Mary's 5th Birthday

Even though tomorrow is Mary's birthday we celebrated it last night.  With tomorrow being General Conference and the time it falls here on the East Coast we figured celebrating it early would give us more opportunity to focus on her and let her really have fun with the day.  We asked her yesterday morning if she would be OK with that and she was so excited.  All day she was hyped that we were celebrating her birthday.

She loved that both Dad and Mom took just her to pick out balloons.  The birthday kid gets to pick out a mylar balloon for themself and then they pick a latex balloon for each sibling.  I think this is their favorite part of their birthday.  It was so cute to see how much time she spent choosing the balloons for each of her siblings.  I think she spent more time on that then she did on choosing her own balloon.  She chose to have waffles with strawberries, blackberries, bananas, and whipped cream for her birthday dinner.  She ate way more fruit than waffles and was all smiles throughout dinner telling us how much she just loved the berries.

She was really spoiled this year for her birthday too.  When Grandma Powell was here last month she helped Thomas and Spring with some sewing projects.  Thomas made Mary an orange pillow case and Spring made her an orange bag for her scriptures.  They were so excited to give her the gifts and Mary was even more excited when she opened them.  She got a dry erase activity board from the family and a swing for the tree from Grandma & Grandpa Powell.  She also got a fun package from Grandma & Grandpa Biggs with fun things to help her get ready for kindergarten and a "School Blanket."  And, Daddy brought her flowers as is his tradition on their birthdays.  She loves that she gets to keep them in her room even!

After opening gifts and playing for a while we brought them in for her to blow out her candles.  When we put the cake with the lit candles in front of her she was beaming and exclaimed in a tone that was almost like she could hardly believe it, "Finally the moment I've been waiting for!"  It was priceless.

We love you, Mary!  You are growing so much.  You have such a sweet nurturing spirit about you that we hope you will always cherish.  Your love of life and talking are evident each day!  Happy Birthday!

Baking Bread

Bread baking occurs a few times a week in our home and I always have so many volunteers and helpers to make the bread. We have lived in this home for almost 2 years now and finally put a lightbulb in the oven. It was burned out when we moved in and we just never thought of buying a new bulb when we were at the store. Well, the kids think it is the coolest thing ever to be able to see what is baking in the oven. Even though it takes extra time to have all my little helping hands I am grateful they are there with me. I am also looking forward to summer vacation when Thomas will be home to bake the bread for us! For some reason it always tastes so much better to me when he bakes it than when I do!

Spring Break

I cannot believe how wonderful the weather has been this week.  We have been in the 80's the last couple days and it is absolutely beautiful.  Shortly after the kids wake up in the morning they head outside.  I try to make sure they are at least dressed for the day!  I have to convince them to stop for lunch and they appease me if I allow them to eat lunch outside!  Then I have to drag the younger ones in for naps and remind the older ones to play a little quieter outside at least until the younger ones are asleep.  As soon as naps are over they head back outside.  I have not cooked dinner in the house since last week and we are loving it!  We drag them in for much needed baths and showers before they crash at night.  Well, Thomas and Spring have been staying up a little later at night enjoying time to relax and play games.  Today Thomas, Spring, Sammy, and Kaiden rode bikes all afternoon.  They went on a 45 minute bike ride around the neighborhood.  They informed me that the only reason they came home when they did was Kaiden crashed into the curb and scratched his leg up pretty bad.  I have loved this week.  I feel so rejuvenated at night.  It's a strange feeling because I find myself thinking they are on summer vacation.  Then reality hits me and I remember I have to send them back to school next week! That will be a harsh reality for all of us.  I'm not going to think about that right now though...maybe if I push it out of my mind it won't come so quickly!  Weeks like this remind me how much I love being a mom and seeing our children love and enjoy the simplicity of life.

Box of Sunshine

Alanna and Eric sent our kiddos an amazing "Box of Sunshine" in the mail and it was recieved today. I wanted all the kids home to open it and it just seemed that it took all day long for a time to come when all the kids were in the same place at the same time! So, the suspense nearly killed a few of them...namely, Spring and Sammy! So, just before Thomas, Spring, and Joel headed to the church they opened the box! It was a great box of sunshine! The kids all marvelled at how much the contents looked just like sunshine to them. There were gummies, mac n cheese, fruit snacks, chocolates, peeps, and more! It was perfect! Mary, Spring, and Sammy couldn't get over how much everything color coordinated. They all mentioned that it must have taken a lot of time and thinking to come up with all that yellow and orange stuff to put inside the box! And, I loved the Cadbury eggs...I secretly snuck those out without anyone seeing them! They all chose a snack for dessert and have plans as to the next thing they are going to choose tomorrow! Thanks, Alanna and Eric for making our day that much brighter! We love and miss you tons!

Is it really only March?

We have been having the most beautiful and amazing weather the last week or so.  Saturday was in the high 70's with bright blue skies.  We spent all day outside. We played basketball together, went on a walk, the kids went on bike rides, did some yardwork, helped Sue Ann with some yardwork, and just hung outside all day.  We had our first BBQ of the year and even ate in the backyard.  The kids thought it was great to teach Gideon how to do "Cheers" with his cup.  He thought that was pretty much the most awesome thing ever.  After we finished dinner we went out front and ended up down the street with some neighbor kids.  The kids all played outside while the parents visited for almost 2 hours.  Finally, we pulled them inside around 7:30.  We hurried and bathed them so they would be clean for church and they were asleep within seconds of their heads hitting their pillows.  It was a most amazing and rejuvinating day.

