We Interrupt This Blog for an Important, Very Long, Catch-Up Post...Mostly About Danika and Megan

Last week was a busy one! Actually, the entire last month has been eventful. Let's bring everyone up to speed, shall we?

Danika turned 18 on April 11. All she wanted to do was go shopping for clothes (which we did) and go get frozen yogurt at Menchies...what goofballs :)

Prom was on April 14. I finished the dress Grandma started while we were in Missouri for Spring Break (more on that in another post) just in time...I was sewing literally up until the last minute. That's pretty much how I roll on most things! It was pretty nerve-wracking, but it held together, and she was comfortable! That was her first criteria: comfort. (I love that kid...she is not at all high maintenance!). Danika has had enough of big, poofy, uncomfortable dresses. She wanted an Empire waist, and for it to look kind of like one the dresses in the movie "Emma." It turned out pretty nice, but WAY above my sewing skills! It is much prettier in person though, I think.

She went with Bryton Wells, a guy she has been friends with all through high school. He is a good kid, so we were all happy and comfortable with it :) We were a little worried that his tux wouldn't match, but when he showed up he looked fantastic--very classy, indeed.

Danika successfully pinned on the corsage without puncturing Bryt :)

 Cute, cute couple! (But they're just friends...really!)

On May 2nd, Danika received her Young Women Medallion. She has had everything done for a couple of years except for the last 2 Virtue requirements and reading the Book of Mormon. She finished earlier this Spring. She was awarded her necklace at a recognition night for the graduating Laurels. I was glad she finished (there were times I doubted, I must admit). Her favorite thing was reading the Book of Mormon all the way through by herself. We actually did see a difference in her while she was reading because she was ahead of us in our family reading. She would make comments sometimes that were interesting and showed she was gaining her own understanding of it. Those moments are the payoff of parenting. Mike was out-of-town, so I was the only one there to say a few things about her. All the girls receiving their awards had to do a display table of some of their projects.

 
May 8th was Mike's birthday...he was out of town. Mother's Day came and went. I can't remember much about either, except my family made dinner for me...yay!

Next came Megan's 12th birthday on May 15...NO MORE PRIMARY! She couldn't wait to get into YW's with her friends. Before school she opened her gifts from Brooke (Beatles shirt) and Danika (tote bag).

 

After dinner Megan opened the rest of her presents from Mom and Dad--a new Sunday outfit, sandals, a couple of t-shirts, and some new socks.

Then we went to Sonic for slushies and malts. It was super easy and laid back. Thankfully none of my kids really like cake, so they never ask for it, because I am a horrible cake maker. Happy Birthday Megan!

May 20 was Seminary graduation. Again, Mike was out-of-town. Heidi Francis asked Danika to accompany her in a musical number. It was a pretty hard piece--4 sharps! But she did great! Here are all the Seniors from our ward...

Friday June 1st Megan graduated from D.A.R.E. and 6th grade. She had a great year with Mrs. Austin, who happened to be her 5th grade teacher at Snow Horse. Mrs. Austin moved over to Heritage last year and Megan got lucky enough to get her again. She was super happy about that because we moved halfway through the year, and she was sad to leave her awesome teacher.

Best buddies--Kassidy Webb, Anna Francis, and Megan.

 

Later that day we got to attend Danika's graduation at the Dee Events Center at Weber State. There were 701 kids graduating. Grandpa Allen was in Utah visiting so he was able to come also. We are very happy for Danika and all she has accomplished! She's off to Southern Utah University in the Fall. She received a half tuition scholarship for 4 years, so we are very proud of her!

The Fab Five--these guys are always together! (Carly, Bryton, Jordyn, Lincoln and Danika)

These three call themselves "The Tricycle" because Lincoln and Jordyn are a couple, which leaves the three of them as "3rd wheels."

Danika and Karter Chisholm--Jr. Prom dates and both lifeguarding at Cherry Hill this summer.

A little attitude from my girl!

Proud Grandpa and dad (even though the sun's in his eye)

Happy it's over!  One down, two more to go!

Whew! Glad I got that all down in writing. It's been a blur, but I am really happy for my kids--they are awesome!

Prom...the Sequel

Last weekend was Prom for Danika. It actually turned out to be fun, with only one minor hitch! I was happy that she had a good time, because she was dreading it. This was only her second date since she turned 16, and the first one was the Christmas dance. So she really hasn't had a chance to break into the dating scene casually. I guess it would have been nice to go out a few times before being thrown into the formal dress-dinner-dance scenario!

