I got the girls’ pictures taken last week.  No family picture this time, just updates on the girls.  Aren’t they beautiful?  My life and my heart are full because of them!

Well, 1st and 2nd grade basketball started this week  and guess who is playing?  Cheyenne and Calianne!  And guess who is their coach?  You guessed it, yours truly.  I was going to take a pictue, but I forgot.  Anyway, it was really, really, really chaotic.  This is Springville’s first year of doing a league for kids this young and they don’t have things figured out quite yet.  Still, the twins had fun AND they got treats.  What could be better?

As far as important firsts go, we had another one this week.  Guess who got a job? Savannah got hired at Funfinity, our local, small-town, everybody-loves-to-pack-inside-there toy/bookstore!  Her friend’s parents own the store, so she had an “in,” but we are still proud of her for the gumption to desire a job and to go after it.  (She actually has worked before as an ump for Springville Recreation, so it is not officially a first, but we will count it anyway.)  She’ll be working about 12 hours a week from now on.  We think it is great!

My sister, Maggie, surprised us by coming up for a visit this weekend with Becca, Emily, Liz, and Dylan!  We were so glad that she did!  Although she lives about three hours from us in, Cedar City, everyone in Utah had no school on Thursday or Friday for “Fall Break.”  Our kids were so happy to see each other!!!!  On Friday we had time for dinner and a movie here at the house, but on Saturday we did a little adventuring.  First we went up to Squaw Peak for it’s stunning view of the valley! Then we went down into Provo Canyon for a picnic.

This was us while we were still happy – before the wasps scented our jelly and tried to carry our sandwiches away.  I much prefer ants at picnics!  Just FYI.

Then we walked over to Bridal Veil Falls.  It was so beautiful!This also marked an important first:  the first time I have visited Bridal Veil with no one falling in!

The Gillespies stayed for dinner before they headed for home.  They also staged a pretty intense haunted house in the basement that everyone had to go through at least twice before they were willing to pack it up and say goodbye.  They’re all so creative!  I love it!  It was a really fun visit!  We were all so glad that they came! 

Before the night was done, however, we had one more important first.  Sarah got to go to her first church dance! She was kind of scared to go!  But I said, “Yes, you have to.”  And Savannah said, “Come on!  It’ll be fun!”  And you know, when Savannah decides something will be fun – it totally is!  They had a great time and Savannah got to show Sarah how it’s all done. 

One more item of note, Kevin, Savannah, Mariah, and I ran in a 5K early Saturday morning! Yes, that is us before the sun was up.  It was COLD!  I tried again to break 27 minutes that morning, but alas, and alack, I was again unsuccessful.  *sob*  BUT, I got to run with all the people in my family who were running, I ran strong, and my averages were good.  It was a beautiful route, too!  I am really close!  I will try again next summer.  Thanks for running with me Kevin, Savannah, and Mariah!  You guys are the best!