Last Sunday we had our family birthday party for the twins.  Their birthday was on Thursday but as Kevin was going to be gone then, we moved it up to Sunday.  Cali and Cheyenne were more than happy to agree to the schedule change!  We had their favorite dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Gazdiks, opened presents, blew out candles, and enjoyed a pink cake!  It was a great time.  We are so blessed to have those two happy girls in our lives!  I just love them!

On Tuesday, Kevin left for Santa Fe to do the last week of his certification training.  He will be back tonight.  We have missed him so!  He leaves a big hole in our lives when he is gone.  We made it through the rest of the week because we had no choice but to struggle on without him!  Before he left, he and I got a chance to do a temple session together.  That was some great stolen time!

Tuesday evening we had our Young Women in Excellence program.  Megan and Mariah both earned some ribbons.  Sarah got to help with the presenting since she already has her medallion.  We had a red carpet theme and had each of the girls dress in formal dresses.  The young women loved it and I got to put a lot of those formals that Diane gave us to some use!  It was a fancy, fun night.

On Thursday, Megan and Sarah had a tennis meet.  Sarah got on the courts first as a member of the Varsity team at 3:30.  She and Allyson didn't finish until 6:30!  This is because they were so close in every set and split sets and had to play another.  It was a lot of tennis!  It was really good tennis, too!  In my opinion!  Meg was not so closely matched in her game.  They lost 0-8!  They had fun, though!  Sarah came home and said, "I love tennis but it can't take 3 hours!  I have homework to do!!"  I'm glad that she is responsible about those things and cares about getting them done.

Thursday was also the twins actual birthday.  We didn't do much since we had already celebrated but we did have pizza and root beer for dinner and Hostess cupcakes for desert.  It was still pretty festive, I think!

Friday we had the friend birthday party for the twins!  They wanted to have a late-night luau.  We had limbo and hula contests.  We had bbq chicken sandwiches for dinner and made tropical cupcakes for desert.  We even had a palm tree piñata!  After that, they all watched "Teen Beach Movie."  They had 10 girls over for their 10th birthday.  It was a really fun group and they all seemed to have a good time.  I can't believe they are already in double digits!

Saturday we helped Savannah move into the dorms!  She went to freshman orientation on Thursday although because of all the walking she made it through only about 2/3rds of it before she was worn out!  Her stamina is not all the way back, yet!  She still had a good time, though, and reunited with a childhood friend in her Y group.  It's a small world!  Saturday she and Sarah worked on packing her up and out of their room.  She was finally ready around dinner time so after dinner, Sarah, Megan, Mariah, Cheyenne, Beth, and I drove over to Helaman Halls with her and carried her stuff into her room.  With all of us carrying, it only took one trip!  Good thing since she is on the third floor!  3210 Taylor Hall.  We helped her unpack, too.  Chey and Beth even played a game of hide and seek in her room which was impressive since it is a small space.  Sarah even said, "Awww!  I want my own puny space!"  That may sound critical, but she was totally sincere!  Dorms can be pretty exciting!

Movin' in Skinner style!

As for me, I alternate between being excited for Savannah and feeling lonesome that she is growing up.  I decided that it was a good thing we took her late Saturday night as I was too worn out to feel much of anything by the time we were done.  Plus, I knew I'd see her tonight for dinner. . . She is really not that far away!  Buck up Mama Bear! Right?