Celebrating 9 years!

Two weekend's ago,  was our Wards Fathers and Sons camp out.  Being all the boys were going to be out of the house, we planned Aubrie’s birthday party around it.  Last year it was the weekend of her birthday, which worked out better,  This year she had to wait a couple of weeks.  My friend and her daughters  helped with the party.  My friend did the awesome decorations and her older girls helped with the games.  Since Aubrie is a getting older, and growing out of the character themed parties, I thought it would be fun to throw her a Hawaiian themed party.  It was perfect, since it was a pool party and our yard (the pool side anyway) has a tropical feel.  We decorated the table area like this, and also put tiki torches around the backyard!

Aubrie wanted to keep her party small, worried that too many girls would facilitate some cat fights.  She is very wise.   There were 8 girls in all, and it was perfect.  Though all the girls didn’t know one another, some from school, various wards, etc,  they all got along great!!! There was NO fighting.   The girls spent most of the time swimming and playing games in the pool.   Sophia was up for the first hour and a half of the party, and just ran with the rest of them. She just swam around the pool with her floaties, and the girls were putting her down the slide, giving her piggie back rides, etc.  They were loving her, and Sophia was eating up the attention.  She finally came to me and said “Done”….something she has NEVER said while swimming before.  I think they wore her out!  

We broke up swimming with various games and activities. Their first break was for some dinner, which was Pizza (the easiest and most popular thing) and soda!  Then they went back for some more swimming until we started the games.  

The first game was a relay race.  It was a blast.   I had purchased some grass skirts, flower “bikini tops”, and ankle and bracelet lei’s.  The girls were split into two teams.  A member from each team had to race across the yard and dress themselves in the Hawaiian attire, and do a quick hula dance and then take everything off and run back to tag the next girl.   They had so much fun,  and did the relay two extra times!   

After the relay we had a limbo contest.  Well, I guess it wasn’t really a contest.  Their were no prizes or acknowledgement of the winner.  The girls just had fun doing the limbo to some good ole Bob Marley!  Again…everyone just having fun!

After the limbo the girls played one of the funnest games of the night….the flour game.  If your wondering what in the heck that is, let me explain.  You pack flour in a bowl and then flip it over on a plate and put a quarter in the middle.   The girls take turns slicing off pieces of the flour.  Whoever causes the quarter to fall during their “cut”, has to dig the quarter out and off the plate with their nose.  This is the result!  I thought that the girls wouldn’t want to be the one digging out the flower.  I was wrong. They were all taking big slices hoping they would be the one who would have to dig it out.  When we finished the last round, all the girls stuck their faces in the flour. 

After that messy game, they all went back for some swimming to clean themselves off.  I think my pool is still recovering!  After some more swimming, we finished the night with a doughnut eating contest.  Here are some pics!  This was so much fun to watch!  Aubrie had a hard time the first round, but smoked the older girls the second go around!  I don’t know how she could eat two doughnuts?

After the doughnuts the girls made their own icecream cakes.  Each got their own ice cream sandwhich, and they decorated them with Redi Whip, sprinkles, minature M&M’s, etc.  I did this last year and it was a hit.  It wasn’t as poplar this year.  I think all the cool games made it seem less exciting!  They likes the ice cream sandwiches though, and boy is that easier than a cake! No more countless hours slaving away on cakes for me anymore!!!

When they were done, we all sang Happy Birthday to Aubrie and then she opened gifts!  She got a lot of fun stuff, but because it was small it wasn't an overwhelming pile of presents that she didn’t’ need! 

After gifts, the girls went back to swimming.  They had fun going down the slide on Boogie Boards, jumping off the waterfall, and playing a game called “Toothpaste”.  It’s basically like the game “Colors”, for those of you who grew up swimming!  Finally I pulled the plug on swimming at 10:15.  The girls got their party favors, which were lei’s and little webkinz with lei’s.  Actually, the first wave of girls went home around 9:30.   We did all the clean up while the girls were swimming, so my house was clean before they all left….yeah!  The second wave of girls went home at 10:30, shortly after getting dressed and watching 15 minutes of Underdog.   The last two girls went home around 11, and Aubrie and I stayed up and watched the rest of the Movie till Midnight!   I asked Aubrie if she had a good party, and she said it was the best yet!!! I can't believe it's been 9 years!!!!

