Birthday Boy

Derek turned six this last week. He has grown up so much this past year. He got to be the Birthday Boy for three days: on his birthday, at his birthday party with his friends, and then again at his family birthday party at Grandma and Grandpa's house. He kept thinking that he could do whatever he wanted because he was the birthday boy. Derek loves to play with legos and is very creative. He wanted a lego birthday party. It was a lot of fun. I made invitations that looked like legos. I thought they turned out pretty cute. In fact when put them all on the table to take a picture of them, they looked like a pile of legos. Derek and Kamryn used their legos to make all kinds of things to decorate for the party. We displayed them all on the piano. I also made a lego cake. I wasn't as impressed with my cake as I was with my invitations. The cake Melanie made for the family party was much cuter. Derek had a great time with his friends. All the games had to do with legos. I bought some candy legos from the candy store and the kids had to guess how many were in the bag. Then they had to hold a lego to their nose and see if they could drop it in the cup. Then all the kids had a bag of legos that they had 3 minutes to create something. It was really fun to see what all the kids created. Then we did a relay race were the kids had to run down and get a lego and bring it back to help their team build the tallest tower. I was so bummed because I forgot to get any pictures of the games. After presents and cake and ice cream the kids just wanted to play outside while they waited for their parents. I was glad that the weather was nice. It was a fun birthday party. 

On Sunday we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a family birthday party. Grandpa had a birthday too, so they got to have a party together. Derek just loves his grandpa, so he thought it was pretty cool to share a birthday party with grandpa. Melanie made a way cute cake and we had rootbeer floats with it. Derek got legos, a couple of Wii games, a new motorcycle helmet, and some clothes. He was excited about everything. It was a great party too. Derek is a great kid. We are so glad that he is part of our family. He is a lot of fun. We love you Derek!

As Is Tag

So Amber tagged me last Tuesday, and I am just barely getting around to posting it. You have to take pictures of things "as is" around your house. No cleaning, or altering. I did take the pictures when she tagged me, but haven't had time to post. Not my favorite tag, but here goes.

1.  My closet. Way to small!

2.  The Kitchen Sink. (Note to self: Do dishes, and clean house before blogging.)

O.k. so that's what my sink looked like when I first read the tag. Then Wyatt came home for lunch and did the dishes (he's been doing a lot of that lately). So technically, I didn't do anything before taking the picture. I had to show the clean sink too. And all the credit goes to my wonderful husband. He's the best!

3. The toilet in the main bathroom.

4.  The Laundry room. Again way to small.

5.  Kids in their best form. It was an "as is" tag, so I just took a picture of the kids that were home at the time. The boys were at school and I was watching cute little Ashlyn.

6.  A place you want to visit. 

A strange request. It doesn't seem to go with the rest of this post, but I am really looking forward to my trip to Moab this weekend with Wyatt.

7. My fridge and freezer.

8. Favorite room. I like my bedroom, and I really love my bed. Isn't it beautiful. It was a surprise from my husband one Christmas. 

9. Self Portrait.

10. Favorite shoes.  I don't really love to wear shoes. I would rather go bare foot.  I was going to take a picture of my bare feet, but they were way to ugly. Flip flops are fun and comfortable.
I'm not going to tag anyone. I've seen this tag on a lot of blogs, and I'm not sure who has been tagged and who hasn't. If you are feeling left out, and would like to do it, then please consider yourself tagged.

Family + Motorcycles = Fun

Tonight for family home evening we took the motorcycles out and went for a ride as a family. The kids were so excited. They couldn't wait for dad to get the motorcycles out of the truck.

Kamryn was the first to get on his bike. And then he was gone! He is getting to be such a good rider. He rode with his dad on the track. He did great. He amazes me.
Derek was excited to ride too. He is doing very well too. Most of the time he just putted around in the flat area by the truck, but after everyone else had left, he went over to the track too. He took it slow, and just rolled over the jumps, but he did great. 
Brynli decided that she wanted to try and ride the motorcycle today (she has never wanted to try before). She started off chasing Derek around.
Then she came back to the truck pouting, because Derek wouldn't let her have a turn.
So dad taught her how to ride the motorcycle.

At first he followed her to make sure she was doing o.k.
Then she got it down and was doing great by herself. The bike was kind of heavy for her, so when she would stop to give Derek a turn, the bike would usually fall over. She couldn't hold it up by herself. She started doing better toward the end of the night. Brynli and Derek did a great job of sharing the motorcycle. Brynli did awesome for her first ride.
Sadie had a great time playing in the back of dad's truck and watching the kids ride motorcycles. Then she decided that she wanted a ride with dad on his motorcycle. Dad  took her on a short ride around the track.

