Sugar and spice and everything...Nice

Lauren's 13th Birthday party

2008-11-02T14:17:00.001-08:00

Lauren turned 13 on October 19. She was with her Dad and his family for her birthday until that evening. Then me and Keirra had Lauren's favorite dinner made and I had baked and decorated a "Y" cake for her. It was Chocolate cake with mint icing...Lauren's favorite.

Lauren was absolutely glowing, so the picture is a bit blurred ;) I had made a giant ice cream sandwhich cake for her party. We topped it off with chocolate mint sauce or hot fudge. YUM!

For her party we played games, had karaoke and of course they danced until 11:30 (2 hours after the party "ended").

Lauren opening gifts.

Lauren got some funny gifts. They had a lot of fun!

Dancing and talking.

Keirra Ready for school on Halloween

2008-11-02T14:07:00.000-08:00

I woke up early to get the girls ready for school Halloween style. Lauren was up at 6:30. I didn't get a picture of her because she missed the bus and I had to rush her off...and forgot.

I got home and curled Keirra's hair with a teeny tiny curling iron. she looked so cute. she thought she had lost one of her fake eyelashes, so I got her some really cool glittery ones. We found the eyelash...but the glittery ones were really cool. I sprayed her down with sparkle spray too.

Halloween 2008

2008-11-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

This year Lauren wanted to be a dead Pirate. This picture was taken at the Ward Halloween Party. Lauren is the Beehive President in the Ward so I thought it was best she try to look approacable, so not to scare any of the younger children. Keirra wanted to be Gisele from "Enchanted" but when I told her I am not going to buy the $80 dress from Disney she settled on this beautiful princess gown.

Keirra looked so sweet. She wanted fake eyelashes...because Lauren is wearing some fun red ones. She loves to get dressed up and have me put make-up on her. I love doing it.

Lauren is a lovely pirate. On Halloween night she was a dead pirate. She had her face painted whitesh gray with black shadowing. She bad her eyes blackened out and was wearing her long glow in the darkwas, red eyelashes. She also had skeleton gloves that covered her hands, they also glowed in the dark. During school lunch her Principal came to take Lauren's picture but Lauren kept hiding moving her face so so couldn't take her picture. She said it was because her mouth was full of food. I am not so sure about that.....hmmm.

She went out with her friends and trick or treated. Then they had a party at her friends house. She had a ton of fun and came home with her ghost bag full to the top with candy.

Keirra played some of the games that the Ward provided. Here she was pumpkin bowling and knocked a few down her first try. Lauren was busy talking to her friends and eating the yummy donuts and hot chocolate with marshmellows. She also helped at the face painting table.

Keirra and Lauren participated in the costume parade. There was a guessing the number if treats in the goodie bag and Keirra won. She got a really cute bag full of fun halloween trinkets. Then the kids went trunk or treating.

It was a fun night. Halloween night I took Keirra out trick or treating. She got some fun things, and we even got spooked at a neighbors "haunted" yard. It was scary.

My family

2008-11-02T10:42:00.001-08:00

My family.

What a year. I cannot believe that 2008 is nearly over. It seems like it has just begun. Time seems to fly by. I am always assessing if I am getting the things accomplished that I need too. My girls are growing up so quickly. There are days I wish I could go back a live a moment over where I can hold them in my arms and rock them to sleep. To smell their sweet smelling baby breath, and look upon their perfectly formed faces. Or read them a story when they would sit still on my lap or even make a mess that at the time seemed huge, but now we can laugh at. When those days were in the present I had no idea how fast the would pass by. I hear mothers complain about how hard it is to raise little children. I remember those days, it is hard, but now I wish I had lived more in the moment and soaked in the sweetness of my children, their is nothing more precious than the innocence of a child. Sometimes I look at my girls and I want time to stop so I can enjoy them more. I do relsish in the moments I DO have with them. I try to make the most of it...even though it can be difficult at times. I know I will look upon these pictures one day and remember how precious life was at his moment too.

