Happy Birthday Ben!

It's official according to Jake he told me I know longer have a "baby!" My "baby" has turned one! We are on to the next most blissful 8 months of life...NOT! But who's complaining, because honestly this kid is the sweetest. We just love him so very much.

Pancakes for his birthday breakfast..

He learned to clap on his very first real birthday! I was totally excited and so was he!

His cute little face he always makes...

Then the screaming face he always makes...

Here he is showing off how happy it makes him when we clap with him and yell, "Yeah!!"

Clapping all the day long now...

Here's to birthday cake #2. Because tradition at our house is that the first birthday cake MUST represent something funny or quirky about the child. So with the obvious feature that just is noticed by one and all...his lovely mop of hair! So of coarse it HAD to go on the pumpkin cake.

Which he LOVED.

 

He's going in for the kill...

YUM!

 

So good...his second time around he totally figured out what to do with it...EAT IT ALL AT ONCE!

I'm one blessed Mommy to have such a darling sweet little boy. I couldn't be happier with my little one year old baby. I love every ounce of him.

He's done being sticky and no longer wanting to be eating cake or taking pictures! Lucky for him it was off to a bath and bed. We had a great day celebrating with our family. Happy birthday my little baby!!! Oh, before I forget to mention he has started walking. Funny enough he's been cruising around from appliance to couch to railing, to where ever. It's ADORABLE. He's my very first baby to learn to take multiple steps before his actual first birthday! Good job Benny!

Early Birthday Celebrations

We had a family dinner last night with family that wouldn't be able to share in the celebrations with Ben's real birthday this upcoming weekend. So to include one and all I decided to make a cake. Well, lucky Ben he was born days before Halloween and his Middle name just happens to be Jack. So what else could I make other than a "Jake-o-lantern"

The best I could come up with after a very busy Sunday...They are always super crazy days...

One excited little boy...with yes, always crazy hair...if only I had put hair on the pumpkin...
Yeah. Do you see him holding up his number 1 finger to notify us all he's one...Yeah, that was totally planned...or just lucky!

Not sure he is enjoying the texture of the frosting...We all know he likes to be dirty, so it must be something else...

The siblings who were SO SUPER EXCITED to celebrate his birthday early!!! (I love that Jake put a pumpkin on Ben's head! And that Caleb is totally CHOWING multiple pumpkins in his mouth!)

Yum.

Loving his cake.

One happy One year old...soon to be in a few days! We love you our little baby!!!

Happy Birthday Alayna!!

Our oldest and most wisest child has turned 7 this morning!

I decided to make a delicious breakfast that any child would LOVE to look forward to for their birthday...Chocolate Pancakes with Strawberries, and Strawberry Syrup.

My sister Krista let me borrow her DARLING birthday banners and chair cover. I have made a smaller one in the past, but when Krista made this large, bright and festive banner. I knew that this new design would please Alayna greatly. I was totally right, she was in HEAVEN! The good thing is, I have all the matching fabric to sew the same thing! Maybe by Jake's birthday I will have it done...wishful thinking.

These three monkies are birthday-loving-children. Seriously, it's a good thing that as the year comes around Alayna's birthday comes first, then Jacob and then Caleb. Seriously, there isn't a day that goes by that Alayna doesn't talk about her birthday. She LOVES being special. She LOVES being pampered and shown extra attention and love. It's surprising that I have a 7 year old girl. Wow, I think I'm finally getting older...Happy Birthday to our happy obedient little girl. We love you!

We've Had a Birthday Shout Hooray!

We'd like to sing to you today!

One Year Older and Wiser too!
Happy Birthday...To Alayna!

She's the BIG #6 this year. Let's just say that this young lady looks forward to each holiday, family tradition, family parties and HER BIRTHDAY all year long! She is a party girl through and through. Whether she is planning a party for someone else or her own birthday party, she's always thinking about what should be done at the parties. It actually makes planning for her really easy. She covers ALL the details and has so much fun thinking about all of them.

