Last weekend we drove down to Las Vegas to spend some time in the beautiful 70 degree weather and visit my family! After all the fun Valentine parties at school on Friday, we jumped in our van and headed south. On the way, we stopped at my sister, Margaret's house in Cedar City, ate dinner together, and visited with her fun family. We had to pry the kids away from each other. We almost didn't make it any further down the road! Once we figured out who was really a Gillespie and who was a Skinner, we drove the rest of the way and arrived late at night in LV.

Saturday was beautiful! After a wonderful breakfast which Kevin made and Mom provided, Amy's family came up to Mom and Dad's. Together, we took the kids on a simple hike through the desert. Look at all those cute cousins!

Some of them were a bit dramatic about the rigors of the hike.

But we did make it! All the way up to the gates to the water tower. The adults, too! Megan took our picture and she was very frustrated that she couldn't get Grandpa to be serious long enough to take a picture! He can be very silly. It made all the rest of us laugh!

Saturday was also Savannah's fourteenth birthday! She decided that she wanted to spend it shopping at the mall with her cousin, and bosom buddy, Samantha. So after the hike, Grandma took her down to Pete's to spend the rest of the day with Sam. They went to the mall and then Savannah went to her first church dance ever (that's the exciting thing about being fourteen!) in Las Vegas with Sam and her friends. Those of you who have seen Savannah dancing at a reception or family gathering, would think that she would be very anxious and excited to begin going to dances regularly -- since she so thoroughly surrenders herself to the joy of the music (this is a polite way of saying that she is a wild woman at a dance). Not so! It took a lot of coaxing and reassurances before she agreed to go. By all reports, though, she had a fabulous time. She even danced with two boys. She said, "The first boy I danced with came up to here," and she placed her hand about six inches above her head. "The next boy I danced with came up to here," and she placed her hand about six inches below her chin. Funny that! Isn't she a beautiful girl?

On Sunday we got to go to church with my brother, Pete, and his family. It was really nice and afterward we stayed at their house for a little while to visit and let our kids be really loud together. The weather was gorgeous again so we sat outside by the pool in the sunshine. I loved it!

Later, back up at Mom and Dad's, Diane and Jason and Dave came over for dinner and visiting. Amy and her family came up after that for more visiting and, since it was Valentine's day, Grandma had heart cookies for the grandkids and fixin's for decorating. Great fun was had by all!

On Monday, we stayed until lunch and then had to get back on the road again. Still, the girls found time to play with Grandma's legos and build a house -- which is traditional! They always need to play with legos when they are at Grandma and Grandpa's!

We had so much fun and it was so good to see everybody. It was really hard to leave! Since we've been back we've had to deal with stomach flu and a nasty cough in the little ones. That makes real life even harder to come back to!

Still, we did have Mariah's last basketball game on Thursday and that was tons of fun. The whole family came to watch her last game. I thought that was neat. Here she is with her team and her coach. Way to go Liberty!

Well, it was the week of the science fair! Here is Sarah and her friend Allyson with their display board all about pennies. The picture was taken Monday (science fair was on Tuesday) and Sarah was dressed for her basketball game that afternoon!

Here, also, is Megan with her display board on beaches. We took her pic just before school Tuesday. They all did a great job and I was impressed with all of us that we managed to get it all done before the deadline! Hurrah!

Megan and Sarah had two baskeball games this week. They continue to do well and Kevin continues to have fun coaching them. Mariah and I had a game this week, too. Mariah scored some more baskets! She is doing really well. I decided that coaching is bad for my health! This last game really stressed me out with a girl who was badly fouling my girls! I am going to focus on having more fun next game!

Friday was the teddy bear picnic in Cheyenne and Calianne's class. Bethany and I were invited to attend. We sat on a blanket with C&C and their teddy bears and listened to the class recite some things they had been learning and sing some songs. Then we got to glue 100 dots on a giant paper teddy bear and drink juice and eat cheese and crackers. It was great fun. What could be better than Kindergarten?

On Saturday, we had orchestra in the morning again. Both Megan and Mariah are doing a lot better and are able to play along throughout most of the pieces now. I am pleased. It is definitely worth the long drive. We are listening to an audio book as we drive and we always stop for a treat on our way home. It's fun.

Also on Saturday, we took Cheyenne to the dollar store for her time alone with Mom and Dad. She just couldn't stop smiling as she walked through the store choosing something to buy. She finally chose one thing (ring pops) and Kevin told her that she could pick out two more. "OK!" she says with a bigger smile. She is a careful chooser, that girl. After careful consideration, she chose a bag of play rings and a crown. It was precious to spend time with that sweet girl.

Saturday afternoon, we took all the girls (and Sarah's friend Allyson) to the women's BYU basketball game against UNLV. We won (by quite a lot) I am happy to say! Those ladies play some great basketball! We had super seats, of course, since no one goes to women's basketball games and the older girls really enjoyed watching the whole game. They even got their pictures flashed up on the big screen a couple of times and they hammed it up by dancing and waving. Cheyenne and Calianne sat on either side of me and they took turns asking me if it was over yet and telling me how bored they were. Although, Cosmo (the BYU mascot) did help liven things up for them. Bethany entertained herself by taking on and off her shoes. . .

