XOXOXOXO

Hugs and kisses to you all! My hubby is gone today, but I'm still feeling the love with my kids and parents to celebrate with. Lauren and Landon chose to be each others Valentines. It was really sweet. Landon had Lauren's chocolates and a candy light saber delivered via the mail and Lauren had a goodie bag and note waiting for Landon when he got home from school.
My parents picked up some pizza which was a real treat for me and I made a heart shaped strawberry cake with strawberry cream cheese frosting.
Lauren was surprised in one of her classes to have a beautiful white rose delivered to her. It was from President Darden, our bishop at church. She was so happy and I thought it was so sweet of him to do that for our Young Women. We hope your day was extra filled with love.

Coronation

Lauren went to Coronation Saturday. I found out it is something unique to Mineral Wells high school. At first I thought it was a Texas thing. She and a group of her girl friends started the day by going out to lunch at Chili's. Then they got ready and met at five to take pictures around town. Lauren said this was her favorite part of the whole day. I can't wait to get copies of those pictures! I helped her get ready by doing her nails, and her makeup. Grammy Su was able to alter her dress just a bit so Lauren felt more comfortable and put snaps on her little black jacket so it would stay in place. Lauren had a brilliant DIY project for her black heels. She took Modge Podge and painted the heels and under part of her shoes and then glittered them with silver glitter. Wow, they turned out so pretty! At eight they went to the high school where they introduced the court and held a talent show. The dance didn't actually start until 10pm. Lauren was surprised by a boy who her gave her a very pretty hot pink corsage that matched her dress perfectly. He must have done some investigating to find out what color her dress would be. The girls only stayed a little while for the dance and then went to the Olive Garden for dinner. Lauren made it home around 1am. She said next year instead of putting so much money into a dress the girls want to go ice skating or something fun like that. Sounds good to me. I thought Lauren looked absolutely beautiful that night!

A little of this n' that

Today after church we made some very yummy White Chocolate Christmas popcorn to give to neighbors and Home Teaching/Visiting Teaching families. We had a lot of fun making it together and eating it!

Also, if you didn't know this already an empty wrapping paper tube is awesome for playing limbo, and swatting booties!

Christmas Hairstyle by:Lauren Ivy Bell

Lauren did Emma's hair for our church Christmas party tonight. I think she did a fantastic job!

Stay'in Alive

Lauren, Landon, Beth at the Dallas Temple over Thanksgiving break. It was Landon's first time to go!

Eden works on riding a bike with the twins. Wears the dad's out pretty good too!
Emma loves her Turkey leg!!!

Lot's of fun with the cousins.

Playing around at Love park in Weatherford. A fun tradition for the kids and adults.

This is a shout out to everyone to say we are alive and I apologize for for being so pathetic on my blogging as of late. Our family is doing well and we have been staying busy and enjoying life in general. We had a fun Thanksgiving with most of Rob's family and are rolling happily right on towards Christmas! Here are a few shots of some goings on around our neck of the woods:

Veterans Day celebration at the high school stadium. Eden and Lauren were able to perform.

Lauren's Biology project of an Animal cell. Emma's poetry day at school. Fall leaves in our back yard. Eden and the cousins digging holes for entertainment during Thanksgiving break!

Fall Pictures

Here are a few of the fall pictures I took the other day in our backyard. The girls are so cooperative and love the camera now that they are older. These make me smile. I hope they make you smile too!

No, this isn't Halloween yet!

This post may look like Halloween, but it's really just a bit of an update. Wednesday night Lauren and the other young women in our Branch carved pumpkins. I think Lauren did a great job carving this hand with a gravestone in the background.

Landon's face is slowly getting better, thank goodness; although he may wish it stays this way so it can be part of his Halloween costume! Emma's class read Pippi Longstocking and had a "Pippi" day to celebrate. She was so cute and it was fun to see all of the little "Pippi's" all around the school.

Landon's Lesson in Pain and stupidity

Yesterday we walked in the door from school and not five minutes later I heard Lauren yelling, "Mom come quick, Landon's hurt!" As soon as I entered Landon's room I could smell the oddest odor and then it clicked- burnt hair (smells awful)! Landon was holding his face in agony. He was a little in shock as I tried to ask him what happened and could I please see his face. I was pretty scared. He wailed over and over about how stupid he had been and how sorry he was. I saw the homemade gun he had been working on over the last few days lying by his bed. I tried to collect my thoughts and composure as I examined his face. The right side of his hair was singed, half of his eyebrow was burned off and the rest was left singed, as well as some of his eyelashes. He also burned part of his cheek. (Yes, that is a Koolaid mustache in this picture)I immediately said a prayer of thanks in my heart as I realized just how bad it could have been. Without thinking of his pain, Landon continued to berate himself and instructed me to get rid of that gun! It went straight to the trash along with the lighter that had caused the explosion. Later, Landon said how he wished he could go back in time and change his decision to try to ignite the "thing' in his bedroom. (he had been instructed by Rob previously that they would try shooting it together, outside, probably at Grammy and Grandpa's because it would be safer) I told him that we all wish that we could go back in time and change poor decisions that we have made. My heart ached for him as he suffered both in body and spirit. All yesterday afternoon and evening he kept an ice pack on his cheek and waited for the pain to go away.

I know in a short time we can all laugh about this little disaster, but for now I am thankful that this disaster wasn't too serious and that my boy learned a good lesson from his mistake. At the dinner table Lauren shared her idea that he ought to try penciling in the missing half of his eyebrow. We all had a good laugh at the idea, including Landon!

Homecoming Parade other good stuff

Last Thursday was our Homecoming parade. The high school band marched and it was really fun to see Lauren and the other kids. I think it was hard for her not to laugh when she came by us, as we were all shouting, "Lauren, Lauren" and Rob tried to get some pictures. Lauren is learning a lot and doing a great job! The poster that says, "It's our time to shine" was designed by Rob. I think he did a great job and I am so happy to see his creative side!Friday was the game and dance. Just after I picked the kids up from school it started to pour down rain. There was thunder and lightening. We were so happy. Eden had us immediately kneel down together and offer a prayer to thank Heavenly Father for the rain. Rob and Landon packed up as soon as there was a lull in the storm to go camping with the scouts in our Branch. When I took Lauren to the game it was still pouring; however just before the game started the sky cleared. Mineral Wells won! Lauren was invited to go to the dance, but we told her no dating, and no pairing off. She told the guy this and just went with her friends. The guy that invited her didn't even end up going to the dance because he had a cross country meet early the next morning. Lauren said the dance was pretty lame because they played a lot of rap music.

Sunday after noon Rob and the little girls made cinnamon rolls and boy were they delicious. I am so happy to be married to a baker. Rob's mom taught her boys well. It was a great weekend. Landon caught some fish on the camp out and we all had the chance to relax a bit. I am subbing two to three times a week lately and I really am enjoying it for the most part. I do welcome the times when I can just be at home and rest a while with the family. Those are truly the good times.