Aubrie's 12th Birthday Party

For Aubrie's twelfth birthday I wanted to do something special.  I gave her a pack of 50 invitations and told her to invite whomever she wanted.  I envisioned a big Luau  party, with a DJ, lots of food and swimming.  That is not what she envisioned. I was a little sad about it, but it's about what she wanted.  I just wanted it to be memorable.   She invited about 12 girls, and wanted it simple.  She decided to  repeat the Hawaiian themed birthday party she had when she was nine.  She had so much fun with that one, and she wanted to do something here at the house, so that made planning  easy for me.  The weekend before we went to Party City and picked out some really cute decorations and the night before she helped me shop for food.

We had her party the Saturday after her actual birthday.  When everyone started to show up they were just hanging out on our stairs talking.  I thought, "Wow, this is going to be a lame party."  Once they got in their swimsuits and outside, the girls started to loosen up, and have a great time.  We played some of the same games we did at her first Hawaiian party, which included the dress up relay race, eating donuts from a string and cutting the flour around the quarter game.  I wasn't sure if the girls would have as much fun as they did when they were younger, but that wasn't the case.  They all had a great time with the games.  They were even daring enough to smash each others faces into the flour when they were trying to fish the quarter out.   For dinner I made pulled pork sandwiches and a fruit platter.  We mixed up the night with food, and then some more swimming,  and then a game, and then more swimming, and another game, etc.

After all the games were done and the swimming was wrapping up, the girls headed back to the trampoline.  I was on the patio trying to spray the flour residue off the patio.  I looked over and saw there were too many girls on the trampoline and thought, "I should probably go say something," and decided I would after I put the hose back.  As I turned around to put the hose back I heard a blood curdling scream from Aubrie.  I turned around to find her body collapsed on the ground by the trampoline.  I rushed over there, and she was crying in pain and yelling, "Mom, Mom, Mom, I think I broke it!", as she was reaching for her ankle.   All her friends came rushing to her, and I picked her up and carried her to the back patio chair.  We iced it and elevated it for a few minutes but she still was in so much pain.   There was still 45 minutes left for her party, and she still hadn't opened gifts or had her cake and ice cream.  I put her in a chair and elevated her leg with another chair, and she opened gifts that way. Every card said, "I hope you have a great Birthday", which eventually brought her to tears, as she sat there in pain opening her gifts and reading those words.  Then it made everyone laugh, and helped her quickly come out of her tears.  After opening gifts, she sat in the recliner, and watch her friends play the Kinect.  She started to cry again, and she told me she was sad that she ruined her party for her friends. We all convinced her that she didn't ruin it, and everyone still had a great time.  Besides that, this would now be a party she would never forget. With about 10 minutes left, we remembered we hadn't sang Happy Birthday and had cake.  So we quickly did that, before everyone left.
   Aubrie was still in so much pain, and I wanted to run her to the ER, but she had two friends that were staying later, due to other family obligations.  Luckily one of the girls parents showed up earlier than expected, so after she left, I took Aubrie and her friend (Kim) to the urgent care down the street from us.  We were in there for about 2 hours.  Luckily it was only a sprang, but that didn't make the pain any better.
The following morning she was being promoted to Young Women, and we were wondering how in the world she was going to go to church, and walk up to the stand to give her article of faith.  Luckily we tracked down some crutches, but when it came time for her to walk up to the stand, she just hobbled on it.   The Bishop mentioned something about her being able to make it up there, and then Aubrie gave the 13th Article of Faith. She did a great job, and I was proud of her for not taking the easy way out, and doing the Article of Faith she liked the most.
So while she may have not had the type of party I thought would be the most memorable, she definitely made it  a memorable party!

37 and 12!!!

Twelve years ago I got the best birthday gift ever... I had my first baby!  That gift keeps giving every year as we get to share in the celebrations.  I really don't mind sharing, because it gives us both a chance to serve each other, and really there is nothing better than brightening someones day, even on your day!  Another year of a shared birthday with my oldest daughter.  This was a special one, too!  She turned 12! Where did that time go?  I remember her birth clear as day! Now she is TWELVE!

