Finally!

I finally did it....entered the blogging world that is. With much trepedation I finally caved and decided that I would set up a blog for our family. The biggest selling point was the fact that I could make books out of my blog....can family history get any easier than that?! I must warn you that I am not the best editor, especially when its midnight (when I usually do most of my computer work). My friend Erin can attest to that!!! So with that said, here it goes!
Well I really wont start from the beginning of the year b/c that would be INSANE!!! The new baby, Sophia, is really the only news worth mentioning. She was born on April 16th, and has been such a blessing to this family. Mom couldn't be more thrilled with ending our little family with a cute little girl. She has been a great baby and Aubrie has loved playing Mommy to her.
This summer has been great. We haven't done much of anything, and that is what has been so great. We have spent our days sleeping in and swimming, and our nights watching movies and playing guitar hero and Wii into the late hours. It really has been great. We did take a weekend trip to visit my brother Danny, which was wonderful. He lives in California and the weather is to die for. The kids had a blast with their cousins and Sophia did so well. We had spent a few afternoons at the beach which was nice. The kids spent most of their time in the sand and playing on the rocks, but is was nice to just sit there with Sophia in my arms and enjoy the ocean breeze, and hear the waves crash onto shore. We should have stayed a few more days!!
Tonight Ben and I went out on our usual Friday night date. It is always nice to get out. We met up with the Trimble's for dinner, and then had to get back early, since my Mom had early morning plans. My Mom is so great and spends time with the kids every Friday while Ben and I go out. She also takes them out every other Saturday for the day. The kids really look forward to that time! Because of the time she spends with them they have a great relationship with her. I hope I can be as wonderful to my grandkids someday.
Well it's not the biggest posting ever, but I'm tired and have a lot going on tomorrow. Adios!

Easter 2014

This picture is classic.  Sophia is the only one excited for the Easter Bunny and the other kids have to be pulled from their beds to participate in the hunt!   The Easter Bunny Strikes again with the yarn wrapped all around the house and yard with the basket at the end.   

Ethan's in the BBQ!

Sophia's in the guest bedroom, again!

 Bostons was the longest hunt of all.  Ending up in Dad's truck!

 Aubrie's behind the Fire Pit!

 The kids with all their loot!  All with chocolate bunny's, Robins Eggs, and their favorite candy.  The boys got a t-shirt, Sophia smelly gel pens and My Little Pony stuffed animal, and Aubrie got make up and nail stuff....that she helped me pick out. LOL

 The closest thing we have to family pictures in over a year!

Sophia 7th and FROZEN!

What?? How can this be true?   Seven years old doesn't even sound right to me.  My family is growing up too fast.   I seriously had a breakdown last week as I was cleaning the picture frames that held pictures of the kids when they were little.   It's fun watching the older two grow up, but I don't like the younger to growing up at all!   I don't like it I say!  Sophia is growing up and losing her little girl cuteness.   She has been insisting that she is a big girl when I say things like "be nice to your baby sister".  Her little baby face is slimming and the way she talks and act is not so little anymore.  "Grandkids, Grandkids, Grandkids"  is what I keep telling myself.   I don't know how any Grandmother wouldn't want to take any minute they can get with their Grandkids....I can't wait.  I hope to get one just like each one of my children.  They all have such wonderful and unique personalities.   Since this post is about Sophia, I will write what I love about her.  She is so kind hearted, even thought that creates a very overly sensitive little girl.  But I'll take it to get her kind heartedness.  She is full of life and energy, excited about every little things.  She wears her emotion on her sleeves, so you are never left guessing as to how she feels.  She loves to make others happy, and loves everyone with such a sincerity that she can't help but have so many friends.   They feel loved by her, and love to be around her.  She has a love for knowledge, and loves reading.   She does expect too much out of herself right now, and starts to cry and get frustrated when she can't do something right the first time....a little perfectionist on the horizon that I'm trying to teach "balance and just doing your best" to right now.  She still has a strong desire to do what is right, making sure her scriptures are read, and getting after us about anything on the radio that offends her.   I hope she keeps that up!:)   We are lucky to have her in the family, and thought the older kids complain sometimes that she is spoiled and the favorite, I do admit that the spoiled part is right.  It's hard not to giver her a lot when she is so grateful for every little thing she receives.  And it's fun to be around her because she is so loving and thoughtful!
For her party she wanted a FROZEN theme....Shocker.  It's the most popular thing around around now.  Soon the theme parties will be a thing of my past, so I'm making the most out of them.   Aubrie was great at helping with the invitations, and helping with the party itself.  She is really creative, and great with kids.  I was so grateful for her help.   It helped the party of 19 girls go so much smoother.

I spent all week preparing for the party, and all Friday setting up.   We were getting a little nervous when the wind and light rain hit around 3:00, but Sophia and I said a prayer that the weather would be clear for her party, and the faith of a little girl worked.  The sun started to come and we were able to enjoy no wind or rain.  We started the party off with a half an hour of swimming, and then the girls ate while Sophia opened presents.  We then sang happy birthday to her, and then they watched the Frozen movie on the big screen outside.  We thought that would keep them occupied, but they just wanted to play outside, and then come watch the movie when they songs were on.   They still all had a great time, and besides cleaning up the constant spills, and trying to keep the girls away from the dessert till the end, it was pretty easy.   Sophia got a lot of great gifts, which she was overly grateful for everyone, and she had a fun time swimming, watching frozen, and playing with all of her friends. Happy 7th my sweet little girl!  Yep, you are still little!:)

 Party Favors...took me a while to figure out what to do.  Thank Heavens for these beauties!

 Present Time

 Time to make a wish!  I'm over cake....Cupcakes are the way to go!  Already ready to serve.   Ice cream was in the punch....low maintenance!

 Movie Time!

 Dessert came at the end!  They were all literally Frozen.  The girls kept asking and asking when they could have them....the most exhausting thing about the party.  I should have just kept them in the house.   But they just looked so cute here, don't you think?!