Sunday, February 5, 2012

My 30th birthday

I’m not going to lie…I cried about turning 30.  It has always seemed so “old” to me, and no matter how many time people told me that 30 wasn’t old, I just wasn’t convinced.  So, it was only fitting that I throw myself a carnival themed birthday party.  I needed lollipops and cotton candy to help ease me into the next decade.  And you know what?  It worked!

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I had so much fun planning this party.  Someday I’ll get paid to throw someone an amazing party, I just know it.  Soooo, the last week of my 20’s was spent at party stores and blowing up balloons, instead of sky diving and skinny dipping…but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Heather was flying in on the big day, and I had it all planned out to the minute.  Shopping and CafĂ© Rio, party set up, and PARTY!  Who knew I’d get a few surprises on my meticulously planned day. 

The first surprise actually happened the night before when I got pampered by my awesome friends.  Pretty toes and a new hairdo. So fun.iPhone pictures 239SLR 037

The next surprise was a flower delivery just for me from my awesome hubby.  This is the first time I’ve have flowers delivered, and I felt pretty darn special.

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Then came the whopper of surprises.  All along I knew Heather was coming to Boise for my birthday…she didn’t really have a choice.  It was my 30th after all.  And it was the fact that she’d be there that  I knew would make my day amazing.  But I had no idea (although I did hope) that Heidi would be able to come as well.  Excuse my high pitched voice in the video.  I guess that’s what I sound like when I’m extremely happy and surprised.

 

So the sisterhood was complete.  I could go to bed happy.  But NO!  There was a carnival to be had.  And, so I never forget, I must document each game

Tattoo Parlor, face painting, Kissing booth, Fortune teller, Fishing game, Soda Ring Toss, Balloon Darts, Rootbeer Pong, a Sucker Pull, Raffle, Bullseye game with Nerf Guns, and lots and lots of treats.  Long story short, the party was a success.

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The night ended with me reading so many letters from people I love all put together by Heather in a scrapbook with pictures.  Letters from family and friends, people I haven’t talked to in years and years.  It is a gift that I will always treasure.  Thank you Heather for putting together, and thank you to everyone who wrote such kind words.  It means so much to me.

The next day the sisters went running together, we played Agricola, we had fro yo, played mini gold, went to Tucano’s, and topped off the night with an amazing movie, and races up the theater stairs.  My sisters are awesome.  Sunday we got to sing together in church, play more games and then sadly it was time for them to leave.  What a FUN weekend.  That’s really the only word for it.  Sheer fun.  I’m already looking forward to 40. 

And I just have to post this last picture because I think it’s hilarious.  I love cookies, I’ve always known it, but I guess everyone else does too.  This is my stack of baked goodness that I got for my birthday.  I won’t embarrass myself by telling you how much of  this is now gone.

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Happiness, by Hazel

Complete with stickers and messy hair

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The end.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Let it snow

I feel like I’ve been waiting around for this day for a long, long time.  So I did what any good mother would do and bundled up the little ones and made the smallest snowman possible so we could hurry back inside. 

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Hazel was 100% Randy from A Christmas Story.  She couldn’t put her arms down!SLR 178

Here’s our mini snowman.  I was thrilled when I realized that’s all Sage needed

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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

My bathing beauties

Saturday night baths are a weekly tradition in our home and boy-o-boy are they fun!

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Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Some favorites

My kids make great models.  These are some of my favorite pictures I’ve taken from my new camera so far.  Hopefully they just keep getting better.

Awesome action shot

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Hazel modeling the new poncho I knitted

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My sweet new niece Madison Lou

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Boise sunset

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This girl loves to swing

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CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE!

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Sisters!

Sage and Hazel

And my absolute favorite…

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I was just messing around with the lighting, but I love how it turned out.  His eyes are amazing!

Christmas

But first, can I post a few Halloween pictures?  I know, that’s was eons ago, but I’d really like to document it.  Thanks for being so understanding

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Mr Veggie Bones made his appearance again and was eaten up by a ghost, mermaid and cupcake.

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What a fun holiday.  Okay, well as long as I’ve started, how about we throw in Thanksgiving as well?  We had lots of food, good friends, puzzles, and Heather.  What else could a person possibly need?

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Oh yes, lots and lots of pie!

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Okay, I think I’m ready now.  Christmas!  Can you believe it’s over?

We saw Santa (3 times), found and decorated the perfect Christmas tree, ate our daily candy cane for our countdown to Christmas, the kids were in the Primary Nativity, we had a gingerbread house making party with friends, dressed up as Rudolph and Santa on a daily basis, took a quick trip to Utah to see friends and family, visited the new Boise aquarium, and kept with tradition and made amazing gingerbread houses with Heather.  I rarely turned off the tree lights and Christmas music.  Our home was full of the spirit of Christmas.

SO MUCH FUN!

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And then, all of a sudden it was Christmas Eve.  Santa brought the kids exactly what they wanted, and I gave them everything else they didn’t know they wanted.  The kids really understood this year that we were celebrating Christ’s birth, and were sweet to always be drawing nativities or acting out the angels and shepherds. 

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I’m pretty sure that I was the most spoiled of all.  Jake bought me a new SLR camera, and I love it.  As as kid I always dreamed of becoming a National Geographic Photographer, and now I’m well on my way. 

Just a few more pics from Christmas day courtesy on my new fun camera.  We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas program at church put together by yours truly, the choir did an amazing job, and I just felt blessed to be a part of it.  We got all dolled up in our new Sunday clothes, played with lots and lots of toys, made and ate a yummy ham dinner, played some more, made and ate homemade donuts (new tradition) played a bit more and went to bed happy and full.  It’s been fun these past two years to have Christmas with just my own little family and make new traditions that will last the rest of our lives.  I love to imagine Sage and Hazel as mothers, hanging up the Santa Claus candy cane advent for their kids, just like my mom did for me and I do for them.

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You were good to us Christmas, can’t wait to see you again!