Homecoming 2024 - Taya & Jay

Taya met the sweetest boy at FSY in July this summer.  They became fast friends & hung out a few times before I started to notice that it was obvious they liked each other.  Those few hangouts turned into 2-3 times a week seeing each other. . . which turned into dates. . . . which turned into an adorable relationship between the 2 of them.

Jay asked Taya to Homecoming back in August when he invited her to a church dance in Eagle Mountain.  He gave her a poster that said "Would you be 'UP' for HOCO?"  The "Up" house from the Disney movie Up was on the side & he had attached balloons to it.  She was SO excited.

We answered him by filling up his room with 200 balloons.  In one of the balloons was a "grape soda pin" (like the movie) that said "YES!"

Jay's mom does hair & make up so we spent the afternoon after their rock climbing day date getting her ready for Homecoming.  She did her hair in a cute updo & did her make up beautifully.

They exchanged corsages & boutonnières & we were ready to take pictures. 

Jay had a few friends that they ended up going with to dinner & the dance.  They ate dinner at Texas Roadhouse & then danced the night away.

She looked beautiful like Cinderella.  I'm glad they had so much fun together.

 

Taya's 17th Birthday

Taya kind of had a bazillion "birthdays" this year because we were SO busy we had to spread it out.

We celebrated with my parents & my brother's family the Sunday before her birthday.  Mimi & Baba got her a fashion design sketchpad with some Copic markers.  She loved that.  Justin's family got her a really fun game called "Doodle Heist."

We had her birthday dinner a day early so that Trek could be there for it.  She wanted homemade stew, corn on the cob, rolls, & apples for her special dinner.

Then we opened up presents from Trek & I, the siblings, & from my friend Nancy.

Nancy got her a ton of new clothes & shoes.  She loves buying my kids new wardrobes for their birthday.  Taya loved it all.  She especially love the mint colored dress with matching mint Converse sneakers.  Her favorite gift was a Cinderella slipper necklace.  It's beautiful.

Opa & Oma got her some fun things for her car, a "paintbrush" for her ipad for drawing & a new drawing glove.

We got her some new curtains for her room & the kids got her a record of "Into the Woods."

The next morning we did her birthday breakfast.  She wanted croissants, sliced berries, sausage, & a birthday cupcake.  I always smile when my kids really really want a good old European breakfast.  We all miss Europe so much.

Her official 17th birthday party was in October, so stayed tuned for those pics.  It was a Masquerade & it was a BLAST.

 

Hobbit Day

Lorien went ALL OUT for Hobbit Day this year.  It actually fell on a Sunday, but we celebrated it on the Saturday instead.  We invited her roommates, family, & some friends over for the day.  People came & went depending on their days' schedule, but everyone had fun.

Everyone came dressed as a hobbit, elf, wizard, or dwarf & we watched all 3 Lord of the Rings movies while Lorien fed us all 7 hobbit meals (breakfast, 2nd breakfast, elevensies, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner, supper).  It was AMAZING.  Lorien did a fantastic job!

We started bright & early at 7am.  We began with breakfast & then started the 1st Lord of the Rings movie.

I had an appointment I couldn't miss so I missed 2nd breakfast which was pancakes, eggs, bacon, & fruit.  (It sounded so yummy!)

Elevensies was more of a snacky fruit & veggie platter which was perfect because everyone was already pretty full from both breakfasts.

Luncheon was potato soup, rolls, & more fruits & veggies.

Afternoon tea was my favorite.  We had fruit teas & hot cocoa with all sorts of delicious baked goodies.  Lorien made the best scones & cookies.

Trek & I had to leave after tea for the his squadron's 75th anniversary celebration dinner, but Lorien got a picture of some of the guests who came which was so fun.

Dinner was a full on meal with pot roast, garlic mashed potatoes, & more.

And then supper was a simple charcuterie tray with meats that Lorien marinated & made herself (seasoned sausages) & cheeses. 

The final movie ended at 10:30 pm.  Our bellies were full, our hearts were full from the wonderful movies we watched, & all was well in Middle Earth.