Abby Turns 10!

Abby was so excited to get new earrings from her Aunt's for her birthday.

Everyone helping to blow out the candles.

I am so thankful to be her Mom.  Isn't she just beautiful.  She'll always be my little princess!

The girls enjoying their cake and ice cream.  It's always a party with our family!

Abby got to celebrate her birthday a little early this year.  We planned a trip to Disneyland that fell over Abby's birthday (not a bad way to celebrate your birthday), so we decided to have everyone over for cake and ice cream the Sunday before we left.  I really can't believe she is 10 years old.  Where have the last 10 year gone?  Abby is an amazing girl and I am so thankful for all she does for our family.  She is a great babysitter and if you ask Jake who his best friend is, he'll tell you Abby.  She is so good to play with him and the other kids, especially during piano lessons.  I don't know what I'd do without her.

She picked the castle cake for the second year in a row which I was not complaining about all (it's an easy one!)  I hope she never outgrows the desire to be a princess!  We were able to have both sets of grandparents over for dinner and then all my sisters and their families came for dessert.  They are so supportive.  I love them so much.  Abby was so excited to get new earrings for her birthday, too.  She got her ears pierced a couple of months ago and new she'd be able to put in new earrings while were at Disneyland.  She had the option to get them pierced two years ago when she turned 8, but opted not to do it until this year (with a little coaxing from me).  She looks so grown up with them pierced.  We sure love her and hope she has many, many more happy birthdays!

We Love Science!

Abby and her "Home Grown Fresh Garden Taste" carrot experiment

Karlee and her "To Drink or Not to Drink" caffeine experiment

Karlee receiving her 3rd place District Science Fair medal

Abby receiving her 2nd place District Science Fair medal

My two cute girls, so proud of their hard work and new medals

February was another month of science fairs.  The girls entered their projects in their school science fair where they were very surprised to earn 1st place (Abby for 4th grade) and 2nd place (Karlee for 1st grade).  The girls, and Layne and I, put in many hours to do their experiments and put their projects together.  Abby did an experiment to see if carrots can be left in the ground over the winter and how they turn out if they are covered or not covered.  She also placed some in a bag in the garage and in the refrigerator back in November then tested them all for taste, color, and crispness.  It was a really cool experiment.  Karlee did an experiment on caffeine.  She placed white carnations in different jars with liquids containing different amounts of caffeine and then recorded what happened to them over the week.  Needless to say, you can't get Karlee to touch a caffeinated drink with a ten foot pole.  Not even Sunkist pop which we found out has as much caffeine as coke or pepsi.  After winning at their school, they got to take their experiments to the District Science Fair.  Abby's project almost didn't get judged because her teacher didn't take it down to the office to be taken to the District Office.  Luckily, we happened to arrive at the Fair a little early and realized it wasn't there.  Long story short, they called the judges back and we went to get her project from the school.  It was crazy but worth it, as she won 2nd place.  Karlee won 3rd place at the District Fair.  We are very proud of both of them.  And especially grateful we only have science fairs once a year.  Congratulations girls!