Canada Day 2011

I love holidays, and when Jordan get to spend the day playing with us. Today was busy and a lot of fun. We all got done up in our Canada day shirts, and went over to the foothills stake center for some festivities. Our newly elected Mayor even came to say hello. There was mini golf, which clearly Ryley missed the point of. The kids got to fish for some treats. Everyone got maple leaf tattoos, and then we sat down to enjoy some snacks before heading off to Grandma and Grandpa Nielsons for a swim.
We weren't done yet though, Skyler asked if we could have a picnic at the park by our new house - so off we went. The park is not huge, but the kids seem to really like it.
Do you see that huge blue spot on my half naked daughters behind? That is where the real fun was - you see Skyler had just been given a colorful bubble gift when we were at Grandma Nielsons - well let me tell you those colorful bubbles are lethal, and we have the blue seat in the van, blue car seat, blue cloths, and big BLUE puddle outside of our house to prove it. Sadly this is not a toy that they will be playing with again.

Mario Party 6

Skyler got to celebrate his birthday a few weeks early, so that his friends from school would still be around to celebrate with him. He requested a Mario Party, and it was super fun, and easy to plan. You see Skyler's friend Cody had a Mario Party earlier this year, and his mom did a great job planing out different activities, and then another friend Tyler had a Mario Party, so Cody's Mom gave her stuff to Tylers Mom. Tyler's Mom added a few things, and then it all got passed on to us. I got to add a few things for Skylers Party, but already had some great games planned and prepared thanks to these other wonderful women.

We started off with getting 2 teams established since some of the games required them to work in teams. What better way than Mario and Luigi. I made some easy hats for the kids, and it made it really easy to tell who was on which team. Then we ate some lunch - Pizza of course, Mario is Italian you know.
My parents even came to crash the party and keep Ryley out of the way for a little bit.
Then the kids had cake, and this is truly embarrassing - I was still finishing the cake when the kids were arriving. (due to a schedule change in soccer for Ethan and trying to be everywhere are once) and it is the ugliest cake that I have made since I was about 10. Oh well, the kids loved it, and it was what Skyler asked for.
The first game was fishing for Cheap cheap fish - each fish had a value on them, and the team with the most points at the end won.
Then we played Mario Bingo.
Pin the mustashe on Mario, and another game where they had to chose which cup to look under - some had shy guys, others had Bob-oms, and a few had a candy. The team with the most shy guys won.
One of the games the kids had to try to pop the balloons with their bums - problem was these dollar store balloons were hard for these feather weights to pop!
There was 2 minutes given for the kids to gather as many coins as they could from around the house.
The kids had to make some sweet treats to match mine exactly, and the first team to get it right got a point, first team with three points won.
Jordan made a game like picture this from Mario Party 7, and he would hold up a picture and the kids would have to sort through theirs to find the match and run it up to him. The first team with 3 correct won.
My personal favorite, and I think most of the kids favorites was the Yoshi egg smash. I drained a few dozen eggs, and then filled them with glitter, and a select few with stars in them, and taped off the openings and made them look like Yoshi eggs.
Then the kids got to throw them at the poster and had to run up to see if there was a star. I actually expected to find a hole in my siding by the time this was over, these 6 year olds are getting strong!.
We finished it off with a Boo pinata, and again these boys surprised me with how strong they are.
We had decorated with a few hanging Boos in the house, and the kids thought they we super fun, and I liked how easy and cheap they were.
This is my new favorite way to do treat bags. I stamped the kids names on the bags, and then cut out a picture of some power up mushrooms, and I used craft bags from the dollar store.
Overall Skyler thought it was pretty great, and Ethan loved being a part of the fun with all of Skylers Friends.

It was a fun day, and the smile on my kids faces made it all worth it.

Father's Day 2011

We had a fun day, despite my limited mobility. Jordan and the boys were supposed to go camping on Friday, but because of the weather forecast postponed it a few weeks. It turned out to be beautiful and they would have had a blast, but to make up for the change in plans he and the boys had a sleepover in the basement. Air mattresses, sleeping bags, movies, and junk food. The boys were in heaven.We made Jordan breakfast in bed (yes, he stayed after both boys were up). Unfortunately we were not so quiet getting it to him thanks to my gibbled hop, and needing Skyler to help carry the juice, and then I couldn't even get close enough to him to give it to him, he had to practically come and get it.
We gave him some tees with a coupon for a round of golf which I thought was so cute - I know it was lost on him, but it made me happy. Found here.After Church today I decided to make Jordan some fresh guacamole and pico for lunch, I was already feeling bad that I couldn't do all that I wanted to do because of my foot, and while trying to get out a bowl I knocked the stack on the floor and broke them all. I hobbled away and started to bawl - way too frustrating for me not to be able to do everything on my own!

