Celebrating 15 Years

Victoria turned 15 on Friday. She had a birthday party with some friends the Friday before because it was Homecoming at her school on her birthday. She and her friends weren't sure whether or not they would attend the game (because Salem's football team is awful!), so to be on the safe side, they partied the week before. I wasn't as sold on the idea of doing the party the week before. I kinda wanted to do all birthday stuff on her birthday, but it worked out great in the end.

She wanted to have one of her traditional parties of having a taco bar and going to the pool. So, that's what we did! I made tacos, rice, guacamole, and all the toppings. Chips, grapes, carrots, donuts, and apple cider in addition for those hungry girls! Before we went to the pool, she opened presents and had cake and ice cream. It turned out that Austin and Erik went to their school for Miller movie night and Karissa had cheer practice, so after dinner, it was just Victoria and her friends, which she enjoyed! One girl left before swimming, so I took the other 5 to the pool for open swim.

Karissa had already left for practice by this point, but here's the rest of the dinner group.

Goof offs!

Mallory is Victoria's new BFF and also in our ward!

Sabrina is an old friend and her mom is Karissa's art teacher!

Emma

Sarah

Rayven

Right now at the Summit, they are hiring new life guards. Victoria realized as we arrived that she could get a job there next year! She's the oldest of her friends, some having just turned 14 over the summer, so they thought that was pretty cool. What I thought was cool was that while they were enjoying the water slide, lazy river and jumping in the water, I could to my swim workout that I couldn't do earlier that day since I was prepping for the party. It's nice when they get older! Especially when they started flirting with the life guards! I enjoyed observing that! It turns out, one of them is a Sophmore at the PARK and the other a Senior. I realized that this might be the last time she has a party there, since they might become too much of a distraction for those poor life guards!

After we returned, they hung out til everyone went home. It was a pretty easy party.

It turned out that on her birthday it was raining and her friends and she decided not to go to the game. They lost 56-0, or something horrible like that, so it was just as well. After Victoria and I picked up Karissa from school, we went to a new cute candy/ice cream shop. Ice cream and smoothies are 1/2 right now because it's new. They even had Mochi, which the girls were excited about, so we tried some of that too- yum!!

Karissa took these lovely birthday pics.

Ice cream!!

Since I didn't know what Victoria's plans were and if she would change her mind last minute, I let Karissa make plans with her friend Olivia to go to a play with her family that evening. After Jason and the boys came home, we ate a quick meal of Victoria's favorite: salmon, potatoes, and broccoli and the cake that Karissa made for her. She opened presents and then Karissa went off with the McClains. Victoria and I decided to go shopping for new orchestra clothes for her. At the high school level, they're more strict with what they have to wear. That was the last of her birthday presents and we enjoyed that time shopping at Kohl's and then Ulta for some face masks to prepare her for the next day's event: the Homecoming Dance!

She's so full of hot air that she blew out all 15 in one breath!!

She went with her friends and they got ready together at Emma's house and had pizza there. Amaya's mom took them home, so I had it easy.

Sarah, Emma, Amaya, Victoria

Victoria's living up life now with her friends, driving, attending high school, playing in the orchestra, and dancing. Practice for competition starts in a couple weeks, and then she'll be dancing 5 days a week. I enjoy having this spirited, fun, and free daughter and watching her grow into this amazing young woman!

Happy Birthday, Victoria!