Sweet 16

Friday April 22nd

We celebrated Maggie's birthday all weekend.

Maggie's best friend Emma, came over while Maggie was at school to decorate her room.  She had 16 balloons and tied to each balloon was a picture of them and a short thought or memory on the back.  It was really cute.

That night we went out to eat for her birthday and she chose Old Spaghetti Factory.  Her favorite.

Saturday April 23rd

For her 16th birthday, I decided to throw her a surprise party.  I had her friend Emma help with inviting all her friends.  I had bought pizza for dinner and had a bunch of snacks and sodas. I figured they'd just want to eat and hang out.  I also had stuff for an ice cream bar.

The ice cream bar and all the snacks.

I had a lot of fun printing off black and white pictures of Maggie all throughout her childhood.  I only meant to do a handful, but there were so many good ones that I had about 200 pictures. I hung up a lot of them, but will save them all to give to her. 

#16 made from pictures of Maggie

Maggie had been at Emma's house hanging out and watching a movie.  I had told her other friends to come at a certain time and then told her to be home like a half hour later because I needed her to babysit while Garrett and I went out.  She kept texting saying that she was finishing up a movie and for us to go ahead and leave.  That she'd be home in like 20 minutes and Lydia could babysit for that amount of time.  I kept telling her that she needed to be home regardless, so she reluctantly came home.  I had all these teenagers at my house and no birthday girl.  Finally she came home and I thought she might know what was going on, but she was completely surprised!  I was so happy about that!

Maggie being surprised

Eating dinner

hanging out

back: Nathan; on the couch: Emma (from her basketball team), Andrew, Spencer, floor: Makaela, Maggie, Rebecca and Emma.  They pretty much talked the whole time.  I was kind of surprised that most of them left around 9:30 or so...I thought they'd stay a lot later.  But, I think she had a fun time.

Sunday April 24th

Family Birthday Party

After church, we had grandma and grandpa over for dinner and then opened presents.  

She got new piano music--the Downton Abbey theme song and Pearl Harbor piano music.  She doesn't take lessons anymore, but she really likes to find music that she loves and then she practices on them for hours.  I love that she still plays piano and enjoys it.  

She got a new wallet and we surprised her with a debit card.  We had set up a checking account with some money in it to get her started.  We also had a few gift cards in the wallet.

Garrett had also taken her car in and got a new stereo system put in for her.  She's holding the front of the stereo that you can take out.  She was pretty surprised. 

Strawberry cheesecake for her cake

Checking out her new stereo.

She also got the charge cord for her phone.  

Here are Maggie's annual questions:

Favorite color: dark purple, olive green

Favorite dessert: Tillamook Oregon Strawberry ice cream on a waffle cone

What is your favorite thing for dinner?  Spinach tortellini alfredo from Old Spaghetti Factory

Do you collect anything? I keep all my cards and movie ticket stubs

What is your favorite movie?  "Captain America: The First Avenger" and "Music and Lyrics"

What is your favorite book? The work and the Glory, Throne of Glass, the Help.

What is your favorite song? "Die a Happy Man" by Thomas Rhett

Who are your best friends?  Emma Lloyd, Nathan Goodey, Joseph Poole

What do you love about yourself? I love that I am willing to branch out and try new things.  I love that I have grown more confident.  

What is your favorite thing about school?  I love French and choir!  I also love being able to learn and socialize with people.  

What is your favorite thing to do with your mom?  I love going shopping, cooking and talking with her. 

What is your favorite thing to do with your dad?  I love to joke around with him and do house projects.  

What is the best thing you have learned this year? I've learned to make new friends and to be more accepting of different people.

Where would you like to go on vacation this year?  I would love to go to Harry Potter World, Disney World, or Europe or Mexico

What do you want to be when you grow up? I would love to be a teacher and a mom.  I love kids and I think that what they learn when they are young is important.

Do you have a favorite scripture?  My favorite is Isaiah 49:5-6, but mainly I love the thought that Christ remembers us every time he looks at His hands. 

Who is your favorite apostle? My favorite apostles are Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Jeffrey R. Holland.  They both have such strong passionate testimonies.  They have a sense of humor that makes them relatable and easy to listen to.  

Most of April

Saturday April 2nd

 After we watched General Conference, we took the whole family over to the Portland Temple grounds to take pictures of Bella for her baptism pictures.  I'm not sure why we did it so early, considering she wasn't going to get baptized until May and she wasn't even turning 8 until the end of April.  But it was such a beautiful, warm day so it worked out perfectly.  

 We got some really adorable pictures of her.  I really love her hair curled like this.  

 I made this to hang in her room.

 I love the temple doors.

 It's the fam...

 After we took pictures, we went to the Visitor's Center and looked around for a bit. 