This week is Spring Break and it is supposed to be in the 70's all week.  Today was spent outside all day and then we headed to the National Park for a picnic and some hiking for Family Home Evening.  I love that it is only March and we are already enjoying the beautiful days.  Long days outside make bedtime so much easier!

My Kitchen Help

Last week Mary and Joshie wanted to make some new kind of treats and since I needed Cub Scout treats I figured it was the perfect combination.  We found a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with Oreos and Cookies and Cream Hershey Kisses in them.  They all loved helping...including Gideon.  Everytime I turned around Gideon had another cookie or Hershey Kiss in his mouth.  The cookie bars were a hit.  Gideon really liked them and all day would bring me by the hand to the kitchen and point at the pan of cookies. 

So Grateful....

...for a husband that is willing and knowledgeable enough to work on our cars.  I know it isn't his favorite thing to do after long hours at work, family time, helping get kiddos to bed, and then going out to fix our vehicles until late at night and then getting up early the next morning for early work meetings.  I am ever so grateful he does this for our family.  His ability and willingness has blessed our family countless times. I am so blessed to have him by my side for eternity.

Joshie Time

I thought it was time to record some fun things that are important in Joshie's life right now.  He loves to have stories read to him and his current favorite book is "Pinkalicious!"  I can't wait to remind him of this when he is about 10 years old...thus the blackmail picture with this post!  Joshie is all boy and loves to wrestle, run, talk loudly, climb anything he can find, play with trucks, jump, and be crazy.  Amidst all this crazy boy energy he smothers me with hugs and his deep voiced, "I love you Mommy!"  It melts me everytime.  He loves to wipe off my kisses too!  Whenever I kiss him he immediately wipes off the kisses...a huge smile showing off his cute dimple on his face.  He wants me to see him wipe them off though so if I'm not looking he will first call my name and then when I look at him he giggles as he wipes them off.  He also will wipe his lips off after he gives me kisses!  Silly boy!  Another thing I want to remember is how he when he wants to tell me something he will say, "Mommy look at me." and then when he is sure he has my full attention will then tell me whatever it is he wants to share with me.  He really struggled with going into Sunbeams this year.  He was sad to leave nursery and every Sunday morning he would be sad that he had to go to primary.  It was a struggle each week to get him to Primary and he often was so sad when we left him.  Fortunately our consistency has paid off and he now goes willingly and even with his trademark Joshie smile! We are grateful for that!  Joshie loves to help me cook and he loves to vacuum.  He is a master at pouting and for some reason he thinks if he pouts then he will get his way.  It hasn't happened yet but he still tries.  Luckily it is usually rather easy to get him out of his poutiness (is that even a word?).  He still often says "OK" in his very deep voice when he is agreeing to do something that he really would rather not do!  I love this guy and I love how much his smiles and hugs brighten each of my days. 

Father Son Night

Last Friday night the Elementary School had their Father Son Night.  Sammy has been anxiously and, sometimes impatiently, awaiting this night.  So off headed Joel and Sammy to build a car at the school.  They made a dragster car and Sammy got to use markers to color it.  Then the boys got to play basketball.  Sammy loved having Joel with him for the night and was so cute telling me all about the fun they had together.  Joel enjoyed being at the school with Sammy and meeting some of Sammy's school friends.  Sammy has such a talent and gift of making friends. His personality is a magnet and others always want to be with him.  How grateful I am that he wants to include everyone.  In his mind, the more the merrier.  He is such an example of loving everyone and doing all you can to include everyone and make everyone feel accepted and loved.

Grandma's Visit

My mom came to visit us for a week and it was absolutely wonderful.  We decided not to tell the kids that she was coming.  I was going to be picking her up at the airport when Thomas and Spring got home from school so we arranged for them to take the bus to the MacPherson's after school.  I took the younger 4 with me.  They kept asking me where we were going and I finally told them I had a surprise for them.  As soon as we got on the Turnpike Sammy said, "I know where we are going.  We are going to the airport to watch planes."  As we pulled into the airport Sammy told the others what windows to look out to see the planes.  Then I asked them to look around and see if they saw anyone they knew.  All of a sudden Joshie called out, "GRANDMA!"  They were so excited that Grandma came to surprise them.  When we got back to town my mom went to the door of the MacPherson's and Spring answered the door.  She was completely speechless which is a rare occurrence for Spring.  She just had this confused expression on her face as she stared at my mom for quite some time.  Then Thomas came around the corner and called out, "Grandma!"  and ran into her arms to give her a hug.  I love surprises and this one was awesome!

Despite everyone getting the stomach flu except Sammy, me, and my mom (she got sick on her flight home) it was a wonderful week together.  We just did our normal things and it was so great to have my mom's help.  She went to band practice one morning with Thomas, had lunch at school with Spring on Grandparent's Day, helped in Spring's classroom one day, took Sammy shopping one day, and other fun one-on-one time with all of them.  She also taught Thomas and Spring how to make sock monkeys and some other sewing projects.  We played games and just enjoyed our time together.

It is always hard when it is time for her to leave, however.  Joshie was so upset that she was leaving that he tried to hide her Kindle thinking if she couldn't find it then she wouldn't leave.  He cried when it was time to take her to the airport and kept saying, "Never Leave!"  We've all been having withdrawals since she went home.  How grateful I am for the help she gives me when she comes and for the love and attention she gives our children.  Thanks for coming, Mom.  We miss you!