The night before our birthday was a bit tricky.  I had to wait until she fell asleep to put up her streamers, and that night she had a lot of homework.  Finally, I got her streamers up by 11:00.   My birthday started early.  I woke up at 5:15 for Boot Camp.  I thought of skipping, but I didn't want to start my birthday with a guilt trip.   I was glad to work out.  When I go tback and ipened the garage door, I was surpised when I walked through streamers.  When I got upstairs streamers were also hanging in my bedroom doorway.  I asked Ben if that was his work, but it wasn't.  That only left one other person- Aubrie.  What a sweetheart to wake up that early and do that.  She isn't the tallest kid right now, so that was a challenge, that she met!  That was a great way to start my morning!

Once I got the kids off to school, my "Birthday Day" began.  I told Ben all I wanted was to do NOTHING, and sit and watch How I Met Your Mother, while the kids were at school. So while I showered, he cleaned up the morning mess, and then we watched TV together.  It was great!:)   Around 11:30, Ben ran Panda Express and cupcakes to Aubrie for her birthday, and then Ben and I went to Paradise Bakery for lunch.  Then we picked up Sophia, and Ben took me to my birthday Surpise.   He schedfuled a day at the Dolce Spa.   I had a body massage, facial, and pedicure.  It was HEAVENLY!!!   That evening we went to Fresh Waisabi for dinner to celebrate both our birthdays.  I love their sushi, and Aubire LOVES Tepanyaki!  The dinner was good (except for a big chocking scare from Sophia).   One of the owners, we are friends with, brought out a cake.  That was so thoughtful of her!  It was a great day.  I felt loved and remembered, not to mention all the Facebook friends wishing me a Happy Birthday.   Aubrie had a great day, too!  So that made it perfect!

