Houston Ballet's "Peter Pan"

Last weekend I took myself to the ballet to watch them perform "Peter Pan." It was so awesome! Yes, I went by myself, no, there is no shame in taking yourself to a show. I'm good company! A few months ago I actually read the book (free online!), something I realized I had never done despite how many times I had seen the Disney movie. I think reading the book helped me enjoy the ballet even more.

The costumes were amazing, the sets and effects were incredible (they FLY!), and the dancing was beautiful. I couldn't find any good pictures on their website but this little preview gives a feel for it.

I was also quite impressed with the way people were dressed. It seems like when I go to a show in Idaho that most people show up in jeans, but not here! Almost everyone was dressed up, some people were SUPER fancy, we're talking ball gown fancy. In a society that keeps getting more and more casual it's nice to see people who want to show respect by dressing up. Plus it's SO FUN to get all dressed up for a show!

So much for Eensy Weensy

Emery loves our little swingset. She could swing all day long.

She does wear clothes sometimes. Just not every time I want to take a picture.  :)

One afternoon we went out to push her on the swings and found this friendly little guy in her bucket. He was HUGE. 

Sorry Mr. Spider, our backyard isn't big enough for all of us...so you've got to go. Gavin threw him over the fence (into an unfinished lot, we didn't pawn him off on someone else)

Saturday Morning Pancakes

Saturday morning doesn't get much happier than coming out of your room to this adorable sight:

Emery helping Gavin make pancakes. Good things she's supervising or who knows what could happen. 

Gavin makes killer pancakes. And Emery looks like she's picking up some pointers...maybe if I'm lucky I'll never have to make breakfast on Saturday ever again! 

"Gee Mom I wanna go to Girls Camp Mom!"

"Gee Mom I wanna go!"

-Where do you wanna go?

"Gee Mom I wanna go to Girls' Camp Mom!" 

Did anyone else sing that song? "The bathrooms up at girls camp they say are mighty fine..." 

On to the point, I got to go to Girls Camp today! Sure it was only for 3 hours, but I'll take what I can get! It was lovely. 

About a month ago I was asked to come up to camp and give a 30 minute presentation on my mission/what it's like to serve a mission/how to prepare to serve a mission (I gave the presentation 5 times as the groups rotated through). Their theme for camp was "Bloom Where You're Planted" so I chose to title my talk, "Plant a Seed of F.A.I.T.H". I made this to go along with my title:

F. Was about my decision to serve a mission and how Heavenly Father calmed my fears about going and to make a decision to go based on FAITH not on FEAR.

A. Is the importance of having a happy, positive, grateful ATTITUDE in all of life's adversity and challenges. 

I. Focused on Jesus's grace and that we can't succeed on a mission or in life without the help and strength He offers us. I referenced Alma 26:12 and also Elder Bednar's thoughts on the subject. 

T. Discusses what they can do to prepare for a mission, or just to become a better person if they don't want to go, and that is GAIN A TESTIMONY. And once they've received a witness of the truth that isn't the end.  You can keep asking for a witness again and again and receive the Spirit's confirmation that the Gospel has been Restored, Jesus is your Savior, and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I think this is an important principle that we sometimes forget. We need to regularly put "Moroni's Promise" to the test, even if we already know it's true. It's not just for investigators!

H. Ether 12:27 was the inspiration for this one. As we come closer to Christ, for me it was as I served a mission, it feels like all our shortcomings are thrown in our face. It hurts, but it HUMBLES. As a mission continues, you gain good HABITS, and over time Christ changes you into someone more HOLY than you were before. He can make more out of our lives than we can. 

The whole experience was so wonderful for me. I loved preparing to give the presentation and thinking about the young women and the trials and decisions they might be facing in their lives right now. I loved reliving happy and sad mission memories: thinking about my wonderful companions and other amazing missionaries I served with, investigators who I loved so much, some who fell away, others who stayed strong. It felt so good to study, pray, ponder, and receive guidance about what to teach. I loved driving up to camp early this morning and getting to know one of the young women in my ward who had been sick the first few days so she rode up with me. We even drove over mountains hills changes in elevation to get there. Sadly, it's been awhile since I've seen an elevation change. :) I loved giving the presentation and feeling the purity of those young women. It was a lovely, LOVELY day. 

Friends

Over the last few months Emery has taken an interest in playing with other kids. It's a fun stage to see develop. She's starting to understand sharing but she hates to do it and still throws a fit most of the time. But she is learning and that is very rewarding to watch. Because of Emery's new found ability to play WITH children instead of just BY them, she and Bella have become good little friends. They are really 

cute and get along well...usually.  :)

Bella barely fits on this trike by herself but she and Emery love to ride around on it together. It's so funny! Sometimes Bella even lets Emery "drive"!

Galveston Sandcastle Tournament

On Saturday we took a little day trip to Galveston for the annual Sandcastle Competition, one of the world's largest sandcastle competitions according to their website. Now before you start thinking of some wimpy plastic bucket and pail castle, let me assure you these people were PROFESSIONALS. It was really fun to watch them carve out the sand and see words, faces, ships, castles, and for some reason quite a few toilets appear. I tried to snap some pictures but because we couldn't stay until they were finished there are always people walking in front of the sandcastles. You can still get an idea of how elaborate they were.

It's just sand and water. They do use wood frames to build up all the sand and then tamp it down, but the finished project is a true sandcastle. I didn't get a picture of my favorite one...I thought I did but apparently I didn't, but it was this awesome fairy tale castle with a big dragon off to the side. It was amazing. And I didn't even see it finished.

I love Galveston. It's not to far away but it's very different from where we live so it feels like we're really "getting away". We had so much fun swimming in the waves and playing in the sand. Emery was quite tuckered out by the time we were done.

80's Skate Party

A new friend of mine recently had an 80's themed birthday party at the skating rink. When I read the invitation to Gavin he was very relieved to discover it was a girls only deal. I had so much fun. I was born in the 80's...but I definitely don't remember them and I may or may not have had to ask a few times if the songs they were playing were from the 80's (shameful, I know). Here's some picture-evidence of the night:

Check out that skate train! Seriously, we look amazing. It was a good thing my Grandma had taken some grandkids and great-grandkids skating this past Christmas so my body could remember how to balance on skates. Otherwise I would have been a stumbling mess on the skate rink.