October Updates - Abbie

Abbie and I got to spend my birthday at a beach house in Oceanside with our Ward's Young Women Organization. We couldn't have asked for better weather for mid-October. We had so much fun!

We made a detour and hung out at Tillamook Cheese Factory while we waited for the key to the beach house to arrive (which had inadvertently been left back in Beaverton :)  This was the same weekend that BYU played the Oregon State Beavers and Tillamook was crawling with BYU fans. It was a fun day to be there!

When the Factory closed, we moved on to hang out at the beach for a little while. Abbie found her first full size sand dollar while we played. 

FRUIT SALAD made all by her lonesome for Mom's birthday.

PUMPKIN PATCH

Isn't she still pretty when she's angry? Well, or annoyed.

Taste Testing during IRON CHEF for mutual

HALLOWEEN

Abbie decided that she wanted to make her own costume this year. It was her first go-around with the sewing machine. When her friend found out what she'd done and wanted to do the same, Abbie went to Carissa's house to help her make her own crayon costume. Our good friends the Mitchell's came over to go trick or treating with us. It was a blast!

The SURPRISE visit from Jen, Jacob, Erin, and Emmy for Justin's baptism. PRICELESS!

Introducing Gpa Steve, Erin, and Ember to Cars 2 (Grandpa looks engrossed, doesn't he?) 

Abbie too, made a goal to achieve a 4.0 GPA this year in school. I was impressed as I attended school conferences with her to learn of her straight A's (with one A-). She rarely comes home from school with homework, and I've kind of felt like her teachers were not working the students quite like they should. I learned that Abbie is using time available in class to complete her work. Each teacher commented on her motivation and wise use of time. I have felt grateful that she has not been overwhelmed with homework as she is in a lot of extracurricular activities. Now I know that she is planning ahead and getting the work done during the day when given the opportunity. Not sure where she learned that, but glad to know she does it.

Abbie has begun taking Drama classes that are provided after school, is still in Ballet, and is loving as much as ever playing the flute. Although no longer in Primary, she was asked with her class to sing one of the songs in the Primary Program. Abbie played her flute on the first verse and I was so worried that she would be too loud. The microphone was in a poor spot for the vocalists. I was quite impressed that she easily compensated, having already thought of that, and played at a perfect volume.

What a beauty.