4th of July

This year we stayed home for the 4th and although we missed our traditional visit to Huntsville, we had a great day. We started the morning heading out to Hurricane to see the parade out there. Our cute niece, Ellie, was in the parade and we wanted to watch her. She was as cute as can be, and pretty much the one and only highlight of the parade, it was the lamest parade ever. We were really missing Huntsville at that point. Despite the lameness, Pierce had a great time playing with the Hall and Eves cousins.

Just look at this handsome grown up boy!

We loved showing Jensen off, he was as cute as can be in his very patriotic outfit.

I wanted to get a shot of Madi in her special 4th of July shirt...

...this is what she thought about the lame parade and the lack of candy.

In case you didn't quite get the full effect...

These pictures just make me laugh! But, isn't her festive shirt cute?

I can't really blame her too much. The parade was a disappointment for sure.

After a quiet and cool afternoon at home, we headed to the Hall's for the evening. The kids played outside in the sprinkler and slip n slide and had a ball. We all enjoyed a delicious dinner and of course some All American Chocolate cake. Good thing we had plenty of leftovers.

We headed out for fireworks that night and met up with The Woodburys. More fun was had and we enjoyed the fireworks with our great friends, great cousins, and our great Grandma. Great as in great! Not Great.

Matthew, Pierson, Grant & Harrison

Matthew, Pierce, Brooke and Harrison

The kids were completely worn out when we got home, 3 hours past bedtime! We had a great day and were happy to spend it with so many that we love! How thankful we are to live here in America the Beautiful!

Thirty

Well it happened. I turned 30. Even though I just turned 24.

30, it just seems, old! I know, I know in the grand scheme of things 30 is very, very young. (Especially now that 30 is the new 20!) But still, it just seems so weird, like a real adult age. I'm sure I would have handled turning 30 much better if I could say I was "thirty, flirty and thriving", but all I can really say is - I'm thirty, dirty and surviving. You, know - the newborn stage, dirty because I may or may not have had a shower by evening and I have been getting peed on pooped on and spit up on a daily basis for the last 2 months. And surviving because, well, newborn stage pretty much sums that up, and newborn stage in the summer with 2 older kids at home....ya, we have been surviving.

Even though I wasn't thrilled to turn 30, I had 3 days of celebration (one for each decade I suppose) I didn't get many pictures (shocking I know) but I want to write down a bit about the wonderful people who made me feel so loved...

My birthday fell on a Sunday so Ryan and I were planning to go out Saturday night. Since we were going out Saturday, Kathryn invited me and the kids over for a birthday lunch on Friday, and so started the 3 days of partying. If Kathryn does something it's wonderful, we enjoyed a yummy lunch together, along with Lyndsi and her kids. The kids had a great time playing and we enjoyed a fun afternoon just hanging out and talking, something we hadn't been able to do for a while. She also made delicious Boston Creme cupcakes and they all sang "Happy Birthday" to me and we really, really enjoyed the delicious cupcakes! A great time was had by all.

Saturday night JoAnn took Pierce and Madi for a sleepover and Ryan and I went out for dinner. We enjoyed dinner and some shopping only to go home and find a surprise party waiting for me - waiting for an hour while I shopped! Trit had planned a little party for me and had coordinated with Kathryn to invite my friends - they all parked away from my house, so I was totally clueless and walked in to "Surprise!", confetti flying everywhere and Kathryn, Kendra, Jana, Lyndsi, Annette, Kara and Trit ready to party. Trit had gotten my favorite, All American Chocolate cake from Costco, and even had a high heel pinata for us Moms to hit! (3 of which are pregnant) Thanks girls, even though I was totally embarrassed, it was a fun night! I love you all!

Sunday morning I got to stay in bed for a bit (after getting up to feed Jensen, of course) while Ryan picked Pierce and Madi up from Grandma's. As soon as they got home they were excited for Mom's birthday and Madi came in with a picture for me saying, "Mommy, I present to you..." During church I had to laugh at Madi, nothing was stopping her excitement and I watched her walk into primary and sit down and tell her teacher, "today is my Mom's birthday!" That evening we enjoyed a great dinner which Ryan made (thank goodness for crock pots), I was happy to have yummy food and happy I didn't have to make it. After dinner we enjoyed my second All American Chocolate cake from Costco. Yes, we ended up with two of these in our fridge. Obviously Ryan couldn't spoil the surprise by telling me Trit was already buying one when we went to Costco on Friday! But don't worry, none of it went to waste. Even though I was a little bummed to be turning thirty and not be "thirty, flirty and thriving" I was totally spoiled by my wonderful friends, sweet husband and cute kids. I guess being thirty, dirty and surviving is ok, I do have the cutest baby on the planet to show for it.

And if you haven't seen 13 Going on 30, you wont think I'm funny at all, and if that's the case, you really need to watch it!

7 Weeks

Well of course now that I have this darling little boy in my arms instead of my belly, the time is just flying by! Some how a month has gone by since I posted any pictures of his sweet little face and he is 7 weeks old! I am, however, determined to keep up on my blog! I've realized over the past few years that I will always be playing catch up on my kid's scrapbooks, (by a few years at least!) but that my blog is the one thing I can actually keep up on. I wish I would have had blogging when Madi was a baby, she'd be so much better documented! We've had a few fun events I need to blog about, but before another week gets away from me, here is the latest of Jensen...






































Can you believe this round little face? He is getting so big and already growing way too fast!


This isn't the best shot of them but I love it because this is SO how Madi is. Refusing to look at the camera, ignoring me as best she can, but adoring her baby brother completely.

Can you tell just how much Pierce loves his little brother? He is so sweet, always wanting to hold him. I love it. And the funny thing is, in both cases of these photo ops, Pierce asked me to take a picture of him and Jensen. So cute, and talk about making Mom happy! This kid is smart!

Madi decided to join in, after selecting an outfit of her dance costume sailor hat and her winter sweater, on 100+ degree St. George July day.


And last, my favorite! No words needed. I love these faces more than I can say.