“this is the best birthday ever!”

Adelle keeps telling me, “this is the best birthday ever!!” It’s true that she’s had a pretty awesome week.

Tuesday Grandma took her shopping and she picked out the pink and orange princess dress she is wearing above, as well as the swimsuit below and the fancy blue birthday dress. There was more too! She loves getting to go on special dates with just her and my mom.

Then Wednesday  we met at Hovander with friends to celebrate Adelle and her friend, Colton’s, 5th Birthdays. It was beautiful and warm and the kids had fun running around and playing and eating cupcakes!!

Wednesday night when Jeff went to mutual up at the church he took the rest of the cake from the picnic with him. Adelle said, “If the men eat my cake they have to tell me happy birthday,” so sure enough she got a phone call and it was all the boys/men singing Happy Birthday to her. It was so funny, she was so excited. When they were done she ran out to the trampoline to her brothers and yells, “dad and his men sang happy birthday to me!”

Then on Friday we kidnapped our own kids! We acted as if we were just taking Braxton to school and all the kids got ready and Jeff and I secretly packed and loaded them all up and then we drove right past his school. They were all confused and like, “where are we going?”  We ran a few errands and then told them we were going someplace special for Adelle’s birthday. They guessed ice cream and the waterslides but when we showed up at Lesha and Peter’s house, 7 hours later they were beyond excited and said it was better than ice cream and the waterslides.

Lesha made us Taco’s for dinner and then we spent the evening at the local park and skate park. The kids were in heaven to be with cousins. They played so hard and then stayed up all night talking and laughing.

The next morning the kids all woke up and we all got ready and went out to breakfast. Adelle’s request was to go to the Space Needle but we were far past Seattle so we went to Elmer’s instead. It was delicious and while we were there the balloon man came and made crowns and swords for our royal party.

Then, after another trip to the skate park, we went to the local indoor pool for swimming and water slides. Why doesn’t our town have fun stuff like that??

It was so fun to visit my sister and her family. We have missed them the past few weeks and although it was a long trip, it was totally worth it. I love doing fun things with my kids and surprising them. They were so good and so grateful.

When we got home Adelle had mail waiting for her. Uncle Brent and Aunt Jess sent her a painting and $5 and she put the painting right on the fridge. Then she opened her birthday package from Gramy and Papa in Utah and was beyond excited to receive this lovely Rapunzel hair and the movie, Tangled. She had to put the hair on. It matched the Tangled nightgown that my sweet friend Tori gave me to give to Adelle for her birthday.

After the kids were in bed Jeff and I got busy finishing the crowns that I had started making with my friend Jama earlier in the week. We were pretty impressed with how they turned out! The kids loved them and looked so cute in them.

Here is my sweet 5 year old princess.

Then last but not least we had a party for Adelle on Sunday with family and a couple of friends. Jeff and I were so exhausted from the already busy/fun weekend but it turned out really good and the sun shone so we got to be outside.

Adelle chose ice cream cake, which was super good and easy but of course I had to complicate things by also making some little blueberry tarts.

Adelle got so many beautiful gifts. Dresses and beads and money. Uncle Bryce got her hair bows. Last weekend he had asked her what she wanted and she said, “hair bows.” Then a few days ago he texted again to make sure and she goes, “I already told him, I wanted hair bows!” So that is what she got from him. A whole bunch. I guess now that her hair is blonde and 2 feet long she will have someplace to put all the bows.

The grand finale of the day was getting to go on a real motorcycle ride with Umpa. Five is the legal age so she had been waiting to turn 5 and sure enough today she got her own ride. I think she was scared to death but she held on and made it back home.

I love this little girl so much. She is bright and bubbly and sweet and sassy. She is growing up to be so kind and thoughtful and she is a really good friend and neighbor. She is the best sister to her brothers and the best little mommy to 2 of them.

At the end of the day she came up and gave me a hug and a kiss and she said, “thanks for a fun party and the best birthday, mom.” Then she walked up and said, “you too, dad.” Like she’s an adult or something. So sincere and sweet.

Happy Birthday Miss Adelle!

moving along!!

Adelle keeps us all on our toes with her unique sense of style. This wig is the latest fad around here. She seriously wears it and thinks it's beautiful. We are all playing along, understanding that this too will eventually pass.
In her defense, however, this girl is my right arm these days. She loves her little brothers so much and is more than willing to help out in whatever way I need. She is really a little angle and I love how she is so naturally caring and motherly.

The chickens have been confined to the corner of the backyard. It's a win, win, win. They are laying like champions and we don't have to watch for poop all over the backyard. This makes for a happy farmer's wife!

Gage is moving along....crawling!! I knew it would be quick and it was. He is cruising right along now and the kids are constantly having to pick up their small pieces. The other night Gage crawled under the table while we were eating dinner. He was quite content down there underneath Emmett's chair, satisfied with whatever missed Emmett's mouth. Ha, that's a minor exaggeration but we thought it was funny. Who needs a dog when you have a baby. Yuck!
In all seriousness I don't know about this whole crawling thing. It means making sure the door is always closed now and lots of other minor adjustments to be careful about.