This year it was a little different, or is should have been. Her EXTRA BIG present (Which normally isn't given) was a week long trip to Disneyland with her cousins in February 2011. She had the BEST time of her life and enjoyed it because it was for her birthday present.Today came and she knew she was receiving a few presents from her Aunt & Uncle, Grandparents, cousins. But she really wasn't expecting anything from us. So with just a few simple gifts, a Tinkerbell watch and Minnie Mouse socks to remind her of her trip she was thrilled. When the night was over she said, "I really got so many presents Mom, that was so nice of you because Disneyland really was supposed to be for my birthday!"

Thankfully at Christmas I put away a few gifts for her birthday because like always we give too many at Christmas. So without spending any extra money we looked like we got her some presents. Either way, for me birthdays aren't about the presents it's about making the child feel SPECIAL all day long. Let's just say, she had a GREAT birthday.We started the day out with her little cousins over for Joyschool, but we played birthday games for a little party.Then it was off to Kindergarten. She was so excited because she could pass out her little pencils and erasers to all her kids in her class. Then, I was able to come in and volunteer today, so she LOVED having me there! It is always darling to see her in action at school. She is one serious little girl!(Her Grandpa Randy let her pick any toy in the store...drumroll...a Pillow Pet! She finally got one, she's wanted one for SOOOOO long! Too bad I'm too cheap, they have yet to go on sale anywhere! She picked a darling bunny and she hasn't let it out of her sight yet! She LOVES it!!)
Then it was home from school, cake decorating (Thanks to my sisters and neighbors!), pizza party, playing outside, watching Tangled, playing more pin-the-nose on Flynn Rider game, so fun! Anyways, it was a VERY whirlwind of a day but the best part was in her prayer tonight she thanked Heavenly Father for having so many wonderful family members who love her so much and helped her feel special today! I couldn't agree more.
Thank you to everyone for the phone calls, visits, and sticking through a very long party! It meant the world to her.She blew out all her candles, and I told her "I hope you made a good wish!" She said, "I did, but I can't remember what it was for?" Until next year...

A Classic Birthday Party

The first one. I have never been a fan of birthday parties. It's kinda like a baby shower to me. Not my favorite thing to invite people to come over and then require them to bring presents. So sadly my kids don't get this experience every year. We hold family birthday parties and they get a few presents from us and grandparents but other than that it's not a big deal. But when you turn 5 you get your first birthday party. Let's just say that when it came time for Alayna to run door to door and deliver the announcements it was worth every second. This little girl was on cloud 9. She was beaming with delight just thinking of the party. She was so thrilled to have ALL of her friends there. Let's just say her list was a little lengthy with friends, cousins and neighbors. Oh, well this girl doesn't get another one until she's 8. So I figure she had to have a real party!!!

Here is the classic game....dress up. You got it EVERY kid even the boys had a great time. They were in two teams. And each member had to race and dress as fast as they could with ALL the funny items in the baskets. It was GREAT fun. Really, I must admit the BOYS liked the game the most. It really was an all loved game. My mom said this was a personal favorite at our kid birthday parties.

You can't have a party without limbo, pin the tail on the donkey, birthday hat crafts, decorating cupcakes and then eating them. It really was SO fun for Alayna and she was spoiled by all her little friends. Thanks to all the moms who gave such fun gifts. This little girl was in heaven!

Happy Birthday to Jake!

Happy Birthday to Jacob!!

Yes, in case you were expecting a HUGE two year old party, this will completely surpass your expectations! How much better can it get than a "chocolate sprinkle" donut from Wal-Mart? Well, to a two year old it simply doesn't get any better!! I must give Jared the credit for introducing "donuts" to Jake. Each week when I had a baby doctors appointment and couldn't drive while on bed rest, Jared and Jake would drop me off then do grocery shopping at Wal-Mart. So one time Jared thought it would be "cute" to buy Jake a "donut" so after just a few times Jake was hooked. But Jared couldn't resist the super sweet high pitched way Jake would say, "Dadda, dough-nut?" Sadly, 5 weeks later Jake is excited to go shopping simply for a "donut!" Thankfully it doesn't result in a tantrum quite yet only a sweet request for a "dough-nut."

