Courtney is 16 years old!!

Courtney turns 16 years old! That is absolutely crazy! We had to embarrass her by decorating outside so everyone knows it's her big day.

Courtney got her traditional Texas donut for breakfast.

Courtney got to open her presents from us and she got this shirt and a new iPhone:  (she had another present that was coming but it was late)

Courtney's learner's permit was going to expire.  She finished her driving hours and passed her test with the teacher.  We made an appointment (at the DMV in Cedar City because the one in Washington County was full) and then we made a trip to Cedar.  I can't believe how different she looks in just one year!

She got to drive all by herself for the first time and thought it was weird.  I'm sure she will quicky get used to it.

A lot of fun friends posted birthday wishes to her.  She is loved!

Courtney's cute friends bought her some shoes that she has been wanting forever.  They think the shoes are ugly but they pooled their money together to get her something she really wanted.  Last month, I got texts asking me what Courtney's shoe size was and they told me what they were planning.  Courtney was thrilled and the shoes fit beautifully.

They are debating whether Slides or Crocs are better.  Funny girls!

Soccer team breakfast

The team is doing early morning Wednesday practices.  Since the girls won't have much time to get ready for school after practice, the coach asked moms to take turns supplying breakfast to the girls.  School doesn't start until Thursday, so the first Wednesday breakfast was a real breakfast!  The girls went to another player's house where they had pancakes, etc.

Family birthday party

We celebrated Courtney and Grandma Oman's birthdays the same Sunday.  We decided to do it the Sunday before because school would start and Courtney would be busy.  She wanted a Cars cake, so I got creative. I used the old candle we bought when Ethan turned 5. Courtney picked out her own cars for the top.

Checkboard cake was so fun to make but it was tricky!

The Cars candle was for Courtney and the sparklers were for Courtney.  But Courtney blew them all out herself...although she had a hard time and they kept re-lighting.

One thing I love about Courtney is how expressive she is when she receives gifts.  She is obsessed with Sun Bum.  Her wishlist was full of Sun Bum products and she got them!

Pre-season soccer games

The weekend after the team was chosen, they had three pre-season games and it was HOT!!  The girls played well.  They lost the games but it gave them an idea of what they needed to work on and how to improve before division play begins. 

Courtney is #4 this year.  She was bummed when she didn't get her #14 again this year, but she decided to make #4 a great number.

Here's to the start of another great soccer season!

Cute Clara

We try to send birthday cards to everyone in the family.  I buy them at the beginning of the year and then we sign them and send them as birthdays come close.  I don't always get them sent on time, but I try.  We sent one to Clara for her birthday and were thrilled to get a sweet (and hilarious) thank you card from her.

Translation: Thank you so much and don't forget to give Lizzy a card too.  She will be sad if you don't.  But thank you so much.  Love Clara.

She is so sweet to worry about her sister and take it into her own hands to make sure Lizzy isn't forgotten on her birthday.  I got nervous because I thought I had already sent a card to Lizzy so I texted Jessica to make sure. ;)  But it was all good.

Chatting with Ethan

Every Tuesday we get to talk to Ethan.  He uses Facebook Messenger to video chat with us.  Courtney sometimes takes over and takes him around the house to show him what has changed since he has been gone.  She is usually blurry but he loves looking around.

Ethan lives in a nice apartment right now in Casper.  He goes out on the balcony of their apartment to talk with us.  It's fun to see the interaction between the two.  They certainly love each other.

Courtney and Ethan send each other "I love you" messages on Tuesday and it makes my heart happy.  

Team Night

There are new coaches at SCHS.  They had the first team night at the parent's house of one of the coaches.  They ate dinner, played games, and bonded as a team.  They posted pictures on Instagram so I got a few showing Courtney playing games.

Courtney is on the right between the two girls in white.  Try to find her in the other pictures.