Happy 2nd Birthday Super Why, er, I mean Ammon boy!

Our sweet little Ammon turned 2 on September 1st! The past year with him has been soooo fun. He is just a sweetheart and the handsomest kid I've ever seen :) His personality is so easy going and laid back. He is friendly, funny, gentle and kind(well, other than biting his sisters on occasion...not sure how to fix that leetle problem). His favorite things are: being outside, reading books & "puh-ples"(puzzles). He is also starting to pretend with his toys and do the cutest little sound effects-totally a boy! He is also a great big brother and loves "weddy" so so much. He is so soft to him and if he hears him cry, he gets very concerned. I know they'll be buddies/arch enemies in no time :)

For Ammon's birthday this year, we kept it lowkey, just family. My aunt Cindy was even able to come over that day and spend it with us which was extra fun. I made a Super Why cake because that has been a show hes obsessed over the past couple of months. Nana & Tata even sent him a dress up Super Why costume which he loooves and wore all that day. He zoomed around the house as a super hero-it was adorable! The mask is a riot :) We were laughing and laughing when he first put it on and ran around the living room. He really played the part well :) Our big gift to him was a kiddie pool which he spent the afternoon enjoying along with our slip n slide in the backyard with his sisters. They had a blast! I love how the girls play so well with him and enjoyed these kiddie toys with him. They are awesome big sisters. We then ordered pizza later that afternoon, had cake & Bluebell icecream and finished off the day with opening presents. Well, actually, we let him open a few presents throughout the day to enjoy and then let him open the last two at the end of the day. And then he was extra lucky because gifts from Grandma & Grandma and aunts came in the mail not too long after that. He had a week of new toys! Thanks everyone that thought of him on his very special day! He loved everything and had a great day. Enjoy the pics of the birthday fun...

Birthday boy having a blast

Slip N Slide fun

Who knew a Slip N Slide could taste so good? Gotta love Cali.

Trying out the new slide. He was very cautious the first few times but was sailing down it in no time :)

 I thought the cake turned out cute. I do it the easy way. Plop a toy on top.

 This is the first photo taken with all seven of us. Ever. Thanks Cindy for taking it :)

Excited for cake! I just love the look on his face. Me, not so much. Total nerdo.

Look at his lips trying to blow it out-haha! So cute.

 YUM!

Sporting his Super Why gear...

Favorite picture of the day right here.

Time to open presents!

His first cell phone :)

Okay, maybe this is my favorite picture...I gave him a candle to lick the frosting off. He then took a bite of the candle. Oopsies.



Happy Birthday to Me

I turned 32 on August 31st...it was, well, not too exciting..well it depends on what you call exciting I guess:) It was basically a regular day at home while Joey was at work and the girls were at school. Laundry, baby crying, dishes, good times. A sweet friend of mine, Emily, came to visit me and brought over lunch and treats which was so so awesome of her. It made me feel like somebody cared when honestly I was feeling kinda down that day. Ya know, postpartum emotions..they are super fun. I had a great time chatting with her and appreciated her coming to see me.

When the kids got home in the later afternoon, they wanted to make my cake. Somehow in the middle of the chaos of trying to get that done(baby crying again, arguing, etc), Ammon got a hold of an egg and threw it on the floor cracking it and making a huge mess. More chaos ensued. So I ended up making the cake. And had gotten a huge headache in the process of cleaning that up and dealing with the five kiddos. Then Joey came home with no dinner when he had planned to bring home dinner. He had to take his boss home from work(not planned, just thrust upon him) and all this stuff messed up his plans..long story:) I was feeling upset. I love to go out for dinner on my birthday or at least have a dinner that I love. And there was nothing. Wesley was still so little(just over two weeks old) that I wasn't able to go grocery shopping or go anywhere that week so the pantry was bare. And we don't live close to any good restaurants or fast food spots so it would've been a half hour of driving for Joey to go and buy something. So it was going to be sandwiches..or wait an hour to eat. Yea.

Well all of the sudden we heard a knock on the door and a woman from our new ward surprised us with a meal! And also an adorable "new mom survival kit" with all kinds of goodies(that just so happened to contain some of my favorite things: root beer and junior mints were in the package...seriously, she was inspired!) I couldn't believe it. The meal was fantastic and the fact that someone was thinking of us and knew exactly when we needed it was a testimony builder to me. What a nice person, and not only that, someone who is definitely in tune with the Spirit and answered a prayer of mine that day when I was feeling down. Two wonderful women really helped my day turn around. I was in a much better mood after that. After the meal, Joey and the kids decorated the dining room and made my evening wonderful with lots of birthday fun. SO while there were some not-so-cool parts of my birthday, there were some wonderful memorable things that happened I will never forget. The girls made this super sweet candy card for me and showered me with gifts. They worked so hard on preparing for my birthday(with their Daddy's help) and I'll treasure that forever. And Joey of course got me everything I wanted:$ for clothes shopping and a massage-can't beat that. I'm grateful for my sweet family and wonderful friends that love me! I felt like a mess that day and so many people helped make it great. So thank you to everyone that thought of me and cheered me up :) xoxo

Pictures of the evening festivities. Joey and the girls did a great job making it look perdy!

A seriously goofy picture of me contemplating my wish...I like to be silly(hence the title of this blog). And plus, one wish a year is all we get. Its important people!