I guess she didn't like the hills very much. She came back screaming. It didn't take her long to get over it and ask for another ride. She had a lot of fun just playing in the truck.
Oh, there's Kamryn again. I really didn't see him much. He just kept riding around the track. He had to take advantage of what daylight there was.
Wyatt even let me take a ride on his motorcycle. It was a lot of fun. For having a motorcycle in our family for 12 years, you would think that I would be a better rider.
After the sun went down we barbecued hotdogs in the back of the truck and ate dinner. We really had a great time. It is so fun spending time together as a family!

A few firsts

Today was my first day with all three kids at school, and home alone with Sadie. Sadie took a nap and it was so quiet. I hardly knew what to do with myself. I think I cleaned the kitchen in record time. Then I had to take Sadie to the doctor for her 2 year old well child check. So the quiet was short lived, but I am looking forward to it again next week. 

Tuesday Brynli started pre-school. She was so excited, and thought she was so big. She was a little shy, but I'm sure she is getting more friendly. Today when she got home she couldn't wait to tell me what she had learned and everyone that she played with. She couldn't remember anyone's name so she would say, "the girl in the pink shirt", or "the girl in the striped shirt", like I should know who she was talking about. Her enthusiasm was pretty cute.

Derek's first day of kindergarten was Wednesday. He was so excited to ride the bus. He wouldn't let me take him to school. I asked if I could follow him to school to make sure that he made it to class o.k. He wouldn't let me, so we just said goodbye at the bus. Once the bus came he practically ran on. He didn't even look back for me to get a picture. He had a great day at school. He exercised (P.E.), learned a new song (music), played on the playground (recess), had a tour of the school, and then rode the bus home. I walked down to the bus stop to meet him when he came off the bus. He informed me that I don't need to do that anymore. He knows where we live, and he can just walk home with Kamryn. I guess he is growing up.
Sadie does not like all of the kids going to school. This picture is right after Derek left on the bus yesterday. She wanted to go with him. She kept crying, "school bus, school  bus". She also cried all the way home after we dropped Brynli off at school today. She wanted so bad to go with her. Poor girl, she has to be all alone with mom, and no kids to play with. I'll have to do some fun things with her so it won't be so bad.
Kamryn also had a first this week. Last night was his first tackle football game. I still can't believe he is big  enough to play tackle football. This year he played "real" baseball, "real" soccer, and now "real" football. I guess his mom just needs to realize he is growing up. He did really well at his game. He played the entire game; offense, defense, and special teams. His team did well too. They won 28-14. I really enjoy watching football, it is one of my favorite sports. I'm looking forward to this season.

Vaseline Anyone?

When your kids are playing quietly, it is a bad sign. The other day as we were getting ready for bed Sadie was upstairs "playing quietly". When we went to get her we found a mess of Vaseline. She decided that she needed to smear it all over her face and into her hair. I immediately threw her in the tub (after I took a few pictures of course). I felt like I gave her a bath in Vaseline. She came out pretty greasy. On a positive note, I think she has the smoothest skin of anyone right now.

Sadie's Birthday

My baby turned two a little over a week ago. We had a birthday party for her on Saturday at the lake, so on  her actual birthday we had rootbeer floats as a family.

Sadie thoroughly enjoyed her rootbeer float.

Then on Sunday we went to Grandma's to open presents and have cake and ice cream. Sadie had a great birthday! She loved being the center of attention, and of course she loved all of her presents.

Sadie is such a fun child (I guess she's not a baby anymore). If you ask her how old she is she usually says "five". I think she  really thinks she is that old. She acts older than most two year olds. She talks very well and can say anything she wants. She is very independent and wants to do everything by herself. I think her first phrase was "I do it!" She really thinks she can do anything that the big kids do.

Sadie loves books! She is always bringing me books and asking me to read to her. She can sometimes be very demanding and insist on me reading, or doing whatever it is she wants me to do. She is always doing cute, fun things that make me smile. I guess that is what keeps me from getting too mad at her when she makes messes or gets into things she shouldn't. She is at such a fun age. I love to watch her grow and learn and just experience life. Even though I'm a little late, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SADIE! WE LOVE YOU!

I decided to add this video of Sadie. Mostly for my mom to see her. She is so funny. She always wants to see the pictures on my camera, sometimes before I'm finished taking the picture or video in this case.