Update

My girls have been keeping me very busy these days. I want to write an update about each of them.

Braigen: She gets up at 6:15, because the bus picks her up at 6:57. She is pretty good about getting up on her own. She likes to wait until the day before a paper is due to write it, even though she had 2 weeks. She really likes to come home and tell me how she got a 100% on that paper. I was clearly irritated with her for waiting until the last minute to write it. Not to mention the fact that the teacher will keep hers, and show it as an example to all of her other students:) I ran into my neighbor the other day, and she mentioned how we had the 2 highest readers in the 6th grade. Braigen had told me that she "scored off the charts", but my neighbor informed me that she is the top reader in the entire 6th grade(probably at least 300 students)! I am so proud
Braigen has been playing soccer for her middle school. It is a 6th-8th grade co-ed team, and they placed first on Friday night. They had a 2-1 victory against a team they had lost to previously. Talk about exciting, a great group of middle schoolers, feeling like they were celebrities that evening.


Braigen started playing the flute this year. She had her first concert, which she was very nervous about, last Thursday. She is growing up so fast, and really turning into a wonderful young lady. The concert was great, and she did awesome...even if I couldn't hear just her:)



















All of my girls started Karate over the summer. We had planned for it to just be a summer activity, but none of them were ready to give it up after summer was over. They all are making really great progress, and they tested for their high gold belt on Saturday evening. Braigen was surprised at testing, along with 2 other girls, by skipping her high gold, and moving right to her orange belt. She is an apprentice in the program, and they see huge potential for her. Again...I am so proud!



















Now...My Kali update. She is a great girl. She was recently accepted into the elementary peer pal group, where she will mentor a younger student. She is very excited about being chosen to participate, and can't wait to start working with the little girl they have selected for her. She is a born leader, and I know this role will fit her well. Kal celebrated her 9th birthday last month, and I really just can't believe how mature she is becoming. Her cake was made by my mom, and was as delicious as ever. They each get go pick what kind of cake they want my mom to make, and she always comes through for them.











She plays soccer also, and finally scored some points for her team this past Thursday. Greg coaches the team, along with my brother-in-law, Ryan. The season is over this week, with the final game being on Thursday. They have all done a great job.

Kali is part of the student council at her school, and got to participate in the local homecoming parade about a month ago. She was voted in by her class, and the school's student council walks in the parade and throws candy to the "crowds" of people! She loves being in the spotlight:)
I think I may have a cheerleader! Kali's school offered a program, where they could work with the high school cheerleaders. The group of girls met 3 times a week, for 3 weeks, teaching the girls cheers, and routines, so they could cheer at the high school football game. Kali was obviously not going to miss this opportunity, and when she ended up sick the day before the game, she was devastated. Luckily, her "bug" passed quickly, and she was able to go to school on Friday, and cheer that evening. She loved it, and BOY...was I proud!



















Kali tested in Karate on Saturday evening also. She now has a high gold belt. She did awesome in testing, and was pleased to continue moving up in the ranks. (Having your sister skip the high gold belt, proved to be difficult for her, but she did manage to congratulate her anyway!!)

Tia, Tia, Tia.....I think her job right now, is to be CUTE!! She also tested in Karate, and while her focus is not exactly stellar, she did manage getting her high gold belt...and she was thrilled. She is doing great in preschool, and has a little friend named Melayna, that she spends all of her time with. She loves purses, money, and shoes, and well she is perfecting CUTE right now...and I couldn't be more proud!!





















Now for myself...a very brief update:
In memory of our dear friend Maria who passed away almost a year ago, Deidra and I decided to cut our hair and donate it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. This organization makes wigs from donated hair, for women who have been affected by cancer. I was able to go shoulder length, and donate 9" of hair.
I also started working at the elementary school, and getting paid for it!!! I was asked to take over lunch recess duty, so I only have to "work" a little over an hour a day. I figured I am always there anyways...may as well get paid for it:)
In other news: My dear friend Rich, is making huge progress. The Dr.'s are amazed at how quickly he is recovering. We are thrilled!
One more thing: I won the Publishers Clearing House 10 million dollar prize yesterday....FOR HALLOWEEN:)