Choir Tea Party

In January Gateway's choir hosted their annual choir tea party fundraiser. It's another last. Definitely for Ainsley and possibly for Kaylee since she's thinking about being done with choir after this year. Both girls played their parts well and at the end of the day, Ainsley sadly passed on her Belle dress to the new Belle.

Ainsley is an Adult

On January 18th, after an exhausting and rather disappointing soccer game, Ainsley celebrated her 18th birthday with a few of her friends. We ate dinner at Salt Lick and then went back to our house for cake and presents. The adults in our family now outnumber the kids, and I am sitting here wondering how our tiny little baby is now old enough to live on her own and vote. 

Christmastime is Here

Every year Chris climbs up onto our roof and attaches Christmas lights to the house. This year, Landon deemed himself old enough to climb up with Chris and help with the decorating. I will admit, it made me a little nervous to have Landon up there, but all was well in the end. And yes, it was actually shorts weather the day they put up the lights. Grandma and Grandpa Gadd flew out a few days before Christmas and stayed long enough to see the girls play in a couple of soccer games. Grandma Yarbrough joined us a few days after Grandma and Grandpa Gadd left. We had a house full of guests most of Christmas break, which we love.

For my dad's birthday, John gave him two tickets to see Mannheim Steamroller at Austin City Limits while he was visiting us. Landon was the lucky recipient of the second ticket. They enjoyed a fun night of yummy pizza and great music.

Christmas break flew by, and the kids were sadly back to school in a flash. Ainsley is finishing her very last semester of high school and is barely surviving. Senioritis has officially kicked in. 

December Plus a Little Extra

As always, December was a busy month. With soccer season picking up, holiday activities, evening seminary, a choir concert, One Act Play practice, and a very late homecoming, the month flew by. 

Back in September, Kaylee tried out for a one act play and was chosen for the role of the "Old Lady". In December the cast went to a clinic/competition. She was awarded a medal for her performance (All Star Cast). One Act has been a great experience for her. Along the way, she's gotten to know Ainsley's friend Kylie quite a bit better. Kaylee and Kylie have now become friends.

Homecoming came way late this year. Like middle of December late. Gateway has been building a new gym and decided to postpone homecoming until the gym was complete (they don't have a football team, so homecoming revolves around basketball). Such a Gateway thing to do. Nonetheless, the girls still made homecoming mums with the help of our friend Ashley, Ainsley still went to the game (Kaylee had more important things to do like watch the new season of Voltron), they still dressed up and went to the dance, and they still had a great time. Kaylee met her friend Wyatt at the dance and Ainsley and Kylie took their friend Aidan (it was girl's choice).

 

And now for the "Little Extra". At the end of September, Kaylee took a mental health day (played hooky) away from school and the two of us traveled down to San Antonio for a fabulous showing of the Broadway musical, Wicked. Our seats were perfect and we both adored the show.

And last but not least, a cute picture of Kaylee on her ramen date with Chris and a rare photo of Chris and I together (taken on our 19th wedding anniversary in October).

Thanksgiving College Trip

Over Thanksgiving break Grandma and Grandpa Gadd took Ainsley on a college tour. On her way to Salt Lake City she had a two hour layover in Phoenix, Arizona. Ainsley's cruise friend, Colton (or as Chris refers to him, Boat Guy) lives about 20 minutes away from the Phoenix airport, so he and his mom met her for breakfast while she waited for her next flight. So fun!

Once Ainsley arrived in SLC, Grandma and Grandpa picked her up, and they headed to Idaho for a tour of BYU-I. They also toured the University of Utah and BYU Provo. Along their way they visited family members Ainsley had either never met or hadn't seen in quite some time. She also met an old friend of mine (Amy) and her daughter who is Ainsley's age. It sounds like it was a busy, exciting, tiring, wonderful week.

Ainsley loved all three schools but seems partial to BYU Idaho at this time. She actually received an acceptance letter from BYU-I a couple of days after she toured the campus. So far, she has been accepted to the University of North Texas, Texas State, BYU-I, and the University of Utah. She will hear from her last school (BYU Provo) this coming Friday, February 15th. It's going to be a long week.