Liv's 11th Birthday

 Goodness it is hard to believe that Liv is celebrating her 11th birthday this year.  She is quite an impressive kid balancing school, ballroom dance, student council, piano, and a competitive dance team.  For her birthday, Liv got a super fuzzy and warm (those are her words) Aeropostale sweatshirt, pj pants, scripture case, neon shirt, and charging cord fro her ipod touch.

We decided to have a late night party since we don't do sleepover parties.  I found a free printable as says-it.com where you can customize the ticket to whatever you like. They made the most adorable invitations.  We asked the girls to dress up as their favorite actress or rockstar etc.  One of Liv's friends decided to come as Katy Perry.  I have to say her mom made her a costume with a cupcake skirt and matching cupcake headpiece.  It was awesome!

Liv opening her gifts from the family

So for decorations, I made a red carpet with a red string of lights from the the steps to the front door.  Olivia and I made a poster for the front door.  As you walked into the living room each girl had a yellow star on the walk of fame.  Olivia and Isabel created a photo booth background from white wrapping paper.  They had a great time creating it.

Our birthday balloon wreath and front door poster welcoming kids to the party!

Red Carpet Entrance

Yellow Star Walk of Fame

Photo Booth Background

The Music Hub - Liv's new Ipod Touch and Silly String for "Crowd Control"

The photo booth with props was a HUGE success with the girls.  Boy did they have fun posing with all the props.  I found a lot of free printable photo props via the internet. 

Brr.....it is cold.

Rockstar

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For activities, the kids decorated their own lanyards with VIP or backstage pass etc.  They also each had their own autograph books to collect the autographs of their friends throughout the night.  Olivia and I made a CD of Olivia's favorite Jammin' Tunes as a party favor.  Each girl was then able to decorate the case of their CD.

Our cake was in the form of a microphone found at parenting.com. The girls thought these were fun.


We played a game of freeze dance and then played the lyric game.  I had two sets of lyrics for the chorus of two of Liv's favorite songs - You Don't Know Your Beautiful and We're Never Getting Back Together.  The girls had to find all the words taped around the house and then put the words in order and sing the chorus to finish.

Overall, I think the party was a success. We fed them dinner and watched a movie and then took everyone home. I hope Liv had a fabulous time!

Fall Fall.   Bellar loves loves loves to play in the fall leaves.  Our neighbor has a large tree in their front yard which provided ample leaves for a large pile of fun.  Bellar spent the afternoon playing with Amber while I raked and bagged. 

 The fifth grade classes at Liv's elementary put on a program each year for Veteran's Day.  I was very impressed by the program and the patriotism the school is teaching to Liv. Liv was excited to perform as a gift for her dad who is a Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns.

Liv performing at Veteran's Day Program

Liv and friends after program

Our Elf Ubbee

This year we had a new elf visit our house during the month of December.  Our previous elves Peppermint and Rainbow Sherbet (kids named them) were sick at the North Pole.  This is a just a nice way to say they were temporarily misplaced.  Instead, our new elf Ubbee lived at our house during December.  Here are some of Ubbee's mischievous deeds.  I have to say some of these are not original ideas and to site the source of each one I do not know.....so my apologies go out now.  I do take credit for the poem (should I admit this?)

HO HO HO 'Tis the Season
I have come back from the North Pole for a special reason.
Naughty or Nice?  Which will it be?
I am going to be living in your house to see.
Please listen to mom and dad and with your sister don't fight
So Santa will bring you presents & toys on Christmas Eve night.
I am a mischievous elf so please be aware
I make many a mess with no thought or care.
My name is Ubbee and I will be your Christmas Elf.
Because Peppermint and Rainbow Sherbet have a cold and aren't
in good health.

                 Your 2012 Elf Ubbee

Poem Ubbee left to kids on first visit.

Ubbee decorated the pictures

Ubbee left note for the kids "I am here"

Ubbee left note "Be nice I am watching"

Unfolding the laundry

Rappelling down Christmas tree

Marshmallow snowball fight

Marshmallow "snow"ball fight with friends

Toilet paper rolling

Rolled down stairs in toilet paper

Tangled up in Tinsel

Graham Cracker and Frosting - Ubbee's Favorite

Sword fighting with butterfly on Christmas tree

Ubbee decorated Grandma and Grandpa's picture as clowns

Ubee decorated Family Gallery Wall

Bellar and her best friend Ubbee

My favorite "Elf Door" by our front door.

Christmas Time

Merry Christmas!  What a festive time of year especially for Bellar.  She absolutely loves to celebrate holidays.  I try to play everything up for her.  Neil rolls his eyes at me in a mocking way but knows why I play it up.  It was a wonderful time this year to spend with family and enjoy each others company.  We have been truly blessed in 2012.

Schatzie all lit up!

Decorating the ledge

Liv putting on snowflakes

Decorating the tree

 So this year we did something a little different and had a Grinch dinner.  Bellar decided to get out the washable paint and become a Grinch.  She soon discovered that she did not like the feel of the paint on her face.  We ate Rare Roast Beast, Who Hash, Grinch Punch ( a green smoothie but with the right name kids loved it), and had Grinch floats (lime sherbet with sprite).  We each decorated a Grinch mask and then sat down to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  This was a lot of fun!

We

Bellar decided to dress like a "Candy Cane" for school.

5th Grade Economics fair at school

Economics Fair

The fifth grade do an economics fair each year as a fundraiser for the school.  This year we made snowman and reindeer candy bar covers.  We used the silhouette to mass cut out all the parts and then used an assembly line to get them put together.  I have to say they turned out pretty darn cute.

Ballroom Dance

Liv has been taking early morning ballroom dance this year at school.  She has really enjoyed learning all the various dances.  On Jan 4th, they had a team match competition at her school.  This was a mock competition to prepare them for their first competition in Orem next week.  Olivia was selected to dance the fox trot as her  chosen dance and then she also had three surprise dances.  On the surprise dance, you do not know what you are dancing until you walk out on the floor and they draw a slip of paper out of a hat announcing your dance.  She did a fantastic job with her team placing GOLD.

Liv and her friends at competition

While calculating scores Liv chose to do the swing with her dad.

Neil even won a Creekside Ballroom bag for his dance skills.