Tomorrow is the girls' last day at Henderson. Today they brought home bags of papers and stuff to show me. I think I sat on the couch for 1.5 to 2 hours going through all the stuff with each of the girls. These were some of the highlights of the night:

Angela's book about the zoo. About 3 years ago when we went to the zoo it was the hippo's birthday week so they brought him a banana cake and we sang to him and stuff. He actually is the oldest known hippo, I believe. Anyways, it's something Angela always remembers. I think it's so great she included it in her book about the zoo.

Angela's 100 Day page. Love so many things about this. My favorite is that when asked what she hopes to be in 100 years, she responded "A great grandma." ...What a sweet answer! Nothing better than that in 100 years :) And I love her picture of what she looks like today and in 100 years. What a smarty-pants that she knows she's probably going to shrink :)

Angela got to bring home what's been hanging on the wall the last few weeks!!! My mom (Grandma Rebecca Ashton) sent her class some information all about where she lives (St. George). Angela has a very close relationship with my mom. I love that these pictures hung in her classroom. What missionaries my mom and Angela are together!!! Look at those beautiful pictures of the temple and Savior that Angela showed to her class!!! And that picture of the temple hung in her classroom for weeks.

...I also just loved this letter she wrote to her cousin, Cooper (Michelle Ashton Jepesson's son). Her and Cooper are good little buddies. I love some of the things she said in here.

...This just made me laugh. I don't know if I am the snowman or not, but boy does this girl make me smile.

Carolyn's stuff!! I can't remember if I have talked about her talent show in our family journal? She tried out and made it!! Pretty big deal! They only could take 15 acts! So excited for her! She played her violin in front of the entire school and rocked it!

....and I loved reading through some journal entries Carolyn wrote in school. She is only allowed to write in pencil in school but I sure think they should be allowed to write in pen so it will keep for years. Anyways, I loved that she talked her experience being baptized. How amazing to write it down to remember it and also be a missionary to share the experience with her classmates and teacher.

I also loved a journal entry she wrote about her dream place to go. It's one that is going to happen when she is 12!!! We have been planning it for years! When she turns 12, we are going to the Woman's Broadcast together. We'll stay in a hotel and go watch it live. I can't wait...and apparently it's her dream place to go :)

This is just a side note of something I was really excited about for Angela's birthday. She had been asking me for a book for her to fill out to get ready for her baptism. I looked through some I could purchase and just wasn't feeling like any of them would do for Angela. So grateful for the Holy Ghost in guiding me in how and what to include in Angela's book. I love that we gave it to her on her birthday and everyday she loves doing something out of her book to prepare herself. Oh, how I learn so much from my Angela. She teaches me so much of why the Savior taught us to be like children. She is such a great example to me. How exciting of a year this will be when she is preparing for her baptismal day!

Here are just some examples of what is in the book...I think it's about 70 pages long or something so it's just a glimpse. I love that Carolyn wanted to be involved in helping making it, too. That's her page at the bottom.

Race to Read

The girls' school did a program the last few weeks called "Raced to Read." To be honest, I don't know if I was a huge fan of the program, but Carolyn was up to sometimes 11 PM at night reading in order to get the highest reading points to be able to go to the race track and watch the race cars. Just me and her went on Saturday night. It was cold and rainy and really loud...made for a really silly memory with Carolyn. It was so fun driving with her and talking and hanging out there despite the negatives of the night :)

A beautiful rainbow after the rain...

What a lucky mom I am to hang out with this fun and sweet girl! It really was fun!

The many faces of Emily..

While waiting for Carolyn's soccer practice, Emily was making me laugh. It was rainy and cold so we wanted to hang out in the car. I would tell Emily what sort of face to make and she'd do it...love this goof pot.

Really Happy:

 Surprised: 

 Sad:

 I think Excited:

 These next two are her mad faces :) Had a hard time keeping a straight face for that one :)

 Silly;

 These next 3 are her "Roar!!!" faces (as she called it)

 And this is what she called her "pretty face"

Emily will often come up to my big belly with baby in it (whom we all call "Snoppy" currently) and kiss and talk to baby brother. It's funny because she kisses him on my tummy and will ask me, "Do you feel that?" As if for sure baby can feel it, but not sure if I can feel the kisses. It makes me laugh every time.

With Angela's BIG day coming on Saturday (Yahoo!! 7!!!) I thought I'd write down some answers to questions Carolyn asked her today. Carolyn was asking us all questions (interviewing us) on the way to Angela's soccer game. When Carolyn said, "Tell us about yourself, these are some of the answers Angela had: (I quote the answers to my best recollection and using Carolyn's notes), I thought her answers were spot on :)

"I laugh a lot"
"I'm cute"
"I'm silly"
"I do my homework"
"I love to see the temple"
"I love mama"
"I love dada"
"I love Carolyn"
"I love Emily"
"I love everyone"

I love my Angela. I was talking to my sister-in-law, Janeil, and she was talking about how she gets sad thinking of her kids getting old and not getting her kisses and snuggles. I told her she just might get an Angela. Angela is always kissing, hugging, and snuggling me.

Tick-Talk Tickle Time!

I love that everyday Angela wanted to have time with just me and her where I give her soft tickles and we talk. I love that a few weeks ago she started calling our time together: "Tick-Tock Tickle Time." So clever. I love that girl :)

I really wonder what I'll do when Emily goes to school. She is by my side 24/7 and I am going to miss her like crazy. The thought makes me want to cry. I asked her today, "What am I going to do when you are at school?" To this, that cute little girl replied, "You'll have Bri!" (her panda bear :)