Saturday evening

It doesn't seem like that long ago when I thought my social existance (or serious lack thereof) would be reduced to extinction if I had to spend a Saturday evening at home with the family.  Now I can think of no better way to spend that coveted night than out on the lawn with my family on a warm evening as the sun goes down.  My days are numbered before it's going to be my own daughter rolling her eyes at the thought of spending a Saturday night at home.  I'll have to brace myself for the feelings of betrayal when she chooses a movie with friends over a night of Monopoly and Red Vines with the fam because I know that someday she'll realize, just like I did, that friends really do come and go but it's your family that will always be there for you.  Until then, I think I'll just fold up this little memory and stick it in my pocket and take as many weekends like this that I can get.

It's all fun and games until...

Maddox was so excited to join ranks with the men this year at the fathers and sons campout.  With an extra bunkie in tow Jason decided to upgrade to a real tent instead of the back of the pilot.  They were all so excited to break in the tent and explore nature, and Kylie and I were looking forward to a nice long girls weekend.  So we were surprised when they called first thing in the morning and were already on their way home.  Poor Jayden has got a serious pooping-in-a-public-restroom-phobia.  My take is when you gotta go you gotta go, but he refused to go even when Jason offered to take him into town to a restroom.  Instead he insisted they cut the trip short and go home so he could do his business in the comfort of his own domain.  Jason and I were laughing at some of the pictures because you can tell the poor kid is in some serious discomfort.  As soon as they got home he flew through the door with tears in his eyes and headed straight for the bathroom.  It was such a sad end to such a fun smore, campfire, hiking, playing and bonding filled weekend. 

Party time

The boys were gone to the fathers and sons campout so we decided to take advantage of the nerfless and dirty sockless house and plan Kylie's party.  I must say, this was the first time I felt so relaxed about hosting a birthday party.  Instead of kids running and screaming through the house, we had girl talk, giggled and listened to music.  She has picked some really great friends and I am grateful for each one of them.  We swam then had a pancake bar, which turned out to be quite a hit (and for the first time I don't have pinterest to thank for it :). The girls got to pick any toppings to mix into their batter (chocolate chips, strawberries, bananas, toffee bits, marshmallows, blueberries...) and made their own pancakes then topped them with their favorite syrups and goodies.  And then there was bacon.  Lots and lots of bacon (thanks, Marisa for the warning ;).  After eating we did those Sally Hansen Salon Effects nails which took way longer than I had planned so the girls called their parents to see if they could stay an hour longer.  We did presents, (more bacon), cake and ice-cream (by the way, I totally found an answer to my cake illiteracy.  I stumbled across these sugar sheets at JoAnn's, they are so easy to use and make it possible for me to fake my cake decorating skills).  Then the girls wanted to go for a night swim so we threw in some glow sticks (pinterest does get credit for that) and went for it.  It was cold and the past hour that we spent putting the nail stickers on was a waste since half of them fell off, but the girls had the best time and that night as Kylie and I curled up in bed with treats and a movie, she couldn't stop talking about how it was the best party ever.  I have to admit, I had a pretty fun time too.  I think I can get used to this whole growing up thing afterall.  Happy birthday, baby girl!

Birthday interview

(I stole some of these questions from my sister's blog, thanks Janessa :)

Favorite.....
Food-bacon
Book-Emily Windsnap
Movie-Monte Carlo
Outfit-"I'm a limited edition" black and white striped shirt with white skinny jeans
Friends-Madison, Marlee, Kaia and Mia
Hobbies-dance, gymnastics
Something you're proud of this past year-teaching myself how to do an aerial on the ground (cartwheel without hands)
A happy thought-feeling the spirit
One of your greatest fears-sharks and alligators
Favorite thing to do with your family-go on family vacations and going to the lake
Favorite scripture story-tree of life
Your birthday wish- to be in company at dance
How many kids do you want to have when you're a mom- 4, 2 boys and 2 girls
What does your future look like-be prom queen, get a bachelor degree at BYU, get married in the temple, be a mom and be a dance teacher
Your best memory as a 9 year old- being on the Stars performance team at Artistic Motion Dance
One thing you want to accomplish as a 10 year old- get my back handspring on the ground

Oh Kylie, what a joy you have brought to our house.  I'm so grateful for all the pink and sparkly things you bring into my life, along with your enthusiasm and sensitive nature.  You are always so thoughtful and nurturing, you are going to make an amazing mother some day.  I love our conversations, our jokes and our girl time. One of my favorite memories with you was when the boys were gone to the lake while we went to your dance performance and when we came home we snuggled up in our jammies, read over the blurb books and laughed about past memories and then watched House Hunters International while eating ice cream.  It was such a simple night but meant so much that I had you to share it with.  I am forever grateful that Heavenly Father trusted me to raise one of his most precious spirits. Happy birthday, I love you and think you're a pretty rad chick!

Double digit birthday

Oh happy day indeed!  This baby girl turned 10 and grew up when I wasn't looking.  A birthday of this magnitude requires atleast a week worth of celebrating and she received nothing short of it.  We had a girl's day of shopping (lucky for me shopping is her favorite past time too, not so lucky for Jason)earlier in the week, then unfortunately Jason had to go out of town on her birthday so he took her out for a dinner date the night before and she came back feeling so special and on top of the world. We made sure she spent her day as a princess and then we have her party lined up for this weekend.  Her day started out with her requested strawberry cream crepes.  And lots and lots of bacon.  Which makes it so much worse that I burned the bacon to a crisp.

Jayden was such a sweetheart to her all day, pouring her drink for her and everyone else too

and even gifted her with these erasers he bought at the book fair and then had buyers remorse when he decided saving for a nerf gun was more crucial.  So being the thoughtful boy he was, he offered to let her buy them from him.  He later had a change of heart and just gave them to her, free of charge.  He even went a step farther and used his last $2.99 to buy her a bracelet from the book fair the next day (and only charged her $1 this time, love these kids that I call mine).

I dropped balloons and candy off at the office to be delivered that morning, and just as I had planned she felt loved and emberassed at the same time.  We went back and brought her lunch and got caught up on the 4th grade gossip. Kylie bribed Maddox with Strawberry milk to go tell a boy that her friend liked him.  He quickly became a legend.

We brought ice-cream for the class, and once again Maddox and Ryder reveled in the attention

The rip stick is her favorite gift and she makes it look so easy

I'm here to witness that it isn't as easy as it looks.  Little do they know, I've been practicing while they're at school with Maddox cheering me on.  I can now make it from the front door to the table without falling down, I'm totally going to blow their minds.

We took one of her besties with us to the Mesquite Groves pool and could have stayed there all night but we had pizza and a movie waiting at home (along with homework and a decent bedtime on a school night, what a buzz kill).   It was so fun celebrating Kylie all day, she is such a sweetheart and deserved every single bit of it, happy birthday!!