My Best Friend...

Who knew that the dog that I never wanted would attach himself to me, follow me everywhere, sleep at the foot of my bed and become my best friend???

If I am working in the laundry room or hanging up clothes in the kids' bedrooms, he will find a comfy spot to sleep until... he hears me walk out of the room and he jumps up and follows me to my next chore!

Even now as I'm typing he is sitting at my feet until... I get up to pick up the elementary school carpool where he will join me on the armrest next to my seat!

Prom

Hillary went to the Jr. PROM tonight with Tyler Stahle. He plays basketball for WXHS (notice his height even with her 4-inch heels). She dislikes the obligatory PICTURE-TAKING before leaving for a dance but knows there is no way out of it. The follow-up 15 minute CONVERSATION between John and her date is equally unsettling to her. She'll probably get her dad back by extending her CURFEW... I'm just happy there are only two more DANCES this year--Sweethearts (girl's choice) in Feb. and Sr. Prom (boy's choice) in the Spring. That means we're getting close to being finished with walking, shopping, trying on, and buying, dresses. Yay! It amazes me that a girl can't wear the same DRESS with a different guy to a different dance even in a different year. What is that???! We've been lucky to find many good deals at Dillard's that both MOM and DAUGHTER have been HAPPY and SATISFIED with (thank goodness). The great thing is that Hillary will now have many dresses to take with her to COLLEGE next year!

What we did during our days off from school...

... finished Grayson's Science Fair poster (whew!)

... finished the final draft of Hillary's Sterling Scholar Portfolio (DOUBLE whew!)

Garrett's Happy Day!

Garrett finally passed the test and got his driver's permit. He wants to go out driving all the time and of course mom is the one available to go with him (he's actually a good driver--thank goodness)! So now we begin the 40 hours of supervised driving until he turns 16 next November...

Garrett also had a very eventful New Year's Eve with a small party at our house until 12:30 am. Hillary went out with friends until 1, Hailey went to a party at a friend's until 1 and Grayson went to a friend's house til 10. John and I got through watching about half of "Mama Mia" before taking a catnap but woke up in time to say Happy New Year and have a toast with Grayson, take kids home, wait for kids to come home and of course, clean up the mess 8 teenagers can make with food, confetti, bubbles and poppers!

Happy New Year!!!

What Every Mom Wants to Hear...

..."this was the BEST Christmas ever!" spoken individually by both Grayson and Hailey after enjoying what Santa brought them. One gift of Grayson's, "Rock Band" was also a big hit with the older kids and the four siblings rocked out in the wee Christmas morning hours with drums, guitars and microphone (hope they weren't too loud, Rosqvists!)

Cooper also enjoyed others' gifts as he lounged in Hailey's new bean bag she purchased for herself with some grandparent Christmas money...

Fridays...

This is what Friday afternoons usually look like at our house from about 1:30 until about 9 or 10 at night. Grayson and Garrett usually bring at least three friends home (each!) and our house size quadruples. They look forward to this day all week when they can hang out. They're usually pretty good to tidy a few areas but I always feel better after I take an hour to wipe down, clean out and straighten up after everyone goes home and the house is quiet again...

First Place!

Hailey had another cheer competition at Alta High School today and Mueller Park Jr. High took first place in the Small Jr. High Division. For those of you who ask what characterizes "small" (I did), it is a squad with 16 or less cheerleaders. There were a couple of Jr. Highs that had 18 on their squad so they were in the Large Division. The picture is pretty weak but I'm always so involved watching the girls that I'm usually late taking any of the stunts, tumbling, dance moves, etc. I'm just glad I caught this one of Hailey (middle top) in a stationary position. Congrats!