September 28- October 4, 2015

Ellie's Birthday Party

This year Ellie had a very quiet birthday party.  Everyone in the family was otherwise engaged.  I felt bad for her but I think she actually liked it more.  She had her grandparents all to herself.  She was thrilled to have all the attention.

She loved her Barbie cake, even though I found it a bit creepy.

Seriously how cute is this little lady.

Look at what everyone missed out on.  The food was yummers. 

I made my besties cupcakes and they turned out awesome.  They are so fun and colorful and taste great.

Ellie loved them.

Present time...Best time ever!

Ellie has been wanting a book like this for a long time.  Emma and Elsie have one and she always asks for one.  Mama and Papa made her day.  

She loved all the presents that Grandma and Grandpa gave her.  Especially the heart shirt.  It is so fun to play with.

Ellie adores Emma.  

Getting ready to blow out the candles.  

Thanks for coming Gpa and Gma.

Thanks for coming Papa and Mama

I just love this little lady and I am pretty sure everyone else does too.

pArTay fOr eLsiE aNd eMmA

Emma and Elsie celebrated their birthdays together this year. All of Dads family went out of town for Kylie's softball tourney so we postponed the party for both of the girls. That way everyone could try to make it. It was fun to have Uncle Smitty here too. The girls had a great time. Elsie was a bit nervous opening her presents in front of everyone.  She loved everything she got though.  In fact, I think she tried on every outfit she received at least once during the party.

It was hilarious, I would try to take a pic of Emma and Elsie would hurry and show me a present she got.  She thought the picture was for her.  Hahaha

Needless to say this meant Emma didn't get very many pictures.  She was just as happy to get her gifts and loved all of them. 

All the people who came for Emma.

and Elsie.

Emma and Elsie sure do {LOVE} all of you.

They felt very special to have so many here today.

This is the "cake".

Jeron couldn't tell what it was, and neither could Tara so lets see if you can.

It is ice cream cone scoops.

At least Emma and Elsie liked it.

We are very blessed to have these two beautiful ladies in our lives.  

We love you both.

Our baby is {fOuR}

Elsie is finally four. She has been waiting for this day for a long time. Every time we see something at the store that she loves she will tell me how she really REALLY wants it. I will tell her "Ask for it for your birthday." That is all it takes and she stops asking. So, when I asked her recently what she wanted for her birthday she simply stated "EVERYTHING". It was fun to tease her with this because then we would say, I'm going to get you a snake then, or a dirty diaper." It became a funny game for a while...but also left me wondering just what to get the girl who has wants everything.

Our birthday tradition for this year is Balloons in the rooms.  Sure enough Elsie woke up to balloons.  She actually woke up in the middle of the night and got in bed with us and totally missed them.  I had to take her to her room this morning.  

She had a blast hitting them all off of her bed.

Due to more contractions than normal we had a low key morning. She was super excited that Mac was coming over for her birthday.  She just adores him.

She decided to go to playgroup because it was at her BFF's house.

Then Daddy came home and took her and JJ to see The Lorax.  

She loved it.  

Emma, Ellie, and I stayed home and got things ready.

I love this picture.  She is on the phone with Aunt Maren and Ellie wanted to come listen.

She wanted to play boolha boolha.  JJ, Ellie, and Emma hid all the presents, and Daddy helped her reach the ones up high.

She was so excited.  She said "I got so many presents".

She was most excited about Ella of Frell as she calls it.

I call it Ella Enchanted.

Elsie and I saw this cake months before and it is all she talked about since. 

Jeron stopped at the store to get the pan for me. 

Just so our little princess could have her princess cake.

Happy Birthday Boo!

We love you!

Emma is 10 on the 10th Double birthday baby

I can't believe that we have another child in double digits in our home. 

Emma is the big one zero today.

Not only is she 10 but it is also her double birthday.

Lucky lady.

We have been doing balloons in the bedrooms and it has been a hit.

Emma had fun hitting them all off of her bed.

So did her sisters.

After all the balloon festivities we ate German Pancakes for breakfast. 

I felt bad because Emma had to tend on her birthday.

We had a funeral to go to and Emma was very gracious about helping out.

Once we got back we headed to Layton Surf 'n' Swim.

The girls had a ton of fun.

JJ didn't get to go but he was missed.

Daddy with his little ladies

My little lady and me

After Surf 'n' Swim it was dinner time.

Emma picked Training Table even though her dad and brother tried to talk her out of it.

They wanted Red Robin.

She stuck to her guns and went to Training Table.

I love this picture.  Ellie is trying to do bunny ears on Emma.

Sweet sisters.

After dinner we headed home for cake and ice cream

Did I say cake and ice cream...I meant cookies and ice cream.

Emma doesn't like cake.  This is her second year asking for Snickerdoodle cookies instead.

We had a good night opening presents, and just enjoying each other. 

Happy Birthday Miss Emma, we love you. 

We have a YOUNG MAN in the house

JJ is 12 

I am not sure what to think of this.  It sure does make Jeron and I feel old.

He is a great kid.  

He has always had a very kind heart.

Just the other day someone in our ward dropped something because she was carrying to much.  

JJ ran and picked it up for her and then seeing that she was overloaded helped her take it to her car. 

 He doesn't have to be asked to do these things he just does them.  

It is very impressive to  me how he is always paying attention so that he can help with things like this.  

Most 12 year old boys are too cool to be kind but JJ doesn't seem to care.  

I love this about him

I  have noticed that he is starting to become a tween for sure.

He doesn't want to express himself very much anymore.

This is gong to be hard for him with a mom like me.

I want my kids to tell me things so bring on the prying.  

 He has a crush on a girl and it is cute to see how he gets nervous around her.

He puts on his cologne when he knows she will be coming by, and fixes his hair.

It is crazy to think he is at that stage.  Where did our little boy go?

He is still a bookworm and has an insane thirst for knowledge. 

At times this has been frustrating that he wants to be alone with a book but we are coming to terms with this.

Now we just call him our retirement plan.  

He is so incredibly smart.

I have no doubt that he will make something of himself when he grows up.

 This year for JJ's birthday he was feeling a bit under the weather.

We decorated his room with balloons all over his floor. 

When I came in his room he had done this with the balloons.

Clever

The day was dark, gloomy, and windy which didn't help the situation.  

Jeron and JJ were going to go to the shooting range but the wind was crazy. 

So we had to change our plans.

Instead JJ and his good friend Trevin went to Boondocks.  

They had a blast.

After Boondocks JJ came home and opened presents.

He wanted to play Boola Boola so we did.

Unfortanely that didn't last to long because this year the bulk of JJ's birthday money went to a new suit.

After presents Jeron and I took JJ to Red Robin.

The girls stayed home. 

We decided when our kids turn 12 we will take just them out.

That way we can just talk with them

It was fun to spend time with just JJ

(even if parts of the night we felt we were on a date night because JJ had his head in his Kindle)

When we got home we had cake and ice cream.

He had a chocolate cake with white frosting and Oreo cookies on top.

Not my favorite but he liked it.

Happy Birthday Bud

We Love You

Happy Birthday Ellie

We can't believe that Ellie is seven 

She is so full of life and we just love her to bits

She is always smiling and happy to see you.

We had a little birthday party for her.

She loved to see everyone.
She was so excited to get her presents.
She would hug the present and say THANK YOU with a huge smile.

All the people that came to love on Ellie.

We love you and appreciate you coming to her party.
Jeff, Tara, and Mac came but we missed getting a picture:(

f

This was one of the first  years that Ellie knew it was her birthday.

She really was thrilled you guys came.