Birthday time

We now have a sleeewwww of birthdays in August and September: Zachary, Wesley, then me, Ammon and Aubrey..all within a month. Nuts. We didn't plan this! I guess we just like to get cozy in November and December...tmi...hahahaha....sorry :)

So my first birthday post of many is dedicated to our Zachary. He has been a booger the past year. But I guess we love him :) I can't complain too much I guess. He is totally housebroken & doesn't chew up things, ever. But his barking at every little noise is driving me batty. When we were at the apartment, it was terrible! And he is still so so excitable when new people come over, beyond excited. So excited he'll pee on them. Its fun. I have to take him outside right before guests come over to prevent that embarassment :) I guess thats what you get when you buy a small dog...but he is a sweetheart. Good to the kids and tolerates Ammon(who likes to torture him...) There are days when I watch him with Ammon while Ammon laughs and laughs(while participating in said torturing..) and I'm so glad we got him. The kids are making so many memories with him. I have a feeling he'll have an extra special bond with our boys...hes even licked Wesley's little toes. So, Zac, I guess we'll keep you around:) Happy 3rd Birthday buddy! We love you.


Our little celebration (it was August 6th...before haircuts and Wesley's arrival:) I'm all out of order right now!

Have to post this picture because check out that tongue! Hes almost licking his eyeball. Crazy. He was finishing off a treat and enjoying his new toy.



1st Day of School 2012

I had so many worries about the kids first day of school this year. SOOO many changes for them in a short period of time. Not only did we move a couple of times and have a new baby, but we moved out of our school district and out of our old ward. So everything changed. For Cali, I knew the transition at school would be easiest. She hadn't established herself in an elementary school yet. She is also just a really outgoing girl that makes friends in seconds. And I figured all the kids would be new in kindergarten. Ella is a bit more shy and she was the one I was the most worried about and prayed hardest for. She has had a hard time making close friends in the past so to change things up and throw her in a new place made me very worried for her. She is a soft spoken girl but once you get to know her, she is so fun! Any girl would be lucky to be buds with Ella and thats what I keep telling her. Aubrey is starting "middle" school here(5th and 6th graders are in a lower level middle school in this district where in our old district she would have still been in elementary with the younger two) So I was worried about a big change in structure with her having lots of new things like lockers with combo locks and 7 periods instead of just one teacher. But she has become more outgoing over the years and she is a quick learner so I was pretty confident she'd do alright in handling things. But still, this Mama was worried all day long on August 27th...luckily, they ALL came home and said they loved school. Our prayers were answered! They all have amazing teachers and are already making lots of friends. I am very very happy with our new home and our new town. The schools are awesome! And the people are too! It has all come together. I know we were guided here for a reason. Our patience truly paid off and we have been blessed. Aubrey has even said(and Ella a few days later as well) that she loves her new school more than her old school. And she has said the same about our new ward. So hooray!

First day of school pics...they are quite the stylish sparkly ladies.

Pics of Cali & Ella with their apples for their teacher about to enter their brand spankin new school. This school is actually brand new, not just new to them.  I decided to spare Aubrey the "mama-razzi" at middle school though I really wanted to follow her in! :) It was weird to not be stalking her this year. Sad weird.

Cali and her super sweet Kindergarten teacher. She is perfect for Cali. So loving and huggy!

Have to throw this one in because I didn't get one of Ella and her teacher on the first day of school. This pic is from Meet the Teacher night a few days earlier. I call her teacher Miss Honey because she reminds me of that sweet teacher on the movie, Matilda:) She is just so cute and feminine and sweet! And she always wears these cute dresses. Ella has a wonderful teacher this year-I have been really impressed.



Big girl Cali: Kindergartener!

The years fly by with all the kids, but it seems that with every year and every child, time moves even faster. It seems like just yesterday(cliche, but true!) we brought home our third little princess from the hospital. It was an easy labor and delivery. I remember right after delivery feeling like, wow, that was great! I could do this again tomorrow(that was the only baby I could say that about:) She was a good baby, a great sleeper and a beautiful little girl. When Cali hit about the age of 2 1/2 we realized, she is also a firecracker! Terrible twos hit hard, but amongst the "terrible" was the most hilarious little girl we'd ever met. I think I could fill a book with "cali-isms" as we have referred to them as(A recent one while riding in the car, "Mom, what would happen if you tooted on a potato?" Ummm, not sure:) She just says the most random hilarious things ever. Cali is also a determined kid. If she wants to do something, she will find a way to do it. I've had other more experienced parents with older kids tell me that those kids of theirs that were "determined" and challenging at times as little ones were able to turn that into something that truly made them successful in life and I know it will with Cali.  Cali is also one of the most friendly kids ever. If we go to a park, everyone knows her name within minutes and is playing tag with her:)  She loved preschool and had lots of buddies. Another wonderful quality of Cali's: love. She is very vocal about how much she loves you and can turn any frown upside down. And I also can always count on her to tell me I'm pretty:) She is so sweet and complimentary. This girl makes us smile and laugh lots.

I have had trying times with my spunky fiesty little girl, I'm not gonna lie, but I don't know what I'd do without my Cali girl. I will miss her at Kindergarten this year but its what she really needs right now. time away to learn and grow. I know she will thrive and learn so much this year. She doesn't really love mommy trying to teach her things:) But I know she'll listen to her school teacher!(hopefully? lol) Cali, have a wonderful year in Kindergarten! We love you so so much! Enjoy these pics of our girl with the golden curls from the past until now..these darn kids grow too too quick!  :(