The Girl on Fire is fourteen

We celebrated Emma turning 14 the last day of August!  We were still in quarantine, so we quickly switched from friend birthday to family birthday at home. But we didn't let that ruin the fun. Emma decided on a Hunger Games themed birthday.  She just finished the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel to the Hunger Games, and she really likes those books (so do I, but we both agree Hunger Games is better but it explains some things).  We had "nightlock berry" (really mixed berry) English scones for breakfast, then got our school work done (doing remote learning for now), and then we let the games begin. We did some hairstyles and tried to do some Katniss braids on Em, but I'm not so good.  The kids joined in too and we did some wacky capitol like hairstyles. Then we watched the first Hunger Games movie and munched on popcorn. Then it was on to dinner time, we were hungry! Emma requested Dad's burgers, and I made homemade Mellark bakery hamburger buns with fries, pickles and watermelon and red punch (blood...kind of gruesome but so good!).  Over dinner. we talked about how much we love Emma. She is kind, helps others, plays nice with the other kids, is chill, mature, a quiet leader, patient, has a great laugh, and is fun. After that we practiced some archery in the backyard. Emma is getting pretty good! So are the other kids. Fun fact: Dave once taught archery when he was a teenager for the city recreation classes and I took archery one summer. We had a target and shot at balloons.  Then we had the tributes sent on a scavenger hunt where the kids had to find objects that were in the Hunger Games (white rose, bag of flour, tracker jacker bee, etc.).  It was a tie but lots of fun!  We had some calls and texts from family and she opened some cards, which was fun, and then we opened presents. Emma got a Harry Potter snitch necklace and bracelet, a light box artist pad and a bunch of art supplies, a resin kit, and Pusheen slippers.  We finished the night off with her mockingjay cake and Ben & Jerry's Pfish food ice cream. The day before, Jamie Fairbank (the YW president) and Celestina came to the door to wish Emma a happy birthday and dropped off a big bag with lots of fun surprises. Jamie also brought us some milk and ice cream.  It was a fun day.  

May the odds be ever in your favor this year, and always.

Emma is 14

Emma is such a sweet girl! Very helpful and kind to her siblings (sometimes they annoy her and get on her nerves).

She loves drawing and sketching, water color and acrylic painting. Recently, she sold her first piece of art on E bay for $8!  

Emma still likes to design dresses and outfits for dolls and Barbies, on her small dress form and sketch out ideas on paper.

Likes to roll her eyes at mom. ;)  

Cat lover all around and really loves her Jazzy cat.  She jokes she wants to live a solitary life someday single with a bunch of cats. We tell her this isn't God's plan for happiness.  

Doing well sticking with her Children & Youth activities goals and reading the Book of Mormon.

Working hard lately to get more fit.  She's been trying to decrease her mile time and has been consistent with it. 

Started taking piano lessons from Grandma Di recently and is really getting good!

Emma is an old soul and refreshingly mature for her age.

Nick names: Em, Emma Girl, Emz, Coolbeans
In her spare time: Drawing and painting, play video games, and make crafts
Best friends: Ashlyn and Anders
Favorite color: Mint Green
Favorite books: Wings of fire, Harry Potter, Hunger Games
Favorite food: Hamburgers, Chick-fil-A
Favorite treat: Pie
Favorite vegetable: Green Beans
Favorite fruit: Peaches
Favorite drink: Dr. Pepper
Favorite thing to play with: Jazzy
Favorite subject at school: Art
Favorite TV shows: Stranger Things
Favorite movie: Mamma Mia, Any Avengers
Favorite song: 
Favorite game: Roblox or Minecraft, Monopoly Avengers Edition, Apples to Apples
Favorite season: Fall into winter
Favorite holiday: Halloween
Favorite animal: Cat
Favorite sport: Football, tennis, wrestling, golf
Thing she's best at: Roblox, art        
Wants to be when she grows up: judge, lawyer

15 Years. Now and Forever.

 Dave and I celebrated our 15th anniversary this year. This year, we didn't do anything major. He had to go to work, but he sent me some beautiful flowers and after work we had some fun with our Nerf rivals, then went on a date to the Grand Hotel in Big Timber. It is nice to have the long drives to places when we go on dates, because we have more time to chat. We went through some anniversary questions and that was fun to reflect and be so open and honest and real. It was a delicious dinner and conversation. When we got home, we had homemade ice cream sandwiches the kids and I made and we watched our wedding video and looked at the wedding pics in our albums.

I chose you then. I choose you now. I'll choose you forever and ever and ever, My Love! Happy 15th Anniversary!