Natalie turns 9!

Natalie turned 9 on Friday and is weeks away from starting 4th grade. I can remember so many things about 4th grade and it is so strange to think that now I have a kid that old. I remember thinking sometime after she was born {when Natalie is 10 I will be 33!} and I am sure that was really old and now that isn't that far off. But not at all old. ;)

This year we did a family birthday party instead of a friend one. First she opened her presents.

Then it was off to the activity of her choice. Dinner and games at John's Incredible Pizza Co. (the co. is on the sign so my kids always say that part when talking about the place, quite funny to me).

Natalie and Ella finishing up their dinner

Avery chewing on a breadstick. She wasn't fond of much else.

Then today we had our family dinner chosen by the birthday girl. Hamburgers from the BBQ and the cake that she chose.

Skittles rainbow cake



6 layers

A LOT of cake and A LOT of time, but it was fun

Happy 9th Birthday to my little girl that isn't so little any more! We love you!

The Plan

This summer Alberstons has had a contest where you get game tickets each time you shop and if you match them on a game board you can win a variety of prizes. The prizes range for $2 in cash up to the grand prize of $250,000. We have played the game all summer and the kids have had fun matching the game pieces to the board and hoping we will win something, but none more than Ella. We talked about some fun things that we would do if we won the grand prize. I suggested a family vacation to Hawaii (this mother of 4 could REALLY use a vacation). Ella said she wanted to get an American girl doll. I said fine, if we win $250,000 you can get an American Girl Doll. A few days later the catalog came in the mail and the planning began.

If Eric returned home from the store Ella would want to check the game pieces to see if we won. She would dream about getting the doll Kanani because she is only here for one year. But she didn't just want the doll she wanted the doll and "all her life stuff". Here is a picture of her with all her life stuff. But not all the dolls, just one. It is the bargain price of $479.

Today we told Ella that the game was over. News she didn't take well. I suggested that if she really wanted this doll she could ask for the doll for Christmas, but all she would get was the doll. Then she could ask for something else for her birthday. Then save her money and get something else. Well, you get the idea. This seemed like it would take too long for Ella so all the sudden she says, "Lots of people think I am cute. Maybe one of Natalie's friends that is rich that thinks I am cute can buy it for me!" Best idea yet! And so here I am petitioning out there to anyone who thinks Ella is cute and just happened to have $500 just send Kanani and her life stuff on over. And thank you in advance.

4th of July

This 4th was a combo celebration of our nations birthday and good-bye to my parents. We gathered with all the local family members at Aaron's house. The kids had so much fun being with their cousins, as always. After dinner, playing, talking and running around it still seemed that nightfall was pretty far off. So we started the fireworks anyways. Avery wasn't at all fazed by the fireworks and enjoyed them from the comfort of Eric's lap. And don't they look patriotic in their red, white and blue.

All the party people, except my parents! Seriously! I didn't get a picture with them. I was sad. A few days later they left for the MTC and are now hard at work in Minneapolis. We are so proud of them and miss them terribly. Ok moving on because now I am getting a bit misty eyed.

Natalie, Griffin, Reese, Cameron , Ella and Maddox cautiously enjoying the fireworks. This was actually a big step for Natalie who has a strong fear of fireworks and is usually inside with her ears plugged, trying not to cry.

Just Because

she is so cute. And growing so fast.

Poor Kid

This guy has had it rough for the last few weeks. First a good solid week of restless nights from a bad cold.
Then just when he was feeling back to normal he had some pretty good crashes and falls outside while playing. This picture is from last week with the injuries resulting from two separate incidents on the same day. First "people" were trying to keep him from jumping on the tramp with them, and zipped the net down in his face = the lovely eye. Then while riding his scooter that afternoon he lost his balance and his mouth collided with the handle bars = nice teeth marks on the inside of his mouth, fat lip and bruise on the outside and a cut that was glued back together at the doctors. I really worried that people might question my parenting.
And now he is sick again.

Old McDonald had a Farm...

and some of it stayed at our house! Ella's class had an incubator with 16 eggs. 15 fluffy chicks hatched and for one night 8 of them stayed with us. We babysat some chicks when Natalie was in kindergarten, but the girls were a lot more comfortable holding the chicks this time around. We had 4 little yellow ones and 4 black ones and they were pretty darn cute. Kind of a funny thing since chickens are not cute.

It was a bit stressful at times making sure that my kids and a few visitors were soft enough that I would be returning ALL 8 chicks the next day. For the most part they did well and the chicks seemed to be pretty resilient. Thankfully.

Four and One

May is a busy month with Cameron and Avery's birthdays just 3 days apart. I really like to have a nice break from one birthday to the next. I feel like I can recover and gear up for the next. Not so with these two. I did keep the expectations low, knowing they won't even remember these birthday days and really was just too tired to do something big.

We celebrated with cupcakes and ice cream, a few cousins, 2 aunts and Grandma and Grandpa. It was nice. And simple. Of course I had tried not to let the guilt of not doing something big and combining both birthdays into one, creep in as the day of the get together approached. I think I did a pretty good job until I was looking at pictures a few days later and realized that I didn't get any pictures of Cameron blowing out his number 4 candle. My camera and I were focused in on Avery and her reaction to the cupcake on her tray. And so entered the guilt. Oh well, it seems it is something that often accompanies motherhood.

When shopping for a present for Ella's friend Cameron spied a puppy bubble machine. He really wanted this and I suggested that maybe he would get it for his birthday. From then on if his birthday was mentioned in any way he would make sure people knew he wanted a "puppy bubbler". He was so excited when he opened his first present and there it was!

Cameron is such a fun boy and adds so much life to our family.
-He loves to...
-snuggle on the couch with mom
-have any one read to him
-make people laugh
-ride his bike
-swim
-help dad fix things
-watch Tangled, quote Tangled, act out Tangled
-go to Primary
-and talk to anyone who will listen

And my little baby turned ONE! I know I say it all the time, but I can't believe it. I can't believe she is a year old. She had a great time with her cupcake and opening presents. Didn't really care about what was inside the packaging as much as she did about the packaging itself. -Avery is such a loving and outgoing girl. She has rarely had any stranger anxiety and will often want anyone standing close by to hold her.
She...
- is constantly "talking"
- loves to follow her sisters and brother around
-waves hi and bye
-gives hugs and kisses
-loves taking baths
-loves to dive in piles of blankets and pillows