Rewind...Sammie's Birthday Party

Sammie had her third birthday right after we left Vegas. I knew that we probably wouldn't do anything big in Idaho for her birthday (mostly because we would be living in a hotel and partly because we didn't know anyone) so we decided to have a little family birthday party for her before we left Vegas.

Finding a theme for her party was super easy. At her request (or screaming demand), we'd been watching 'Frozen' at least once a day (sometimes three or four times in a row) so I knew a 'Frozen' party would be a winner.

I had looked on Pinterest for a few ideas (there were tons), but - to be quite honest - I think that really elaborately decorated and over the top parties for kids are a little ridiculous. I mean really, the kids don't care how "pretty" the party is (do they?). Anyway, if you are one of those moms, good for you - I just am not (maybe it's because I'm lazy). However, simple decorations and games aside, it was a good time and all the kids (and adults) loved it.

Our soon to be birthday girl. She's standing with Sven for our "feed Sven" beanbag toss game. I drew and colored Sven myself. Freehand. I am super proud of that.

What would a birthday party be without a piñata?

The party guests. Aside from our family, we had my sister's boys, the neighbor girls, and the kids of one of my mom's co-workers.

Ah, Sven.

We built snowmen out of marshmallows, pretzels, and candies. I think that more sugar was eaten than used to build with, but that's what happens at a party!

Feeding Sven.

Pizza!

Pinata time! All the kids got a couple of turns and, when it was still uncracked, we let the adults go at it. Pregnant Ashley punching it is one of my favorite shots of the day!

Presents! Sammie's cousins and friends were very generous.

The cake. I ordered it from a yummy local bakery called Freeds. To make a specialty 'Frozen' cake would have been really pricey, so I just had them do a basic cake, and then I bought little 'Frozen' figurines to stick on there. I thought it turned out perfectly (and, the cake was delish, seriously, I want another piece right now just looking at it).

Sammie takes candle blowing very seriously.

It was a fun party and a great way to celebrate our little girl (clearly we were all worn out afterward - notice that every single person in the background is on a device - including Max - ha!). She loved it and I loved seeing her love it. She is such a light and a blessing in our home. I love this baby (even if she's not really a baby anymore). Happy Birthday Sammie!

Vegas Baby!

After Disneyland, we went to Utah for a week (I posted about that before my hiatus when I posted about Clayton's birthday). After that, Justin had to leave us to head up to Idaho to start work. The kids and I would have gone with him, but our house wasn't done yet and we were in no rush to start living in a hotel (we did that once before in Indiana when our home wasn't ready yet - and I still get PTSD when I think about it). So the kids and I went back to Vegas to hang out for a few weeks until we had to get up to Idaho for the start of the new school year.

Our first order of business was some back to school shopping with these three. I can't believe Josie's in kindergarten this year! It was a little crazy for me that she was included in all the back to school shopping this year but she was more than ready for it. We printed out their school lists and got all their supplies at once. It was painless (and actually really fun).

We spent a fair amount of time over at my sister's house where Sammie learned to drive a car.

We also celebrated my nephew Max's birthday with a fun Minion party. Love these little minions of mine!

Grammy and Opa win all the grandparent awards. Not only did they wake up with my kids every day that they didn't have to work (yes, sainthood is imminent), they were constantly playing with them and finding fun activities to do together. I don't know if my kids realize yet that not all grandparents are this hands on and involved with their grandkids, but someday they will and they will realize just how blessed they are to have these two. (Here they are decorating cupcakes for a party that Grammy and Opa were going to throw them "just because".)

The cutest little kitchen helper around.

I also tackled the chore of potty training Sammie. She made it super easy on me. Honestly, she was amazing. After three (really easy) days we were good to go. She has since backslid a little but even that hasn't been terrible. My best potty trainer by far!

This is just funny. When you gotta go, you gotta go. It's just unfortunate when you and your cousin gotta go at the same time. 

Grammy took the kids on a field trip to Anderson Dairy. Anderson Dairy has been around Vegas forever and is a fun little field trip. We all had a great time (and, hey, free ice cream!)

Sweet baby Jared came down to visit. We all got to love on him.

We threw Ashley a baby shower and Sammie helped me make decorations.

 

It was a fun baby shower to celebrate Ashley and Wyatt. We had a great turnout and Ashley got a ton of good loot! (And the food was delish, if I do say so myself.)

We also threw a smaller, surprise baby shower for Anisha. We gave her some things that she'd been wanting for Eleanor and took her out to dinner at Macayos (a Peterson family favorite - yum!).

The kids had a ball. It was nonstop playing. If they weren't outside playing or swimming, they were inside playing games. They were going non stop from the time they woke up until the time they fell into bed, exhausted.

Handsome.

 

I got to go on a date with my two favorite men. We went back to school shoe shopping and then out to lunch at Red Robin. It was so nice. We talked about the move and what made them nervous and what they were excited for. It was a great time with my guys.

