The Ladybug Ball

The Ladybug Ball capped off a week of supercharged fun with 4 of our 11 grandkids, Brooklyn, Tori, Juli, and Christian. On Monday, we took our first trip of many to come to Sandy Point at Lucky Peak State Park. Here we'd thought Pineview Reservoir in UT was great, while all along we had an even better swimming hole only 10 to 15 miles from our front door! Colin and Macey made a special pizza delivery to our patio that evening for dinner. On Tuesday, Greg took the kidlets to the movies while I hosted a cupcake party for our Primary class. Our cutest in the world co-teacher, Kylie, is flying out to teach English in Korea, and we wanted to give her a sweet send-off. I always, always gets stressed right before any dinner or party we put together, so I'm grateful for the help Dan and Greg gave me in getting ready for this one. It was a fun success! That evening, Grandpa Dan took us to the Greenbelt for a hike. We found his favorite tree there. On Wednesday, we did more cupcakes with the grandkids, and Greg took them to enjoy the many delights of Settlers Park and then to the pool, both in Meridian. Then we all gathered for a meal at Pizza Hut, where Macey was our hostess with the mostest. NO wonder she keeps getting promoted there.

On Thursday, our friend Ally came over and got the kids ready for the main event, the Ladybug Ball. She didn't even know she could choriograph, but she did it, and she also outfitted the girls in very cute costumes, picked roses from her own garden to put in their hair, and was kind and patient throughit all. She's 12-years-old. and she's just so amazingly kind, compassionate, and aware of what needs to be done, and then she does it. I am so lucky I got to know this great Primary class of girls (and boys).

So, we started off with a light summery supper of ladybug skewers attached to a honeydew melon leaf, topped by a peach flower, straight from the kitchen of Brianna and Jason. Pigs in a blanket and Mr. Crazy Hairdo salad-on-a-stick took us from the sublime to the not so sublime. Later, after the big show, we served up blackberry cobbler and vanilla ice cream.

But the show, the show! It was sho' 'nuff worth the drive. We sprung the big surprise on the kids first off, a jumbo inflatable ball they could roll around in. Kudos to Greg for blowing it up! He also blew up the big orka whale they played with and rode on at Sandy Point. The ball almost upstaged the show, but order was restored at last, because, you know, the show must go on! First number featured Grandma Bonnie and the little ones singing a catchy repeating song called Out in the Woods.. Second up was Miss Brooklyn energetically clogging to the zippy I Want Candy. Jason then wowed us with his juggling prowess. Next up, it was Allie's turn to somersault her way into our hall of fame with her gymnastics. She's good! Brianna's yoga moves, poses, whatever they're called, defied gravity, leaving us wondering how she does it! And then, the cutest act of the evening, a rare visit from the fairies. Fairies are quite remarkable, you know, they learned this new fairy dance, Fly to Your Heart, in just one day.

Afterward, Christian put on a little warrior flute dance for us, and Greg was a verry, very good sport by being a willing target for the kids' water bombs. Aunt Jamie made the colorful sponges for just such an occasion. Hey, Colin was supposed to be a target, too, but he forgot and joined in throwing them at his brother instead. So that's a wrap up of the fabulous week we're just finishing up today. Tomorrow we'll be happily attending Brooklyn's baptism.