Lauren, My Sweet Angel.

2008-11-02T10:25:00.002-08:00

Lauren is BIG into SPORTS! She loves stuffed animals. Her favorites are the beanie babies. She has been collecting those since she was a tiny girl. Lauren's favorite sports are soccer (she has a stong kick, and can get the ball down to the other side in a hurry) and basketball. Her dad gave her some pointers on how to perfect her shot. I think she has a good future in both.

Lauren choose the quote at the bottom of her picture herself. When she wants to do something she gives it her all. She choose all the items and her outfit for this picture. She see's herself as sporty and wanted her picture to reflect that. She plays nearly every sports, she is not a fan of golf though.

She is such a good girl. She has always been a big helper. She is a smart, fun, wonderful girl. She has a good head on her shoulders. It seems like yesterday that I was trying to dress her in fluffy pink dresses and she wanted to wear the plain cream colored dress, that was at age 2. She has always had a clear sense of direction and nothing gets in her way.

Keirra, My Precious Princess!

2008-11-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

This is a perfect KEIRRA smile. She is ALWAYS smiling! She was a joy at this shoot. She was herself and the photographer just took pictures as Keirra moved around and played. She picked her outfit and toys. I wanted a picture to remember her as she is now. Because I know those days will be gone far too soon.

It was so much fun to dress her up and bring some of her favorite things. This is one of my most favorite pictures. Love is one of the words I would describe Keirra as. She is SO loving. She loves everyone, just as they are. She is just darling.

Keirra is just a precious girl. She is so soft and curious. She made this face at me when I asked her to hug the toy (something she found silly), the photographer captured it. I call this her "Keirra" face. She uses it often to express herself to me, usually when something has happened that she doesn't agree with or thinks is silly.

Family Pictures

2008-08-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

I finally scheduled and took my little family in to have pictures taken. The last time we had family pictures taken was in 2003. Keirra was still in diapers, Lauren was missing teeth and I had short hair and looked like I needed a cheeseburger as I still hadn't gained the weight I had lost from the "divorce diet".

We had a good time. It was intense at times and I was frantic trying to get the wardrobe changes done in record time. I was please with the pictures and bought nearly all of them. Which seemed strange, I was having to buy pictures of my own family members. The darn photographer took so many cute ones and did so many fun effect with them I could not resist.

I loved the ones of my cute girls. They are growing so fast.

They were really happy too...which was a miracle in and of itself.

I could not believe how grown up my youngest looks. Time goes by too fast.

I have more pictures to post...that are sooooo cute. I will post them soon.

Kentucky Family Reunion

2008-03-20T10:28:00.000-07:00

My Girls and I just got back from spending the weekend with my Family in Kentucky. I have not been together with ALL my brothers and sisters in over 6 years. It has been even longer than that since I have been with all my cousins. It was a great trip with little to no drama (which is amazing in itself). My Grandmother turned 90 years old while we were there and it was great to play games and re-establish friendships from long ago.

We went on a family history tour while we were there, had a birthday party for Grandma and had the most fantastic talent show ever witnessed live.

Here are some pictures of the whole gang (well, those who could join us anyway). I hope you enjoy them. For kicks you can look at the similar family traits. I LOVE my Family!

This is my Family...Cousins and all.

I was sad to leave...I would have loved to have just one more day with my family.

Lauren's flowers

2008-01-11T08:59:00.000-08:00

I was really sick during the month of Lauren's birthday, and wasn't able to do much for her. (She did have a craft party, and had a great time..but I was too sick to take pictures).

But our dear family friends Dee and Steve Brignone sent these flowers to her on her 12th birthday. It made her day...week...month. She took a few pictures so she could remember them. They were so pretty I wanted to post it to share them.

Thanks Brignone Family!

