Our Princess is 5

Staring at the 20 or so inches of snow in my backyard makes me reflect back to a warmer time. A couple of months ago (has it been that long??) we had a birthday party for Kate in or backyard.   On party day it was one of those perfect 70 degree days and I can I just say I am so grateful for summer and early fall birthdays because I would much rather have 10+ kids running around outside instead of inside my house :).  To simplify we did something we've never done before......hired a princess.  And it was awesome.  All I had to worry about was the cake and some decorations and Sleeping Beauty took care of the rest.  The kids were a little hesitant at first but after the singing, story-telling, how-to-act-like-a-princess training, craft-making, and games, they had all warmed up to her and were begging her to stay for cake.  The kids were happy AND we didn't feel like we'd been hit by a train by the time the party was over.  Success.

Almost party time!!

 Being "trained" by Sleeping Beauty.

Funny story. I asked Kate to get dressed up in one of her (many) princesses dresses for the party and she flat out refused.  She wouldn't even let me do her hair, even when I begged her to let me get her all done up.  So she looked like a ragamuffin for the party, but it's her birthday, so whatever she wants, right?  On any given day I never know whether I am going to have Kate the diva or Kate the tomboy on my hands. That girl keeps me on my toes!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!! 

Wedding of the Year

When we first moved into our house I commented on how beautiful the backyard was. Beautiful enough to have a wedding reception in. Well Keith's sister was kind enough to allow us to test that theory earlier this month :)   Ha!  She asked us about a month ahead of time and we were so excited to have the excuse to get the yard and the house all spruced up.  It was a busy month to say the least but everything went off well and I am so happy for Janelle and her new husband Eric.  

Nieces Kenna and Kylie outside the temple

The bride and groom!

Awesome picture taking sister-in-laws

A few brothers thrown into that one - I love Janelle's smile!

Kate and Kenna greeting guests as they arrived for the reception

My cousin's wife made the cake. It turned out really well.

A good time was had by all.....

well except maybe for this cutie pie :)

CONGRATULATIONS JANELLE AND ERIC :)

Cameron's Bday

Cameron is 9!!  We had a family party and he also had a friend "get-together." I was trying to avoid calling it a party because I didn't feel I had the energy to pull something like that together.  Yet it still felt very much like a party, funny how that happens!

 

Cameron with his friends playing in the backyard.  I was worried that I didn't have any planned activities until they started an impromptu game of football using an empty 2 liter bottle.  See they are just so creative on their own!!

Funniest part of the night was when the boys decided to watch Napoleon Dynamite and then all stood up to dance with Napoleon at the end.  It was SO funny!

Cutest pumpkin at Cinderella's ball

Kate's BIG dance performance was last week.  She has been practicing her pumpkin dance  for months with her adorable dance class.  There is nothing like watching a bunch of 3-4 year old girls trying to learn a dance.  Over the last several months there has been crying, laughing, teasing, falling over, picking noses, pulling pigtails, etc.  It was so neat to see it all culminate onstage at Kingsbury Hall in front of hundreds of people.  And I was so proud of Kate!  There was no stage fright or fear, she went up there and did the entire dance perfectly (as perfectly as a four year old can do a dance!) 


I don't think that was her favorite part however.  She LOVED getting her hair and make-up done and getting all dressed up and being the center of attention and having her grandparents come to her performance and getting flowers from her dad.  I really think it was magical for Kate to have an evening all about her.  She was all smiles when I tucked her into bed that night and couldn't stop talking about everything that had happened that evening.  At that moment all I could think is I AM SO GLAD I HAVE A GIRL :)

( These pics were taken before the performance because they didn't allow pictures there)

Tulips and Tantrums

For years I have wanted to go to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point, but we've never been in town at the right time.  So now that we are here I made it a priority this spring to go.  And I was so excited.  The rest of my family was not (at least all the boys ages 6-34.)  I got so sick of the complaining that I finally told these boys ages 6-34 that if they would stop whining and at least pretend like they were enjoying it that this could count as my mother's day present and they wold not have to do anything else.  This got their attention, and I had mild cooperation for the rest of the evening.  Yay!  I even managed to take a few pictures.  

The best smiles I could get, but I'll take it!

I heart this.

I guess I really was asking a lot of Connor by making him come here with me.......

I have always been obsessed with flower pictures.  

Yep I think I've put them through enough!

These guys too!  Thanks for the great mother's day gift :)

May the fourth be with you

I gave myself permission to take a break from blogging, and it felt good I gotta say.  But now I think I might want to post a few things for the (maybe 2?) people who might still read this.  And it is a good way for me to record things so I don't forget.  So here it goes.....


Connor turned 7 on Wednesday. We had a family party that night and also the missionaries came over for dinner (it ticked him off for some reason, maybe because they were sister missionaries?  Who wants girls over for dinner when it's your birthday anyway??)  On Friday the 4th of May, Connor had his friend Alton and brother Everett over for pizza and a movie.   Alton and Everett are friends of Cameron and Connor's from Wisconsin who happen to live less than 10 minutes away from us now.  How cool is that??  I still remember how sad it was for my boys to say good bye to them almost two years ago when we moved from Wisconsin to Indiana.  I never would have imagined things turning out like this, with all of us ending up in Utah.  It makes me so happy!!  

Pizza party!

Ha ha! Caught him before he could make a face for the camera.

At least Kate will pose for me!

He's even cute eating pizza.

Opening presents :)

So Keith apparently works with some pretty nerdy guys (of "The Big Bang Theory" variety, for anyone who watches that show.)  One of these guys happens to have a replica of a Storm Trooper costume that he has spent hundreds of dollars putting together to make it as authentic as in the movies. So he offered to show up for Connor's party.  We were outside talking with friends when all of a sudden this storm trooper comes walking down the street (neighbors weren't sure what to think about that one!)  The best part was bringing him into the house - as the boys are watching Star Wars - and seeing the looks on their faces as he walked into the room.  Pure awesomeness.  I bet this is a birthday Connor wont forget!

Happy birthday Connor!

With some friends and neighbors

Thanks random storm trooper!!

January stuff

Hmmm.....guess I need to come up with a new blog title!  I'll add that to my list of hundreds of things to do.  It has been a busy few months but somehow we managed to survive the move, get unpacked, have Christmas, and then get unpacked some more.  The boys started school and are loving it, and Keith and I are working hard to de-80's the house. And I get to look out my back window and see the GORGEOUS mountains every day.  I have missed the mountains :)


I'll put up house pictures soon, because I still need lots of ideas (help!)  But for now I just had to post a few pics I came across on my phone.  Sometimes those impromptu pictures really are the best!

 OK so this was obviously taken last summer, but this was just one of our many trips to Kroger.

 Cutie pie!

 Three Harry Potters!  If you look carefully you can see the scars they made me draw on their foreheads.

Here are a couple from Keith's phone: