Growing Up and Moving On

 My kids just keep growing and growing.  I am constantly amazed at all they can do and the things they say.  Right after the boys birthday Annabelle celebrated her summer birthday at school.  Her half birthday is Valentine's day so it came really close.  I'm glad the school gives her a chance to celebrate.

Part of Ryan turning 9 is that he is no longer in my cub scout den.  He is now a bear.  He was very excited to move on and grow up.  I think he is quite the stud.  The next picture is a little goofy, pure Ryan, but it also shows his awesome Lego dragon he got for his birthday.  We could have just gotten him that and he would have been happy.

 

 Callie sings, dances, and talks your ear off.  She loves playing with me or the other kids, but is also great at entertaining herself.  I caught her the other day making beds for her babies on the stairs.  She was talking to them and putting them to bed so sweetly.  I love hearing the kids conversations when they don't realize someone is listening.

 Nathan is getting SO big.  But I love finding him doing young things still.  He is always so proud of his creations with blocks or any other building material.  I also love finding pictures like this on my camera that I didn't take.

 It was teacher appreciation day last week and on one day the kids were supposed to bring their teacher a flower.  I always have lots of little wooden cut outs and so the kids all happily painted flower magnets for their teachers, and then a couple for themselves.  I love their detail and their concentration.

 Years and years ago Greg had Nathan, Ryan and Annabelle decorate these plates for me for Mother's Day.  Annabelle was 1 or under, so at least 6 years have passed.   The kids kept telling me they wanted me to take the plates down since they could do so much better.  I at first thought I should get a plate for Callie to decorate and hang it somewhere, but then Greg had a great idea...getting pretty plates to put there instead.  I loved the idea, and finally sought after some "pretty plates."  I love the colors they add to the kitchen and am looking forward to finding ways to bring those colors in elsewhere in the kitchen.

 

President's Day

 On Monday, Ryan's real birthday we had a busy day.  I took the kids to Orem where they got to pick out books at Barnes and Noble (a new tradition for sure) and then met Grandma Pam who took them for about 4 hours.  They went present shopping, out to lunch and I'm not sure what else, but it was a nice quiet afternoon so that I could get ready for that night's festivities.  We had most of Greg's Utah family over for dinner.  I made my meatballs, 4.5 pounds worth!  Ryan requested them for his birthday dinner and it was pretty easy to make extra.  We had just enough for everyone to eat plenty (I think Jeff had 8 or more?) and then we had them as leftovers last night.

 The cousins are always happy to be together and so they play and played and were crazy loud.  The adults needed to have a meeting about a big reunion we were all putting together so we turned a movie on for the kids. It really calmed them down.  Grandma Pam is a technology wiz for her school district so she brought some toys for our meeting.  We had a projector so we could Skype with family members living far away.  We had a snowball microphone so we could all be heard better.  We also had a couple other family members on speaker phone.  The good news is we got everything figured out and we will be staying at an amazing cabin at Bear Lake, next summer. 

 We have four birthdays all in a row on Greg's side of the family, plus a couple Aunts within a week of them, too.  I think I am cupcaked out after making them 3 times this weekend.  But everyone loved them (Grandma brought some as well) and had at least 2.  I was happy to have them all gone so as not to have too many leftover.  Especially since I had to bring mini cupcakes to the boys classes on Tuesday for their birthdays.  I wish we could just make a treat to bring in.

 

 

 

 

 It was the longest and most partying crazy week I have had in a long time.  I am grateful it is all over with.  We are all happy, healthy and ready to tackle the rest of life. 

9 Year Old Ryan

 I can't believe my Ryan is nine!!  He is growing up so fast and becoming such a handsome and wonderful boy.  I love that Ryan didn't even care that he had less presents on the table than Nathan.  When Greg pulled out the first clue for a treasure hunt to another present Ryan was so engrossed in his Lego Gold Dragon that we had to tell him a few times that there was another present.  Greg put together and scavenger around the house that eventually took him to the shed and a new bike.  Ryan has never had a new bike, he has always had Nathan's old one.  He was very excited and rode it right away and then to piano later that day.  Every day since he has asked to ride it to school, but I told him that when it is below freezing it just isn't a good idea.