New York City Anniversary April 2012

This Anniversary Ben and I actually celebrated with a vactation, for once.  Two years ago we went to Hawaii, six month after our anniversary, but this was the first time we have actually gone somewhere in April to celebrate.  The first few years of marriage our anniversary was swallowed up with family weddings, andn visitors.   Then once Aubrie came there was no competing with her.  A few months ago the Hawkins suggested a New York trip in April, and so I cancelled our family photos, and booked the tickets!  Being on the heels of Hawaii, the trip came up before I knew it.   I wasn't very stressed this time, knowing they were in good hands, and in school most of the time.  Terri Moore watched them during the school week, and took them to all their soccer games, while Jenn Cluff shuttled Aubrie around to gymnmastics.   Then Nicole watched them over the weekend, and brought them home Sunday night and put them to bed, so they were all sleeping (minus Aubrie) before we got home.  Those are the trips that are most enjoyable, when you don't have to worry about your kids.
Ther first day of our trip started very early.  Our flight left at 8:44 Thursday, the 12th, and so we were up 6:00, and left by 6:30.   The flight was a little shorter than the flight to Oahu.  Ben had some How I Met Your Mother episodes to catcth up, so I chatted with the lady next to me, who happened to be a travel writer from New York City.  I was able to get some info about the city, and also some info on Maui, that I was wanting to know.  She gave me her card and email, and will be a good contact for the future.   After Ben had caught up, we watched episodes until the computer died.  We had about 45 minutes left until the plane landed.   When we got there, it took about and hour to get to the city, once we got bags, and took the shuttle to the train, and subway to our hotel.   Our hotel was a block from Radio City and two from Rockefeller Center, and three from Central Park and a quick subway ride to 42 (Time Square).  It was a great location.  Once we checked in and dropped our luggage, we headed to a an Italian Restarant a block form the hotel, recommended to us by the gentelman working the front desk.  We were all starving and hoping it was good.  I told him to tell me where he would go to eat after work, and not the touristy spots.  The place was called Pazza Notte.   Dinner was awesome.  It was my favorite place of the whole trip.   The boys got a pesto shrimp pasta that incredibly yummy, and I had a bbq chicken pizza that was amazing.  Tirza got a pasta dish that she also loved.
After dinner, my stomach started to hurt.  I knew I as in trouble.  When I wait to late to eat, this happens and I have to lie down for about 15 minutes in order to feel better.  We were headed to time square and I kept hoping it would go away.  Finally I coudln't take it anymore and so we stepped into the Marriot Marque, and I laid down while everyone else took a restroom break and shopped the gift store.  After about 20 minutes, I was feeling much better.   We headed back out, and I realized I needed a scarf.  We ducked into American Eagle really quick, hoping to find something.  I found a cute scarf, and as we were paying we noticed a camera by the register.  Ben asked what that was all about, and they explained when someone made a purchase they could get their picture and it would flash up in Time Square for 15 seconds, several times through the night.   Tirza and I stepped up to get our mugs taken for our 15 seconds of fame!  We ran outside really quick to see our faces plastered on the big screen.  We were like a couple of kids, excited to see us up there!  LOL
After that, we headed to Carnage Deli for some dessert.   We ordered cheesecake.  Luckily we shared because the pieces were huge.  We were kidding around, taking funny pictures next to the huge pieces of cheesecake, and we caught the attention of the table of guys next to us, who decided we were having so much fun they needed to order dessert too.  We were in a silly mood, and in became contagioius.  After dessert, we headed back to the hotel to rest up for a full day ahead of us!  Of course, it included a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother.....yes, we have an addiction!
         Friday we started our morning at Lindy's for breakfast.  The first of two mistakes we made on our trip.  It was so overpriced, the service was AWFUL, and the food wasn't that great.  I ordered a carmel, pecan waffle.  I was expecting this huge fluffy waffle, with fresh whipped cream, and carmel sauce.   When I saw our waiter grab the carmel that I use on our ice cream sundae's I knew I was in trouble.   It was a waffle I could have made, for 15 dollars!  Oh well!  Our next stop was Canal street, and we knew good deals awaited us there.  We were on a mission to find purses, and it was cracking me up how crazy people are down there.  They act like selling knock offs is going to land them in the slammer, and that you have to hurry and buy them because the have to put them away before they get caught.  But as you walk down the streets, you hear people whisper, "Louis, Rolex, Coach, etc".   Do the cops not have ears.   Tirza and I found a few purses each, and could have spent more time looking, but had to leave to get to Ground Zero.  We reserved tickets the night before, which was  a great recommendation from friends, because we didn't have to wait in line for tickets, and we knew exactly what time to plan on to go.   It was quite a process to get to the site.  Even going through security.  Darn my belt that I had to keep taking off!  It was very surreal to be at that site, and think of where Ben was when it all happened.  The memorial was a beautiful way to honor all those people who lost their lives.  The new building was also coming along, and looked very impressive.
