Now for Mr B

It's a big one this year.. 

8!!

He is the only one who got his pictures taken before his birthday so we could make his baptism invitations. He has a big weekend ahead of him along with Carter who gets ordained. We have been partying all week, but it's cause for some celebration so we will have to party a little more and we hope he enjoys it all. 

 Happy Birthday Brendan 

Emery's big day

I don't think Emery really understood that is was her birthday, she just kept talking about Carter's. The only thing I could get out of her was that she wanted a blue present and pink cupcakes. Pretty easy to pull off. I think she finally started to understand when we gave her presents to open and then she caught on pretty quickly. She was just so excited about everything the rest of the day, she was just so much fun.

She got a new scooter, which she is super fast on already. A couple of her own My Little Ponies, and some new clothes. 

 This picture really shows how she feels about clothing in general.

Corey and I took her out for a birthday date too. She just kept telling us she wanted "lettuce, no mommy's, me lettuce", I finally figured out she was talking about Cafe Rio. She loves, loves their salads and always eats a good share of mine, but obviously she wasn't in the mood for sharing and wanted her own. So off we went for the 2nd time in a week. She was thrilled though, riding in daddy's truck and eating out, it just doesn't get much better. 

We stopped for some pictures while we were out too.( I've decided this is a great tradition for our birthday dates, it's so much easier to fit them in and have Corey to help.)

After dinner we came home and enjoyed her pink cupcakes, which was the same thing she had last year, but she couldn't have been more excited and loved all the attention.

The first celebration

On Carter's birthday, we started the morning with doughnuts and eggs, by his request. Then we opened presents, he made a pretty good haul and was excited. He was looking pretty nice in his new pink polo and smelled good with his new cologne. Then he headed over to a friends house for the afternoon. (He is getting too old since he wants to hang out with friends instead of his family.) Corey and I took him out to dinner that night. He picked Cafe Rio so he could get some chips and queso. I made him humor me and take some pictures while we were out. We had a good time with just him, something that doesn't happen a lot around here, and I think he had a good day.

Then on Monday he had his swim party with some of his friends. We had to wait a couple of days since some of his friends were off at scout camp on his actual birthday.

 There is nothing easier than a swim party. No entertainment necessary and everybody gets worn out. We made his requested brownie sundaes with chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, provided snacks and had cold Dr. Pepper on hand. He really had a good time and I am glad we were able to make him happy.

Happy, happy birthday

Today is another big day around our house...

I can't even believe it. She is clearly not getting the message that she is still my baby.  I don't think I am ready to have a 3 year old around the house, it's just seems to be such a hard age, but she is sure a lot of fun and keeps all of us on our toes. 

I had to pick this picture of her because it's just so her. Her hair halfway pulled out, in her second or third set of clothes for the day, and giving me a funny face. I would have never imagined how such a good, good, happy baby could have such a big personality stuffed in her little body. She is just something else. So while she is turning just 3, I know in her little mind she is much older and will do anything to prove it. While I just try to convince her to stay little awhile longer. I have not been too successful at it yet. We will just have to take advantage of all the moments we can when she is willing to give them.

So happy birthday to my 3 year old little miss Emery.

My Favorites on Friday

For my favorite 2nd son

Carter will be the big 12 tomorrow, he is the start of the June birthday madness around our house. 12 is a big one and he is a little nervous about going into young mens and becoming a deacon, but I am sure he will adjust quickly. He is quite the kid and has some very specific requests for his birthday. We will see if we can make some of them happen. He wants to have doughnuts and eggs for breakfast, drink Dr.Pepper, have a swim party with friends, that includes more Dr. Pepper, and he wants to have brownies with cookie dough ice cream. 

This kid is such a social butterfly. He lives to be with his friends. But he is great to play with the younger kids too. Emery still just thinks he is the greatest. He is becoming a great babysitter. He likes things neat and tidy. Loves the color pink and wears cologne regularly. He really is a lot of fun and I enjoy hanging out with him. So I hope his birthday is something for him to remember.

Showing our stars and stripes

One of the kids asked me last week why I didn't have any flag decorations up. I have never had a lot of 4th of July stuff, but I thought it might be fun to add a little more to the collection. Here is what we came up with.

 

I don't have a mantel, but the red entry table is a great spot for this holiday stuff. 

 A fun little pendant banner. I always am looking for ways to use my stock of scrapbook paper.

 Plates from Target a couple years ago, they were all I really had before.

It always fun to have a little something different around the house for awhile.

My Favorites on Friday

To our favorite dads

We have been blessed to have great fathers in our lives and we hope they have a wonderful father's day weekend.

Farewell

Corey's Grandpa Barlow passed away last week. He was a wonderful man. He was very proud of his family, he left behind a great legacy (150+ grand and great grandkids) and some big footsteps to fill. My kids have been very lucky to have known some of the their great grandparents and they will miss visiting with him.

My favorites on Friday

Ever since I sprained my ankles Emery has taken to wearing my ankle wraps to bed. As soon as I take them off at night she slides them on. 

(notice she is sleeping in the trundle now, the crib is gone, sniff, sniff, but she loves her big bed!!However she doesn't keep covers on any better than before.)

A very merry unbirthday

Even though school ends tomorrow, we couldn't let it end without one last celebration. Brendan's teacher has been letting all the kids with summer birthdays have a chance to celebrate this week. I thought that was such a good idea, having a summer birthday myself, I understand how it feels to miss out on that. Hailey, Emery and I showed up with doughnuts for everyone and he was thrilled.

 I had to get one last picture with his teacher, Miss Freeman, before we move on to 3rd grade. I have said it before, but we really got some good teachers this year and we are going to miss them.

A good start

My kids are not officially out of school until the end of this week, but it sure feels like summer already. Friday was hot, really hot. I picked up the kids from school and we headed to Sonic. Nothing like a good drink to start the weekend. Then we spent the rest of the day and most of Saturday in the pool. It's up and ready to go and everybody enjoyed it.

  

 Like everything else, Emery thinks she can do it all on her own, she kept trying to dive right out of our arms.

 The boys always play so nicely in the pool. They are so quiet you hardly even notice them and are so gentle with each other. Makes me so proud.

My Favorites on Friday

I can't believe another week has gone by, I feel like the days just go so fast right now. 

Over the Memorial day weekend, we bought a new pool to put up. The kids are excited about it, but the big box it came in was enough entertainment for the whole weekend. I cut some holes in it for windows and it became their clubhouse. They ate lunch and dinner in it and at one point Carter was even in there with the younger kids. 

(Just a little note- notice Emery's jacket. I couldn't not force one on her all winter, but she insisted having it on all weekend. She didn't need it and I was begging her take it off, but just gave up. She knows what she wants and when she wants it!)