 Ryan's birthday party was on Saturday and it was a Ninjago (Lego ninjas) theme.  We had lots of loud and wild boys over and had lots of fun.
 When the boys first got there they got to write Chinese characters on ninja headbands.  The girls and I were even sporting one but unfortunately I was behind the camera the whole time so no pictures of how cute I looked.  Next we taught the boys how to make ninja stars.  Well, Nathan taught them.  Greg and I helped (I tried).  It was hard, but the boys were excited to learn.

 Then we headed outside for some target practice.  I had read online that they was a fun party game but the boys couldn't pop the balloons.  I am not sure if it is because their start were not sharp enough or the balloons were to thick.  Who knows?  Luckily the boys loved throwing them at the balloons over and over.  Nathan even made a point system and kept track of which boys hit what color balloons.  Boys sure do love competition.

 Next we had some sushi and learned how to use chopsticks.  The boys were all a little scared of the sushi, until I showed them it was just candy and rice krispie treats.  The chopsticks were hard to manage.  We tried to play a game where the boys were on teams and had to pick things up with their chopsticks but it was too hard for them so we only did it once.

 Ryan really wanted me to make a poster of a ninja to play a game.  Luckily I have inherited some minor art skills from my mother and so Ryan was really happy with my drawing.  He was up first to put the ice badge on the Ninja and he walked right up and had it on the right spot when all of this friends told him to go lower and lower.  They finally told him to put it on, right in the crotch and when Ryan opened his eyes he was SO upset.  HE was mad that his friends told him wrong and that they told him to put it there.  The boys were all hysterical over it, but Ryan was not.  The picture of just him is after he got happy again.  His headband got him a little green since his tears got it wet, but luckily he got over it quickly and was back with his friends.

 We did cake/cupcakes next.  The boys sure can eat a lot.  Then presents and outside play time.  I was going to do an obstacle course and some ninja exercises with the boys, but I decided they could just do whatever they wanted and they all seemed to have fun in the sunshine.  According to the boys and Ryan, the party was lots of fun and a success.  I love throwing big parties and watching my kids have fun and be the center of attention.  They deserve that at least once a year.  Happy Birthday Ryan, we love you so much!

 

 

11 year old Nathan

 My little boy is growing up so quickly.  Nathan is now 11 years old.  He is a handsome, smart, loving and wonderful boy.  He didn't want a big flashy party this year and so he took a few friends to the theater to see "Escape From Planet Earth."  Greg took all the boys while the girls and I stayed home and had a girls night.  Then the boys came back for cake and ice cream.  I worked really hard on this Minecraft cake but it was pretty blah looking.  Luckily, the Nathan loved it and it tasted great so there were no complaints.  I am so glad Nathan has a good group of boys as his friends.  He is more shy than his brother and yet he is surrounded by good people and I couldn't be happier.

 

 

 Nathan's party was Friday night and then his birthday was Sunday.  This year I made signs instead of buying balloons.  It may have taken more time, but Nathan seemed to like it.

 Nathan was excited about books, a robotics kit, a yo-yo set with a how to book, movies and a Minecraft Lego set.   I loved watching him work on things throughout the day.  He got the Lego set all put together and made both a windmill and a walking dog with his robotics set.

 For breakfast he requested Felix french toast with berries.  I was happy to oblige. 

 

We were supposed to go to my cousin's house for dinner that night but they cancelled in the afternoon due to sickness.  I was relieved.  We got to relax the rest of the day.  I was able to pull off a yummy dinner with what we had on hand and then we got to watch a movie together as a family.  I think Nathan was glad also that we could just relax and spend time with him.  We love Nathan so much and are so thankful he has been a part of our family these past 11 years.

