Monkey Business Party

The kids and my sister and I went to a birthday party for Zoey's friend Maddy last Saturday. Cute little Maddy turned 5 and we were glad to get to celebrate with her. Her party was at Monkey Business and the kids had a great time. It's pretty much just like Peter Piper or anywhere like that. Zoey and Noah had a great time playing games and just having fun. We got to have some pizza and cake and see Maddy open her plethora of presents. It was a great time and so good to see Maddy and her dad again.Check out all those tickets. Go Noah!
Forget pizza or drinks...we had to get straight to the games.
That is some wind up Noah has for ski ball. I think I dodged a couple of hits with the ball.
Zoey didn't quite get it at first but then did ok.
This shooting game was the biggest disaster. They had no clue what they were doing. Jenn did her darnedest to help Zoey do well. You can only do so much though. Zoey and Noah had fun playing it though and that's all that matters.
He looks like an astronaut to me.
The Monkey Business monkey. You will notice my children are absent from the picture. They were like the only kids in the place to not run up to him. My kids have unfortunately got my gene that causes fear of people in costume.
Maddy is not one to enjoy being the center of attention. She wouldn't look up when everyone was singing to her. Then the picture below is of her grandpa helping her blow out the candles. She just wouldn't do it. It was kind of funny.
I snapped pictures of the birthday girl when I could. The girl does not pose for pictures. She is so cute though.
My little partiers. Thanks Todd and Maddy for inviting us to the party. We are glad we could come.
Zoey picked out Maddy's gift all by herself. I think she did a great job. It is a bit difficult to shop for a gift for a 5 year old when you are 5 and want everything too. Zoey did so good though and it was fun to take her and see her make her decision.

Jay's Birthday Party

Just the last few pictures from Jay's birthday. I have been a little slow with blogging lately.
The birthday boy and his presents. Noah picked out the pirate plates and napkins to use for Daddy's birthday dinner.My adorable family, plus Kylie and we were so glad she could spend the day with us.
Cash is such an awesome gift!The package from Mom and Dad. Noah was the first to have a cupcake. He was upset about something so to console him I told him he could have one. The only condition was he had to sing Happy Birthday to Daddy first. He did it quickly and then got right to eating his cupcake.
Love this perfect mustache/goatee.He seems perplexed by the thought that he is 29.
Blowing out the candles. The 29th birthday celebration is here and gone. It was a fun birthday and I hope Jay enjoyed it. I REALLY can't wait for the big bash next year when he turns 30!

Birthday Swim

How awesome that they even came to clean the pool just for Jay's birthday. (The pool guys showed up right after we did and I couldn't resist taking a picture.)
Noah is showing Daddy what a big boy he is swimming all by himself with his floaties on.
Showing me his football.
What's that big scary monster in the pool???!!!
The water gun gets turned on Mommy. "You best stop taking my picture Mom!"
We started out Jay's birthday on Monday by taking the kids and going to the pool. It was the first time this summer all 4 of us have gone at the same time. The kids were so excited that Daddy was going with us and I was too. We stayed for quite a long time and we really enjoyed our time there. We were lucky enough to get to have Kylie come spend the day with us too so that was a little added bonus. Swimming was certainly a great start to a fun birthday day.

Birthday Post/100th Post

There are 2 big occasions with this post. For one, it is my 100th post since I started the blog. Two, it is my big sister's birthday today. How awesome that her birthday and my 100th post happen to fall at the same time. I think it's cool anyway. I was up at 745 this morning and thought for once that maybe I could get a birthday post done before 1130pm the night of the birthday. I guess that is awesomeness #3 to add, a birthday blog goes out before 9am. Anyway, I just want to wish Stephanie a very happy birthday. (Sorry there are no pictures but you really are not one to have many pictures of you around.) She is my oldest sister, and just may be the wisest. I have had many fabulous times with my big sis over the years. I think the the best times have definitely been later in life. I love that as all of us siblings grow older we get along better and find more joy in being around each other. I have 2 all time favorite times when I was with Steph. One was when I was so lucky to get to spend a couple months with her in Germany. I had so much fun hanging out with her and travelling around the area, experiencing new things. My other all time favorite time with her was the year I lived with her after I graduated high school. I moved in with her the summer after I graduated and I totally loved it. I was so lucky to watch her girlies for her while she worked and it was so much fun. I just enjoyed the time I lived there with her. I don't recall us ever butting heads or having any issues. We just enjoyed our time together and it was great. I am so thankful too that I could be there for her that year. Many not so good things happened in that time and I am just so grateful that I could be there for her in those moments that were so difficult. I love my big sister.

Steph, I hope you have a great day. You are such an amazing woman and though I am so far away I love to see who you have become since you married Rick and have been in NY. I can see how strong your testimony is and how much more amazing you have become in the gospel. Not that you haven't always been, but I have seen a change in you. I admire the mother you are. I know you teach your daughters well and are raising them the way Heavenly Father wants all of us too. You embrace your calling and your activity in your ward there and I think it is so great. I am so glad that you are happy. I am glad you found such an amazing man to marry. You deserve the love he has for you and the way he treats you. I know you have dealt with a lot of difficulty in your life and I just am so thrilled with where I see you now. You truly are amazing and I really am inspired seeing the way you have overcome things and they way you rise above the challenges. I know it must not have been easy and there are probably still many not easy times. You do it with grace though. You have a good heart. Sorry this is all mushy but when I write these things I just say what comes to me. I just wanted you to know what I think of you. We don't talk as much as we should now that you are so far away, but I hope you know that I love you the same as always, maybe even more. You truly are a great example to me in all walks of life. You are amazing. I am so blessed to have you as a sister. I love you!

Happy Birthday Steppie!

Its Yer Burfday!

I could not let this day end without doing my birthday post for my wonderful hubby. We had such a fun day together as a family. I am so grateful that I have been able to share Jay's birthdays with him for the past several years. He is the love of my life and I couldn't imagine life without him. I love his birthday and Father's day and all those holidays that I get the chance to spoil him a little. I love doing things for him and buying him gifts and showing him just that little extra bit of love for a day. He is my best friend and the one which I know is there always, forever. I hope you had a great day my love. The kids and I sure had such a fun day with you. I have never seen the kids so excited about a birthday and we didn't really even do anything too special. I will for years to come be able to hear Noah yelling "Happy Birthday" to you too many times to count on this day. I had a great day and I hope you enjoyed it as well. I love you. Your kids love you. You are the bestest! Happy 29th Birthday Jay Daddy!

Breath of Heaven

I just bought a Jim Brickman CD and this song is on it. I have always loved this song and I found a great video to go along with it. I know Christmas is still months away but the amazingness of Christ's birth can be celebrated in our hearts all year. This music and video just touched me and I thought I would share. Enjoy!

Bed Head

It looks like our bed has grown a head. A very cute one!

A Yummy Summer Dessert

My sister and I made a fruit pizza for dessert last night. It's a sugar cookie crust, the "sauce" is cream cheese filling, then topped with strawberries, plums, mandarin oranges, and blackberries. I like that you put it in the fridge and let it chill. It is just refreshing. It was so tasty, and I think it looked kind of pretty too.

Airplane

I love the imagination of a kid. Zoey and Noah were taking an airplane ride. Don't know how they picked it but their idea of the best place for an airplane was under the piano. They had a lot of fun and I truly just love the things kids come up with.