Here is a picture of Aubrie and her BFF from school.  She couldn't make it because she got the flu!  Ironically enough, Aubrie's grade had a Hawaiian themed "end of the year" party the same day as her party.  They got to go to the neighboring community center and eat, and play in the "water" area!  Here is a pic of Aubrie and Grace!  

"Me" holidays!

One thing about my life that I sometimes wish was different was the fact that all my "special" holiday's are all wrapped up within a two week period.   That would be my birthday, anniversary, and Mother's day.  I honestly don't know if it's easier for Ben to get them all over with and not have to think about it for another year, or harder to find things to do for me.   Besides that, Aubrie's birthday happens to fall on mine, too, so things definitely get crazy, busy for me.   This year was a good busy!  This year our birthday's fell on Sunday.  While there isn't much to do on Sunday,  it's nice to get the Happy Birthday wishes at church, and an extra good reason to take that Sunday afternoon nap.   The week prior was a great build up to my birthday, which I think added to the fact that this was an amazing year for me!  

It started off with a  temple trip Thursday night.  After our session, we  had a fun time getting to know the Bishop and his wife over dinner.  Friday was Ben's sister's wedding reception. We were able to catch up with some extended family and old friends, while we were there.  Before the reception Ben surprised me with an early anniversary gift...diamond earrings.  The way he gave them to me was so cute.  He had this gun holster on and said I want to show you something.  He started to pull out something black, so thinking it was a gun I started to get pretty irritated.  Then I realized it was a box.  He got down on one knee and opened the box!  It was so romantic and sweet.  Thanks sweetie for a wonderful 13 years of marriage.  Through the ups and downs it's all been worth it!  I LOVE YOU!!

Saturday morning I spent hiking and having breakfast to celebrate another friends birthday, and Sunday afternoon was spent with lots of old and new friends as we celebrated a friendship with a family who would soon be moving.  So though those things didn't have anything to do with me, I was perfectly happy  spending time with friends.   

Saturday night we did celebrate my birthday and anniversary with the Lorenzana's.  We started with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.   Michelle had thoughtfully put together a bunch of Kelly Green (my new favorite color...step aside yellow) gifts.  My favorite was a Vera Bradly make up bag, which she went all over town looking for:)   After dinner, we went to the movie, "State of Play".  It was a nice relaxing evening with good friends.   

Monday continued the celebrating.  Michelle and Erin  (along with help of other great friends) pulled together a birthday luncheon. The food was great, the gifts were thoughtful, but most of all  it was great to be surrounded by so many friends.  I really didn't realize how much I needed it, until the lunch was over.  I feel so blessed to have so many caring people in my life.   

While I was at my luncheon, Ben was helping me make Aubrie's birthday special.  I had coordinated with her teacher to make sure the kids didn't' bring their lunches and to find out what pizza they liked best.  Ben showed up at the lunch room with Pizza and drinks.  Of course, Ben always goes above and beyond duty, and he also showed up with bags of candy and a Pokemon card for everyone.  Aubrie was the star of the day!   I think everyone should feel like that on their birthday!!!  The boy from church, that is also in her class at school, brought Aubrie a birthday present.  It was so cute of him.  He gave her a necklace and bracelet.   She was so shy about it, she forgot to say thank you.  I love to see these cute, innocent crushes.  It's the teenage years I'm worried about. haha   Aubrie's birthday party will actually be this Friday.  I have started holding it over Father and Son's camp out.  That way the boys aren't here, and the girls can stay really late and do fun "girl" stuff!