After the Memorial, we headed back to Time Square to get show tickets.  When we started asking the ticket agent about different shows, he told us to come back to him when the opened the ticket booths, and he would push us to the front of the line.  Lucky for us, since the line was very long, and we wouldn't have gotten anything good.   Our first pick was Spiderman, but they only had 3 tickets, so we got tickets to Memphis.  It won awards a few years back, and so I was hoping it was as good as it was acclaimed to be.   We then walked down to the Spiderman ticket booth and bought tickets for the following day.   They were very pricey, and Ben was hoping it was good, since he heard about it and wanted to see it.  By that time we were STARVING, and tracked down a place that was suggested by the lady on the plane.  The pizza was good, but it wasn't the best.   The food the first night was better!   After lunch, we did a bit of shopping at the Quicksliver store, to get the kids some New York Shirts.  They only had them in Aubrie's size.  After getting some things there, we headed back to the hotel to rest a bit before the show.
The show was AMAZING!  The talent was incrediable.   The story line was good, and it also brought a tear or two.   I was so happy with that pick as was everyone else!  After the show, we got a LATE dinner.   A relative of the Hawkins who used to live in New York gave us some suggestions while we were there.  One of them was Pongsri Thai, which was close to the theater.   We got in right before it closed.  I have never had Thai before, so I really didn't know what to expect.  I just asked what the most popular was and got that.  My dish was super yummy at first, but half way through I realized how rich it was.  I couldn't finish it.  We finally got home around Midnight.   We went straight to bed, to get ready for an early start then following morning.
Saturday we started off with breakfast at Ess-A Bagel.  It was quite a walk, down past 5th Ave (the shopping district).  It was a pretty walk, though, so I didn't mind.  The bagels and orange juice were so yummy, and the prices were very reasonable.  We were kicking ourselves for going to Lindy's the day before.   Our plan after breakfast was to take the NBC tour, since they were reheasing for Saturay Night Live.  What we didn't know is that we could buy the tickets ahead of time.  So when we got there they were all sold out.  However, the ice skating rink was still up (they were taking it down the following week), so we changed our plans and did that instead.  It was a lot of fun, except for Tirza's fall within minutes on the ice.  She sat out for awhile, and then skated the rest of the session.  There were a few people there that must of thought they were trainging for the olympics, including a very feminine guy who entertained us all with his light purple attire, and his graceful moves. :)   It was a fun time, and made me feel better about the tour.
Tirza's ankle really started hurting her, and that slowed us down a bit.  But didn't keep us from getting to Lombardi's before the huge lunch crowd showed up.   Seriously, as soon as we got our name on the list, about 30 people showed up.  The pizza there was VERY good, and so was the salad and cream soda I ordered.  We followed lunch up with Rice- to Riches, which is right across the street.  Ben wouldn't have anything to do with it, since he HATES rice pudding.  I thought it was ok.  I got a chocolate flavor, which became too rich after awhile.
Our next stop was Canal street, again.  This time, there was no secrecy this time.  After buying another purse, and starting to walk down the street back to the subway, there was a whole block where the sidewalk was lined with Loui Vouitan's.  So much for discretion.  That's where I made my biggest haul!   Tirza and I walked out of there satisfied! On our way back to the subway, we got talked into doing some charactaters.  That was our final mistake, 25 dollars later!
After our score on Canal, we quickly headed back to our hotel so we could get ready for the show.  This time I dressed up a bit, with boots and skinny jeans.  From now on, I'm seeing show in my converse and comfy jeans!  I was not comfortable!  She show was well...interesting.   The talent was lacking.  I felt like I was watching a high school play during the first Act.  At intermission Ben and I were highly dissapointed.   The second Act redeemed itself.  The Goblin had a funny personality, kind of like the Genie at the Alladin show at Disney.   The special effects were also impressive.  Memphis still won hands down, and we paid half as much for it...even better.   After the show, we got Sushi at a place right across from the Theatre, which was also recommended to us.   The sushi was good, but still has nothing on Fresh Wasabi here in Phoenix.   Another fantastic day came to a close!
   Sunday we packed up, checked out luggage in downstairs, and headed out for our last day in New York.  We got breakfast at Ess- A Bagel again; something we were looking forward to after we finished breakfast the day before!:)   Then we headed back down towards Time Square.  Ben and I got some shopping done down there for the kids.  We bought some Yankee' Jersey's for the boys (Ben was dying) and some Disney New York T-shirts for Sophia.  The Hawkins went back down to Canal to get stuff for their kids, and Ben and I headed to Grand Central Station.   Then we met up at Central Park, and took a guided Carriage ride through the park.  That was the perfect way to end the trip.   The weather was perfect, and I loved all the information our guide gave us.   I was also able to see more of the park than I have ever seen.   It was worth every penny!   After the park, we finished with lunch at where we started our trip, Pazza Notte.  We sat by the open window, and enjoyed the nice weather while eating the yummy food.   We then hustled back to get our luggage, and took a taxi to Penn station.  The Airport was crazy, and when we checked in our seats were not by eachother.  Luckily both of us found people to switch with us, so at least the couples could sit by one another.  Ben and I watched episodes of How I Met Your Mother, almost wrapping up a whole season.    What an amazing trip!  The following week, I missed that place so much, I wanted to go back.  Being there after all these years, made me realize how much I miss it out there.