After the game, Kevin took us all out to dinner. He said, "We could go to Arby's or out for Chinese food, or we could go to Brick Oven. . ." At which point he was unanimously shouted down, "BRICK OVEN!!" So, look at us! We went to Brick Oven two weeks in a row! That IS fun!

Here is all of us at the game. It was a really fun day!

Savannah tried out for the school musical this week. On Wednesday, she got to go (with about 150 other kids) and learn a dance. Then on Thursday, she sang one minute of a pop song for Mrs. Walker and had to perform the dance she had learned the day before. It was all very exciting and it was fun to have Savannah strutting around the house practicing her song. (The song was "Too Cool for You," so she had to strut!) Like I said, it was very exciting and she had a great time. When she got home from school on Friday, I said, "So??" She looked lost for a second and then laughed, "Oh! I told you I wouldn't make it!" And she didn't. I think they're missing out on one of Springville's brightest stars! But, then, they didn't ask me! Savannah didn't take it to heart, and she is still enjoying singing in the school choir Wednesday mornings and the neighborhood choir Saturday mornings.

[I would post a video of Savannah singing her tryout song, but she made me promise that I would not do so! My apologies!]

Tuesday is the science fair at school. Sarah has been busy cleaning pennies and recording results with her friend, Allyson. Megan and I made a model of a beach Saturday and studied the effects of waves on the shoreline. Tomorrow the posters must be done. I think we will all be glad when Tuesday is done!

On Wednesday, I had a special treat. I got to go out to lunch with my old friend from elementary school, Rebecca Passey! Actually, her name is Rebecca Abbott, now. It was so fun to see her. We talked alot about our kids and a little about where our families are now. She lives about a half hour north of me. When I got home, I just barely beat the kids back from school. They said, "You just got home?! You were eating lunch for TWO HOURS??!!" Well, it wasn't the eating part that took so long!

On Saturday, I was craving Brick Oven Pizza. It is really amazing that I live so close to that heavenly place and rarely go. Kevin thought it sounded fun, too, and we decided to take the whole family and expose them to a little bit of history from our college life. It was really fun and the kids loved it, too. They said, "Can we come back tomorrow?" I think they all want to go to college now!

Today, Kevin was called to be the stake high councilman from our ward. Our current high councilman just got called to be in the stake presidency so they needed to replace him ASAP. As much as Kevin has enjoyed being the primary teacher for his girls, I think he is looking forward to this new chance to serve. I think he will do a great job, too.

Why is it that babies always put panties on their heads? This has always been a mystery to me! Bethany explained it to me this week, though. After piling on the panties she said to me proudly, "It's pretty!" Funny, huh?! I guess it's really the baby who makes sense. I mean, why waste all those pretty patterns on something you wear under your clothes?? They should be on display on top of your head, of course!
We got a new stake presidency in our stake this weekend, so we had two general authorities here and a multitude of speculation! So the big news in our house is that Kevin was NOT called to be the next stake president or in the presidency. It is a bit of a relief! Although if he had been called, we know it would have worked out and it is always a blessing to serve. There are many, many good men in our stake and the men they have chosen are top notch. It will be wonderful. It was a wonderful weekend, too, and Kevin really enjoyed being able to see the process for stake presidency selection so up-close and to be a part of it.

We had two basketball games again this week. One for Sarah and Megan and one for Mariah. Sarah and Savannah had Young Women/Young Men this week where they learned to hip-hop. Megan had Activity Days. Mariah and Sarah had jump rope club. Sarah is a sixth grade helper and Mariah actually participates. I've been working on a doll for Calianne.

Savannah started a new semester at the junior high. This semester she has for her electives PE, jogging, and creative writing. I really tried to talk her out of taking PE and jogging, but her Dad said it was okay. She loves it. I am excited about her creative writing class and I hope that the teacher will be able to challenge her! She is trying out for the school musical this week. We will see how that goes!

I also received my new blog book in the mail this week! There are some companies that will publish your blog in book form. It is a little pricey, but it will be so nice to have for family history! The kids love it, too. As you can see, I can't even take a picture without somebody fighting over it!

After we had gotten Beth in her pajamas the other night, she decided to try that undressing thing herself. We turned around and she was stripped bare! When she saw us looking at her she squealed, crawled into our bed, pulled up the covers, and . . . got out a book to read. I guess she figured, "They can't bother me now -- I'm reading!" She's so funny.

We had a couple of busy evenings this week. Wednesday night Sarah, Megan, and Dad had a basketball game at 6:00 and Savannah had her end of semester choir concert at 7:00. Dad went one way with the two girls and I went the other with the other five. Miraculously, we were all back together (even in the same row!) by the time Savannah sang. Again, she sounded lovely and was so animated throughout the performance. I'm glad she has found something she likes so much.

