June is just getting started...

Girls Night!

The girls went to Pizza Factory while the boys went camping.  It may look like it was a special occasion...but no, every day is a Disney day for Princess Paige!  Like mother, like daughter! Everyone thought she was so darling and I was so proud to be part of the group.  Love these girls!

Graduation

My seniors graduated!  These seniors I had for three years.  Next year will be the first batch of students I've had for all four years!  We sang the Star Spangled Banner and the school songs, as per tradition.  Next year, if all goes as planned, I'll have my master hood to wear just like my buddy Erin, the dance teacher! Let's all keep our fingers crossed...hard.

BYU Dance Lab Performance

It was so fun to see Anna's spring ballroom team perform three different numbers.  She was dynamite. She is such a graceful, beautiful dancer.  As you can see from the video below, Lane (who has become a great family friend) and I needed some serious help in the dancing department so Tina gave us some tips while waiting for the performers to come out.

Home Sweet Home

One thing I love about coming home are all my mother's special touches.  Above right is a little bunny she sewed nestled on top of a shelf in her room.  Above left is a little frog jewelry box she bought when I was working at Present Time next to Longs on Calle Real.  I noticed she strategically put a little crown ring in his mouth, which I know was not coincidental.  She is a lover of fairytales and books!  Below is the seasonal display next to the front door that changes depending on the time of year. I LOVED the beach theme.

While home, I've been doing a lot of reading and watching Hallmark movies. It has been so relaxing and really a dream. I have felt so little stress.  There is nothing quite like being home! I've also been practicing guitar and I went to Super Saturday with the relief society sisters.  I learned about crock pot cooking and helped my mom make the birthday celebrations board above.  On Sunday, I noticed the Young Women board at the church and realized my sisters and I are now all part of it now that Anna has finished YW and is in college. That was sweet to see.

Fav Santa Barbara Spots

My mom and I hit Blenders (every city needs a Blenders) and got pedicures on my first day in town. That was the great start to a lovely vacation.

Cat Love

Before I met my neighbor Allie, I never knew someone who loved cats as much as my mom and my sister, Anna.  When I got home, I decided to show Allie what a kindred spirit she has in Santa Barbara!  I took a brief little jaunt through the house finding any and all cat references. It didn't take long!

This particular collage was all from Anna's bedroom and desk.

Niece and nephew...just because.

No post is complete without a little niece/nephew tribute.  I made a pendant with the little pic stitch above at Super Saturday.  It didn't quite turn out, but I still love looking at this picture. 

As I passed a wall with all our baby pictures, I decided to compare Scotty with his Mommy. Love seeing the similarities!

Birthday Dinner

My Dad took my Mom  out a little early for her birthday (I got to tag along- perks of being the only child at home!) since we will be driving to Utah on the actual big day.  Their coconut cake it TDF, which was awful for me because this is the first time I've been to the restaurant as a GF person.  I couldn't resist a few bites! The flourless chocolate cake made it a little more bearable :-).

 High Tea

We've been wanting to try high tea at Anderson's Bakery for a long time, so I decided to make going together my birthday gift to my mom.  Selfish, I know, but it really was lovely!

They surprised my mom with a piece of birthday cake at the end!

Stake Dance Decor 

I am in charge of the "photo booth" area (just a wall, really) for the stake youth dance this weekend during youth conference weekend. The Aloha sign will go above them, but I thought maybe the kids would want to hold up dorky signs (all of us in the presidency are bringing silly things for them to dress up in like hawaiian shirts, leis, sunglasses, hats, etc.). Any ideas for funny things to put on the signs? I'm not as in touch with what teenagers like anymore!

March Moments

Mattress Fundraiser

Our goal is to raise $35,000 to replace the following items:

Ugly chairs, broken stands

Hideous, ancient shell and cumbersome, outdated risers.

Friends like Caytlin and Kelsey came out to support us! Loved the chance to hold Sydney :-).

And ALLIE and CHRIS actually ended up buying a mattress! Wahoo!!

Kids went outside and held signs, some dressed like mattresses.

 We ended up selling 58 mattresses and got $675 in donations. On our own, we raised about $10,000. Our principal was able to come up with the rest of the money we needed to buy our new equipment next year!  We are sooooo grateful.

 Many's Birthday Weekend

We kicked it off with a little shopping...

...followed by our fav restaurant Magelby's (though not the same without Tessa!)...

...followed by visiting Scottums...

...followed by Magelby's fresh the next morning!

I was sad not to get the French toast, but this is a pretty darn good gluten free alternative.

When Many was out getting a tire fixed, my friend Andrew and I went to Zurcher's and decorated the condo as a surprise!

 

We went to the Art City Trolley for dinner, and it was delightful!

We were joined by more of Many's friends!

We headed back to the condo for cake, ice-cream sundaes, and games.

Spot it! (Not my forte).

Cranium

Many's boyfriend decorated the cake himself with Kit-Kats and M&M's!

And then I took selfies with the birthday girl's crown. Shameless.

Munchkins

I want this picture in my blog journal forever.

I love spending time with this little curly-headed cutie. She is getting two little brothers very soon!

Mastering Guitar Hero

And here is the band teacher, pregnant with twins, kicking my trash at guitar hero!

Me and my cousin

We went to the Habit for my cousin's birthday.  So good to catch up.  I'm so lucky to have such a good friend for a cousin! We're the same age and have always been close.

Lately...

Babysitting Caroline

I love the things that two year olds do.

Cousins Sleepover

Love hanging out with Nicole! She makes everyone around her feel so loved.

Baby Scotty

His face melts my heart.

Crafting

Over President's Day weekend, we had a sisters sleepover and made Scotty a mobile.  It was so fun and we all did a part of it.  I tied the fabric around the wood frame and cut out the stars.

University of Utah Doctoral Vocal Performance Candidates visit HHS choirs

They sang a quartet from La boheme at the beginning and a jazz quartet at the end to show their versatility.  Each of the women performed incredibly beautiful solos- one an aria and the other a musical theater piece. 

The men performed, "Lily's Eyes" from Secret Garden, which was the majority of my students' favorite number.  Funny connection- the guy on the right did his undergrad work at UCSB and was in my home ward with his wife and kids!

They answered questions for my students, who were quite a captive audience!

Kelly's Baby Shower

We had a "whale" of a time! (The theme of the shower).  It was an absolutely darling shower!

These little yogurt/cool whip parfaits were INCREDIBLE.  I had two.  I am totally using that idea.

Do you know which ones I got right and which ones I got wrong? I think I scored 5 out of 10!

Harder than I expected.  What do you think of number 15? :-)

They gave AMAZING prizes to the game winners! I left that shower with more in my hands than I came in with. I won the game where I had to identify which characters came from which kids' shows.

We all got to take home the goodie bags on the left! They had milk chocolate covered coconut almonds (Kelly's husband is Hawaiian), a mini coke, star-bursts, and skittles.

They are naming their baby Henry.  Kelly and I both lived in Millrace. Love that girl! She has always been such a supportive friend.