Addison's 6th Birthday!

Addison is 6.  WHAT!  She is growing up too fast.  She had swimming lessons on her birthday, but Dad came home for lunch a little early so she could open her presents before her lesson.  She got a scooter

a unicorn dream lite

a dress up wedding dress

Eden had fun with it too

And some fake fingernails from Eden.  

This year Addison wanted to have a birthday party with her friends.  Last year we didn't do a party because I was really pregnant and didn't have the gumption.  We decided friend parties every other year is going to be our new plan.  

Addison invited 7 friends.  2 were friends from her kindergarten class, 3 church friends, one from ballet class, and one neighbor girl.  

Only one couldn't make it so there were 8 girls total, including Addison and Eden.  Ty slept the entire 2 hours during the party. It was wonderful to have both hands and my full attention to devote to the party. 

First, we played musical chairs (3 times). The winners got a little prize (we had to keep it a little competitive). Then we played a balloon popping relay race.  We had 3 teams.  Each person had to run, grab a balloon, pop the balloon by sitting on it and then run back to tap the next person on the team.  It was loud and fun.

Next, we played a musical present game.  I wrapped a prize 11 times (the girls didn't know how many times it had been wrapped) with different colors of wrapping paper.  The kids passed the present around in a circle as music played.  When the music stopped the person holding the present unwrapped one layer.  The girl who opened the gift on the last layer, got to keep the prize.  

Then, we played don't eat Pete (8 times- each girl wanted a turn).

Last but not least, we did a piñata.  

After games we had cake and ice cream.  Addison wanted an MP3 player cake.  She is my 6 yr old going on 16. Little side note. .  . when we asked Addy what she wanted for her birthday she said, "My own phone, a TV in my room, and my drivers license."  Shocking. . . She didn't get any of those things ;).   Back to the cake. . . I attempted to make an MP3 player cake.  It didn't turn out like the picture online . . .haha . . but she liked it and it got devoured. Success. 

After cake Addison opened presents from her friends.  She was thrilled with all her gifts.  

Addison and Jade:

Addison and Emmie:

Addison and Isabella:

Addison and Shelby:

Addison and Ella:

Addison and Madison:

Then Addison passed out a little gift to all her guests and we took them all home.  It was a fun party!  

Marshall surprised Addison By bringing his horse home from work for her to ride. She has been asking a lot lately so she was thrilled.  

Of course Eden to ride too. 

We had pizza for dinner at home.  Marshall had mutual so we couldn't go out (Which was kinda nice after a party).  Addison and Eden spent the evening playing with her new birthday treasures. GOOD DAY, but I'm sure glad July is over.  After 2 birthdays in July, I'm ready for a brake ;)

Ty- 10 months old

Ty is 10 months! Wow.  The best way to describe Ty right now is this. . . 

He is into EVERYTHING!  Little turkey.  He loves to empty my cupboards and drawers, unroll rolls of toilet paper, pull all the books off of the girls book shelf, empty their toy box, and all the cupboards to their play kitchen, dump garbage cans, play in toilet water.  You name it, he does it.  He is by FAR my busiest child.  Needless to say my house is totally child proof right now.  We've got cupboard doors all rubber banded, stairs blocked, moved tupaware to the bottom drawers, knick naks moved to taller shelves, bathroom toilets seats and doors are to remain closed, And heaven forbid if the toilet doesn't get flushed. .  .

We have done our best to counter act Ty's destructive ways.  It's a good thing he is so darn cute! 

•Ty has 6 teeth.  4 on top and 2 on the bottom.  He is working on more.  Always has that clear running nose.  He hasn't been too fussy with teething.  

•He is standing on his own and walks along furniture. 

•He is a wiggle worm which makes changing his diaper feel like a circus act. 

•He loves food.  The way to any man/boys heart is through his stomach.  This stays true with Ty.  His favorites are plain pieces of bread, hot dogs, mandarin oranges, scrambled eggs, chunks of plain pancakes, and Mac n cheese. 

•He is wearing size 12 month clothes.

•He gets so excited when he hears bath water running.  He loves baths.

•He is so good natured.  He really is a wonderful boy. I Love everything about him. . . Even if he destroys my house :)

SLC Family Trip

We just got back from a weekend trip to Salt Lake City, UT with Marshall's family.  It was an action packed weekend!  Marshall's mom rented a 15 passenger van so all of us could travel together.  It was awesome :). The kids all LOVED being together as we drove from place to place.

The front of the bus:

The back of the bus:

We left on Friday morning about 10 am.  My family met up with the rest of the gang in Pocatello.  We traveled until Kaysville, UT where we stopped off at Boondocks for lunch and games.    

The wheel of fortune wheel was the girls favorite game. No one won the Jackpot 1000 tickets this time. . . Bummer

It seemed like every time we tried to get a family picture Eden refused to be in it

Addy & Max cashing in all their tickets.

Addy with the boondocks mascot

One of our favorite things at boondocks was the go cart racing.  Eden rode with me and Addison rode with Marshall.  The fastest racers were Val, Marshall, then, Jarred, then me in last place.  

