Softball Season

Elle just finished her 2nd season of Softball playing for the Jordan High School Lady Beetdiggers (yes, beetdiggers). 

Elle is a great hitter! 

 She played 3rd Base this season.

The Diggers beat Alta (their arch rival) earlier this week but failed to make the playoffs after a loss on Thursday.  Elle had a good season, but she hurt her knee and was out for the past several weeks.  She's looking forward to two more years of softball!

We're very proud of her!

Antelope Island

I have been wanting to take the girls to the Great Salt Lake for a long time.  I was 50/50 on whether or not I wanted to go this past weekend.  Then I found out that they were having a little festival out on the island, and that sealed the deal for me.  And bonus....they had a place to do horse-back riding.

This was our first glimpse of the bison.  

Then we found some closer to the road.

 Then they had to cross the road....

 Then we got to the ranch, and our guide (DJ) got our horses saddled up.  This is Dom's horse.  His name is Maverick because he was in the Mel Gibson movie with the same name.

This is Elle on Navajo.  He was in the movie Far and Away with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

We took a 90 minute ride up the trail.  It took us a bit to get adjusted to our horses, but once the girls got the hang of it, it was just a lot of fun! 

I have about 15 pictures that look like this.  Can I tell you that the ride would have been much more enjoyable if I had not been lugging my big old camera.

This was the pinnacle (literally) of our ride.  It's difficult to tell, bu the view is really, really awesome.  When we went down the hill, DJ told Dom and Elle to lean back, and use the stirrups to balance and hold on to the reigns.  Dom was holding on for dear life, and he had the reigns too tight.  She said, "Why won't he go?"  I said, "Do you have the reigns pulled back so he thinks you should be stopped?"  She said, "Oh....that."

All along the way there were thousands and thousands of beautiful sunflowers.  It was SO picturesque!

After our ride, we went to the other side of the island and took pictures along the way.

And more bison....

And more sunflowers.....

Then we went to the Stampede Festival and ate some carb-loaded, fried food.  The girls really wanted to dip their toes in the Great Salt Lake.

On the way to "the beach," we saw a few of the balloons that flew that evening.  

This is one of my favorite pictures....

We got to the west side of the island as the sun was going down.  I haven't altered any of these pictures...

Here they are....as the sun is going down...in the Great Salt Lake.  They are probably about 1/4 mile away from where I'm standing.  

I love this picture.

I love living in Utah; it is so unbelievably beautiful!  This whole state is a testament to God's great creations!

Benihana Birthdays

Over the weekend, my cousin, Kevin came to visit. It was a quick visit, but it was very nice. That night, we all went to Benihana for some great food. Here is a pic of Kevin, Dom and Elle waiting for our table to open.

Dom and Elle mesmerized by the preparation of the fried rice. Carrie, Dominique and Elle

Clearly, one of the best parts of the night is watching the meal preparation and all of the yummy food!

It all began when Elle wanted the seafood combo..then Dom followed suit. I normally would not spring for that expensive of a plate of food for the kids, but since we were (in part) celebrating Elle's birthday, I let them splurge.

We were also celebrating Carrie's birthday (which was a week ago).

They do birthdays up right at Benihana...."Happy Birthday to you...cha, cha, cha..." You get how it goes! We had a really fun night at one of our favorite places. In case you were wondering, Dean is out of town. Adam was there (just out of camera range), and Kevin was beside me. Fun times had by all...until we went down to coat check, and someone had stolen Carrie's coat. (Boo!)

I'm so proud of Elle!

For as long as I can remember, Elle has been our "go to" person in the kitchen. She loves to learn. She loves to help. And she follows directions to a "T." She also takes great satisfaction in a job well done.

One of the things that she has learned to do over the years is set a beautiful table. Sometimes she'll surprise me on a Sunday evening and set "her table" with pretty dishes, napkins and candles. As part of her Young Women's goals, she did a special project this Thanksgiving. This is what it says in the Young Women's personal progress manual: "Develop a skill you could use in your future home, such as cooking, sewing, making repairs, organizing, or designing. Teach that skill to someone, and explain how establishing a house of order (see D&C 109:8) is one of your divine roles."

I thought, "She's developed homemaking skills, now we just need to "teach that skill to someone." So, I got the idea to do mini-video segments of her planning to decorate the table and executing on the plan.

Here is our video journal. (Sometimes she is difficult to understand...I could get her to slow down OR enunciate...not both at the same time, but for the most part, I think she is understandable).

It is difficult to understand this video. She says, "I have a blank slate" (referencing the table). She says that her first tip is to not take a table from the church unless you have permission from the Bishop (which we did). That's why there was the close up of the "Property of" on the table."

