Custom cookie cutters

Kim Carlile's brother has a 3D printer and made me some custom cookie cutters. This is the NCHS "N" and the ironman logo from the school. I am hoping to get some cookies made before graduation this weekend to put on Zach's table at his grad party. I'll of course post pictures when I get them done!

 

Seminary Graduation

Along with the end of the school year, comes the end of seminary. And this year our class had 3 graduating seniors. We wanted to do something fun for all of our class and I had the idea to make some Old Testament cookies. 

I made cookies and then we added the scripture stories to them...

Camels from what I consider one of the greatest love stories of all time, the Isaac and Rebecca story...

The 10 Commandments...

How can you resist a talking donkey?

And of course, Joseph's coat!

The kids were really excited to get them!

And of course our seniors also got their frame and gift card. 

We were handing them out after graduation from the back of our car! Here is Cora getting hers. We have loved having her in our class this year. 

And here are all of the graduating seniors from the Stake. Zach was asked to speak at graduation and did a beautiful job. We are so proud of him and feel like it has been a total blessing to be his seminary teachers for the past two years. Congratulations Zach, we love you!

Spring green

I feel like the grass and trees are only this color in the spring. It was raining outside while I was on the phone with Andrew and I snapped this picture to show him just how "spring green" it was...a rainy, but beautiful spring day!

Grease tags

I was asked to make tags for Grease, the play Zach is doing for summer theater. They want tags to attach to little gifts that people purchase at the show. This is what I came up with...

Dannys and Sandys...

And the Grease logo...all done in vinyl. 

The backs just have a simple "To:" and "From:" on them. I'm happy with how they turned out and hope they will be too. We are getting excited for the show and it's fun to be involved - even in these very little ways.

What a wild beast!

 

Another laser project

I got some little frames from Michaels so we could put a gift card in them for our seminary class's seniors. I used the laser to engrave their names on them and a little scripture quote. 

 I thought they turned out really cute and that it was a fun way to give a gift certificate!

Wishing I was home

Greg and I camd out of a store the other night and the skies were looking pretty, but there were other stores in the way of getting a good picture. I was really wishing I was home to get one of the clear westward pictures that we love so much from our back yard. This time, this had to do.

The Leah Marlene Concert

Leah Marlene is a finalist on American Idol this year. She is from Normal and as a finalist, the show sent her home for a local parade and concert. We headed down town for some of the excitment!

Here she is getting ready to accept the proclaimation from the Mayor, declaring the day as Leah Marlene day. 

She was really excited and cute about the whole thing. Zach and Ava were there with friends and they went down the street for the outdoor concert. Greg and I had our fun seeing her get the proclaimation, so we headed to grab some dinner downtown. It was a fun night for all of us! 

It's fun to have someone from your town on the show and to have a local person to root for! Go Leah!

A wonderful weekend

We got to Carmel and then Kayleigh came right over to the Sanchez's house where we were staying. We were able to talk for a while and catch up and then we headed to dinner and then to CHS to see their musical. Here we are at Carmel High School. So fun to see her again!

They did a really nice job with the show and it was extra fun to see both Ethan and Grayson in the show.

Zach was having some fun with their cut out!

So fun to be together!

Zach and Grayson after the play...Grayson was in the children's chorus.

Kayleigh and the Sanchezes...what a great night! We went back to the Sanchez's house after the show and talked until it was way too late...one of my favorite things to do! Zach and Ava also had friends come over, so we were all really happy!

The next day we went to Kayleigh's ward to see her give her homecoming talk. She did a beautiful job and it was super clear how much she loved her mission and how positive of an experience it had been for her.

As we were leaving the church, some of the kids from the Carmel Ward came in to practice for a choir for seminary graduation. It was so fun to see some of them. This was a picture we took for Ava. 

In the evening,we went to Kayleigh's homecoming. Her mom ordered these cute cookies as one of the treats! 

We got to visit quite a bit with Kayleigh's parents, Carla and Roy, at the open house, and of course spend some more time with Kayleigh. It was a really nice event and we are so glad we could come into town to be there. It's really nice to have Kayleigh home and we are excited for the next time we get to see her!

Lasering

My friend gave me a laser...seems like a strange gift...but she bought it for herself and never used it. She thought I might get some use out of it, so it came to me. Greg and I set it up the other night and we tried it out! 

Burning a photo into a piece of wood...

Here is another!

I had a few gifts to bring to Carmel, so I engraved these metal tags and was super happy with how they turned out.

 I think it's going to be a fun addition to the craft room!

Kayleigh is home!!

Kayleigh's mom sent me these pictures! We are so excited that she is home from her mission and are really happy that we will get to see her just a few days after her coming home. We are heading to Carmel to hear her homecoming, got to her open house, and go to the CHS musical together. It will be a great weekend. 

 So cute...we love Kayleigh!! Welcome home!!

The last night of Doctrinal Mastery

We had our last night of Doctrinal Mastery for seminary this year. We had some fun games, treats, and a little recognition for the seniors. 

Zach wasn't there because of play practice, but these  were the other seniors from our class and the other two.  

We love our seminary kids are are glad we could do Wednesday nights with the other classes. 

The final choir concert

We had Zach and Ava's end of year concert the other night. As always, the choirs were great. 

Zach did an awesome job on his solo too!

Ava's choir did a really cool song with some fun lighting elements. 

One last performance with Voice Male...

Then they called out all of the seniors one by one. When your last name is Bacon, it means you stand alone for a minute!

NCHS choir seniors!

I wasn't the only one trying to get the picture!!

One with Mr. L in the picture too. 

Mr. L and Zach...he really changed the trajectory of Zach's experience here in Normal when he made an exception and added a spot in the top choir after getting's Zach's audition tape. That is where he met all of his friends, what got him into the plays, and what has brought him so much joy. 

My cute choir kids...

Right after the first picture was taken, Ava broke into tears. She is really going to miss Zach when he goes to school in the fall and this was a "last moment" for the two of them. It was so tender. Even though it was sad, it was also beautiful to see their love for each other. 

Even Ava's friends are going to miss Zach! It's pretty darn cute.

A few silly farewells on the stage after the show...

And some heartfelt ones!

These kids sure have had a lot of fun together. One last green room picture after they turned in their choir clothes...Gibson, Andrew, Ivy, Emma, Somya, Zach and Nick. 

Zach has loved being in choir and we have loved watching him grow and really find something he enjoys. What a joy.