Christmas 2007

2008-01-11T08:49:00.000-08:00

Lauren and Keirra at the annual Rollins Family Christmas party.

Some of the kiddies gathering around Santa...so excited to see the goodies he brought them.

Keirra asked for snow. Boy, did she get her wish.

Lauren was not thrilled with the idea of sitting on Santa's lap (something I has never thought of as weird until now...working at the PD doesn't help). She asked for a digital camera.

Keirra and her make-up kit. She was so funny. It was like a present opening marathon...she flew threw the gifts as quick as she could.

Lauren loves stuffed animals. She took her time opening gifts, and loved each item as she got it.

The girls digging through the pile, sorting out who gets what.

Keirra completes her tumbling class

2008-01-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

Keirra was in her first ever Tumbling class ever this past Fall. She did really well. Knowing Keirra she has boundless energy and this class helped to concentrate that energy into doing cartwheels, and somersaults.

Here she is doing a backwards somersault. She did so good...and with a positive attitude.

At the end of the classes she received a medal and a ribbon. She felt accomplished and it quite proud of her award.

Keirra's Birthday Party

2008-01-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

Keirra turned 8 in November 2007. I threw her a "Princess Tea party" Themed party.

When the girls arrived they sat down and made crown name tags. They made a huge mess making them, but they had fun.

They were so ewwey gooey it took longer than expected for them to dry. But they turned out really well.
This was Keirra's wonderful, fantastic, Barbie as the Island Princess cake my friend Jan made for her. I made the little cakes (it was the first time I had ever attempted such a feat).

The cake looked so real that Keirra could not believe it was a cake at first. It was incredible and tasted just as good as it looked. Jan had made a chocolate cake from scratch and it was so tasty! (It took me nearly 2 days after the party to have the heart to cut into this cake so we could devour it...it was just so pretty).

Then Keirra opened her presents and of course was so excited over everything her cute friends had brought her. Her friends are sweet little girls. A few of them had made their own cards for Keirra and they were adorable, she really liked that.

Everyone had a fabulous time. The only thing they wished I had done was to cut the cake...they were all dying for a piece. But they enjoyed the mini doll cakes I had made...they tasted better than they looked (which was a good thing ;)

My Family

2008-01-02T10:05:00.000-08:00

Since this is my first blog I thought I would tell a bit about my family and what makes us so great!

I am the Mother, Amanda. I work at the Provo Police station doing public relations and love it. I learn something new everyday, and unfortunately not much surprises me about what people are capable of. My hobbies include keeping up with my girls, cleaning my house, doing laundry and trying to keep it together. I am excited for the new year and it is my goal to get some better hobbies :). I fell in love with Yoga a few years ago and I hope to get certified as an instructor this year and begin teaching classes (so I can get paid to do what I love).

Lauren is my brilliant oldest daughter. She is as sharp as she is darling. She is top of her class and still soaring. She is in pre-algebra, a self motivated reading group (all on a 9th grade + level). She is also part of the Show choir, she tutors 2nd grade students and is a big help to her teacher. I couldn't be prouder of her. She is an amazing person. She loves church and is very active with her Young Women's group. She also plays every sport imaginable (even football), she has strong determination and will work hard to strengthen her weak spots.

Keirra is my spunky youngest daughter. She is the life of the party. She makes friends everywhere she goes and is a good one to have. She will stand up for those she cares about, and is true blue. Keirra has a contagious laugh and a strong raspy voice. She loves to play and be social. Keirra just completed a tumbling class...and received a medal. She is an amazing artist and can draw better than most adults I know. She is a sweetheart and is always available for a hug if you need one. She keeps us on our toes, and there is never a dull moment when she is around.

My family is small, but I couldn't ask for anything better. Though we have our trials, I think I have the best kids out there. But doesn't every mother say that? I still think it is true in my case. There is rarely a dull moment in my house...if we aren't running off to a class, game or practice, we are home enjoying quiet time, and usually making something sweet.