Happy 18th Birthday, Janika!!

Today is Janika's 18th birthday! Many wards in our area cancelled church because of the snowstorm and icy roads.  The carolers were supposed to sing in our hearing ward and also the deaf branch today but Rick cancelled their performances because we didn't want the teenagers driving across town in dangerous snowy and icy streets. 

Our hearing ward didn't cancel church but only had Sacrament meeting because the heating system was down in all of the classrooms.  The only heated areas were the chapel and the Bishop's office.  The Deaf Branch cancelled church completely.  I was supposed to give a talk and hadn't even started it and so the cancellation was somewhat of a relief. We went to our ward for Choir practice and Sacrament meeting and then stayed after for Jase's ordination to become a Priest. 

After church we ate a nice dinner and sang "Happy Birthday" to Janika. She showed off her impressive lung capacity by blowing out all 18 candles in one breath! 

 

Happy Birthday Janika!!

Wow!  I can't believe that my oldest is 15!!  Next year she will be dating and driving!  Janika's birthday was on Wednesday, December 8th.  She opened her gifts the night before so that she could wear her new clothes to school.  It was a usual busy day.  I went to the elementary school to bring a treat and read a Christmas book to each of my kids' classes.   Wednesday night Janika went to Young Women's and after their regular activity all of the Miamaids went out for ice-cream at Krave to celebrate her birthday.  Josh and Jaiden were in bed by the time she got home.  But we pulled out the cake anyway (even though she didn't eat any) and had her blow out the candles.    

Thursday Jani and Jase had a party with the deaf branch youth over at our house.   Friday afternoon one of Janika's friends took her shopping and bought her a couple of cute items for her birthday (including the scarf she is wearing ice-skating).  Janika debated how to celebrate her birthday and then decided on just getting a huge group of friends to go ice-skating.  It wasn't a birthday party really -- more of just a fun get-together for whoever wanted to come.  Rick and I dropped her off with a few friends and she planned to meet the rest of the kids there.  Rick and I went to an interpreting workshop for three hours and then came to pick her up.  It was a good thing we brought the big van because there she stood with 11 teenagers.  The entire group came over to our house and watched a movie with popcorn and hot chocolate.  She had a blast!