Wow – that's about all I can ay is WoW! I remember 10 years ago dropping Lexi off at a new school in Idaho Falls without any friends. I looked backed and saw her swinging on the swings all alone. Even though she felt fine, I cried all of the way home because my baby was going to school ALL day long! I cannot believe I am sitting here now typing this because on the way to school today Lexi proclaimed, "two more years of HS and then I'm done!" Where has the time gone??? Just to let anyone that is planning on reading the rest of this know – I am totally going to brag about this chic in the following paragraphs. She is pretty good at being humble for the most part, so I need to document her latest and awesome accomplishments, because that is just what moms can and should do. I can take NONE of the credit for any of these cool things – it is just who she is, and it is amazing to get to sit by and watch her become who she is meant to be.
I sure love this daughter of mine. She makes me proud to get to say I'm her mother. She isn't perfect, and that is hard for her to accept – but she is pretty darn close most of the time. haha 🙂 But really, she works really hard to be her best in all she does and I greatly admire her for it.
At school she is known as "Parker", no. 6 on the girls soccer team. In fact, at the game I didn't get to see on Saturday she scored her first goal of the season! Way to start things off right Lex! She was voted the Jr. Class Captain of her team this year, and really felt honored about it. She takes things serious – sometimes a little too serious, but that is why we love her and how she can do some of the great things she sets out to do. She got a few fundraisers going for her team, and has been a great older sister to Mason as he is starting off his first season on the HS team. She looks out after him and is there to be a friend when he needs one. That makes my heart smile really, really big. She has also helped out with her choir a lot. She and a friend volunteered to pick out the outfits for both the boys and girls. She is pretty responsible and good at communicating to have a positive result. She also was excited about getting the solo of Cosette in the song, "Castle on a Cloud". She also get to be the Jr. Class President this year. She hasn't gotten put to work yet, but I know the Lip Sync is something she has been thinking about and wanting to help her class win this year.
At church Lexi is the one that her YW leaders like to ask to do things because she is willing and good at being dependable. She has developed great habits of reading her scriptures & praying. She is one of the people you could describe as a quiet strength to others. She isn't one to stand up and proclaim her beliefs – she just lives them every day. She is out of her comfort zone to bear her testimony all of the time, but heck ya she has a strong one! She has chosen and is determined to live a virtuous life and has set high standards for herself, which is inspiring. She has adopted a sweet old lady in our ward and often goes over to help her with some work or just to watch TV or visit.
At work, yes she has a job!, she is trying hard to do her best too. For her it is important to be punctual to make sandwiches and swirl yogurt at Mill Hollow Frozen Yogurt. She has enjoyed her work there and has made some fun new friends. She really likes working with her cousin Paige. They have become even better friends and have had a fun summer – along with Riley and Haley (and Kassie when she is in town). We seem to find ourselves stopping in for a yogurt more than we ever have, just to see the cute blonde girl behind the counter working hard to make money for College and Mission. She is a miser when it comes to spending and saving her money. She does not let it exit her hands without thinking really hard about where it is going to go. She splurged at bought herself a pair of Tom wedges (shoes) for school. She was so freaked out it almost made her sick. But I'll tell you what, she is so proud of those shoes and treats them better than any piece of china.
Friends/Boys/Dating because she is now 16. She has had fun doing some group dating this summer, but is finding it isn't THAT big of a deal. It is fun for her to spend more time hanging with boys & girls at parties because she didn't really do that as often before. She has nice and good guys all around her to hang out with, so that makes us as parents happy for her. She has a few that she has reserved at the top of her list, but mostly she is just waiting for "boys" to grow up into the "man" she is dreaming of. haha – that is totally her mother saying that – not her!
It will be a wonderful few years ahead with this girl. I love to cheer for her at soccer games, sit by her at church and sing the hymns – we switch who sings alto/soprano every other verse without even planning it…we just know, watching her ham it up on the stage of her swing choir songs and dimpley smile, curling her hair when I get the honored privilege, depending on her to take care of the family when I'm gone from home, and mostly all of the great talks found at the end of my bed after she gets home from work or playing with friends.
Strong willed, independent, dependable, & full of integrity is this girl in a nut shell. LOVE her to death!