So today marks 3rd special "me" day.... Mother's Day!  Today I felt especially grateful for the privilege I have had to give birth to and raise 4 amazing children.  Though I have many years left in the "parenting" years, I know that they will be out of the nest before I know it.   I just hope that I can love them and teach them well enough that they will come back as friends.  The little irritating things they normally do didn't seem to irritate me as much today.  I saw through different color glasses for some reason, seeing things more through their eyes, and enjoying things more.  Life gets so crazy, we seem to forget to sit back and enjoy the ride!  

Today Ben made sure my day was special, by making breakfast, a great steak dinner, and making sure that I got to relax.  Thanks sweetie for making my day a good one!  I'm glad I'm the Mother of your children!  

Disneyland again!

Ok, I know what your thinking..."Disneyland, AGAIN!!!???? Like I want to see another post about Disneyland.  How many times have they gone anyway?"  What can I say,  when we get annual passes to Disney, we always get our money's worth. It's a great, short, weekend trip, and we all love it....so why not?  I won't bore you with the details.   I'll just give you the short version.  

My Mom watched Sophia, so the trip was much more relaxing (but she was missed badly).  The kids didn't know we were going this time.  I packed their bags while they were at school the day before, and then Ben and I packed the car while they were sleeping.  Aubrie was a little confused when she couldn't find her favorite PJ's that night!  Ha!  Thursday we had them get up for school like normal.  Then the Lorenzana's showed up right before school with their kids, and them we asked them if we should ditch school and go to Disneyland.  They were so excited!   The weather was great, the lines were good, and the company was GREAT!!!  It was so laid back, even taking time to ride things like the Steamboat!  Can't ask for a better trip!

On the Steamboat!

Some candid"s while in line for Space Mountain

Gotta love these pics of Ethan and Emmy!

Again doing things we never do, and will never do again! ha!

Some classic ride pics!  Can you tell we know when the camera is going off?

Some great shots on Pirates!

The restaurant I have always wanted to eat at....but not with little kids!

Since our Disney annual passes are blacked out every Saturday from May to August, we had to find something else to do.   Thanks to my Mom, I was reminded of the Santa Monica Pier.  What a fun place to take your kids.  We started our afternoon with lunch at a GREAT Mexican restaurant at the end of the pier.  Highly recommend them.  The best enchilada's I have had in a long time.  The kids behaved so well.  We defiantly discovered the best seating arrangement for our children!
After lunch, we walked out to the end of the pier.   Here is the plaque that showed the details to the dedication of Santa Monica as a historical landmark.  Notice the date Aubrie is pointing to.  The month after I was born!

After some family shots at the end of the pier, we headed over to the fun park.  The kids had a blast here.  We gave each kid 20 dollars to spend how they wanted.  
We all rode the famous Ferris wheel.  (Parent's treat:)

Then Aubrie got a little more daring!
Here is the after picture! LOL
Then the kids tried out the rock wall.  Well, Ethan wasn't up for it because he wanted to save his money for other things.  Both kids reached the top!

After the rock wall, the kids played carnival games for stuffed animals.  Just what they needed....NOT!!  We walked out of their with 5 new "buddies", which included two stuffed snakes, and 3 stuffed dogs!  It was actually nice that the games weren't rigged like the fair and that they gave descent prizes!   Yeah for the fun park!!

  After the park, we spent several hours down at the beach relaxing.  The kids  threw a football and Frisbee around, and had fun playing in the sand and running from the waves.  I just had fun sitting in my chair an watching them have fun!  What an amazing day!

The Simple Pleasures of Childhood!

The other day, as  we were eating in the Mall food court, Sophia kept pointing to the Merry-go-round saying, "Fun, Fun!"  After patiently waiting, I brought her over and indulged her.  I was so glad I paid the dollar for the minute Merry-go-round ride.  It made me appreciate how watching your children receive so much joy from the simplest things, can bring so much joy.  If only I could get so excited over such small things again!  Gotta love little children!