My oldest turns 14 and my youngest turns 5!

My 2 December Birthday kids, my bookends, were both due in January.
They both did the unexpected and came more than 3 weeks early, by natural labor.
When I was due with Brandon in January, I never even considered that he would come in December, let alone, on Christmas Eve.
What, Lindy, my oldest did, by coming 3 weeks early, by natural labor,
I thought, was a once in a lifetime experience. WRONG!
What I keep learning over and over is that life is UNEXPECTED.

Brandon's 5th Birthday on Dec. 24th:

He wanted a superman birthday cake. He designed it with me.
Telling me he wanted buildings on this cake.
He wanted to take some friends and family to our local open gym to play.
Luckily, his neighbor friends, cousins, and the gym were available on Christmas Eve.

He got some metal cars larger than hot wheels size, some miniature trains,
and a teepee.

 Money and Clothes from the Grandparents!

Lindy's 14th Birthday on Dec. 28th:

This year Lindy requested a 7-up bundt cake. Which is delightful.

(Leave a comment if you want the recipe, which you do, it is sooo good.)

She got some running clothes and foam roller to roll her sore muscles when

she will run track this spring. She got a blanket,

and a ceramic white elephant for her room decor.

And the books from The Giver's series by Lois Lowry.

Lindy's track season

We have a little runner in our house.

Lindy!

She runs for her middle school track and cross country team.

Lindy decided to try the triple jump at the end of her track season.

She made it to districts doing the triple jump!

(The secret to her qualifying for districts

is that hardly any girls do the triple jump!)

I had a little too much fun with my camera for these shots.

Personal Progress

My daughter, Lindy, is in the 7th grade.

One of her classes this year required her to do some

service hours in her community.

We were able to do some work at our local

Ronald McDonald House

doing some cleaning, cooking a meal, and baking.

Lindy arranged to do it with some of her friends,

because they all had the same class requirement.

We were able to include this service in her young women's personal progress too.

After feeling inspired in several ways,

I have started doing the personal progress program too.

It has changed a lot since I was in young women's.

When I was serving in young women's in my last ward,

the girls responded better, when I was engaged in the program with them.

I feel the same way about encouraging my own daughter to complete it.

She can me sign off, when I complete a project,

and I can report to her when I finish a task.

Wish me luck.

Sister Dalton said when I make dinner for the family,

my husband can sign me off too!

Lindy's Photography

Lindy has taken an interest in photography.
I think she has a good eye for it.

She wanted to take some pictures over Christmas break with Sadie and Brandon.
Kyle and Tate weren't interested. She even took some photos of me.

 Brandon's classic expression below:

Then she wanted me to take some of her: