Pajama Party Anyone?

For Mia's 7th birthday we decided to have a friend party (because she didn't get one last year due to the fact that we just moved and didn't know anyone). We tossed around several different ideas, but considering we had to have the party in the evening - to fit various schedules, we decided to have a Pajama Party! It was so much fun.

Here's the awesome cake. Mia helped me make the fruit roll up pajamas. It was a fun activity to do together. It's a three layer (two cake mixes) chocolate cake with vanilla icing.
After the girls ate their pizza, they each made one of these cute necklaces out of a metal washer and scrapbook paper. They turned out adorable.

Here's the take home party favor. I just asked a lady at Pei Wei if I could buy some of their mini take out boxes, and they just gave me a dozen. Nice! I filled them with candy.

The girls loved just chatting and eating. A true girl party.

While their necklaces were drying and before the sun went down, they used fabric markers to decorate a pillow case.

Mia drew a picture of a horse, then had all the girls sign the back of it, to remember who came to her party. She loves it.

Unfortunately I was a one man show. That being said it's almost impossible to play hostess and photographer, so I didn't get all the pictures I wished for. But we had a blast playing games and doing crafts. I love having a little girl. Time for presents!

Of course we had to play the traditional "Heavy heavy hang over thy poor head" game. Mia's head was sore from all the bonks.

Happy birthday my princess. We love you so much!

What I don't have pictures of....

1. Playing "don't let the balloon hit the floor" in complete darkness except for glow bracelets.

2. 11 little girls jumping on my trampoline at the same time (all but one got on. The hold out is very obedient to her Mom's wishes)

3. The girls playing "down by the banks" hand slap game on the grass

4. The girls pealing extra glue from their hands like it's skin. (Everyone loves that, right?)

5. Mia's head getting covered with bows and confetti from all the presents.

Thanks to all of Mia's friends for making her 7th birthday so memorable.

Lucky Number 7

Happy 7th Birthday, Mia!

Fun in the Basin

We spent the 24th of July in Drew's hometown. Every year they have a big celebration. Here are some photos of the morning parade.

CANDY, CANDY, CANDY!!!!

Aunt Karen was in the parade celebrating her 50 year high school reunion. Awesome!

Backpacking the Uintahs

Here are some photos of a backpacking trip, Drew and I made with our friends Dave and Jaime in the Uintah Mountains on July 8th. It was my first time backpacking and I wasn't sure what to expect. But luckily Drew had taken this route many times and guided us to an awesome location.

This is a photo just before we took off up the trail. Here's the top of one of the mountains we had to climb - elevation 11,070 feet. It was about 4 hours into the hike and I was already exhausted. But at least we could see the finish line from here.

Believe it or not, this was the first thing we did when we arrived at our camp site. The place was loaded with fish. So many, that you could catch them with your bare hands. NO JOKE! Dave making dinner.

Drew enjoying some fishing.

Here's our little two man tent we rented from REI.

OK, so look closely at this picture, to get an idea of how many fish were in the stream.

Drew made quite a nice camp site for us. Too bad there were about a billion mosquitos driving us crazy. That's the reason for the hoods.

How awesome is this?

This is our hike back two days later.

This is one of the hills we had to climb.

And this is basically what the trail looked like. Not the easiest hike in the world, especially when you're carrying a 30 pound pack.

Our last picture before jumping into the truck and heading for a shower. That night we took the kids to pizza and a movie. It was a really exhausting but fun trip and I hope to do it again...maybe next year.

The Things We Do For Our Kids

It's Official...

We've Moved!!!

Why??? For our kiddos, that's why. I'm giving up my dream kitchen in order to get a yard for the kids. Drew did a great job picking out the house we've rented for the past year. And I know he's the man for me, because he had my interests at heart when he selected this place. This kitchen - which is where I spend most of my time - was just about perfect. But we just can't live with the 6 foot deep yard anymore. The kids are stuck indoors and Drew and I both agreed that it would be worth the hassle of moving to get them what they want most - some wiggle room. So I'm saying my final good-byes to this beautiful kitchen. We're moving into another great house with a lot fewer cabinets, but someday.... someday I'll get my 39 cubbards and 23 drawers back. Someday!

So send me an e-mail if you don't have our new address. And pretty soon you'll be seeing some great photos of new moments in our new home.

Two Adorable Dancers

Ok, so I went a little crazy taking photos of Mia and her friend Aspen in their dance costumes. But hey, Mia is my only girl so I have an excuse, right? Here are just a few of them. Their recital is not for another week and a half, but they had to get dolled up for their pictures. I must say, I think they have the cutest costumes of all. They insisted on doing a silly face.

I'll post the group shot when I get it back.

Finishing 1st Grade

Well, I'm a little slow at getting these photos posted, but here they are.

Mia loved her last few weeks of school. During the last week, the 1st graders had a Luau on the courtyard. Here's a photo of Mia with her teacher, Mrs. Lopez.
Sitting under a tree, enjoying the yummy hotdogs.

Her school also had a 1st grade awards ceremony, and Mia was honored with two awards. She got one for making the "All A's Honor Roll" and she also received a math award. Her teacher even called her "My Math Genius". She is a little math wiz. Way to go, Mia!

Sleepy Boy

After a full day of swimming, Cole fell asleep on the pottie. I don't think I've ever been that tired.