Sweet Sixteen

Tomorrow Emery turns 16 years old. Her sweet 16. Somehow the new tradition of opening her gifts a few days early happened again this year. Cam and Jacks were gone to Twin all weekend, so I guess it worked. 

She was totally surprised for new shoes. The bad part about this, is her actual birthday day is anticlimactic. 

We tried to get her to do a party or hang out with friends, but she really will never have friends over here. She had Jenna over the night before homecoming. She also didn't want us to get her a cake so they could just make one. 

They ate pizza, watched movies, made slime and made a cake. Sounds like a fun night to me. 

I don't think it's a secret to the world that teens are ...fun. I don't think I prepared myself for some... or most of those random things that they do, I really don't think anyone can, they are so random and unpredictable. This year she has become more independent and 'typical' teen. She got her first job, which she loves, and is learning that while you have a job, it doesn't cover all you thought it would, especially now having to pay for gas. She's different from the boys and prefers the SUV over the small car. However getting in the SUV after her, we all hit our knees on the wheel because she has to be so close. She did say that the car will be cleaner and smell better than the boys car... that has yet to happen. Friends are her world right now, which is how it should be. She is either working or with friends now on the weekends. With having a car, it will just get more and more like that. She got a few crochet things for her birthday, and she still works hard going those and loves them. I love seeing new ones go up in her room. She's continuing her culinary classes in school. Emery still loves to cook; she's not a fun of her teacher this year, but hopefully sticks with it for the higher classes next year. Her and Brad still play Rock Band fairly often. We were able to get a new guitar for it as well. Emery reminds me of Brad and I, when I was younger I liked hanging out and holding or playing with the babies. She is the same, if there is a baby, she wants to be the one holding them. We missed the Barnes Reunion this year due to Vegas, and so she missed seeing a few new babies. Her favorite thing to try and talk everyone into getting her are Squishmallows. They are super soft and cute, but the 100 she has takes up a lot of space. I don't know how many she has for sure, but it's a lot. She's joined a few clubs this school year, she for sure joined Art and is thinking about Thespians. She doesn't want to act, she wants to do the background things. We've been going through the seasons of American Horror Story together. The first few seasons are pretty good, but watching them now, I realize how semi cheesy they are. She loves scary movie/shows now, so she seems to be liking them. Her favorite food is, Cam's yellow rice.  Her favorite subject is, Chemistry- because right now she understands it (that may change) and her favorite activity is crocheting.

 

HOCO

 It's homecoming time again. Emery went with her friend group again this year, but her friend had to make a sign. Have to love the phrases they come up with now to ask each other. Cam had a few 'interesting' ones as well

She wanted the same dress as Jenna, her friend, however we the mean parents, and don't allow strapless. Thanks to Aunt Michelle, she was able to add straps. They both look beautiful. She promised me one good smiling picture... this is what I got. Someday that will happen. 

The ended the night at IHop, which Emery hates, but I she had fun with her friends. 

Few Randos

About a week ago Emery got her license. No more having to let a teen drive me around, for a couple of years at least. In all reality I have been more calm as they drive than I thought I would be, however I can get to a place a lot quicker than they did, which is the hardest part of it all. And the parking. Emery wasn't bad and would park closer to the front, but the boys would only park the farthest away from any other car. She was excited to get it finally. Over night she went from loving to shop with me and not leaving the isle I was in, to taking a car out alone. Those milestones are the ones that people don't warn you about. Don't warn you how much that sucks/hurts more then watching them grow from an infant to taking to their first day of school. I'm still happy for each milestone the kids have, they just take more time to get used to. 

This is how far behind I am, this month had a Friday the 13th and we had a movie night with Cam and Jacks (the only two home). We made alien blood sliders,

And our infamous skin cookies. We watched A Quiet Place: Day One.

When teens get to be too teen-y, we still have these lazy mutts. They have had the kids all summer to sit with, but now, days when Camden is gone, they end up on our bed. Working and seeing them dead asleep isn't nice. 

Weekend in Twin

This weekend we went to Twin. Half of us went, the other two had to work. We saw both grandparents, made smores, ate some good food and watched the BYU game. 

