  We've been studying for the spelling bee every spare minute since we found out about the bee last week.  Isobel really suprised me how well she could spell some of these big words - some of which I couldn't even pronounce.  There were many she struggled with, but she kept working at it - with her daddy's help - and she improved.  So, today was the big spelling bee at the school.  I had a work appointment and Eva was sick so we couldn't figure out how we'd get there - but I pushed my appointment back and we brought Eva with us anyway.  All my work stuff moved out of my way so I could stay for the entire thing.

Isobel was #5 of 26 kids - third through fifth grade - to get up to spell.  She was SO cute sitting there.  She would smile at people, give the other kids high-fives when they got out, and try to spell all the words (which I signed to her to stop doing - I love communicating across the room ;).  When she would get up in line to wait for her turn, she would turn circles, dance a bit, and smile at everyone.  After the first round, she was one of 10 kids left.  Then she was one of five kids.  Out of nowhere there were only 2 girls left: Isobel and a really tall 5th grade girl.  (Isobel is in 3rd grade - if you didn't know.)  The two of them where neck and neck - taking turns spelling word after word.  It was intense, I tell you.  I seriously had butterflies in my stomach.  Oh, and Isobel's teacher couldn't believe that Isobel wasn't writing the words down - she would just do it in her head.  (the other girl wrote them all down first)  Then the other girl spelled a word wrong but was still in - then Isobel spelled one right and missed the next one.  It could have gone on forever.  Then, when the other girl messed up again and Isobel spelled a word right - SHE WON!  (Karen got it all on video - maybe I'll get it on here if anyone is interested.)  I couldn't believe it!  She did so well and was so cute.  I'm so proud of her and all the hard work she put into it! 

Doesn't she look proud of herself?  She got a trophy and everything!  Now...we have the county spelling bee to study for on January 26th - just after getting back from Utah.  I'm sure when we visit - she'll be asking many of you to quiz her - I hope you will :)

On a side note, I've been doing some decorating.  This is BIG for me.  I never decorate and I'm kinda affraid to do it.  But here are the new additions to my entry way and livingroom.  I hope you like them as much as I do :)

I had to leave the TV in this picture to show how big these pictures are - they're as big as the TV!  16x20 big faces of my beautiful girls :D

The Latest

We had a super fun Thanksgiving with G & KT's family and Karen & Kyle's family.  Isobel decided to make a robot body from a box.  After everyone left, she took a nap in it :)  Guess she was worn out, too.

 Eva lost another tooth - finally!  This was hangin on forever and she finally let me pull it.

 The biggest news to the girls, they got their ears pierced on Saturday.  It was funny because we had planned to spend the day chopping down a tree but Bryce forgot to get a permit AND Eva kept protesting.  "I don't want to hurt nature!"  Bryce was sure she must have heard that at school but she denies it :)  Our day was open and Lily had just gotten her ears pierced so we were talking about it.  I told Isobel a couple years ago that she could get it done when she was 8 years old.  She said I scared her when I explained how it was done.  So I re-explained it and that she would be fine if she wanted to do it - she likes shots afterall.  So then we thought it might be fun for them to do it the same day - Isobel was ok with sharing the experience with Eva.  Then on a whim I texted Karen to see if she and Courtney wanted to join.  So we made our way to Claire's in the mall.

 Pre-peircing purple dot.

 Post-peircing saphire.  (I love that she picked my birthstone.  I, too, think it is a great one :)

 Eva was next and READY.

 Oh, and she loves her little blue daisy earrings!

 Courtney decided she wanted to do it and then was super scared. (That is why Karen thought watching my girls brave it first would help.  Courtney HATES shots.)  After the girls were done.  So cute!

 While in Claire's, I couldn't help but try on my own accessory :)  No, I didn't buy it.

That's the biggest news of the last week or so.  We are getting super excited for family to come visit before Christmas!  Then we'll be off to Utah for a week in January.  So many fun things to look forward to. :)

My New Camera!

Happy Birthday to me!  Colette got me a super cute orange camera for my birthday - so I can finally take pictures that don't have a pink border.  Here is a visual of what's been happening :) 
(Note: our pictures in Tucson are on Facebook - and pictures of my trip to Forks, WA.)

Eva dressed herself ;)  I think it's SO funny that she pulls her pants up so high!

She asked me to pull out her first tooth!  She was so sad it didn't fall out it Tucson with everyone around.

She dressed up like pizza for the school Halloween party.  She wore a red shirt and tan pants - sauce and crust.  (I got this for $4 at Old Navy in Tucson - thanks for shopping with me girls!)  But she had to be something else for the Halloween party at the church - she didn't like being called "pizza girl" all day.

Here we are - ready for the party.  Eva is a ballerina cat, Isobel is Pocahontas, and I am...can you guess?

Here's a clue - I'm not a princess.  Please try to guess first - I wonder how smart you are.

Look at my beautiful girls!  They found a caterpillar to play with and wanted their picture with it - of course!

So, how do you like my new camera?

Eva catches up

Eva could not be long out done by her sister.  (That and Eva had a really crappy old plastic-wheeled bike that both Isobel and Eva rode when they were little.)

So just six days later, we got Eva a bike and taught her to ride - in just about as much time as it took Isobel to learn.

(The video is a bit shakey because I was trying to stay close to her so you could see.)

By the end of about an hour Eva was already figuring out how to get herself started. 

As you can see, she is SO PROUD of herself!  (as she should be)

My kids are growing up...

Isobel has had this bike for years (we bought it before we left Logan).

Saturday, she was tall enough (and determined) to ride it.  It only took a few tries.

(By the way - I hate uploading videos.  So, one of them should work-they're the same.)

Isobel and Eva started school today.  Eva got a shock when she found out that she has the same teacher and classroom as last year!  But she was assured that this WAS in fact, FIRST GRADE.

(Eva has a funny face because she's tickling Isobel' neck.)

Well, they might not seem like BIG/TALL kids, but they are growing up.  Even if Courtney is a good head taller than Isobel - and yet the same age - they are getting bigger.

I sure do love these girls.

School clothes

Eva and I went shopping for school clothes yesterday.  They have to wear uniforms here in Santa Fe.  As she was trying on a polo shirt, she said, "I LOVE collars on shirts because it's like, MORE SHIRT - AND YOU CAN FOLD IT!"

I'm glad she's excited to wear uniforms again ;)

Our "Date" to the Valle

So, Bryce and I took a drive last Saturday up to "The Valle" aka Valle Vidal.  I had never been up there but heard that it was beautiful.  We were driving along after seening the camp host and just finding our way back home.  It had rained a bit and then...we saw the END of the rainbow!

Can you see where it comes down to the ground?  It was hard to capture on camera - but there it is.  They were right, the Valle IS beautiful!

It was so bright.  I couldn't believe how lovely it all was.

Bryce and I had to get back to try to see the whole thing at once, but this was as good as I got.

Can you see the double rainbow?

I am very grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who shows his love for us in many ways - but especially in the beautiful things of this world.  He wanted me to see this and know I'm loved.  It's been very nice to spend this time with my husband - though I miss my girls SO much!