January 9 - Pancake Party & Xtreme Air Sports

This morning, we went to the Primary Pancake Pajama Party!  The kids got to know their new teachers a bit better and we got to eat pancakes!  It was a fun way to start our Saturday.

L to R: Haze, Sophie V., Camilla L., Duncan S., Cambrie G.

I got our Valentine's decor up today and I love it!

This afternoon, Andlie worked on her art canvas that we gave her for her birthday.  It turned out so great!  It's now sitting on the wall above the coats and it looks beautiful!

Nora got her very first real piggie tails today.  And she rocked them.  She rocked them hard.  And she knew it.

Andlie took my phone while I was working on the computer this evening.  She took a picture & then came to show me & said, "Look, Mom!  I did one of those selfie things!"

Tonight was Andlie's friend birthday celebration!  We only have birthday parties on even years at our house, but on odd years, we let the kids pick one friend and one activity to celebrate their special day.  Andlie chose to take Violet Parks with her (and us) to Xtreme Air Sports!  It had trampolines everywhere (Haze's favorite) and a giant swing in to a foam pit (Andlie's favorite)!  We had a great time!  We'll definitely be going back!

When we came home, Andlie opened her gift from Violet (a fuzzy "Frozen" blanket that Nora almost claimed for herself) and ate some leftover cake & ice cream.  Violet thought Andlie's face cake was pretty fun and Andlie loved showing it off!  They kept giggling & saying, "I just ate Andlie's glasses!"  "I just ate my own neck!"  They had so much giggly, girly, wild fun together!

January 8 - First Babysitter

Cute Hazey & Nora played together so cute this morning with the marble track that Santa gave us.  There was lots of giggles & loud talking and marble rolling and it was just the best.

Today I finally caught up our 2015 calendar.  I don't use our calendar to keep track of schedules or appointments.  I write a little note on each day of the family calendar - a little summary of the day.  It's fun to see 11 calendars in a pile now.  What a fun family history.

Tonight, Bryan & I went on a date with 4 other couples - Darrin & Celeste Parks, Jeff 7 Katie Hall, Jenna & Giff Nielsen, and Brett & Kourtney Sorenson.  First we went to Tucano's and ate salad and lots & lots of meat.  Then we went & played Laser Tag at Riverwoods.  And we finished the night at Sodalicious in Provo!  We had a wonderful time with wonderful friends!  BUT the best part is that it was our first time leaving our kids home with a youth babysitter.  We were kind of nervous.  Mostly for our sweet Haze.  We were gone from 6:30 - 11:30.  And, drum roll.....the kids had a great time!  They loved it!  This opens so many doors for us! 

January 7 - Straight Bangs

Nora pulled another silly joke on me this morning when I tried to take a picture of her bangs.  (Straightest bangs ever and always in her eyes in the morning.)

Nora went grocery shopping with me while the kids were at school.  I let her pick a treat for being good.  I think her mouth gives away which treat she picked.

This afternoon, we played with one of Andlie's birthday gifts - her science kit!  We had fun changing water colors and making jiggly crystals!

And then I had some fun with her birthday gel pens and drew each kid a tattoo.  Andlie got a soccer ball & sunshine.  Hazey got an Angry Bird.  And Nora got a princess crown & Olaf.

January 6 - Painting Class at Home

Poor Hazer caught the pukes.  He threw up several times last night and he ended up sleeping in my arms in the rocking chair.  It's been so wonderful to snuggle with my babies and watch them sleep this week!  (Andlie slept in bed with me when she was sick last week.)

Hazey woke up feeling better, but stayed home from preschool today just to be safe.

Went to Target this morning.  Nora thinks she is so funny.  She looked right at me & said, "Take my pict-cha."  And then she smiled at me, started laughing, and closed her eyes.

Andlie has been wanting to teach me how to paint ever since she learned how from Grama Puppy.  So today we finally did it!  First she carefully selected a landscape picture from the internet.  Then she instructed me to draw our picture with a pencil first.  Then she taught me how to paint each section with a different color.  I obeyed her every word and loved watching her be the teacher.  It was just her & I.  Haze fell asleep on the couch and Nora was napping.  It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Our finished products!  Andlie's is on top.  Mine is on bottom.

After we were done painting, a Power Ranger somehow made her way in to our house & stood in front of my posing waiting for a picture!

January 5 - Birthday Pictures

Taken 01.25.16.

January 5 - Andlie Turns 7!

