8th birthday party

I have to say this was a very fun party to plan! It was really hard to find any decorations already done, so I decided to do it myself. We had a BMX bike race, hot wheels race, tire swing games, a put stop for snacks, and an awesome cake! 

 My friend Megan made this cake. Vanilla on to and chocolate on the bottom. It was a total hit.

 And it was abosolutely freezing. There was sleet during the party, but we couldn't come inside and miss the races! The boys didn't even seem to feel the cold. They're bikes were everywhere!

 Stacey and Sawyer came too. They spent most of the time inside, but Sawyer took a little ride on the tire swing with Travis. What a cute little face!

 Here's the hot wheel race. We had two lanes and each boy got to pick a car of their own and could take it home with their goodie bag. You can't see the tracks very well because we had human tunnels and a team at the bottom to see who won.

 The girls were a great help! Kaylin had Amber, Lana and Kate helping her with green GO flags, finish line flags, rating jumps and of course having some fun too.

 The starting line. These boys were so excited!

 Ready, Set, GO! The 3 in front were the most determined to win! Tyler was by far the oldest and was super sweet in staying with Ethan so he could win on his bday. I love Tyler.

The finish line! 

Those 3 coming in strong! Yay!

 We came inside for the cake. It was just TOO COLD!!! 

 And it was devoured! 

Now I want to sleep for 2 days, but that boy was in HEAVEN! He had so much fun and it was the perfect birthday party for this always moving boy. Love you big guy. Happy 8th bday!

A birthday boy

After a fun lunch date at school, with his choice of donuts for his class, he had his cousins over to play. He chose Taco Bell for his dinner choice with his cousins. Then we stopped by McDonalds to get some ice cream, then home for presents from Mom and Dad! They had a great time playing with the new toys! Bey Blade wars, nano hex bug races...fun fun night! 

The Biddison's split a longboard with us too! Ethan loves it! 

What a fun day!!

A day in Georgia...

It's never really too cold to be outside in winter in Georgia. This winter has been pretty cold, but we haven't gotten any snow yet, and most days have been either sunny or rainy. On sunny days, the kids find their favorite things to do which lately have been:

Kaylin playing with nick nacks.

 Mika playing with rocks and dirt

 Ethan riding his bike and going off jumps.

 Ashlynn just happy she's outside!

Ashes the big girl

Ashlynn is growing too fast! I can remember Kaylin this exact age like it was yesterday. But, it was really 8 years ago...

I remember that everything gravitates to their head. Always a goose egg, a bump, a bruise, a black eye...

 This is her latest. She got a black eye from the park, and a goose egg from a plastic toy bin. They both were within days from each other, so they were both black, then blue, the green, then yellow. Beautiful!

I remember that it's VERY rare for them to sit still. So when they do, it's picture worthy. 

 Mika was at school, and she could watch anything she wanted. She was excited to point to the TV and say, "See, see" then said Yes when I got to the movie she wanted. She would laugh and smile and frown at all the appropriate parts! It was too cute!

I remember they love getting their hair done. All 3 of mine at this age would sit on the counter and make faces or sing songs at themselves in the mirror. I love trying new hair styles on them. Ashlynn is tricky because her hair is so curly. But it's actually getting longer! And I can get it all back in a pony tail or piggy tails. People say it doesn't even look like her, but I think it's cute because you can focus on her pretty face instead of her massive curls.

I remember they all think they are big enough to sit with out a highchair and dip their nuggets in their own ranch. It cracks me up seeing this little person act so big.

I remember they think they are even bigger when they get to ride in daddy's truck. I don't know what it is, but no matter what the weather is, they all want the windows down!

My little baby is getting SO big! Eeek!!!!

Christmas!

Christmas morning was a blast!! They all had slept together in Ashlynn's room and were SO excited. I did that as a kid, so I was excited to pass on the tradition. They were allowed to wake up around 7. We went out at 7:30. 

 Ethan got a new BMX bike! It's pretty AWESOME!

 All Ashlynn cared about was candy. We kept trying to make her open her presents and she would like them for about 5 seconds until she saw more candy. We ended up hiding it all so we could continue Christmas morning.

 Mika wanted paints. One thing she got a a cupcake piggy bank that she could paint. It's cery cherished by this little girl.

 Ethan loved his air hogs remote that is a truck and helicopter. He is really good at flying, never crashed it once!

 Kaylin got an American girl doll that looks just like her. It is a prized possession and she got a few outfits and books for her too.

 Mika got a doll that looks a lot like her too. She was so proud.

Overall it was a success. The kids were so happy with their projects, books, crafts and remotes. The rest of the afternoon was joined by the Biddisons, my parents and some Clarkes in and out through out the day. We couldn't have asked for a better one.

My brave girl

During Sacrament Meeting, Kaylin hugged me and whispered, “I think I want to bear my testimony.” I said, “Okay.” She replies, “Can you come with me?” Squirming in my seat a little I tell her, “Ask your Daddy to.”

I began thinking I have nothing to say. Somewhat wrestling with the Lord that in fact I have nothing profound to say up at the pulpit and if I did, this is not planned and I’d sound ridiculous. Of course, my heart was pounded out of my chest and the Lord brought to mind all the things I’m truly grateful for, namely this sweet angel child sitting next to me. She whipers again, “I’m scared.” I turn to her and say, “Just say a quiet prayer that Heavenly Father will give you courage to say what you needed to say.” She wrote in her journal what she felt. And I elbowed Travis and murmured, “I’m going up.” So up we went. 

