Young Women's... HERE COMES SAVANNAH!!!

Yep. She's excited.  She started counting down days to '12' on November 17, 2012. Well... that day finally arrived, and she celebrated in style!

It all started with the birthday party. I am NOT a birthday party person. We just haven't really ever done them. This year, however, we have had parties for all the children, and Savannah was the last birthday this year to get a party.

I have been planning this party all year. In my head. It went off nearly as I had planned! (The only exceptions being that I didn't decorate like I planned in my head to do.)

Savannah's Birthday Party was a "Late-Over, Make-Over" party - going from 7 - 11 p.m. It included homemade pizzas, a movie (Ella Enchanted), and make-overs for Savannah and all of her friends. Andrew was in charge of the pizzas, and the girls were thrilled! One of my dear friends here in Salem has quite a bit of experience with make-up, and she consented to come teach the girls the proper application of make-up of all sorts, even though Savannah's make-up use will be minimal!

It was amazing to me to see the transformation of the girls. From the most eager - to the least eager... the greatest transformation was that of the least eager, a young woman who was extremely reluctant to wear make-up! Thankfully, the make-up applied to all of the girls was tasteful and minimally done, and the girls hardly looked as though they had been made-up.

The one thing I did NOT expect at this party was comments about boys. Andrew and I know that Savannah has a young man that she thinks is handsome (and he is!), but we didn't think that Savannah's friends would know about that and say something about it! "Oooo, Savannah, S****** is sure to notice you now!" "And so will B*****!" And then the talk turned from Savannah, to all the other girls discussing who they thought was handsome and why. I'm not ready for this yet.

All the girls gathered to see exactly how to apply makeup...

Savannah, all finished... a little make-up!

Posing for the camera! Her friends all told her that she was certainly going to catch the eye of one of the boys from church! (or two or three names may have come up....)

Margaret was allowed to stay up for the party, too! She had a VERY LITTLE bit of make-up... that wore off within minutes.

All Savannah's friends: L-R from the back, ending with Savannah: Ellie Stuart, Macey Smith, Lucy Knight, Preslee Sellers, McKenna Wonderling and Savannah

The party ended as a success... and Savannah has informed me that I am "THE COOLEST MOM EVER!"

Saturday - her actual birthday - was (as Savannah said) "the greatest day ever!" She went shopping with Grandma and Grandpa Stahr, and came home with multiple new outfits. Dinner was fun with Chicken Parmesan and Italian Cream Sodas (a new family favorite...) - ending with an ice-cream cake from Safeway.

Sunday, Savannah was recognized in church as the newest young woman in our ward, she sang in a trio with Margaret (who cried through the whole thing because of nerves), and another of Margaret's friends, and went to her first Young Women's meeting. After church, ALL of her new classmates and advisors and personal progress coach came to our house to welcome Savannah to Beehives. Needless to say, she has been super excited to be a beehive. She's counting hours until her first official activity. I was told to get my shoes on at noon today... I think we have a few more hours before the activity!

I sure am pleased with the young woman she is becoming. We have our differences, but Savannah is a wonderful young woman, and I was super proud of her reaction and treatment of Margaret on Sunday when Margaret was having troubles. They may yet amaze me and truly become best friends!

So... Happy Birthday, Savannah! May 12 be an excellent year for you! You are certainly loved.

The cake. "I blew them all out with one breath! And there were a LOT of candles!!!"

Jensens and Reunions

And I know I haven't put some of these on the family facebook site yet, but I wanted to share these awesome photos I have of some pretty amazing people. And maybe share some emotions.

One of my favorite memories of this reunion had more to do with an event that happened AFTER almost everyone left, so not many were able to participate, but I wanted to share anyway.

Uncle West was camping on the back lawn. (He has an unusual way of setting up his tent, but it worked for him, so...) After he had the tent set up, Andrew and I invited him to join us for family prayer. With some prodding, he did. Now - unlike many of my siblings, we do not always sing before praying. But that night, we were prompted to sing. I still get emotional thinking of the sweet spirit in our living room as we were all reminded that we are children of our Heavenly Father, and hearing Uncle West sing with us the words, "I am a Child of God. He has sent me here..." He knew all the words. I cried. And I was thankful I didn't get to pray, I wouldn't have made it.

I have some pretty strong feelings towards all of my family, and I know that I don't always express them - or maybe express them well. Sometimes those strong feelings may not have been as kind as they ought to. However, I am grateful for the knowledge that OUR family is an Eternal One. I am thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who allows me the chance to become better on a daily basis. And even though I may not call, or write, or send flowers, I hold my family close to my heart.  And if you're part of it, I am grateful for you. Wow. FAMILIES ARE FOREVER. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for making that a priority in your lives and being the example. And thanks, all you siblings, for being part of it. I love you. I think we should get together or call or write or send flowers more often. I should probably start.

I wish everyone could have been there. And Thanks, Uncle Rusty - for Bringing Donna. What a wonderful spirit she brought to our family.

Uncle Rusty and Aunt Donna. May she rest in peace. May we find peace in her passing.

Uncle West, Uncle Rusty, Uncle Dusty, Uncle Ken, Mom, Aunt Dot. Missing Aunt Sandy. Maybe next time.

The same set of above mentioned Hooligans.

Margaret wants to visit Texas. That's where the McQuivey's are. I miss them, too.

See. Hooligans. Up to Shenanigans.

Aunt Donna, Uncle Rusty, Savannah. Comparing hats.

Aunt Donna and Uncle Rusty - in cowboy hats. Savannah wanted to share.

Cider Saturday... A brief (very) update

We jugged 102.5 gallons of cider. We sold nearly half of that.
We used just over 2200 lbs of apples in our cider.

We were joined this year by Ethan and Shannon Nuttall and their crew of excellent helpers, Steven and Andrea Stahr, Laurel Stahr, and - of course, Our Fantastic Five. All of whom worked hard to help us get the Cider stored.

Additionally, we pressed another 12.5 gallons of cider the following Thursday for a grand total of 115 gallons of Apple Cider. Yum. This year is one of the best yet.

And now for the photos:

This is one of my favorite cider photos. I LOVE the joy on the children's faces!

Look at all those helpers! Even Grandpa is loading apples!

Ready for Pressing!

Funny how everyone seems to be gone when it's time to clean up... even the kids are nowhere to be seen....

Cider Thursday. The final pounds of apples...

Liquid Gold.

THIS is what I'll be making next year. Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls. Delicious!