THE PARK POST

 Yesterday the kids were out of school for President's Day.  Everyone in the family had a different idea about what they wanted to do with a day off.  Mike and I decided that we would divide and conquer and hopefully appease most family members. ( A lofty goal I know.)   So he and Jackson took off to play a round of golf and all the girls headed out to Newnan for some shopping and lunch.  Amazingly it really did work out.  Everyone was getting along and feeling happy.  I think with the kids getting older we are starting to get a taste of  what the future will bring where we can interact and have fun together as friends. Also we realized that Jackson needs some male bonding time where he can be a boy--Shopping all afternoon is a lot to ask from him.  

  McKell and Paige went to a multi-stake church dance over the weekend.  It was McKell's first dance.   She was so nervous about going and Paige's lack of enthusiasm didn't help much.  She finally agreed to go with a little arm twisting.  T here are so many kids that don't ever get to interact socially with the opposite sex, but church dances are one place they do get that experience and I think it is a great opportunity for both the socially accepted kids as well as the the awkwardly social ones because both of them are benefited.   McKell and Paige both danced with some interesting characters and were good sports about it.  They asked these boys questions while they danced with them and even smiled at them.  The boys looked so excited to have a girl talking to them and they seemed to have a little more confidence in their step afterwards. They also danced with a few handsome boys, but I think they learned more from...

With Mike being gone on Sunday mornings now I realized it was time for Jackson to learn how to tie his own tie.  I think there must be something genetically wrong with me because I just can't get it.  So as Mike started trying to teach Jackson he realized that he couldn't figure out how to teach someone to do it--he could just automatically do it.  It's interesting how there are many things in life like that that we just do automatically without realizing we had to be taught how to do it. Walking, talking, eating, driving, etc.  We should all give ourselves a lot of credit for all of the things we have learned to do in life.  Unfortunately tying a tie is not on mine or Jackson's list yet.

  We had New Beginnings a week ago and honored three of our Laurels who earned their YW Medallion.  Paige was one of them.  They each presented one of the 10 hour projects they had completed and shared their testimony.  Paige chose to learn to play "I Know My Father Lives" on the piano and then performed it in front of everyone.  This was very difficult for her to do for several reasons:  1) She hasn't taken a piano lesson since Rozanne Bass was her teacher back in Washington almost 5 years ago.  2) Her last memory of playing the piano in front of other people was when she forgot her song during her last piano recital--which devastated her .  3) She is a perfectionist and hates to make mistakes.    She practiced every day and knew her song perfectly, but as New Beginnings approached she started to have some serious anxiety.  She wanted to back out but I reminded her that this was something she needed to do.  She s...

The girls said putting your hand on your hip makes your picture look better. They should know i guess. The night of McKell's birthday we went to dinner.  I just found these photos on Mike's phone. Sydney and Hannah.  She can't stop talking about wanting a dog. Pictionary with the Packards Jackson finished out his basketball season without his team winning a single game.  He was the star of the team though which he thoroughly enjoyed.  It was kind of fun for him because there was no pressure to win . Bonefish Grill with the girls to celebrate Paige taking the SAT.  Just couldn't resist the old grape in the upper lip trick.  It's a Fabrizio favorite.   Maybe I should have put my h and on my hip??