as good a reason as any to post an entry

Today Sophie got her driver's license!!!  I was so nervous for her, because let it be said that there is nothing more terrifying than teaching your child to drive.

And then tonight she drove Owen to CVS to get some poster supplies for a project… ALL BY HERSELF!

Doug and i were DYING! Like seriously hyperventilating as we waited for that phone call to come in saying she bumped into someone in the parking lot or worse.   HA! A lot of faith we were showing in our newly minted driver.  UGH so scary but about 20 minutes later she pulled up to the house with fresh supplies and a pack of mini starbursts.

WHO HOOOO….. it was a good day.



Other than that spectacular news, we have been busy busy.  we had our primary program last weekend that i was in charge of because our music lady and pres. had babies in sept/oct. hahaha oh and our sunbeam teacher had a baby too but it went really well.  penny gave a little talk about a time the holy ghost helped her and it was so super cute.  She's learning to read but her talk was a mix of words and pictures and it was so totally awesome. Simon had two speaking parts and he was hilarious, of course, and owen opened the program with a little intro and then had a talk on the priesthood because he turns 12 next year and will become a deacon.  my goodness it was all good.  These are pics of the post-presentation ice cream party.  they earned like 10 different toppings, it was great.

Doug has been a working machine lately.  back to back jobs, some directing mixed in with the shooting too.  we are grateful for a strong end to an otherwise lackluster year.

Owen has the shaggiest hair right now, doing great. I went to pick him up from baylen's house yesterday and his vice principal was hanging out at the johnsons for dinner.  Wyatt's best friend is the his son.  It was fun to chat up the middle school VP.  he knew one of owen's friends who has a crazy mom but he wasn't allowed to admit that but i could say it.

Simon is a total motor mouth right now.  our conversation yesterday went like this.  I wish i could remember what we were even talking about while we drove around picking up and dropping off.

"Hey mom blah, blah, blah, cuz you know what?  what ……….. cuz you know why?  cuz you know what, because you know what? bexuase you know why? because you know what?
and on and on .  that kid has a LOT to say.  Also he and summer are so so naughty together.  it was a little bit cute when they were teensy but now it's totally NOT OK.  UGH  those two in school  together will be terrible.  And yet they are almost like two halves of one whole.  they really truly love each other.

Costco with just sophie and Aki.  I think they really like hanging out with me! I was getting a really good vibe. 

Simon banging the leader drum at school. :)

My FAVORITE way to do bedtime.  Clean baby falls asleep on the couch all by himself.  This was about 6:00pm.  he was one tired dude. 

showing off her hair that is long enough to braid!

Gorgeous flowers from awesome-lady Sarah Heder when she found out i've been in single mom mode for so long. She brought them with dinner, no less, and made me feel like a million bucks. It was a good reminder that i should really be more thoughtful more often! haha

Checking out the praying Mantis on the doorstep

veterans day with the swierengas at leo carillo beach 

= amazing.  

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"Penny, do something awesome!"  This was her something awesome. 

This was the surprisingly Owen like model in H&M. a girl-ier looking Owen, but still!

All by my self at the arc light for "About Time".  two others joined me for the first screening of the day. ha!

because she loves to take pictures of her special things

sophie taught penny how to screen shot on my phone.  I now have about 30 of these in my photos.