Next we went to the hotel to unload and swim. We stayed at the Hyatt by the airport.  Best features of the hotel were the swimming pool, the delicios continental breakfast (not usually a highlight but this one was great), and each room had a hide-a-bed so the kids didn't have to sleep on the floor.

After swimming we drove downtown and strolled through the City Creek Mall mainly to go to the Disney Store.  Grandma let the kids pick out a toy. What a nice Grandma my kids have!  

Saturday we hit up the Hogle Zoo. 

The Zoo had a bird show.  It was one of my favorite things.  The birds would fly right over the audiences heads.  It was a little freaky how close they would get.  

Addy posing for a picture with the bald eagle. . . 

 

Grandma bought the kids a ticket on the merry go round. Addy rode on the dolphin and Eden rode on the Lady bug.

Eden got tired, so Dad gave her a little shoulder ride.  What a nice Daddy .

For dinner one night we ate at Joe's Crab Shack.  It was Mine and Marshall's first time.  It was soo good.  I got Salmon and Marshall got fried shrimp. 

Waiting for a table:

Next, we went to a sporting goods store called Sheels. Inside the store there was  a huge Ferris Wheel. Addy rode it with Marshall and Eden rode with me & Mya.  Ty just watched with Grandma.  We were the first ones in our group to get on so there was a lot of starting and stopping while the other riders got on.  Marshall was so freaked out every time it stopped because it made his seat swing.  I was crying from laughing so hard at Marshall.  He seriously hated it.

The last day we went to Park City and shopped at the outlet mall.  It was great!  On the drive back home Ty totally crashed.

He was such a trooper the entire weekend.  He was totally off schedule and got random naps here and there, but he was still great!  Love him.

We had a wonderful weekend, and we made some great memories! 
 

My Addy Girl is growing Up

The last few weeks have been a big deal at our house for Addy.  First, she is really swimming well.  We got a swim pass this year at Indian Springs and so we have been going swimming at least twice a week.  The last time we went Addison jumped off the diving board without her life jacket (I was right there ready to save her if needed be) and swam to the edge by herself after she came out of the water!  This is huge compared to last year when she wouldn't even dunk her head under the water.  

Next, tonight she discovered her FIRST loose tooth!  She has been waiting for this day to come!  She is a late bloomer in the teeth department and "all her friends have already lost teeth" she has been telling me :)

Lastly, she learned to ride her bike without training wheels.  She has been practicing her balancing and then just a few days ago it just clicked and she got it!  She LOVES riding her bike so much more without training wheels. Tonight Eden and Ty both fell asleep for the night at 7:30 (no this is not normal) so Addy and I went for a bike ride.  I loved the one on one time I had with her.  I wanted to freeze time.  As we were riding together and talking about silly things it hit me that my little Addy girl is growing up!  It makes me tear up thinking about it.  I am trying to soak in our time together this summer because when she goes back to school she will be in first grade. . . ALL day!  I think this will be hard for me to be away from her all day.  I love my girl. She is growing up, but she will always be my baby. 

 

Eden turns 4!

Eden turned 4 yesterday!  I love the age four.  With Addison, I felt like it was a magical age.  An age where she really started becoming independent and helpful.  We will see if this stays true with Eden.  The terrible 3's (I think 3 is a harder age than 2) have been a struggle for me. . . I am hopeful that 4 is going to be great! Fingers crossed!

Eden had a great day.  She woke up bright and early at 6am.  I talked her into sleeping for one more hour.  She was so excited for her birthday!  When she woke up at 7 she said her belly hurt.  She laid on the couch.  . . didn't want breakfast, didn't want to open any presents.  

 I thought she might have caught the flu that has been going around.  Turns out she was probably just overly excited because she finally asked for breakfast (we made her favorite:  sausage, eggs, and pancakes)

After she ate she perked right up and was great the rest of the day.  

She was very excited about all her gifts.  She got a bike. 

 We also gave her a Polly pocket airplane, a sticker book, and the little rascals movie.  Addy gave her a barbie water wow coloring booklet.  

She is very enthusiastic when she unwraps gifts.  Her reactions were priceless!

After lunch we had her friends Ali, Brin, Hunter, and Hallie (along with their moms and brothers and sisters) over for cake and ice cream.  

Eden wanted a rainbow cake.

A guy I work with lent me this princess bounce house.  It was a hit.  

We also let the kids play with water balloons which turned into a big water fight.  

It was so nice of her friends to bring her some fun toys!

When Marshall got home we went to a movie and dinner with my mom to celebrate her birthday too.  Her birthday is the day after Eden's.  We saw Despicable Me 2.  Then we took Grandma to Texas Roadhouse for dinner.  

Eden sat on the birthday saddle and everyone in the restaurant gave her a big "Yee Haw" for her birthday.  Grandma wouldn't sit on it ;). 

There happened to be a guy at the restaurant making fun balloons for the kids.  He made Eden a birthday crown, and Addy a princess crown.  

It was a really fun day.  Eden fell asleep in the car about 5 minutes after we left the restaurant.  She must have been worn out from all the excitement.  I sure was :)