After one other testimony we were already up. She walked alone to the pulpit. Travis said she looked like she was crying already. Kaylin started the first words, “I’d like to bear my…” and exploded in sobs. She even made a loud gasp and apologized in the microphone. She continued to rack with sobs. So I went up there so consol her and encourage her. I whispered that she can do this and it was ok, to say what she wanted to say. After more shhh-ings and words of encouragement, she continued, “I know this church is true and I love Jesus. I know he loves me and He answers my prayers.”

She went and sat down and I was up next. I look over at our row and Mika was in her lap hugging her, Kaylin’s head was down and they were crying together. It was so sweet, my tears hit me hard as well.

 I told the short story as explained above to get me up there. Then told how grateful I am to have children whose spirits are tender and their thirst for knowledge and truth. I actually am not sure what else I said except that I was grateful for a husband who loves the scriptures and teaches it so clear and plain to the kids, and that they really understood it as of late.

The spirit that Kaylin brought into that meeting was huge. She touched many people in that room. One specifically was our missionary, who said he felt her spirit and the motherly love when I came to help her. Others said that they unleashed a flood of tears when she went up and then I came to her to help, that it represented the Lord putting His arms around them. Brother Radcliffe thanked Kaylin from the pulpit, as many others after the meeting.

I will never be able to express the tender emotions felt in that room today, especially from my heart towards my sweet girl. When she sat on Daddy’s lap afterwards, she whispered in his ear, “I really do know He answers prayers,” and smiled with tears in her eyes. 

In primary they recognized her for being special and brave. All the presidency members named one reason why she special and Aunt Jocey was in there too. She said because Kaylin is her cousin and planted a giant red kiss on her cheek. Kaylin was overjoyed.

 Brother Jones told her that he was a pilot and it takes a lot of courage to fly. He gave her a gold coin and said that whenever she’s scared, to squeeze the coin and it with give her strength. She put it in her scriptures.

I am so grateful for her sensitivity to the spirit and how strong she is, even when she thinks she isn’t; she really is. She is truly beautiful inside and out and I feel so blessed to be her mother. 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was so much fun! We were able to spend it with my parents and 3 other sisters! We did crafts, ate a yummy meal, acted out the Nativity and the kids did a talent show. 

Here are the cute angels...

Ashlynn wasn't feeling very well, see how red her eyes are? But she sure loved the baby doll that played baby Jesus in the nativity.She'd poke the eyes and give it kisses all night long.

Ethan and Jake were the shepherds. They did a great job!

Travis somehow always is the donkey. Kaylin was Mary and Tyler was Joseph. They all took their parts very seriously :)

For the talent show Kaylin sang Away in a Manger. She did so good. Her voice sounded so beautiful.

 Mika's talent was reciting 5 little Monkey sitting in a tree. It's the cutest song she learned from her Preschool.

 I love being with my sisters!!! We really missed Tami and my brother's family too. But I'll take what I can get! :) I feel so blessed to have such a large close family. I treasure very memory.

It's been a while....

I know it's been a while since I've blogged. But I'm going to do it a lot more often now. I've pretty much signed off Facebook, but I needed to document our memories.
So here I go! Starting with Christmas...

My Bday

My birthday was great this year! I woke up to signs all around the house, most of them made by Kaylin, like this one. She printed out each picture, cut it out and pasted it with coloring and captions. What a cutie.

 My friend took all the kids so I could go on a lunch date with Travis! It was great just us two and I didn't have to share talking to him:) I had coupons to Chilis and got a free yummy dessert!

I got to go out to dinner with some of my favorite girls (some not pictured were Stacey, Becky, Renae and Jocelyn) We went to LaParilla and it was so much fun. I hadn't laughed that hard in such a long time!!

Later I went up to moms where Angie and her family came up too. My mom made a delicious white chocolate chip cookie cake! It was heaven!! We spent time in the pool and then Mom watched the kids so Angie and I could do some bday shopping! Thanks Mom and Ang for a fun birthday celebration!

What we did this summer...

Our summer has been jam packed full of fun and sun! (And it's almost over! Booo!) We have been outside for most of it- as long as it's included water:)

 We love playing in the backyard or at friend's houses with kiddie pools, slip n' slides and hoses!

We love driving to Aunt Angie's to play with the Hayes cousins, and of course swim in their pool!

It's especially fun when Daddy gets to join us! These two really are FISH!

We got to celebrate Lily's birthday with her! 5 already?! We love our Lily bug!

Ashlynn enjoyed Lily's birthday cake very much:)

 We got to spend time with Meagan and her cute kiddos, flying in from Bangkok! She has a bounce house in her dining room. Talk about Heaven! :)

It's been fun having a cousin friend for Ashlynn. Her and Kyle and taking a ride in the wagon, pulled by Ethan.

We love going to Mom and Dad's and spend the day with them and at their pool. Grandpa loves little Ashlynn and she's done being stranger shy!

We go to "Movies at the Park" at a nearby outdoor shopping center. They always have free face painting, bounce houses and hula hoop contests. The girls got paintings that matched their dress and the artist came over to take a picture of the finished products!

 The kids love playing in the backyard, building their homemade fort. Someday, Travis will build a real fort int he middle of these trees, but as of now the kids enjoy making it homey and shaded. Ethan's pointing out his bench he made.

Since we play all day long, it's nice to end the day with Movie Night. We've been finding movies we grew up with like Honey I shrunk the kids, The Never-ending Story, and then fun kid movies like Matilda and The Secret Garden.

But the favorite in our family is the trips to Lake Peachtree on the boat. That'll be another post. :)
This will be a summer full of memories and bonding. One that I will always cherish.