I think that my kids are pretty lucky to have such an awesome Dad, and I know I am lucky to have him as my partner as we try to raise our children.

We went to my parents for dinner, and my in-laws for dessert so that we could spend some time with both of our Dads. I made them each a super hero kit found here I know, at least for my Dad that the treats inside mean very little, but this was my way of telling him just how important he is to me. Every time an important decision needs to be made in my life I always check to see what my Dad thinks before I make my decision. I have been soo blessed to be raised in the family that I was, and to have him as a role model. My children have all been blessed to live close and have a great relationship with him, and they too have benefited from his wisdom and love. He is a true Super Hero in my eyes.

Unfortunately I forgot to pull out my camera when we got to my inlaws, but my Father in Law is another father in our lives who deserves a day of recognition. He is a wonderful support, and is always there when we need him. I am grateful for the example that he has been, and for the way that he raised Jordan.

My heart is filled with Joy as I take the time to consider these wonderful men, and the many sacrifices that they have made, and will continue to make for their families. We are soo blessed.

severe sprain

Life is crazy busy right now, between the end of the school year, The little boy that I now take care of everyday, and all of the appointments for the new house we are building. Life is just busy, and I am very much looking forward to July. Last night I was trying to get the kids out the door, so that I could drop them off at a friends house, and then run off to the builder for a meeting. Skyler and Ethan were at the door with boots and coats on, and I ran upstairs to grab Adrian and Ryley. I fell on the first step, thought I was going to die from the pain, and now I am on crutches and struggling to do basic things around my house. Thankfully it is just a sprain, and not a break but for the next few days I won't be getting too far too fast.

Skyler keeps saying that he feels bad for me, and he and Ethan have been a huge help, doing all kinds of tasks and just making sure that I am taken care of. I really am blessed to have 2 wonderful little nurturer's around all the time.

Playschool Graduate!

Today we held a little graduation for Ethan and his friends who were part of playschool this year. I am sad that I don't have better pictures, but I was running the show and was at the mercy of others. I made little marshmallow graduation pops, graduation hats, and certificates for each of the kids. After they had all gotten their hats and certificates we had them sing their ABC's since that was our theme for the year, the got to enjoy some yummy snacks and then played at the park. We were blessed with some beautiful weather this morning.

In September Ethan leaves me for preschool.

mixed emotions

Yesterday I got to take Skyler out to his new school for grade one orientation. As I walked away leaving my little man I started to cry - and still have not completely finished. My baby is growing up. Starting next year he will be gone from me all day 5 days a week, and I am truly sad about that. I am excited that he got into this school, and yes I am happy that my day will not be broken up, but we are talking 8-4 without seeing him.

He is soo excited about his independence and promised me yesterday that he would give me a big hug and kiss everyday before and after school. I want so bad to just be happy for him, but it makes me sad, and it hurts a little inside.

Ethan's 4!

On Saturday we had a birthday party at our house Spiderman style. I find it hard to come up with themes, gifts or anything really for Ethan because all he wants is what Skyler has, wants, or is doing, and then we already have a ton of toys that have accumulated with the 2 boys. We have another party coming up in a few weeks, and it took a while before Ethan decided that he was happy and excited about a Spiderman party, but as the day came closer, and I worked on different things, the excitement became almost uncontrollable, and I loved it!As all of the little kids arrived they got to work on their spiderman canvass masterpieces.even Miss Ryley wanted in on all of the fun.We had some snacks, and spiderman cake, Smashed a spiderman pinata, and played some games.

I think the kids favorite was the web walk, which we played like musical chairs, only I used glittery webs that I had made.They also had a balloon toss game, and wouldn't it be just out luck, and robber came and tried to steal the cake - luckily I had a bunch of armed little superheroes to stop him, and then Jordan had to call the police when he tried to steal the car.
It was soo fun, and I loved hearing the little cries of 'this is awesome' from all of our little guests.
I had fun finding everything spiderman at the dollar store, and there was a ton which made decorating easy. We wrapped everything in Spider man too - I just couldn't resist. The gift bags were fun and easy. I just stamped the kids name on the outside so that we could make sure that they got the right bag on the way out the door, and glued on a spiderman decal.Then they were filled with a few things spiderman - most of which they accumulated throughout the party.Sunday was Ethan's real birthday, so we had all of the family over to have a BBQ and celebrate him. It was fun and simple. The kids had soo much fun playing outside (we actually had a beautiful sunny day for it)
I made a candy cake for something a little different found here. It was soo easy to make, and I LOVED how it turned out!