Andlie with her birthday gifts!

Wrote a note yesterday during homework.  "I just went back to school today!  It is my birthday tomorrow!  Today is my birthday!  I love Happy Birthdays!  Happy birthday!"  I totally agree.

I went downstairs to wake her up for school.  Usually, she is still sound asleep and kind of annoyed that she has to wake up.  Today, I walked in the room & she said, "Hello!"

Woke up to birthday decorations!

LOVED the giant balloons and the #7 balloon!

Noticed that her tooth was really loose.  Went in & asked Daddy to pull it out.  Successfully lost her 7th tooth on her 7th birthday!  More excitement!

Saw & claimed her unopened birthday present on top of her present stack - fuzzy gloves!  Was super excited about them & put them on immediately.  Excitement!

Went in to check on Daddy's getting ready progress.  Daddy said, "I'm not going to work today."  Andlie said, "Why?"  "Because I'm coming to school with you to be a Watch DOG!"  Mind. Blown. 

MAJOR EXCITEMENT!  (Best birthday present of the day.)

Mommy & Nora surprised Andlie & Daddy at school lunch with Andlie's favorite restaurant food - Arby's!

Andlie came home with a birthday crown that she'd worn all day at school!

Received her very first every delivery to our house!  Birthday balloons from Mandy & family!

Cake time!  I was so excited to show her her "face cake!"  She loved it!  She started giggling as soon as she saw it & didn't really stop after that about it!  Funniest/most clever thing I've ever done in her book!

Present time!  Opened & loved every single present from Mom & Dad!  From us, she got: science experiment kit, canvas art kit, Power Ranger outfit, tennis racket, lava lamp, and gel pens!

Daddy wrote a birthday message on the easel (as directed by Andlie) while Mommy & the other kids went to get Andlie's requested birthday dinner: Little Cesar's Pizza & bread sticks!

Andlie requested to go & play at Riverwoods so we went!  Played some arcade games and finished with bowling!  (Haze kept lining the ball up with one eye closed & his hands.  Every time.  Cutest.)

Took some birthday selfies with Mom & Dad!

Home for cake!  Chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and Andlie's favorite - mint ice cream!

Prayers & songs & bedtime.

She is a pretty picky eater, but she's trying almost everything I cook now.  She loves her some sleep and needs a good 10-12 hours to function best - just like Momma!  She loves to be with friends.  She is the cutest, most protective big sister.  She lets Haze sit by her every week in Primary because he gets kinda nervous.  She is tall!  And skinny.  She still gives the best Momma hugs.  She loves to snuggle with Mom & Dad.  She is starting to listen in on adult conversation and ask questions about what we're talking about.  She is responsible for hundreds & hundreds of pages of artwork in our house.  She is always looking for a paper to write/color/draw on.  Sometimes, I treat her like she is so much older than she is because she's so mature & respectful & perfect.

Q&A

What is your favorite color? 

Mmm, turquoise.

What is your favorite toy?

Roller blades! 

What is your favorite thing about your brother?

That he always tries to find funny games for us to play.

What is your favorite thing about your sister?

She lets us color on her papers with her. 

What is your favorite TV show or movie?

TV Show: Power Rangers!  Movie: Inside Out

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?

Pizza!

What is your favorite outfit?

The one that Mindy got me [last birthday].  The one that looks kinda like a fancy dress.  (Long shirt with leggings.)

What is your favorite game?

Basket Case

What is your favorite snack?

Fruit snacks!

What is your favorite animal?

Koala. 

What is your favorite song?

“Shake it Off” (by Taylor Swift).

What is your favorite book?

Magic Treehouse!  (Chapter book series.)   

Who is your best friend?

Violet (Parks), Clara (Tabla), and Isaac (Miller)! 

Where is your favorite place to go?

Jump on It! (Place full of trampolines.)

What would you like to learn more about now that you're 7?

Uh, reading!!

What do you love about yourself?

That I like to do art activities.

What’s something you’re good at?

Um, something I’m good at is….soccer!

What does Daddy do at work?

Ummm, gets money for us.

What do you like to take to bed with you at night?

Um, my dog that I got from Granny.  Sometimes my brand new toys.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

Apple granola bars!  (Apple/cinnamon Nutrigrain bars.) 

What do you pray about?

That we’ll have a good day and have fun at school.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Monster Truck Driver!

Who is your favorite princess?

Elsa.

"And that is my 7th birthday."  (Giggles.)