The Birthday Girl!!

On May 3rd, our little Olivia turned 6!  She was looking forward to this day for a LONG, LONG time, and she was so excited to have her cousins in town to help her celebrate!  Livi chose to go to Jungle Jim's Playland . . . which is basically a (really ghetto) indoor amusement park for kids.  My kids LOVE it there!  They rode bumper cars, played arcade games, went on a roller coaster (OK, Jesica and I may have ridden the roller coaster a few times too.  Our legs barely fit under the bar, but at least we felt young again!) and rode on a carousel.

Some pictures of the fun:

 

Once we were sufficiently worn out at Jungle Jim's, we went home for pizza and Livi's prized Barbie cake.  She very specifically wanted a Barbie Fairy cake.  We found one!:

After blowing out her candles, it was present time!  She got a brand new Barbie house for her bedroom, and lots of other fun surprises!

Of course, no birthday is complete without a photo shoot.  Oh Olivia . . . how I love my cute little poser!

I can't express how grateful I am for my little girl without getting teary-eyed.  She just brings a sparkle to our family, and we love her for it! Happy Birthday Princess!!

Race Day!

The kids' school held a 5K race as a fundraiser last month.  Joshua and I signed up to run it together.  I had recently started running again, and Joshua said he wanted to train with me in the mornings before he went to school.  That "training" lasted exactly one day . . . and he decided he was ready for the race. =)

Before the 5K started, I told Joshua to start out slow and steady or he would run out of steam.  After about 5 minutes of "slow and steady" with me, he said, "Sorry Mom, but I want to win this thing!"  Basically, he left me in his dust.

By the end I caught up with him.  He'd run out of steam.  He told me I was right all along . . . am I ever NOT right?  =)  Fortunately he pushed through, and we finished strong.  Go us!

The snow cones at the end were definitely an added bonus!

It was so fun to do something just the two of us.  We decided we need to do more races together in the future.  I love my little running buddy!

Wide Mouth Frog

Last month, Olivia's kindergarten class put on a musical called "Wide Mouth Frog".  It was about a frog who talks too much . . . (very fitting for kindergartners!)  Olivia played a lion who sang, "I eat elephants and monkeys . . . anything but skunkies!"  

She practiced her part for weeks before the performance.  (Livi loves to sing while I do her hair each morning.  She's always practicing for something!) 

She did an awesome job! We were very proud of our little lion.  Bravo Livi!  

Easter 2013

OK, so I know Easter was two months ago . . . better late than never, right?  We had a great Easter this year.  My parents were in town (Have I mentioned they are moving to Utah next month? Hooray for babysitters!), and the kids loved having Grandpa and Grandma Dalby here.  We decorated Easter eggs (no pictures, but Logan did manage to eat a dye tablet from the kit . . . his skin was blue the rest of the night . . . sigh), and Livi helped Grandma make the traditional Dalby bunny cake:

The kids made a Thank You note for the Easter Bunny:

and the Easter Bunny paid the kids a visit:

After church, I made everyone take a few pictures.  The grumbling and complaining from the boys was nonstop.  Livi, on the other hand . . . she never turns down a good photo op:

The whole family.  Is it just me, or does our family look huge?:

The boys looking handsome in their suits:

The girls posing for the camera:

Our attempt at a kid picture (at least it's a true representation of these four!):

After the EXCRUCIATING pictures, we had an awesome ham dinner with my mom's homemade rolls . . . and Razzleberry pie! (My Dad and I can never get enough Razzleberry pie!)  It was the perfect ending to a great couple days.  Happy really, really late Easter everyone!

First Steps!

Logan took his first steps a few weeks ago.  I've never had a baby walk so young.  He really wants to keep up with his big sibs!  Now he has completely given up crawling.  The other day, Ethan was playing with Logan in their room.  I walked by the room and heard Ethan say, "Logi, we don't want you to walk.  Now you are growing up, and we have no more baby at our house!"  He's definitely been listening to his Mom. =)

He's 8!!

On March 29th, Joshua turned 8 . . . 8!!  How in the world do I have an 8 year old?  Grandpa and Grandma Dalby were in town, so we celebrated with them.  Joshua wanted a Ninjago cake more than anything . . . which no one seems to make (and I do NOT make cakes . . . sorry Jesica!)  Fortunately for Joshua, I do shop! I found a cake topper on ebay, and had the bakery put it all together for me.  I heart ebay!

We had dinner, sang Happy Birthday, ate tons of cake, and Joshua opened his gifts . . . lots of Ninjago stuff, and a gift card to Game Stop so he can pick out new games for his DS. 

We let our kids choose somewhere fun to go for their birthdays, and Joshua chose the Hogle Zoo.  He LOVES the zoo. The next morning we woke up early (Joshua insisted we leave RIGHT after breakfast) and headed to Salt Lake to see the animals.

Joshua took his role as tour guide VERY seriously.  He had his map with him the entire time, and he made sure we followed his lead.

All the kids with Grandpa and Grandma Dalby . . .

We had to go back for a picture of the tiger . . . Joshua's favorite animal.

 

Joshua said it was his best birthday ever!  Of course he says that every year. =)  We love Joshua so much.  If I could describe him . . . he's just a really good boy.  I couldn't ask for a better son.  Happy Birthday to our 8-year-old!!!