Talbie's Campaign

It's that time of year...

Election Season!

Talbie has loved every second of her Sophomore year on 

Student Council.  This week is the critical week where she will run again

for her Jr. year.  She's been working hard on her campaign.  There's a lot to it.  She had

to get 50-100 signatures on a petition from her peers before she could run.  She also

had to write a platform speech, get a recommendation from each of her teachers,

maintain a good GPA (which is easy because she never stops studying!),

make posters, and come up with a campaign.  

She's such a go-getter.  She did every bit of the campaign herself.

The only thing I helped her with was her posters.  We finished it all up tonight because

she has to hang to posters on Monday morning and then the voting is next Friday

for the Primary Elections.  Then there will be 2 people picked for each position -

2 for Jr. Class President (which Talbie is running for)

and 2 for Jr. Class Vice President.

After the final election, there will be 2 winners and then they will choose 2

cabinet members from the candidates who ran.  That's a total of 4 positions for the 

entire Jr. class.  It's stiff competition!

Talbie has been one of 4 Sophomores on the council this year.  It's so nerve-wracking

for a parent when your child tries out for something.  I think we get more nervous than they do!

I remember Maddie's 9th grade year when she tried out for the
Orem High School Dance Company!  I was a nervous wreck during

her entire 4 hour audition.  I was on the verge of throwing up the entire time!

I think I was more excited when she made it, than she was!

Here are the posters and campaign we came up with...

For the hand out - she's giving out sticky, furry mustaches...

 The slogan is "Make the Mature Choice - Vote Talbie Knowles for Jr. Class President!"

Here are the posters...

 

Isn't this a funny picture?  This really represents Talbie's personality.

She is not embarrassed to perform or be silly.  I think that is such a unique quality!

 

Another great poster...

  

This one she will hang over the drinking fountain...

 She can make buttons at school and these are the ones she will make...

Neither Talbie nor I are very artistic - especially when it comes to making posters!
We did out best :)
We'll keep you posted on how it turns out...

Worry Dolls

Talbie made "worry dolls" tonight for a fund raiser that our neighbor

is having the end of this month.  She just kind of made up this pattern and we had fun seeing

what we could come up with.  My mom would always buy "worry dolls" for

Maddie and Talbie when they would travel to Mexico.  My girls

always loved them.  The idea is that you tell your "worry doll" your

worries and then you don't have to worry about it anymore!  They do all the

worrying for you!

Tell us what you think...

(front)

 (back)

 These dolls don't usually have faces and we didn't want to ruin them

by trying to put faces on them.  They really are cute in real life!

Maddie's Reward Dinner

Remember the scripture charts from HERE

Well, Maddie finally finished hers this week.  In fact, I got a 

text on my phone at 1:00am with this picture attached...

on the text it said, "Sumo tonight?"

Which meant - she wanted to go to Happy Sumo for her reward dinner.

Bronson is the only one left to be taken out for his reward dinner.

He has actually read the Book of Mormon already but keeps

starting over or he will spend weeks on the same chapter, pondering what he reads.

He should probably get to go on more than one reward dinner :)

We had a good time with Maddie.  I wish we would have brought a camera

or had the waitress take a picture with all of us - Dave took this one with his phone.

Well done Maddie!  Keep reading :)

A Great Helper

Bronson is so much like his dad.  He can do and fix anything!

For Christmas Bronson got a big tool box filled with his own tools.  He loves to use it anytime he can.  

He's heard me complain about the holes and chipped paint on his bedroom wall

and I came home one day to find he had patched all the holes and made

his wall ready to paint!   Luckily we still have the same paint left over in the garage :)

He's such a good boy and it always searching for ways to help his mom...

Blast From the Past

I love coming across old pictures of my kids.

It makes me realize how much they are growing up :(

I think this was taken Easter 2006

What I remember about this day...

*Bronson wore his missionary name tag for about 5 years in a row.  Never missing a Sunday :)

*Bronson loves his little sister - he still does!

*This was the last year I bought Easter dresses without my kid's being with me

Maddie hated this dress (surprise, surprise!)

*Talbie started wearing contacts a couple of months after this picture.

 

Happy Birthday Emmie and Valentine's Day

My baby was born on Valentine's Day and yesterday she turned 10!

Emmie is such a joy to our family. We wouldn't be complete without her.

Here is one of my favorite pictures of her when she was 5

 Another all time favorite...

We started the birthday/Valentine's day by giving the kids their

Valentine gifts before school.

I love this tradition.  My dad always gave me a box of chocolates for Valentine's day

and it always made my day.  If I didn't get a gift from a boyfriend it didn't matter

because my dad never forgot me ;)

Bronson re-gifted his box of chocolates this year and gave them to a girl he likes!

