Geoff and Tennie hit L.A.

With Tennie turning 12 she is old enough to enter the temple.  She always wanted the Hawaii temple to be her first, but she settled for one we could drive to...she picked the L.A. temple.  Why the L.A.?  Not sure, but she was firmly decided.  

Geoff and Tennie went on a daddy/daughter trip for this special event and are staying with Geoff's brother Christian and his wife Heather.  Christian got them free tickets to Universal Studios yesterday.  Since Tennie really wants to be in a movie this was an exciting surprise.

Heather, Christian, Geoff and Tennie

THE Mama Mia costumes

It wouldn't be complete without a Jaws photo

Miss Ten is TWELVE!

Tennie turned 12 on Thursday.  That means she goes into the youth organization at church which includes weekly activities, girl's camp, and fun outings.  That means she is nearly a teenager.  That means my little Tennie is no longer little.

Tennie is an amazingly delightful tween.  With her strong will and independence I thought we might experience rougher waters, but so far she is continuing to show her thoughtful, generous nature with an amazing desire to be and do good.  That doesn't mean she doesn't occasionally roll her eyes, stomp off or slam doors, but those moments are the exception.  She is increasingly responsible, engages in more intellectual conversation, takes interest in grown-up activities and is finding she isn't interested in the same things she used to be.  Watching her transition to young womanhood has been bittersweet, but I see her exuberance and leadership are just changing their look.

I'm so grateful to be her mom.

Hanging Loose in Nicaragua

Geoff has been in Nicaragua this past week working on a project.  He's off to Honduras today before coming home on Wednesday.  He had the weekend off and went to the beach and stayed in some little huts with hammocks right on the water.  For what rest he didn't get at night he made up for it in the day...

I think these people run the surf shop there

While he has been away it has been raining non-stop.  We've been cooped up inside counting our blessings that we're getting some moisture, and also that we don't live in Seattle anymore...

Adele and Ceci with Adele's friend Kayla after running in the rain and rolling in puddles

Davis Super Girls!

When we were in Utah for Christmas my very talented photographer cousin A.J. used the girls in some of his photos.  He has a thriving stock photo business and his photos have been seen all over the world from subways in Paris to the sides of buses in L.A.  The girls LOVED being his models, and the pictures are priceless.  My favorite is on the header.  It typifies what we always tell our girls...anything is possible!

Thanks, A.J.!

Ceci in Salt Lake

Geoff is working on a project in Salt Lake so Ceci went along this week on a special daddy/daughter trip.  They left Wednesday, and during the day while Geoff is working Ceci has been hanging out with her favorite cousin Bailey.  After school on Thursday (Ceci went along to Bailey's homeschool coop where Geoff's sister Emily teaches first grade) they stopped by my dad and Bab's and were taken out for a yogurt cone loaded with toppings!

My brother Nate and his wife Kim pulled into town for their Utah visit just in time!

Wish I were there!

Play Day

Friday we had a play day.  The girls and I went to an orchestra performance in the morning, then Geoff met us for lunch.  The girls had earned a trip to Sky Zone by rubbing my feet every night during February (A win win if I've ever heard of one!) and they jumped non-stop for an hour. 

We went out to an early dinner and then saw The Lorax which was a great family movie.  We were gone 12 hours, and needless to say it didn't take long for all of us to fall asleep!

Meet Elsa

After much longing Tennie finally brought home a healthy, lovable new guinea pig named Elsa today.  Ben (Ceci's female guinea pig who kept her previously male name) warmly welcomed her new cage-mate.  All is well again with the Davis girl's pets.

Yesterday Adele and Ceci played beauty shop with their guinea pigs.  I wish I had a camera on hand to see them with their elaborate beauty parlor set-up.  Adele painted her male guinea pig's nails blue (see her attempted photo of his nails today), and Ceci streaked Ben's hair with a little fuchsia.  Tres chic!