Buddy is Grandma and Grandpa Barnes dog. He's tubby beast but very cute too. 

Smores at Gma and Gpa Arrington's. 

This weekend was Cam and Cailey's first year anniversary, so Cailey came down from ISU so they could spend some time together. They went mini golfing, and Cailey destroyed Cam. 

Jacks' Room

Jackson moves his figures around his room a lot. It's fun to see what he comes up with or the poses he puts them in. I think he has the best room in the house. 

Emery's First Job

 Emery started her first job this past week.  She's been trying for a while to get something but hasn't had luck just being 15.  She saw online a Boba place she liked was hiring and so she went for it.  The hired her on the spot!   She likes it so far, and will really like having her own money.  

I took Luna with me to get her after her first shift and Luna got in the way of the picture.  

So we went in another day when she was working.

Special Night

 Emery's special night this month. She decided to go to A Way With Clay. I think I took on a harder paint job than I thought, but she did a cute bag. She does need to get some seasonal candy to fill it, and set it up with all her Halloween decor. 

Cam's School Ride and First Day

 About two weeks ago we found out/ came to the conclusion that we couldn't afford for Cam to go to U of U. It was a mix of a lot of things: us not understanding that first year students can't  really get a lot in loans, he didn't get any FAFSA thanks to Brad and I, and not really any scholarships. How a boy can graduate from the number one public school in Idaho, with honors, getting a high SAT score and passing all his IB tests with 3s and above, and still not get anything? I won't get on that soapbox right now. Cam did all he could and still no help. 

Thankfully his high school made all the students apply to all the Idaho school, and apply for a scholarship that would pay for most of school. He is now going to ISU. If you go into certain fields, ones that are in high demand, you get almost all of your school paid for. I know you may think, why not do that first? But U of U was a dream for him. He has had a good/calm attitude with this last minute change. We feel bad, but really think it will be a good change. 

It was a little rush for a couple weeks to get everything changed over. We were looking for rooms, but couldn't find anything. All of Cam's classes ended up being on line, so for this semester he is going to live at home to save money. In January he will move up to ISU, which means I didn't cry the whole way home after dropping him off. 

He did go down this past weekend to get books and go to some new student activities. 

About where he and Cailey are standing.

He had a lot of fun, and will go up a few weekends to do other things. 

His first day was a little different than he thought it would be, but still a busy first day. 

Since he was going to school, he got a candygram as well. 

His says, "Just when you thought you could 'Chill', it's time for some 'Extra' school! You're no longer a 'Junior' and college can be 'Outrageous' but don't be 'Sour'. Get to 'Rasien'' grade because 'Nutter butter' than an A+. You'll handle this year like a 'Beast'!!

First Day of School

 Emery and Jacks started school this week. Emery is in 10th and Jacks is in 8th. Next year we will be done with Jr High School. Not sure they were super happy to go, but they were up and going early ready to go. 

This year we just did a normal candygram. 

Emery's says, "You're no longer a freshman so done be too 'Extra' you 'Mega' 'Nerd'. You have the 'Power' drive even though you are still 'Mini' so don't be 'Sour' it's all 'Bueno'. Say 'Geronimo' to a bussin' year!"

Jacks, "You are still a 'Mini' man, but you're an 'Extra' cool 8th grader. Make sure you are still 'Jolly' and 'Kinder' to the younger kids. You can be a  Director, 'Dr.' or 'Whatcgnacakkit' if you get good grades. 'Lego'  Mr. 'Peanut'!!"

Love that he just wore what he wears every day during summer. 

Emery put a little more thought into it, but both look great and look so grown up. 

They had a good first day, wore Jackson out. 

Birthday Weekend

It's been a month, but at the beginning, I turned 38. Ugh too close to 40 but that's okay. It was a nice relaxing weekend with the family. 

Played games with Brad, Jacks and Cam. Everdale is one of my favorites that he's showed us recently. 

Brad got me a new Lego too. Emery and I spent 3 or 4 days working on it to finish it. I love it. 

And yes, it's in our bathroom. I need an office to put up all our Legos. 

Then finished the weekend with this game. One we haven't played a lot but is really fun.