We celebrated Savannah's birthday on Sunday of last week.  Nineteen!  She received mostly clothes and was a good sport about getting things in which she was in need instead of fun stuff.  Her actual birthday was Friday, but Kevin was out of town.  So, she invited her sisters over to her dorm to have pizza and movie night.  I love that she wanted her sisters with her on her birthday!  She is a great gal and we all love her so much!

New dress!  Does it look like a good mission dress?

She got all the candles in one blow!

Sarah had tennis twice this week.  We also found a used tennis-ball-thrower for her to buy.  She hasn't had a chance to use it, but we're all excited.  She also worked a few days this week.  She is so cheerful and always entertains us with stories of the things she finds funny in her life.  She and Megan and Mariah played in a church basketball game on Saturday and were much too good for their competition, but they were gentle and supportive so everybody had fun! 

Megan had an orchestra concert last week.  I forgot to post about it I think because of all the hub-bub about the dance.  It was a great concert, though.  They performed as a full symphony with winds and percussion and the whole deal.  I couldn't see her really but the music was excellent.  Because of the concert last week, they have a month free of early-morning rehearsals.  That's nice, too!  She's getting very good on her violin.

Mariah had play rehearsal and basketball practice and a couple of games.  Her bantam game was Monday night so that was nice since it was before Kevin went out of town.  They even won!  Go Springville!  She stays really on top of her work in school, getting it done the minute she walks in the door, and studying for all her tests.  Her hard work pays off in really high grades!  She likes having a large safety margin!

Cheyenne and Calianne made cute heart wreaths for craft club and got lots of candy for Valentine's Day!  They had a special rehearsal on Thursday for Up With Kids just for the two of them. Apparently they'll have their own songs and dances, too.  I can't wait to see it!  They had one game of basketball this week and piano lessons, too!

Bethany got lots of candy for her Valentine's Day party at school, too.  She had ballet and jazz this week and is learning a new song on the piano about bubble gum.  She had a special treat as her dad got to come to school and help in her Chinese class before he left on his trip!

Benjamin had a Valentine's Day party at Joy School, too.  Since he only needed five valentines, I helped him make little airplanes out of candy.  It was fun.  He was excited to give them to his friends! Friday night when all his sisters went to Savannah's dorm, he and I went to Burger King together, instead.  He liked wearing the crown.

Kevin left Wednesday morning for an IITAP conference in Arizona:  International Institue for Trauma and Addiction Professionals.  (I had to look that up!)  He presented there on the new assessment he has made and will be available through IITAP on assessing levels of pornography addiction.  He got back late Saturday night.  We are proud of the progress he is making in helping in this very important cause, but we are also glad that this was a short trip!  We miss him when he's gone!

I had a chance to attend a conference this week, too as there was a conference for Science Fiction/Fantasy writers in Provo this weekend.  I took the chance to sneak away Friday and attended the conference for the day!  Grandma and Sarah made it possible by taking over my duties for awhile. I really loved it.  Then when I got home, the kids had decorated my bedroom door with hearts for Valentine's Day!  Wasn't that so sweet?  They're the best!