Wasn't that fun!?! I'm so proud of her for all of her hard work and her willingness to do this project. It is not easy for anyone to demo in front of the camera as she did (trust me, I know! I'm a professional presenter!) I'm also proud of how much she learns about things around the house. All of the kids "know" how to clean, for example. (Not that they do it, but they do know how.) They know how to do their laundry. They know how to paint a room. They know how to fix small household appliances.

It sounds so cliche, but "they grow up so fast!" I worry that I haven't taught them enough! Moments like this make me proud that they do "know" how to do things...even if they don't act like it all the time.

Stay tuned for a video blog from Dominique. We taught her how to paint her room this summer....and let's just say that it took more gallons of BRIGHT YELLOW paint than anyone could have ever imagined! She is not nearly as thrilled to do video blogs, but she'll warm up to it!

BOM Challenge

Today Elle, Dominique and I began reading the Book of Mormon from page 1. As part of their Young Women's goals, they need to read it in its entirety. It's a daunting task. I've read it no less than 7 times from cover to cover. On two occasions, I read it in 7 days. It was about a 3 hour a day commitment, but it was such a sense of accomplishment.

I don't know if you've ever tried to sit down and read the scriptures (any scriptures) from cover to cover, but it's not easy. In the course of my life time, I've read the Old and New Testament in their entirety, but only once have I read the NT from cover to cover.

We were challenged in Stake Conference so just READ the Book of Mormon...not necessarily finish it by February (when we have our next conference). So, since I have three solid weeks of vacation between now and the end of the year (as do the girls), I asked them if they would be up to the challenge. They were a bit hesitant at first, but I threw in a new snuggie for each of us and the promise of hot chocolate during marathon reading sessions. They agreed.

Today we read for TWO and a HALF HOURS....in two separate reading sessions. Do you know how hard that is for a 14 and a 12 year old? We read out loud and take turns. We hit our goal of 40 pages. I'm so proud of them. It won't be easy, but it will be a good goal to work on. I've organized it so that we don't read EVERY day during our vacation. I've broken it into 13 days. Only 12 more to go.

I'm confident that we can meet this goal, and I know that they'll be SO PROUD of themselves when they've done it.

What will you challenge yourself to do? Is there a project that you've been wanting to do? Got a book in you that you've been meaning to write? I'm a big believer that time-sensitive goals are great motivators! Please share if you have any ideas for your next "big thing."

I think I created this monster....

Tonight I had a colossal fight with Elle...I mean....a big one. We haven't had one of these in a long time. She knows just those triggers that set me off like the space shuttle into orbit. I've recently reverted to the "go to your room" strategy. That gives me a minute to calm down and act like an adult. Boy, last night I blew it...and what started off as a little thing escalated into a big thing. Please tell me that someone else can relate?

My trigger...the one that always, always, always pushes that big button? When one of the kids tells me, "No." Last night it was, "Elle, go help your sister with the dishes."

Reply: "No." (To Elle's defense, it wasn't her night to do dishes, but she didn't run the dishwasher from the night before...which left no place for the dirty dishes to go...so I asked her to help Dom hand wash them so they could get done.)

Me: "Don't tell me no."
Reply: "No, no, NO, NO!, NO!!!"

Me......blood immediately boiling....went into a finger shaking rage, "You don't get to tell one of your parents no."

Reply: "You can't MAKE me do anything. And it is my RIGHT to say no."

Oh dear...it got much worse before it got better. She is a nearly 15 year old girl...who doesn't want to be told what to do. I'm a 40 year old woman who doesn't like to be told, "No" by 14 year old girl. No one likes to be forced. No one. But I have super low tolerance for kids telling me, "No."

But did I create this monster? In part, yes. I always try to empower might girls and talk about their rights. We have talked long hours about how no one can "make" them do anything....do well in school, play in the band, obey their parents. We want them to make choices about those things so that they know that they chose. What they also know is that they might have a right to say "No" to a parent, but they don't get to chose what happens after they say, "No." So, her cell phone is disabled.

In the middle of our argument she said, "I'm going to be a horrible mom who yells at her kids because you yell at me." Good heavens! I won't own that one. We'll see how it is when her kids push her buttons (and I can't wait until they do....I will take great satisfaction in those moments ;-) I explained to her that while I inherited some negative qualities of my mom's yelling, that we all make choices as to the kind of parent we want to be. I can't believe she's already accusing me of influencing her bad parenting when she's only 14!