The proud parents of the best two year old ever!

Jacob doing his best to say, "two" and hold up two fingers...well, I think holding up "two" hands counts right?

And what birthday party wouldn't be complete with presents? Well, we did give him a present just a few days before...remember his basket ball hoop? He has LOVED it! But today I happened to find a package of toy cars that were given to him for Christmas under my bed. So I figured, hey he has no idea, we'll give it to him today for his birthday! He was super excited!

I'm so glad Jake was so understanding about not having a HUGE party! Life around here is a little busy for all the relatives (new baby), my parents on vacation with the twins, Shan & Todd going on vacation...and my other reasons why not to stress about a big party! By next year I'll be ready to host a party for a 3 year old! Tonight for FHE I decided it would be fun to watch his baby video with the kiddos. I introduced the idea about families and how little ones come to our homes. I was hoping this would introduce the idea of our new little baby #3 will be coming to our family. It worked great, the kids LOVED watching the baby Jake and how tiny he was. I think overall it was a great day for this big two year old!

Happy Birthday Jake - We LOVE you!

A Birthday Tradition...

My parents started a special tradition with the grand kids a few years back. It is to take them out to lunch the day of or day before their birthday. It's a special date because its for only the grandchild and my parents. No siblings, no mommies, no cousins, no one but just the three of them. It happened to start when Kierra was 5 years old, but Alayna has lucked out because she is the youngest grandchild of the "big" four grand kids. So when she turned three she got to start these special dates.
Now back in December my family took a family night to go see Temple Square and all the lights. Alayna did not want to leave. She wanted to stay in the museum and look at all the pictures, movies and statues. My mom and I were taken back by her desire to walk around and around viewing all the pictures. That night she was so sad to leave, that my mom asked her if she would like to come back when it's warm and the flowers are out? So she agreed. They decided that they would come back and spend the day for her "birthday date." Alayna did not forget and with the first signs of spring, flowers appearing, sunshine, flip flops she knew her date was coming closer.

Finally her date came. They even lucked out with great weather! Here is Alayna standing under a picture of the 13 Articles of Faith. A few weeks ago Alayna was asked to share any Article of Faith in opening exercises in Primary. We worked on them during FHE, night time, breakfast time, while praying, etc. She even performed for grandparents and cousins. She was able to master the first two. The time to give it was one day after her birthday (April 12th). Days before she talked of being so excited to stand up "and not be scared at all...I'm brave mom!" She reminded me that the "mom's and dad's listen from the back...I won't even need a little help because I'll be four!" Well, as the day came I was not there that Sunday, since baby #3 wanted to make an early appearance. So I missed it. Come Sunday night I talked with my mom and she reminded me how Alayna gave the Article of Faith. I instantly started to cry. We had worked so hard on it and I couldn't wait to watch her "be so brave!" So as my mom told me how well she did standing up there at the sacrament pulpit up high in front of all the kids and saying it. It was great to know she was so brave!

Alayna has really taken to liking this picture because we taught her about it during FHE before Easter.

I am thankful to my parents enlisting energy, time and a huge desire to help cultivate my children's testimonies at such a young age. Because my children have this influence in their lives they are growing stronger and developing a great love of our Savior. I am forever grateful for this.

*Just an update...bedrest...really what witty thing can be said about it? I'm still intact and hanging in there...pray for 34 weeks next Wednesday! Thanks to ALL who have helped, called brought goodies, dishes, laundry, meals, watched kids and paid me a visit. It's made it so much more enjoyable. THANK YOU!!