First, I should tell the way she answered Karter. Her idea was to use Justin Bieber's song "Never Say Never" since he's kind of a joke with the high school kids. She got a big poster of Justin Bieber at Wal-Mart, and while we were there we hit the jackpot! We found a Justin Bieber doll that sang the "Never Say Never" song! So she made a sign that said: "Karter, I'd never say never to go with you to prom," and taped the poster to his front door and put the doll on the doorstep. We found out later that night that he was in St. George for Spring Break, so she went back and collected the stuff. (I should mention that it was raining during this whole scenario, so the poster ended up a little water-damaged!)

Then we went to St. George for a few days, and when we got back she called Aimee and McKenna again and they went over at night to drop off the stuff. When they were putting it on the door his little sister came over to the window and saw them, so they ran to the car. McKenna, however, chose to run into his backyard for some reason. So after a few minutes Danika drove back past the house and picked her up from her hiding spot.

I don't know when or how dates for formal dances evolved into a 2-day or all-day event. When I was in high school you just went to dinner and the dance. Now these kids have a "day date" either the day before or the day of the dance. Karter and Danika went miniature golfing with their group on Friday night. That was a good thing to break the ice.

Saturday was the prom. Danika had an appointment to have our hairdresser do her hair at 3:30. She didn't know the plan of when the guys were picking her up (Karter and Chris Wirthlin...who incidentally was her date for the Christmas dance--awkward! And yes, if you are wondering, he is Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's grandson). Mike, Megan and I went to Megan's soccer game, and Brooke was playing tennis. I texted Danika at 4:55 to see if she knew when they were coming. She said they had to be at Lincoln Holt's house at 5:15. Then I called her, because I wanted to tell her I wanted to take pictures of her before she left. She told me Karter was already there, and she was leaving! She had just put on her dress when he rang the doorbell! So she grabbed her make-up and a change of clothes and left! I was ticked, because I wanted to be there, but she told me they had to pick up Chris's date and to meet her at Karter's house. So I ran home and grabbed the camera and drove over to Karter's. They showed up about 10 minutes later and we got to take pictures.

Notice Karter's shoes? They are Vans (at least they were new and clean). He absolutely refuses to wear the tux shoes. For the Christmas dance I think Danika said he wore white temple shoes. How that is any less goofy than tux shoes I'm not sure. Kids!

They went to Z Tejas for dinner at the Gateway, and then on to Prom at the Capitol. Afterwards they went to Lincoln's for a movie. Danika said they didn't even watch the movie because they just sat upstairs and talked. She got home about 1:30 (yikes!). She had to get up and be at BYC at 8:00 the next morning, and then we had to speak in Sacrament meeting. It was a whirlwind weekend!

PROM!

Last night was entertaining.

Danika got asked to Junior Prom (by Karter Chisholm).

Danika did NOT want to get asked to Prom.

Danika has only been on one date since she turned 16 last April.

Danika thinks dating is awkward and avoids it like the plague.

The backstory:  Her friends talked her into asking a guy that she barely knew to the Christmas dance (Davis High's version of Sadie's). Jordyn (the friend) wanted Danika to go with their group, and Chris (the date) wanted to go but didn't have a date. Danika only did to because she said she "couldn't say no" to Jordyn who had just had her wisdom teeth out and looked like a forlorn chipmunk. So Danika asked Chris, and rented a dress, yadda yadda yadda. They went together--Danika chauffered 3 couples--and she only danced with the poor kid once on the whole date! She barely even talked to him. So ever since then she has been vehemently anti-dating. I think it was a bit too stressful of an event for her first date!

Last night Danika, Megan and I went to the library. Right after we got there Mike texted me and said "Danika is going to be surprised when she gets home." I asked why, and he called and told me there was a white bunny stuffed animal, a big chocolate bunny and a note on our doorstep. Meanwhile... Jordyn had texted Danika and asked her if she liked what was on the doorstep. Since we weren't home, Danika asked her what she was talking about, and Jordyn (who had helped Karter deliver the stuff) filled her in. So Danika was in the library quietly banging her head against the bookcase saying "I hate my life!" She likes to act melodramatic about these things.

So here she is again in a similar predicament, except she isn't the one asking and paying for the date, and she actually knows Karter and says he's a funny guy. I think she'll be fine. What she needs is to go on some dates that aren't formal dances, so she doesn't feel so awkward around guys. But I can't control that. I guess I should be grateful she isn't boy crazy. I hope eventually that she'll figure out that dating can be fun!