You know what it is about Elle? We're actually a lot alike. No child wants to hear that about a parent with whom they butt heads, but it's true. She has inherited/learned a lot of my personality traits. She tries to logic out of an argument (I'm still better than her at it, but it's only because I have 25 extra years of practice; she defends herself (yeah!); she won't back down if she doesn't think she hasn't done something wrong (not good all the time...but in concept...well, we need to work on that); she is adamant about what she wants and is willing to work hard to get it.

Yes, the most volatile relationship in the family tends to be between Wendy and Elle. We yell it all out and usually walk away the better for it. Anyone else have those "intense" relationship with their teen? I could seriously use some better strategies...and don't tell me to deep breathe and count to 10...that doesn't work for me.

Who knew that this little girl....

...who loves to long board, is a black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do and prides herself in being an individual...would be so outspoken that she pushes me to seriously freak out irrationally.

(This pic was taken for a modeling gig that Elle did when she was little. Isn't she just the cutest freaking thing you've ever seen? See that shaking finger? Yeah, I think it might have gotten wagged my way yesterday...if not that finger than the middle one, for sure!)

You know what though? I have so many more great moments with Elle than I do these kind of moments. So, on those rough days, I'll try to remember images like these....when she's all of those great things...without the yelling, "No" in my face part ;-)

Have I mentioned lately how hard it is being the parent of 4 teenagers?

My friend, Daisy, took this amazing picture of Elle. http://www.andphotographyblog.blogspot.com/

School Pics

I cannot tell you the amount of negotiating that goes on about school picture day. I am not a fan of over-doing the eye make up especially when we have girls that are so beautiful without it. This picture day was no different than any other...ridden with negotiation and some tears. Goodness me.

Aren't they pretty girls!!! Growing up WAY too fast!!!

First Day of School

I'm shamefully "late" in posting these pictures. To my defense, I was not home on the first day of school this year. That fact makes me a bit sad. It's one day that I really try hard not to miss, but this year, it was unavoidable. Each year the kids get older (duh!), but the realization is that in getting older they'll soon be moving on. They are incredible young women ready to conquer the school year!Mariah: 16 years old, Junior at Jordan High

Elle: 14 years old, 9th Grader at Mount Jordan Middle School in Sandy, Utah
(She is really a Freshman, but this year 9th grade is still at the middle school.)

Dominique: 12 years old, 7th Grade at Mount Jordan Middle School in Sandy, Utah
(Had I been home that morning, this child would have never left the house with that much eye make up on! She's trying to grow up too fast, and it's tough when you have two older sisters who are allowed to do things you're not yet allowed to do. We've got a nice compromise all worked out now with regard to the eye make up...at least for now...)

They're growing up!!!!

I try and try and try to convince these two girls that they are absolutely beautiful without their eye makeup, but it is a losing battle. They so want to wear it, and it makes them so happy. I try to tell them that it is not what is on their face but in their heart that makes them beautiful. They listen, nod...then ask if they can buy blue mascara. AKKKK! ANYTHING but blue! There is a line from the movie "My Girl" with Jamie Lee Curtis. She is putting eye makeup on Veda for the first time and she says, "The number one rule about eye makeup is that you can never have enough blue eyeshadow." That movie took place in the early 70s, and that statement might have been true 3 decades ago, but it isn't true now. There has been an alarming resurgence of 80s styles, though. Stay tuned for more fashion happenings from the Davis girls.

Take me out to the ballgame....

Last Wednesday night was a perfect night for softball. All of the girls are great softball players. I'm proud of each of them! Elle has really improved from last year to this year. She is still learning, but she listens to her coaches...and does EXACTLY what they tell her to do...even if they tell her to throw on a 4th ball.

Here are a few videos of Elle Mei.

Bradley's Birthday and Elle's Concert

Accolades for Elle

Elle has been going through some rough times lately, and it's been difficult for us as parents to celebrate too many things. The bad sometimes seems to overshadow the good, but it shouldn't. It is important to promote and celebrate the good things even if we hit the rough patches in life. We all make mistakes. Thankfully, we have a way to overcome all mistakes we make. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, made it possible for all of us who bring a repentant heart and a contrite spirit to repent of those things we have done and be forgiven.

Today, we want you to know only the good! Elle was named the "Mountaineer of the Day" at her middle school. Attached is her award and the very nice letter her band teacher wrote her. A few weeks into the 8th grade, Elle came to us and proclaimed that she was quitting band. We don't quit in our house. There were arguments, some tears, anger...and every possible teenage attitude you could possibly imagine, but under no terms and conditions was she going to quit band. Band is now one of her favorite classes, and she is in the Jazz Band (which she loves)! Sometimes we have to go through struggles in order to see the better part.

Congratulations, Elle! Your family is very proud of all of your accomplishments!!!