On Thursday night, after Cheyenne, Calianne, and Mariah had music lessons, Mariah and I had a basketball game. Then I had to go straight over to the church for a special Relief Society meeting where we learned about bread making, food storage, making cheese from powdered milk, and some first aid. While I was there, Kevin went to parent-teacher conferences at the school. Kevin was so pleased by all the glowing reports from our daughters' teachers that he bought donuts for everybody on the way home. Our busy evening had a happy ending!

The girls had no school on Friday. We encouraged Savannah to call some friends and go to the mall to see Avatar in 3D. She had a really fun time. It was fun to see her so happy. Since I was at the mall anyway, Kevin met me there (it's really close to his work) and we had a special lunch with Calianne at Red Robin. She loved all the attention. She said that when she grows up she wants to be a cowgirl and a mom. She will bring her babies out on the horse with her, she says. Sounds like a great plan to me! When we were leaving, we passed a fountain. I told her that if I had a penny she could throw it in and make a wish. She said, "Oh! I would wish that I was a princess!" I love that sweet little girl!

The other girls played with their friends during the weekend, too. Sarah and her friend, Allyson, continued to work on their science project (cleaning pennies) and Megan went ice skating with her friend, Rebekah. Mariah played school with Cheyenne and Calianne and occasionally, even Beth.

On Saturday, the girls made time in their busy social schedules to go sledding with their dad! (Beth and I stayed home and took a nap!) They had a great time and, because the snow was fast and hard, they each had a "Guess how I got hurt?" story when they got home! Gotta love that family bonding!

Look! I did Beth's hair for church today and I even made matching barrettes to go with her dress! (And it only took me seven daughters before I tried it!!!) I think she's pretty cute. Here she is "helping" with the cooking. I will also include a video of her saying, "Sarah" and just generally being cute!

It was a busy week for us. Kevin had two basketball games and I had one. Er, I guess, actually that Sarah and Megan had two basketball games and Mariah had one. THAT's what I meant to say! It was great fun! Sarah and Megan lost their first game but it was a really good game. The score was 30 to 24 and Sarah scored 14 of the points. Megan scored 2. It was a well-played game. They won their second game 24 to 4. The teams were not as well matched and Kevin had to pull his players back a bit. Mariah did great in her first rec game ever! She scored two baskets and is on her way to making Grandpa Gazdik a poor man! (He pays a dollar for every basket in their first year of play!)

Savannah wasn't feeling well this weekend, but she had a good week back at school. I am especially impressed with her because she was behind in math at the beginning of the week, but she got the assignments done and is now caught up. She is a great student and is learning to be very responsible about her grades. I think it is wonderful.

Cheyenne and Calianne had "S is for snow" week at school and got to go sledding at school on Friday. They came home all flushed and excited. Cheyenne was sick on Thursday and didn't go to school. I told Calianne she would have to go to school by herself. She said, "Why do I have to go by myself? Won't my friends be going?" She had me there. She kind of enjoyed the novelty of being "on her own!"

I finally found a youth orchestra for Megan and Mariah. It is way the heck up in Highland (a 30 minute drive), but other than that it is wonderful. It is Saturday morning and it is a full program of three progressively more challenging orchestras. The beginning orchestra is suitable for Megan and Mariah (as a first violin and second violin). There is a conductor for the orchestra and a "coach" for each section. The first half hour is spent with the full orchestra (of about 15 kids) and the second half hour is spent in sectionals. Best of all, Megan and Mariah loved it! I am so grateful to have found it. Hopefully, it will give M&M some new direction and energy. I have my fingers crossed.

Happy New Year!

Guess what my kids did over Christmas break?

They look like a bunch of zombies, don't they? Actually, I'm hoping SOME of what they played was educational in nature. I love the picture of Beth sitting between her sisters with a toy computer! That's so funny. We just have the two computers, so I took these pictures at different times. There's also no audio on theses pictures so you can't hear the other kids in the background saying, "It's my turn!! You've been on all day! That's no fair!!" etc., etc. Ahh, the age of technology.

We had a great time on New Year's Eve. We had the Grosland's and the Grigg's and Gwen over (the G thing was accidental!). We borrowed a big round table from the church and some cushy folding chairs (since we knew we'd be up for a long time!) and we played games and snacked until the clock struck twelve. Then we cheered and the children jumped up and down and ran around the house in the snow in their bare feet -- as is traditional, of course. It was tons of fun.

The next day was my birthday. Kevin made me breakfast. In the afternoon we saw Avatar in 3D, which had very cool special effects -- that was my favorite part! We liked it a lot. Then we went out to eat Indian food. Yum! Yum! It was a fun day.

Unfortunately we came home to sick kids -- Sarah and Calianne got stomach flu. No fun! The rest of us have been spared so far . . .

A special treat for us on Saturday was that Grandpa Skinner stopped by for a visit. It was great fun to see him and get to talk.

Here's hoping 2010 will be great for all of us!!