Queen for a Day

MK got notice that she'd been nominated for Prom Royalty by the Senior officers. Then the students voted for their grade's King and Queen. The day before Prom, I got a call telling me MK had won Prom Queen for the Senior class (sweet!), and they wanted me to give her the news. Hmmmm....

This girl is not easily embarrassed. She's a mud-lovin' take-a-cleat-in-the-gut kind of soccer player, so what better place to razz a Princess than in front of her fellow soccer punks?

Post-practice team hug

That's a tutu around one of those nice soccer legs :)

Here she's leaving for her day date—hasn't showered, no make-up, gnarly bun, and soccer shirt. Atta baby.

But later on that night, it's a whole different story...

The welcoming committee. See Getty all poised to interview the young man?...

Aunt Britt came over to fix MK's hair and make-up and knocked one out of the park.

Check out the face on MK's date. (He pleads innocent.)

Le Bus that took this crew to dinner and the Capitol.

The Roof. The look on MK's face says it all :)

At the Capitol awaiting the ceremony

The winning Sophomore, Junior, and Senior guys were knighted, and the girls were crowned.

Traditional Royalty Dance

I love that look on her face, "Wait—what?" Then her date cut in :)

The Five looking Fab

Rob and I got to go to the Capitol and take a few pictures before she shoo'ed us away :)

Wow, it sure is fun to be her parents.

Shopping with the "Grils"

[Still playing catch-up with my posts...]
M&M, Cara, Kim, and I went to the mall to shop for Prom and pick up some new Vans for Mia. Personally, I think Mia had another good year in her old ones.

Cheesecake Factory is my favorite.

Mia looks so pretty, and I look like I've been drugged. That's what I'm saying about the Bang-bang Chicken and Shrimp....

Spring Fling

MK and her date, Tanner

They all played Bocci and Kill at the park and ate Macey's 60¢ cones (Spring Fling was girls' choice :)

Dinner was Polynesian food at Bamboo Hut.

The Fivers at the dance.
Afterwards, shooting pool and hot-tubbing.

I asked MK about any specific memories, and she laughed, "All I need to remember is that I went with Tanner—he's the best!"

Rico Suavé

It was Getty's Momma Monday night with me, but the NCAA Championship game started at 7:30, and our friend Trent was having a party up the street. "Do you want to switch Momma Monday to next week?" I asked.

Getty took my hand and said, "Let's just go somewhere and talk [...talk?] and then drop me off at the game." Then he kissed the back of my hand and spun around. I glanced over at Rob who was listening to this with an amused look on his face, and Getty said to me, "Dad's thinking I just did a better move than he'll ever do."

Easter, 2012

New Easter traditions include:  bike ride/roller blade to Elle's grave, wearing pink to church in Elle's honor, and eating a Passover dinner (just pita bread, cheese, and grapes).

Saturday lunch and egg hunt at Grandma's. Getty's wearing his typical uniform of a yellow (or purple) t-shirt and gray jeans. I should try that. I could nix about 20 minutes of staring into my closet every morning.

This is MK's "celebrity caught off-guard" photo

Saturday night's Easter basket string maze. By the time Rob was done (helping the E.B.), it looked like the Matrix. When MK got home late Saturday night, she did the moves :)

Rob's looking sheepish—"he's just so cute!" (as Mia would say) 

Sunday morning we watched "The Lamb of God." The week leading up to Easter, we read Luke 23:26 – 24 for our devotionals, which is another new tradition I hope we continue.

Sunday dinner and egg hunt at Granny's—

Dunking on Granny's hoop for the last time before Granny and Grandpa Doug move to our neck of the woods :)

Easter has taken on even more significance for us now, of course. The gratitude I feel for my Savior's sacrifice and victory over death is beyond words. The fact that Heavenly Father will even allow me to raise Elle one day is just one example of how perfectly merciful and perfectly just He is. I can't minimize the pain of losing her, but it is balanced by the Plan of Happiness. I'm so grateful for the other side of suffering.