New Camera!

So our camera has been broken for about a year. It's been ducked taped together and only takes pictures about half the time (or less). We've been borrowing a camera my mom won since Dawson was born so that we could have baby pics of him. But the quality hasn't been that great and she wanted it back, and tax refunds came so here we are! Our cat, Abbot.

The camera has Smile Detection...taking the picture when your subject smiles. You don't have to push a button.

It also has this fun color detection built in!

Pictures taken at Chase's dance class through the glass. Not too bad!

Baby Dawson was bouncing around and the pictures weren't blurry! Fun! He sure loves his bouncy saucer!

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Ashley turns 12

So on March 12th Ashley turned 12, a day she'd been looking forward to for a long time.

For her she really felt that age 12 represents significant change. She got to graduate from primary and move on to Young Women's. She also got a bedtime extension. And also now she gets to wear a little bit of make-up.

So to celebrate this monumental birthday we decided to have a mom and daughter day.

We started off with face masks.

Then I took her to get a massage from my friend Belinda.

After that we headed to The Haircut Lady's house for a make-over.

She got a cut, and style. Then she did her make-up (for the first official time)

Next we headed to buy her a new outfit and then get pictures taken.

We got a little hungry so we stopped for our favorite, a jamba juice!

Then we did a little more shopping and then we headed home for dinner and family movie night/combined with having her friends over for a party. We had a great time.

She came home to some surprises. The house was decorated and dad had made a double layer chocolate raspberry cake! He also bought candles that had colored flames!

Then the next Saturday she had a surprise for me she'd been waiting 3 weeks to tell me! She had gotten a Bishop's interview and obtained a temle recommend for Baptisms!

So we went and spent Saturday afternoon doing that with Shaya (her adopted big sister) and Dad. Dad actually got to do the baptisms with her and confirm her. It was a really neat experience. She went again the next Wed morning at 5:30 AM! Then she went again the Saturday after that. And again 3 more times during Spring break! She says she feels so much better and happier when she goes.