girl's choice- winter dance

so back in december the kids all went to the winter dance. it had a disney princess theme, which some of the kids went with and some did not.  kylie asked preston and they chose no theme. 

  kenna asked spencer and they went as belle and beast. 

june asked bridger, and although it had nothing to do with disney they went as princess peach and mario.

this was part of the group they went with.  hercules and meg were in there, and then one guy was without his date and i haven't a clue who they were supposed to be.

brigham dressed up to go serve to the group preston was in.  they had dinner at kylie's house and brig and kylie's sister were the servers.  i'm so unbelievably grateful that my kids have faithfully waited to date until they were 16.  even though brig won't get to go to a single dance this year, he is a trooper and stands strong. 

one of my most favorite pictures ever is one i have of preston with his best friends, all going to prom.  some of them weren't yet 16.  but there's preston, in his jeans, posing with his friends who were all in their tuxes.  i knew it crushed him not to be able to go.  but he never even considered asking.  he was only 3 1/2 weeks shy of his 16th bday.  they are such fantastic examples to me.

los angeles

the pantages theatre in hollywood.  most fantastic theatre i've ever been in!!  unbelievable detail in that place.  i would've taken more pictures if they had let us.  it was spectacular. 

the stage.  wicked is the best.  i don't know how anyone doesn't love it. 

the ceiling in the theatre.  i know- horrible pictures.  i've only had my iphone for a week, so i'm still getting used to it. 

the lobby of the theatre.  i should have just taken pictures of the walls and stuff.

very poor picture of june and i.  but it's the only one i have. 

very undeserving

june and i went to see wicked.  we drove to los angeles with some friends and saw the show last thursday night at the breath-taking pantages theatre in hollywood.  we had a good time, but i was anxious to get home to my boys. 

when we got home saturday night, the house was empty.  june and i thought everyone was gone.  i opened my bedroom door to bring my stuff in and i was welcomed by all the boys and will.  they were hiding with cameras and surprised me with a complete bedroom make-over. 

i don't know how he did it, but in the few days i was gone in california, he managed to work magic and totally create a new bedroom for us.  he is the best.  i felt guilt- big time.  while i was gone playing, he was here working himself to death to give me something he thought i'd love.  and i did.  i love it.  and him.  he is an incredible man!  and i'm incredibly lucky. 

a before and after is always better, but this is the best before shot we have:

halloween for the little ones

clayton was the mad hatter- from last year.  i was just glad to get more use out of it.  :)

his make-up was better in person.  really. 

quincey was mario.  a very over-priced mario. 

and linc wanted to be russell from UP.  the clothes were right- but linc just isn't round enough. 

tears

today my best friend's son goes into the mtc.  they drop him off at 12:40 p.m.  we went by last night to say our final farewell.  it was hard for me.  watching the whole scene in their living room and seeing their whole family together, packing him for the next two years... i couldn't stay long.  my emotions are all over the place these days.  lisa is so strong and she was smiling and focused.  i was ready to burst into tears at any time- so i thought it best to leave quickly.  i've sat and had long conversations with her about being ready for him to leave.  she's not.  she's doing a really good job of holding it together, but i know she's struggling pretty bad.  i don't envy her day today. 

my other best friend is sending her son off four days before christmas.  (ironically, to the exact same mission.)  we went through the temple with them on saturday.  ben is like another son to me.  he has spent a lot of time in our home.  he's been preston's best friend for the past 3 years.  i've known him since he was 13.  i warned his parents for the past couple of months that they were taking a risk asking me to be at the temple.  i knew my emotions would be totally out of control.  and they were.  i told jen that apparently my job was to make her look good. 

this next stage in life is killing me.  i am struggling with this much more than i ever expected.  i've been praying to find peace with all of this, and to welcome the changes that are coming.  not to mention, to figure out what is next for me personally.  my kids are growing up, now what do i do with me?

this was ben opening his call back in september.  resistancia, argentina.  preston broke down and lost it that night.  it was the first time it all felt extremely real to him. 



astoria trip

multnomah falls, after 14 hours in the car.

the sweet lady who took our picture dropped my camera on the concrete right before she took it.  :)  i was amazed it still worked. 

the guys at the top of the astoria column.  awesome view of the columbia, washington, and oregon from up there.

our trip to costco for essentials.  kind of scary.

i think we've been here four times in the last three years.  probably enough?

thrilling trolley ride.

tillamook cheese factory. 

cannon beach.  LOVE this place.  but it was seriously cold that day.

lewis and clark settlement.  very cool museum.

north head lighthouse.  probably my favorite spot along the west coast.  the picture doesn't even come close.  it's amazing!  wuthering heights-ish.  watching the waves crash into the rocks- amazing!

dream

will's wanted to become scuba certified ever since i've known him.  i've never really

understood the obsession- but that doesn't matter.  so finally, 28 hours worth of classes paid off

and it's official.  doesn't he look happy?