Underwater Heroes

 The library is having a contest right now.  We were able to pick up a "What's It?" bag and then use all the stuff in the bag to make something.  We had the stuff out on the counter for a few days which was a little crazy since I hate clutter, and then had a paper where the kids could write ideas about what to make.  Some ideas were: a flower pot, a rocket, a snowman, mom, a person, a shark and probably some others I can't think of.  It was finally the day to decide and so we went with an underwater theme.  There was pink and purple paint that we put inside the soda bottle and I guess it looks more pink in the picture, but it is kind of swirly and looks cool.  The kids all got to make something and come up with how things would go.  We have seaweed, coral, jellyfish, starfish, a turtle, a sea snail and a orange fish.  It was a lot of fun and while our big pink fish kind of looks like a pig (according to Callie it IS a pig), we are proud of our work and the kids are all set on the prize being ours.

 Trying to take a smiling picture of everyone is next to impossible.  It is much easier to get a good goofy picture of all four of them.

Best Valentine's Day Dinner Ever

 I really do love Valentine's Day.  Not because Greg and I do so many things for each other, but because we make it an extra special day of love for our whole family.  The kids loved their boxes of treats this year.  Callie--pig, Annabelle--cupcake, Nathan--dog, and Ryan--truck.  They loved the poems from Daddy and the little flip books from mommy.  And we all loved the pink heart pancakes and bacon.  Greg got me some beautiful red roses and a sweet card.  The day started off on the right foot.

I watched a couple kids in the morning so their mom could help at the school.  The little girl, Jane, brought Callie a fun dip that they shared.  They played great all morning.  I loved watching them interact and dance when I turned the preschool music on.  Callie sure is growing up and making friends.

Callie and I went to help in Nathan's class after lunch.  I forgot to take pictures there but here is Nathan doing the game I came up with.  It was simple, cheap and the kids had lots of fun.  They had a straw and we did three variations of the game.  1. The kids were on teams and had to carry the hearts on their straws (by sucking) across the room to put on a desk.  2. The kids then had to blow the hearts across the room on the floor.  This was harder and more tiring.  3. Then I had the kids pass the hearts from one straw to the next.  The 5th graders would only do it from boy to boy or girl to girl, but they had fun with that one.  It was a lot of fun helping with the party, and now I have helped with one party for each kid this school year. 

On to dinner, the best part of the day.  Remember I mentioned I had a fun dinner planned.  Here it is all set and ready to go: 

The kids filled out their menus.  They had to sort through 8 options like, hugging, kissing, cuddling, etc.  They had to pick 2 things for an appetizer, 4 for the main course and 2 for dessert.  They had no idea what they were getting and when.  I was a little nervous someone would get upset but I was pleasantly surprised when they all handled it great.  I think knowing that they would eventually get everything made it easier.

For Ryan's first course he got a roll and a spoon.

Annabelle got a brownie and a spoon and was all smiles to have a utensil to eat with.

Callie got a soda and shepherds pie. She just went for it having no utensils.

Nathan got shepherd's pie and a brownie and gladly ate dessert first.

There was so much laughter and joy and love in our home.  It was fabulous.  Eventually they all had everything.  Nathan got a roll and a spoon for dessert.  Ryan got the main course.   There was also a fruit salad, fork, and a napkin to get.  The kids wanted to do this special dinner again the next day and every day.  I definitely think it will become a holiday tradition.  I am so glad we tried something new!

Here is my sweet valentine.  We were the waiter and waitress for the night and i just love this man so much.  He knows what I need and want before I do sometimes.  He knows how to get me out of a cranky mood and always tells me how lovely I am.  We watched a movie at home on Valentine's night and then over weekend we went out and saw a movie and had dinner.  Every moment with him is special.  Every time we are together I am reminded of how much I love and adore him.  I am so grateful that he is my valentine!!