One of our favorite things to do is go look at model homes. One set of homes we went to was all decked out! They had food and activities and a face painter! The works! Sammie is a purple tiger.

Josie got to be a butterfly.

Noah got a penguin on his arm and was distraught when I told him he needed to wash it off that night. We took the picture so he could remember it forever.

At one of the model homes, Max and Jo set up an impromptu poker game.

Clayton and Noah had their wild bachelor ways tamed by Sydney (Noah's neighbor girl crush). Here, she is teaching these boys the proper way to make jello.

Josie was just in heaven being surrounded by all the dogs. She is my big animal lover and could not get enough of Grammy and Opa's dogs.

Because I keep it classy wherever I go, I taught Sammie how to go potty in the portable toilet in the back of my van. I know, you're jealous.

Crack kills.

Josie also started figuring out how to "fix" her own hair. It took her quite a while, but she figured out how to give herself a sweet ponytail!

We also threw this girl a Frozen birthday party, but that's for the next post. I didn't realize how many things we did in Vegas until I started looking through all the pictures. So, I will leave you in suspense (how did the party turn out? Was the cake delicious? Did someone eventually break the piñata?). Stay tuned!

Rewind...Road Trip part 3!

This leg of our trip took us to DISNEYLAND! I have such fond memories of going there as a kid and I was especially excited to take my kids there (oh, maybe my childhood wasn't so deprived after all). Justin never went as a kid so he didn't really see what all the fuss was about, but after three days there with our kids and seeing it through their eyes, we've converted him!

We were staying at a different hotel than my family, so we actually got to the park first. While we were waiting, the kids all got their nifty Mickey Mouse ears. Classic.

One of the first things we did was see Ariel. I was surprised at how excited the boys were to see her. I thought for sure they wouldn't really care, but they did...and they loved it.

Then we split into groups to go on rides. The best thing about going with my family is that they have all been a lot so they knew all the tricks and secrets to getting on rides fast. It was a big help to be able to have their knowledge and wisdom for our first trip to the most magical place on earth.

The boys are waiting for the Star Wars ride. This ended up being one of their favorite rides. I went once (I don't remember how many times they went, but it was a lot) and it made me motion sick. Bleh.

Their group also hit up Space Mountain a few times. Clearly Zach knew right where the camera was. I also love the looks on Landon and Clayton's faces.

Sammie would crash hard once a day (which was nice). We would take that opportunity to go on Small World. It was nice and air conditioned and long so it was a perfect place to go. Sweaty sleeper!

I love this. Splash Mountain is one of my favorites. We went on this one several times.

We took the girls to the princess lunch. It was the perfect way for them to get to meet the princesses without having to stand in long lines. Here they get to meet Ariel again.

I just love this.

Josie thought she was a princess too. (Also, I love the dresses that they're wearing. Such wearable princess dress ups. Several people at the parks commented on them and asked me about them. They were perfect. I didn't make them, but if you're interested I can tell you who did!)

Aurora

Belle

Snow White

Cinderella

This picture makes me laugh every time. I cannot remember what's happening here, but clearly Sammie needed Max to stop talking.

The next day we had a magic morning. This meant that we got to go into the park an hour early. We weren't quite sure what to do with our extra hour so we hung out and met Mickey and Minnie while the lines were short. Next time, we will know better and use the opportunity to go on some rides (because that magic morning was awesome and, played right, would be a serious advantage).

This was the day that we were on our own. My family had all left to go back to Vegas so we were doing our own thing (which was nice now that we had learned the tricks of Disneyland). We split up into boys and girls (so from here out, my pics of the boys will be almost nonexistent - sorry boys). It worked out well though because the boys got to go on the rides that were more interesting to them while the girls and I did things like Dumbo and the Teacups.

That afternoon, Justin decided to treat his little ladies to makeovers and the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. These girls were in Heaven getting pampered. It was a little over the top and gaudy, but to my girls, that's how it should be!

I love these next two pictures so much I can't even tell you.

They were worried how she'd do because she's so young, but she sat so still and just let them make her over. It was adorable.

And, of course, Miss Diva was all about it.

She lived that right up!

We stayed late that night for the shows as our last hurrah in the park. Our night ended with four exhausted kids (one of whom - Sammie - puked in the elevator of our hotel) and two parents who felt very satisfied with the awesome vacation they just gave their children.

I know there are a ton more pictures from Disneyland. I need to round them all up and do an additional post, but this is a start.

I know that we'll go back someday (maybe not for another few years, but someday). It was too good of a trip not to repeat. While this was not the end of our road trip (we spent some time in Vegas and some time in Utah), I'm going to call it the end of the road trip posts. I still have a post (or two) to do about our time in Vegas and then I'll get started posting about our new life here as Idaho spuds. It's been a whirlwind summer, but I wouldn't change any of it.