Alex's Birthday

We had family and friends over to mom's last Saturday for Alex's 4th birthday. For the last 6 months or so, he has been saying that he wants a Batman, Superman, Joker, Mr. Freeze and the list goes on and on party. So we settled for Batman and Superman with a little Joker! All the kids went swimming and had a fun time. Aunt Amber made Alex 2 cakes this year. And just like last year, when we sang 'Happy Birthday' to him he got all bashful and put his face down. I thought it was pretty cute.
Onhis actual birthday, Alex woke up rather early, but instaed of making him go back to sleep I let him help me make his cupcakes to take to school. It was nice to have some one on one time with him, especially on his birthday!
He helped make cupcakes and then he had some birthday waffles and I sang "Happy Birthday" to him. He got to pick lunch and he picked honey barbeque bonless buffalo wings. Yum! Because I take and pick them up from school everyday, all my kids always want Chris to. So to make his day special Chris picked Alex up. He was super excited when he saw his dad waiting for him!And as a special courtesy, Chris even carried his backpack!
For dinner we all went to Chuck E. Cheese and came home to have cupcakes. With just our little family singing he didn't get as bashful as his party.

Happy 4th Birthday Panda!!

You are my handsome little man and a day doesn't go by that you don't remind me of that! You want to do EVERYTHING 'like a man', put hot sauce on your food, eat lots of food, lift heavy stuff, stay up late. I love it when you tell me you can do something because you are a BIG man! You are exactly like your dad in every way, and I think that is why there is a special place in daddy's heart for you! You are growing up so fast. It was just yesterday that you said "my name is Panna Ber". No matter how big you get you will always be my cuddly Panda Bear. I love you Alex and I am so proud that you are my son.

Happy Birthday BIG man!! Love, Mom

First Day of School

The kids have been counting down the days for more than a month now, but finally the day arrived and they are back in school. We didn't get our zone variances, so they are at a new school this year and they are very excited to be Ries Rockets! It was so crowded at the school that it took us forever to park. By the time we got into the school Nick's class was going in. He ran and jumped in the back of the line and he was gone. We stood there for a little while, as I cried behind my sunglasses. Today was definitely harder on me than it was on them. I can't believe that my baby is in 1st grade already. His teacher is Mrs. Gorski and she seems really nice. I think his favorite part is eating lunch at school. I guess when he opened his lunch box all the kids asked him if he was going to eat all that. And he said, "I did!".

Chloe and Alex are in the afternoon, so we dropped them off after lunch. It was so nice not to have that extra pick up between the morning and afternoon drop off.Chloe has a couple of boys from the ward in her class and is just totally excited about being in Kindergarten.Alex did so well. I was a little nervous for him being at a new school this year with new teachers and new friends, but he did great! His preschool teachers are Ms. Carrie and Ms. Sandy. And now it is just me and Cooper all afternoon!

Dance Recital

Last Saturday was Chloe's recital. She did a cute little tap number to the Beatle's 'Honey Pie'. She was definitely the cutest one on the stage!! I am really proud that she stuck to dance and did so well in the recital. She wants to take a little break from dance for soccer, but hopefully she will want to go back soon and we will have another recital next year. She has made so much improvement in the 7 months that she has been doing dance that I am excited for what another year will bring. Good job!!

She was a working girl

North of England way

Now she's hit the big time

In the U.S.A.

And if she could only hear me

This is what I'd say.

Honey pie you are making me crazy

I'm in love but I'm lazy

So won't you please come home.

Oh honey pie my position is tragic

Come and show me the magic of your Hollywood song.

You became a legend of the silver screen

And now the thought of meeting you

Makes me weak in the knee.

Oh honey pie you are driving me frantic

Sail across the Atlantic

To be where you belong.

Will the wind that blew her boat

Across the sea

Kindly send her sailing back to me.

Honey pie you are making me crazy

I'm in love but I'm lazy

So won't you please come home.

Girl's Camp 2009

This last week I got to spend with the girls from our ward at Girl's Camp. We left at 5:30am on Tuesday. I had all first years in my car and lets just say even though I was pretty tired there was NO way I was falling asleep while driving! We arrived at Yankee Meadow without any problems and were welcomed by our "Indian friends". Our theme was "Daughter of a King" and we were all Indian princess'. The YCL's (Missy, Trissa, Angela, and Jessie) gave everybody Indian names and split us into groups. My name was Tiger Lilly (I kind of claimed that name when I first heard that we were doing an Indian theme!). Brother Carter and I were the leaders for our group, Angela was our YCL and then we had Bailey, Jessica, and Emmalee. The first day we "wandered in the wilderness"(went hiking). For certification purposes we had to go on a mile hike and review the first aid that the girls learned with stake. But with all the stories and jokes, we had to do a 3mile hike. It was really fun though! The girls in our group were hilarious and I learned that the answer to pretty much any first aid question is to get naked and cuddle!

Our third day was the best! We "gathered food" (archery) in the morning. I don't think I have ever really tried it, but it was alot of fun. For lunch we headed to the Connor's cabin in Brianhead. We stuffed ourselves and then headed up the mountain for some repelling. This was my favorite activity. It was so much fun watching the girls go down, totally terrified and then a second later laughing because they were having so much fun. I was a little nervous as I have only done it once before and that was 11 years ago when I was in YW.

Although the whole week was really spiritual for me. I think it was my experience I had while repelling that made the trip for me. As I was watching all the girls get harnessed up and go off the cliff one by one, I saw them a little bit more like the Lord sees us. Two of the first years were all ready to go. Both of them were scared and really hesitant about backing themselves over the edge. One of them made it over and realized that it wasn't scary anymore and happily repels down. The other one couldn't do it. Her legs were shaking and she began to cry. All the girls were cheering for her, telling her that she could do it, when all of a sudden tears came to my eyes as I was watching her. I knew she would be okay, I knew that she could do it, and our Heavenly Father knows that about each of us. When we are having trials in our lives, He knows that we will be okay and that we can do it, but it is still hard to watch us struggle, as it was hard for me to see this cute little first year. I definitely came away from repelling having more faith in my Heavenly Father.


I am so thankful that my mom was willing to watch my kids for the week, so I could have this opportunity. I had so much fun and got the spiritual boost that I needed. It was fun to be with the girls and the other leaders. This was definitely my best year at camp!!

Don't get me wrong, I did miss Chris and the kids, but I did NOT want to come home, at least not yet anyways. I had to leave a day early because Chloe had a dance recital. They kept telling me to just leave already, but I just stood, not wanting to miss anything. It took a good part of the drive home to get all my tears out. It was rather nice not having any worries while at camp. I can't wait until next year!

Another one gone!

Nick lost his second tooth this morning. It was so loose that it fell out when I was brushing his teeth, he didn't even know. He was a little worried that the tooth fairy wouldn't be able to find him since he is spending the night at Grandma's since I am leaving for Girl's Camp at 5 AM tomorrow. But we reminded him that we were in Fernley the last time he lost a tooth and the tooth fairy managed to find our hotel room!:)