Yesterday I got to go to Braxton's school and eat lunch with all the teachers during a volunteer appreciation. Braxton's class was chosen to sing to all the volunteers and it was really fun. The theme was, "The End of an Era," since his school is closing. Kids sang songs from the 60's because that was the year the school was built. Braxton was shocked when I started singing, "Yellow polka dot bikini," with him. He's like, "how do you know that song, mom??"
Braxton is experimenting with a new hairdo as well. He wants it longer and swoopy. I don't know if his hair is made for that look but I do know I am not going to start paying for someone to do his hair. He's only 7 years old!!

Yesterday was a hard day for my husband. Sometimes the business seems like a bottomless money pit. Thankfully we have good friends who have their own business and offer much needed perspective. I really need the validation sometimes and I find so much strength in knowing that someone else knows exactly what I feel like.
We had bacon cheeseburgers for dinner and Jeff's day was magically better. I love knowing my husband and what he needs ;)

Emmett is my little doll. He is so beautiful and sweet and looking at him always bring me to a smile. He loves his baby brother and his role as the big brother is taken seriously by him. You know the chubby little puppy in 101 Dalmations that is always saying, "but momma, I'm hungry." That is my Emmett. So sweet. Emmett is up with the sun and asking for breakfast. He is happy to do whatever and keeps us all laughing at his funny faces and honest expressions. Like last week while I am driving I hear him from the backseat, "ah mom! That light was red!!" Yes, like the one I just went through. I was behind a semi and couldn't really tell so I went for it and sure enough I got busted.

I made a meal calendar this week and so far I am 3 for 5 in sticking to it. I have never had a meal calendar in my life but I thought I would give it a shot. I am not sold on it yet, but I do feel like overall dinner prep was easier. I think I will try it again next week and see if it sticks.

Today is the 10 year anniversary of the first date I ever went on with Jeff. It's caused me to think on a lot of things. I love my husband and I think we were honestly made for each other. I was telling Adelle about this special day and she asked, "but who babysitted us on that day?" Funny how kids think the world revolves around them;)
My kids have a date with their aunties tonight and Jeff and I have a date. Cheers to dates... that's how we got to where we are now!

One week down since my sister moved. It's been hard. It has made me really appreciate all my friends and the life we have here. My earnest prayers are that my sister will make a special friend. It will seriously save her.

I have been running with 2 friends who are die hard. I go when I want, and then don't if I don't want. They gave me their schedule so the days I want to go I do. It's been good. The other day I did 5 miles and it knocked my socks off. I decided most of it is in my head. I told myself that morning that I could do it, and I totally did. Whereas the week before I ditched out on the 5 mile run because I was scared and didn't think I could do it. I was comfortable doing 3 and 4 but not 5. So here's to thinking positive and pushing myself a little harder.

And just so in 10 years when I read this I will remember the blueberry excursion I took with some of my friends the other night. Key words: email, texts, blueberry caravan, more frozen blueberries than I have ever seen in my life, shovels, free, desperate housewives, secret source.

Memorial Day

 "Braxton, come on, real smile." "This is my smile, mom."

 "Adelle are you really freezing?" "It's so cold!" (58 degrees and sprinkling)

 "Emmett look at mommy!" "Cheese!"

 "Gagey... hi Gagey...look at momma..."

"ok, if you are a baby, look wherever you want. Everyone else, eyes on me!!" "Cheese."

Monday we got up and after breakfast we drove to a couple of the local cemeteries to see the flags and visit the gravesites of some of our loved ones who have passed on.

Contrary to the depictions above, the kids really enjoyed this whole morning. They were very curious about my Papa and my Grandpa and about the baby that was still born and didn't have a dash on her marker. They asked questions all day and it made for really good conversation.

I love Memorial Day. I grew up with parents who valiantly took us around on Memorial Day to visit the cemeteries and taught us about our ancestors. I am so thankful for their example. There were times when I didn't enjoy it. Like in middle school when all my friends were meeting at the mall or going to a movie and I got to go around with my family, commonly in the rain, and put flowers on headstones. But, I am thankful that I learned to do it because I feel like it is a respectful thing to do and as it parent it offers numerous teaching opportunities. Also, I think the diligence paid off because my brother and his girlfriend met us at the cemeteries and spent the morning with us. I am sure if Lesha and Brent still lived here they would have met up with us too.

 Then we took our kids to ice cream! It was a very special treat and they were very excited about it. Emmett chose chocolate. Braxton chose mint oreo, and Adelle chose cookies and cream.

We spent the rest of the afternoon vegging out on the couch. Jeff and I dosed off while the kids watched Kung Fu Panda 2. Jeff made us a fire and we had a family home evening lesson on the resurrection and Jeff taught the kids about what happens when we die and a little more about why are bodies are buried in the earth. I got out pictures of my Papa and Grandpa and we talked about them and what they were like. I was about Braxton's age when Papa passed away so it was interesting recollecting what I could about him and explaining it to Brax.

I love days like this with my family.