Birthday Festivities

Most of us enjoyed the hats, but some of us didn't.

This one enjoyed opening his presents immensely as did another child who did a really really good job at restraining herself from trying to open the presents for him.

This one got to open one of his presents on his birthday-eve, and subsequently watched said present twice within a 12 hour time period.

The new 3 year old enjoyed his car cake, but not quite as much as he enjoyed the train cake from last year.

And all five of us celebrated his birth all day long. We started it off right, with homemade pancakes which were topped with fresh cut strawberries (which are so darn sweet from costco right now) and bananas and  buttermilk syrup, accompanied with a side of scrambled eggs. Yum!

After opening presents and playing with the presents, and waiting for Baby B to wake up from his morning nap we headed out the door to an indoor swimming pool. We took a pack lunch and swam until our skin was soggy. 

My favorite part of the pool is the lazy river within a lazy river. They have a lazy river that winds around one end of the pool, but inside of that lazy river there is this circular lazy river that is pretty small but large enough that it sends you orbiting around and around in circles for a good ride. When we put Warner in there he yelled "I'm Nemo! I'm a clown fish!" and then he started spinning in 360 degree circles with his life jacket on, whilst orbiting the pool. He looked like he could have been jupiter's twin planet.

After a nice swim we swung by the beach, relaxed on a large piece of drift wood, and watched while Warner did his second favorite activity in life: throwing rocks into water. He couldn't have been more thrilled. We were equally happy to be taking in the beautiful beach and the bright blue skies, well, until it was too cold to handle anymore and then we jumped in our car, cranked up the heat and sang "We all live in a yellow submarine" for awhile until we got to the Rainforest cafe where we ate some pretty mediocre and overpriced food, but enjoyed the real life looking wild life all around us. The kids had fun, and it's really not that bad as long as you go no more than once a year. 

And then the kids and us all slept for 10 hours straight, well except Buster and I who got up once to feed.

Of coarse there were a few fights and a few melt downs, and a couple of moments of impatience here and there, and dirty diapers, and messes, but I just like to dwell on the good stuff, and really all 5 of us agreed that it was one of the most fun days that we have had in a long time. 

3 Years with Warner

"Today you are you! That is truer than true!

There is no one alive who is you-er than you!

Shout loud, "I am lucky to be what I am!

Thank goodness I'm not just a clam or a ham

Or a dusty old jar of sour gooseberry jam!

I am what I am! That's a great thing to be!

If I say so myself, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!"

By Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!

A 2 MinuteVideo of Hide Seek with Buster

Play Time

Olivia has been busy these days building and playing dress ups. She loves her multi-blocks that Jaron made her for Christmas this year. Thanks to our creative friend who came up with the idea of these blocks, and a lot, a lot, and some more lots of sanding and cutting and hard work on Jaron's part, these blocks have provided lots of fun in our household these days!

I did this post mostly to say that I'm so grateful I get to have Olivia home with me this year. I don't know if I ever posted it on the blog, but I decided after only one day of pre-school to pull her out for many different reasons.  I did have one panic moment the day after I had made that decision that "aaaaaggh" this means I will have three little one's at home with me for a full year. There are days that are a little stressful with three little one's at home, and goodness knows I am tired, but I really love what I do. I love that Liv is here at home, and that we can explore music, swimming, reading, art, cooking, amongst other things together. It has been a good year so far.  And I find myself feeling so happy that she has a November birthday.

Today in the car she said "Hey Mom. I figured something out! 2 plus 2 plus 2 equals" pause "SIX!". 

I love Costco, but who doesn't?

I think if I were ever to get into any type of art it would probablly involve food art. Drawing food, painting food, or just taking pictures of food. There are so many random pictures I have taken of food in my life just because I think the colors on the plate are so pituresque. I'm a wierdo its true.

But this friends is what my dinner table looks like after a trip to Costco. It's easy and its healthy and its lovely.

Love Love Love

 Up until I had kids, I kind of thought Valentines day was pretty lame. Just another excuse for businesses to sap us of our money. And besides, shouldn't every day be about love? But now, I really love to have any excuse to do something a little different and fun for the kids, because they are so easily pleased.  And it makes me happy to do fun things with for them.  Also, it is so sweet to see them do things for each other. 

To kick off the day of love, we had a lesson on love on Monday night.  Jaron chose a scripture story to share  with the kids of one of the many times that the Savior exemplified  His love.  He shared the story of Jesus healing the blind man .  After the story we played a little game where we tossed a ball to each other and whoever we tossed the ball to, we told that person one thing that we loved about them. The person holding the ball then chose someone else to pass the ball to, to tell that person something they loved about them.  The room quickly filled up with smiles and giggles as we told each other what we loved about each other. After the game was over we sang "Love at Home".  There was such a sweet spirit of love in our home. I think Liv really felt it, because before we closed she said "I have a testimony Mom. Can I share it?" Then she said, "I know that Jesus did heal that blind man.  And I know the church is true. And I love my family". So simple. So sweet. So sincere.


Olivia spent most of the day on Monday creating notes in secret to put in our mail boxes in preparation for Valentines Day. She sweetly put each flag up and kept smiling at all of us like she knew something that we didn't. Then when she went to bed she said "Mom, Dad, you know there is something special in your mail boxes. Maybe you could do something special for me too if you want to." 


Of course we did. Jaron and I got up a little bit earlier than the kids and crept downstairs to fill their mailboxes with notes and goodies.  Then I made some pink pancakes.

Here are some pictures of the kids on Valentines Day morning. 

OLIVIA is easy to take pictures of, because she absolutely loves being photographed. She smiles and stays perfectly still and even turns her head to the side just a little to ham it up. I wonder where she gets that from? :)

WARNER on the other hand is a little more difficult to catch on camera, because he never stops moving. More than half of the pictures that I have taken of him in the last year are blurry. But I still love these because they capture his fun personality. Here he is flying around with the airplane- valentine that Dad made for him.

Then there is my sweet BABY B. Oh sweet baby little love. I love these feet.  I can't get enough of them. Any time he is in his high chair I look at how he holds his feet and laugh. I love them to smithereens.

While the kids enjoyed chocolate and pancakes for breakfast ( I promise we don't normally eat that bad Mother) Buster gulped down his own treat: apple, strawberry and banana baby food. He LOVED it.

I LOVE these faces I tell you. All four of them to include one of the most important one's who's face didn't make it on this blog today. I'm so grateful for him. I kept thinking yesterday what a lucky lady I am to have married such a good man.


What did you do this year, to fill your Valentines Day with love?

What do you do with FROSTING and SPRINKLES?

Here's one option: 

 DIP

 

And THEN

CHOMP

What do you do with sprinkles? 

Here's one option: 

CLOSE YOUR EYES TIGHT, SHAKE YOUR HEAD GLEEFULLY SIDE TO SIDE AND SAY "AAAAAAA".

OR 

If that's too informal for you:

SLATHER THE FROSTING ON A DELICIOUS SUGAR COOKIE

 

DELICATELY DUMP ON SOME SPRINKLES

AND THEN EAT THE COOKIE with your

PINKY UP.

OR 

LIKE THIS

IF YOU PREFER

Bon Appetit and Happy Valentines Day!