Tirza and I on the Big Screen!

Rockefeller Center Ice Skating

Canal Street

Late Night Sushi

Sophia's 5th Birthday Party!

This year Sophia decided on a Tangled birthday party.  Lucky for me all my kids had special bday milestones this year, 10, 8, 5 and 12....I say that with much sarcasm.  That meant a lot of work for special birthday parties.  I guess Ben took care of Boston's so that was nice.  But Ethan's Angry Bird Party took a lot of prep work, and Sophia's was the same.  The main event of the party was the Wet Slide Bounce house.  Once that was ordered (trying to forget about the cost), there was lots of planning and creating. For decorations I bought yarn and made two huge braids with purple bows on the end.  I hung one on the front door and one on our pool gate.  I also printed off purple pennet banners with the sunburst logo from the Movie.  I also hung yellow lanterns on the outdoor ceiling fan and decorated the tables with purple table clothes.  For activities, I printed off a Tangled coloring sheets, and prepared a Pascal craft, out of party blowers, and green foam.  The kids LOVED these and using glue dots made them super easy to make!  Ben used his artistic abilities (ie projecting and tracing) to make this poster of Flynn Ryder so the kids could play, "Smack Flynn in the Head with a Frying Pan".  I copied and cut little frying pans and used the glue dots (love you glue dots) to stick on his head, blindfolded of course!   I also set up this wall, so they could draw like Tangled did on her walls!  So as you can see, I did a lot of cutting between the banner, pans, and Pascals!  For food I made chicken salad sandwiches, and had a fruit, veggie, and cheese and cracker plate.  The cheese and strawberries were the most popular item.  I think the next party I'm just sitting out cheese cubes and Strawberries! Oh these Jello boats were also a hit!  It was a hot day,(so HOT the crayons melted in the glass container), and the kids spent most of their time on the wet slide.   I let Sophia invite all her friends, thinking not all of them could make it.  Only two couldn't come!  That meant 16 kids not including  cousins, and a few siblings and neighbors.  We wrapped things up by singing Happy Birthday and serving up this cute Tangled Birthday cake and handing out ice cream cups ( my new favorite way to serve ice cream at birthday parties).  She got a lot of fun gifts, including a few duplicate Tangled Barbies.  For party favors I made these paints, and in the girls bags I also put in small hair brushes and color braided hair extension clips, and in the boys I found these cool glow in the dark swords.  I know there was something else, but my memory is going!  Sophia and her friends had a great time, making all the time and money totally worth it!

Sophia is 5!

Wow!  It's really hard to believe that Sophia is five.  I can't remember her not being in my life, but it just doesn't seem right that my youngest child is that old.   Her Birthday was the day after we got back from New York.  So instead of unpacking, I spent my time hanging streamers in her doorway.  I was awakened to her by my beside at 5:30 am.  She hadn't seen us since we left for our trip, so she was just excited to see us.  I wished her a Happy Birthday and sent her back to bed.  She had no problem falling asleep.  She slept through scripture study, and was pleased when she woke up to a day of spoiling.  I made her bed for her, and then made her a special breakfast.  After she got dressed she said, "Mom, I'm ready for my party!"   She was so disappointed that her party wasn't till the end of the week.  I told her the day was all about her.  I put everything else aside, and focused my attention on her the whole day.  (Which was hard with a suitcase full of clothes needing to be put away!).    We watched TV together, played together, and then I took her to one of her favorite lunch spots, Chick-filet.  There I bought her a shake to go with her lunch.  After lunch, we stopped by Walmart to get her dinner request, which was Alfredo Rigatoni.  I also picked up some cupcakes to share with her soccer team at practice that night.  When we got home we took a nice nap together.  Yes folks, my 5 year old still take naps!  Both of my girls did, but my boys were done with naps by 3!   After nap time was soccer practice. She was excited to share her birthday with her soccer friends.  While at soccer, I picked up a cheesecake for her birthday dinner.  My kids LOVE cheesecake.   When she got home we ate dinner, and did our family birthday tradition of going around the table and everyone saying something they love about Sophia, instead of doing our High's and Low's.  Then Sophia opened the family gifts.  Aubrie bought her a pillow pet, and the boys bought her headbands.  My Mom bought her a bathing suit and nightgown she had been wanting.  We spoiled her with lots of clothes.  Sophia can never get enough clothes!  Sophia had a great day, and she was so thankful for everything, even down to her bed being made!  I'm so grateful to have her for a daughter.  She is so kind, smart, peppy, and has a great enthusiasm for life.  She is always singing, no matter who is listening, and you might find her dancing, too.  She has such a cute sense of style.  She puts things together I would have never thought of, and 99 percent of the time they look cute.  I just look the other way the other 1 percent!  She tries  hard to do the right thing, and when she makes a mistake, she feels bad and apologizes.  She has a great love for her Grandma Beverly, and has that same ray of sunshine that my Mom and Grandma exhibited.  I know that's why people are drawn to her!  I feel privileged to be her Mother!

Easter 2012

Last Minute Church Parking Lot Easter Photo!

Tradition Continues with Easter Dinner and Egg Hunt with the Hawkins, or as Sophia says "Our Hawkins!"