 

 I decorated Emmie's door before she woke up.

I know it may be hard sharing your day with everyone else

 We opened gifts before school - at the crack of dawn.  Bronson and Talbie leave 

for school just after 7:00...

 Yes, Maddie dyed her hair red!  We'll see how long she keeps it.

That's what happens when you're in hair school I guess.

 Emmie got a Barbie from Maddie

 A tea set for her American Girl dolls from Talbie

 And a homemade catapult from Bronson :)

 I don't have a picture of her main gift for some reason...

Dave and I gave her a cell phone!

I know many of you may think we're crazy but we don't have a home phone because

it never gets used and we'd rather put that money towards our monthly cell phone bill.

With 3 teenagers and Dave and I having phones, if no one is home with Emmie, it leaves her home a lot of times without a way of getting a hold of anyone.  So she got her own phone :)

Then later in the day I got the surprise of my life when Dave had a gift basket

delivered to my work.  I have a strict policy that I don't like flowers sent to me

because I'm a miser and I feel like it's a waste of money.

This was filled with yummy chocolates so it was ok.

Also something pretty embarrassing that everyone at work got a great kick out of!

I won't put it here but email me if you want details :)

 To end our day, our young women's group did a "heart attack" on our Bishop's office door.

It was a great day!

 Emmie's class Valentine's box...

Braces Off!

Talbie got her braces off on Tuesday

After 3 very long years!!

Here is a before shot...

 And after...

She came by my work to show me and Dr. Myers her new smile :)

Grandma was a sport to take her and bought her a Jamba Juice.

This isn't the best picture of the "pearly whites" but they are so pretty!

It was well worth the pain and torture!

Klondike 2012

Bronson and Dave survived another Klondike!

 Where they slept...

 The camp site...

 

I'm so happy these boys like to camp and have so much fun together!

Sister Dalton

Last night Talbie went to the 100 yrs of Seminary Fireside 

at the Conference Center and...

MET SISTER DALTON!

It was such an amazing experience for her.

She went to the fireside with our friends the Swiss family.

Talbie is friends with their granddaughter, Danielle.  

Dave works with Jerry Swiss and Jerry's uncle is Boyd K. Packer.

They were able to get front row seat tickets to the fireside and invited Talbie.

Talbie called before the fireside started and told me how close she was to the

First Presidency and Apostles as she sat in her seat.  She was able to meet a lot

of the Apostle's wives.

As they were leaving the Conference Center, they were able to exit out the 

door where the General Authorities leave.  As they were walking out, they

saw Sister Dalton and went running up to her.

Sister Dalton was so wonderful with the girls and so genuine!

She showed them that she was wearing her YW medallion and honor bee

and Talbie was able to tell her that she had earned her medallion and honor bee!

She was so excited to hear that from Talbie and talked to her for quite a while about it and

thanked the girls for dressing modestly :)

It was an experience she will never forget!

Happy 19th Birthday Maddie!

 Maddie turned 19 on January 17th!

I have been horrible at blogging lately and that's really not like me.

 

 We had a little family party last night so everyone could come over

and wish her a Happy Birthday!

 Emmie was our photographer for most of the night

so we have a lot of pictures with heads cut off...

 Boston in a Barney shirt that used to be Maddie's - about 18 years ago :)

 Megan, Maddie, and Abi

 Logan drove down from Logan (Utah) to help Maddie celebrate

 Dave and Marianne Heaps - soon to be leaving on their mission

to China!  They were called to be Public Relation Missionaries and will be leaving in a month or so.

 Abi and Abe

 Brock, Boston, Dave, and Grandma

We had a great time celebrating Maddie's birthday

Here are 19 things I love about Maddie...

1.  Her smile.  She's beautiful, especially when she smiles.

2.  Her ability to be a good friend to everyone.

3.  Her close relationship with her Grandpa.  She has him wrapped around her finger!

4.  She's a neat freak like her mom (when she wants to be!) and knows how to clean.

5.  She's a great big sister.

6.  All the free hair cuts and colors we are getting from her hair school experience.

7.  Her love of music - especially 80's music.  We are kindred spirits.

8.  Her testimony...it's strong and unwavering!

9.  I love that she considers me a best friend.

10.  I love that she tells me everything - the good and the bad.

11.  She has high standards.

12.  I love that she and Talbie are becoming such good friends.

13.  She's a faithful journal writer.

14.  She's a hard worker

15.  She's a good cook

16.  She sets high goals.

17.  She listens to her parents advice - without too much complaint.

18.  She chooses the right.

19.  She's a joy to our family