LOREN'S 9!

We have loved Loren for 9 years. Hard to believe that it was that long ago. She has been so much fun. We are so blessed to have her in our family. I remember when we went to find out if she were a boy or a girl. We got the girls out of school to come with us. We all thought she was a boy except Ems. She absolutely knew! The lady told Brennan, I hope you have a boy dog. Brennan said ~no, her name is Lady. Loren was a perfect baby girl. She was weighed 6 lbs 6 oz and 19 1/2 " long. Loren is such a sweet heart. She loves painting her fingernails, reading, playing with friends, playing all sports and hanging out with her sisters. Lorens "birthday week" is finally over. She did a lot of fun things and got lots of presents.

Good morning birthday girl! Lornie's not a morning person, but when it's a school day, it breakfast starts early! She wanted danish pancakes with a pink "9" on it with strawberries and whip cream. That is what she got! Yum!

I'm so glad that she's my girl! She is such a joy! Today she got an added bonus, she got to change her earrings for the first time. Yay! We just love our Lorabelle!

Loren loves having a birthday because that means Gramma checks her out of school and takes her to lunch and shopping. Gramma asked her where she wants to go and Loren says Wendy's. Gramma said, Don't you want to go somewhere and sit down? She thought for a minute and then said~Oh, I know, Paces! So Pace's it was! Grampa met them there. They went to the mall and she got a cute outfit and a Webkins. She had a fun time and so did Gramma!

No birthday cake for Taysen, she just gets celery! (notice her headband, Loren made it and is very proud)

Loren loves Todd. She is always on his shoulders or pulling on him.












Gramma & Grampa

Bateman


It's time for cake. Mindy always makes the cutest cakes!














Lots of family to love! It's fun having birthdays!

Loren had a spa birthday party. Lyssi and her friend Sara did the girls hair. Ems and some of my young women did nails (press on), make up, and toe nails. They had a lot of fun and looked so cute! Girls! Girls! Girls!

SHE PASSED!

It was a big day! Haley got her Learners permit. She was so scared to take the test. On the way to pick up her friend Jessi, I asked her a few questions. I asked her which way to turn your wheel when parking up hill. She had no idea. I asked her the speed limit in a residential area. She thought for a minute and then said~What is residential? I knew she was in trouble! As soon as Jessi got in the car, I said~please help her study! They studied like crazy. She asked the lady how many times she could take the test. She said twice and then you can come back and take it one more time w/out paying again. Haley said~mom, I will pay next time if we have to. She said can we go get ice cream if I pass? Then she said~can we go get ice cream if we don't pass because I will be so sad? She took the test 1st time and passed! Happy Day! She is still afraid to drive! This will pass I'm sure!

LOREN LOVES GRAMMA "SINK"

Loren was so excited to go to St. George with Gramma and Grampa. My mom said to have Loren over there at 10:30 and at 8:30 she was ready to go. We waited until she couldn't wait anymore. When we got there Gramma was still getting ready. I'm going to miss my baby girl!

Sis took Loren and Kasey to feed the ducks. We love Sis. She always does fun things. Sis has always been one more Gramma for Loren!

Ever since Loren was tiny, Gramma Sink has been her favorite! She said that when Lyssi gets old, she will looks like Gramma Jo but "when I get old, I will look like Gramma Sink!" She has always been really close with Gramma. Grams always has a way of making you feel loved completely. (just like my mom does) It's a good feeling! Gramma Sink taught Loren how to play war (cards), jacks, even how to climb a tree! About 4 years ago Loren comes in the house and says "Mom, Gramma needs help getting out of the tree." I go out and sure enough, Gramma is up in the tree. I said ~what are you doing? She said that she was just showing Loren how to get up in. Man oh Man!, She is an 18 year old in an 88 year olds body! She has always been my favorite too! We love her so much! Loren was very excited to go see Gramma Sink and Sis!

A DAY OFF AND HAVING FUN!

We had a blast today. (one of the words that shows my age) We woke up and the fun began. Lyssi needed to go dress shopping for the Valentine's Dance. We went to the mall and a small miracle happened. We walked into the mall, 1st store, 1st dress she tried on~she loved. It happened to also be on sale. Haley paid 1/2 (because she loved it too and is thinking ahead and said that she would wear it if she got asked to a dance one day.) They bought a 2nd dress also. (to use in the future~they are both beautiful.)

Found shoes the same day! Haley asked her if she could buy them a little big so she could wear them too. Haley is on her own on the shoes!

Okay, next...CAFE RIO~the best place to eat on earth! OOOH, so good! We crave it, it's that good!

Oops! Forgot to remind them to act like ladies!

Brennan met us for lunch. We couldn't talk him into going to the movie with us.

FULL PLATES...

Completely EMPTY plates!

We went to see Bride Wars. It was so funny! (I did have to have them close their eyes for a few seconds) Brennan wouldn't have liked it much. The theater just had girls in there. I was a girl movie.

At the end of the movie, it said there is always someone you go through good and bad times with whether it is your husband, or a friend...and I look over and my 3 girls are hugging each other. It made me get all teary. I love that my girls love each other and they will always have each other.

G O O D T I M E S ! ! !

SLEDDING

Yesterday when Loren got home from school, we jumped in the van and went sledding!

Haley thought that it would be cool if Loren could pull her up the hill...didn't work out so well!

WHEEEEE!
We had so much fun! We finally had to leave when my fingers were so cold, they were about to fall off!

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

HALEY'S 10 HOUR PROJECT

Haley had to do another 10 hour project for Geography. They could choose anything as their project as long as it was something from Central America. It took her 16 hours and a few tears to make it. She made a Mexican Wrestling Mask. It was a long process since Haley nor I sew. She did it all herself and got a really good grade on it. Her teacher said that no one has ever made one of these for his class before. He was impressed, I was impressed and Haley was so proud. HOOAH!

A REAL LIVE SNOW GLOBE!

Brennan loves snow storms because it gives him an excuse to go play on his machine. I know that when he goes out, he wont come home for a long time. He doesn't just do ours, but he does all of the the neighbors.

This was a beautiful snow storm. It snowed and snowed and snowed. I love it. I love it until my girls have to drive in it.

Ems got off work at 3:20 and didn't get home until 6:15! It usually takes her 1/2 an hour, so as you can imagine, we were worried sick! I was so happy when she came home. She was pretty stressed.

It looks like we live in a real live snow globe! It's a winter wonderland!

This is Haley at work. Either Brennan or I go with her to do her rounds when she works at night. (one day a week) She has to deliver a few residents their medicine and she doesn't like to be outside alone . I like going and spending time with her so I don't mind.

Haley loves her job!