Senior Tribute--L Nellie's Life at a Glance

L was born in Logan, UT, the oldest and much awaited--it took us a WHOLE YEAR to conceive!  (I have to snicker now, but at the time, it was the most miserable wait of my life.  I have no idea how I lived before I was a mother.)

When she was 6 months old, we bought our first home in Hyrum, UT.

Her brother, Mr. Cool was born on her 2nd Birthday.  Good or bad gift,
the jury's still out on that one.

         

At age 4, with a new baby sister (Lil' Mama) we moved to Central Massachusetts

She played T-Ball, Soccer, Piano, and did Gymnastics.

         

About this age she stopped wanting to
"Adopt an Orca" and became enamored with Lions.

At age 8, she was baptized a member
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Another brother, this time three days after her 6th birthday.
Mr. Lamadingdong

Her need for an animal led to the guinea pigs, Goldie
and Andrew.  The ASPCA should have been more
attentive.

About this age, she changed her obsession from
lions to snakes.

New sister Princess was born the
summer before she turned 11.

We moved from MA to Boise at the beginning of 4th grade.  Niko the Farting Dog joined the family.

She suddenly looked older, still obsessed about snakes, but
found some puppy love.
Andrew died, but Goldie made the move to Boise.  (Guinea Pigs)

 Little P was born when Nellie L was 11 years old.

Somehow she became a Teenager.

Little K was born two years later.

Volunteered over 300 hours at 3 different Vet. clinics

Fantasy, anime, animals.  Crazy Teen.

As a Freshman, she joined Colorguard.

The Caboose came when Nellie L was 15.

We moved from Boise to Utah the end of her Sophomore year.

In Utah she continued to volunteer at a Veterinary Hospital, and became very involved with Puppy Guide Dogs for the Blind as a respite care provider.

Junior Prom

 Senior Pictures

Nellie L is a good friend, an excellent student, athletic, creative and artistic.  She loves God, works hard, and blesses our family and those around her.  She serves, she studies, she sings, she loves dragons, and she'd just an all-around good egg.  She's earned her Personal Progress Award (Comparable to and Eagle Scout award) TWICE!


Despite spending Senior Prom in the hospital, and missing three weeks of school the month before graduation, she is on track to graduate honorably from High School and Seminary, with AP and Concurrent Enrollment credits.  She has been accepted to BYU-ID and will attend this fall.

We love her, respect her and thank her for her childhood!

*Any professional-looking photos were most likely taken by Brenda Slade..

Lagging Behind

I emerged triumphant, skipped across my lawn, across the street and into my neighbor's yard where they were swinging leisurely and chatting with my parents.

"He asked me out!  He asked me out!  I'm going hiking Saturday with Paul!"

I was seventeen.  Spectacular castles in the sky.

Bro. Byington looked mildly amused and slowly said, "Are you sure about that idea?  I've been hiking with that boy, and he doesn't wait for anyone."

I trained all week for that date, and couldn't keep up.  I am proud to say, however, that I didn't drop in  weeping exhaustion like the other girl we doubled with, who in all fairness was having menstrual cramps and trying not to die on the trail.

I somehow managed to convince that man to marry me, and I have been lagging behind ever since.

I've come to the conclusion that we will never walk slowly down the sidewalk, sharing intimate thoughts.

We'll never enter church arm in arm.

I'll never finish a hike at the same time, or in the same shape.  But I am perfectly willing to stay in the camp with the babies while he hikes with the older kids.

While we dated, I gave him the impression that I was game for all the athletic pursuits he fantasized as a couple, and he gave me the impression that we would dance together.

He forgives me for overspending, I forgive him for forgetting my birthday.

He doesn't kiss me in the kitchen, but he does do the dishes.

I don't ski with him, but I pack him a lunch with homemade cookies and silly notes.

He's not my girlfriend, but he encourages me to have them.

When I wake up in the night, he is holding my hand.

It's more than enough.

Battle Hymns

Went to a baptism service for two little girls lately, and watched MY two little girls, who had arrived before me and chosen a FRONT ROW pew, duke it out during the service.

They were quietly chasing each other from one end of the row to the other; Princess was obviously irritated at Little P.  I couldn't figure out why, and I didn't want to create a scene by walking to the front and disciplining them publicly, so I just dug my nails into the palms of my hands and watched the drama unfold.

A few minutes later, as we left the chapel and walked to the font, I asked them through my teeth what was going on.
Princess disgustedly hissed that Little P had been BLINKING and wouldn't stop.

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Little K and Caboose were bickering this morning.  Caboose was humming a tune and it was making Little K crazy!  Think of the birthday song.  At the very end, sometimes kids will sing, "And many more, on channel 4."  it was that little tune, over and over.

After Little K screamed her final, "And JUST STOP SINGING!" and left the room, Caboose sang a quiet, drawn-out finale just under her breath, "And bugging K!"

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Ode to Depression

You declared war once more

Thought to isolate and destroy.

Vile enemy.

But you failed to consider

Our defense

The safety nets

Love, prayer, strength

She won the battle

And will win the war.

Drama Queen

This morning, Mr. Lamadingdong was lounging on my bed before school while the Handsome Prince and I were  chatting.  I mentioned that Lil' Mama would find out the results of the student elections and her drama tryouts tomorrow.

Mr. L said, "I thought they had already declared her the Drama Queen and told her that she could take whatever classes she wanted!"

Funny!

Mr. Cool Goes to Prom 2013

Remember the pinata in the yard?
Prom 2013
He let me help him get ready and make a plan.  One of the best parts of my job.

For some reason he didn't want me to braid his hair and weave flowers.  He did let me trim  it, though.
Cleans up real good!

Parting shot

Mr. Cool drove the group in the 12 passenger van.  I think another couple joined them after pictures.

The Group

The Darling Girl--I did a masterful job at matching her corsage to the dress--Where is it?

Very nice

It was a masquerade ball, and some of them may have had masks.  Mr. Cool had one, but I don't think he ever put it on.  I even bought him a mustache to connect to it.  Sometimes I think I'm funny and cool, but I stand alone.

(They played Ultimate Frisbee and grocery store games on the "day date" the day before.)

Then ate at my favorite restaurant after pictures. 

The girls at Tucanos

 This sweet girl he went with is even more beautiful inside than she is on the outside.  She was in my Sunday School class, and is just sweet, sweet, sweet.

I sent Mr. Cool with some Hershey's Kisses and told him to offer her one occasionally.  Huh!  I crack me up.  (She maybe thought it was too much.  Plus, I accidentally bought white chocolate instead of milk.  Rats.)

She has brought cookies to him twice since the dance, on real plates that he will have to return.  Sneaky.

Sure love that boy!

p.s.  Thanks to everyone for their concern about Little P and the Smackdown situation.  She earned her way into it, and then earned her way out.  She is back to being a stellar little citizen.