Sunday April 3rd 

 Watching General Conference--morning session

The McKibben Men 

Jim and Georgia came over in the afternoon to watch the afternoon session with us and eat dinner.  I think Noah is getting the most out of conference out of the 3 guys. :)

Friday April 8th

Paige's friend Hailey from school (she also lives in our neighborhood) found out that her family was moving, so Paige and some other friends got together and planned a surprise Goodbye Party for Hailey.  The funny thing was that she would tell Paige a date that they were moving and then it would change because of one thing or another.  Paige kept trying to plan a date for the party, but then kept having to change it.  So, she finally had the party, but Hailey didn't end up moving for like another month it seems like.  Or at least a couple of weeks.  Anyways, I was really proud of Paige and her friends for doing this for her.  I think she was genuinely surprised.  

 One of the kids made the cake and some other kids brought some other goodies

Paige made some banners

 and put up some decorations

 Hailey walking in to all the friends jumping out at her.  Hailey is the one on the left next to Maggie.

 Here she is with her hands on her face.

 Top: Peyton, Ashley, Mason, Riley, Sarya Bottom: Katie, ? I can't remember her name, Paige, Hailey and Brooke.

 They played some soccer games because Hailey loves soccer. 

 Paige, Brooke and Hailey...these 3 were pretty close.  

 After most of the kids left, Paige, Bella, Hailey and Brooke decided to play in the water.

 Friday April 15th

The Young Women put on a fundraiser each year to help pay for Girl's Camp.  This year it was an 80's dance with games and stuff for the kids.  The YW were supposed to dress up 80's style, but Lydia didn't want to.  These were pictures from the photo booth. 

 They had face painting for the kids.  Paige was obviously Harry Potter and Noah was Pikachu and I can't tell what Ashley had on her face.  

 Garrett and I dancing.  There weren't a lot of people that actually got up and danced.

April 12th

 I thought this was so cute...Maggie wearing her prom shoes around the house to get used to them before the dance. 

Saturday April 16th

Mormon Prom

This was Maggie's first date...and yes it is a week before she turns 16.  We figured she was close enough and didn't want her to miss out on this experience.  

 Curling her hair 

 Her friend Emma came over to help her do her hair and her make-up, since I'm really not very helpful in those areas.  

 Pictures of Maggie before Nathan arrives.  She's so beautiful!

 Showing off her silver shoes.  They have like 3 inch heels.  

 Maggie and Emma

 Look how much taller she is than me in her heels!

Nathan arrived right on time and looked nervous and very handsome in his matching blue.  Instead of having to pin on his boutonniere, it was a handy magnet.  I remember being so nervous and trying to pin it on my prom date.  This was really nice!

 They doubled with their friend Tyler from their ballroom dance class (and I can't remember her name either, but I think she was from their class, too.)

 They had their mom's (I think) cook dinner for them and they ate it at a park near Nathan's house.  They had salad, steak, potatoes and rolls.  Maggie said it was really good.  

 Kind of a blurry picture, but I thought it was cute of them from afar.  I'm pretty sure Nathan's mom took this one.  

 I had them take one of Maggie's hair because I forgot to get one while she was still at home.  

 Decorations at the dance...

Picture of them from the dance.  I thought it was funny that he didn't put his arm around her at our house, but did at the dance.  I'm sure he was nervous with Garrett there.  :)

April 21st

We got a new rug for our kitchen!!  We had been searching and searching for a blue square rug for so long!!  There are not a lot of square rugs out there--so hard to find.  But I really love it!

 Tuesday April 26th

Cub Scouts were having a carnival at their pack meeting.  Since I'm in primary, I sometimes go to Pack Meetings.  The kids liked the donuts on a string!

 Thursday April 28th

 Noah had a loose tooth.  He actually agreed to let Garrett tie a string around his tooth and a string to a nerf bullet and let Garrett shoot the nerf gun.  None of my girls would ever let Garrett do such a thing!!  Unfortunately after shooting it 2 or 3 times...it still never came out.  I'm not sure why.  The string was still attached to the tooth and the bullet.  

 Then Garrett tried to pull the tooth himself, but wouldn't come out.  Maybe the tooth wasn't ready.  Garrett was a little disappointed, but glad he was able to try.  I was impressed with Noah for being so brave to let Garrett try.  It would've been cooler had the tooth come out, but whatever.  
                                                                 Friday April 29th
                                                              Father/Son Campout

 Noah really likes sleeping in tents...it's such a novelty to him, since he's used to sleeping in a bed in a trailer every time we go camping.  

 I'm glad that they are able to go and do this once a year and get to bond together and get away from all the girls!  Love their funny faces!

Next up will be birthday posts for my 3 birthday people in April!