Happy Birthday to Boo

We had a musical birthday back in June. Seven-year-old Boo decided on a musical theme (very fitting for such a musical girl).







Activities:
Design homemade tambourines
Play musical pictionary
Decorate piano and musical note cookies
Make necklaces with musical notes
Learn the macarena and dance with tamourines
Play "Pin the Note on the Staff"
Make jingle bell bracelets/hairbands
Eat pizza
Eat piano cake and ice cream

Decorations:
Hanging notes
Black tablecloth
Backstage entrance sign on front door
Hanging black curtains they had to walk through

Favors:
CD with Boo's favorite songs
Lipgloss
Musical silly bands
Fingernail polish
Pack of gum
Ring pop

May 1st-July 4th

Where have you been?!?! I've been here the whole time. We had a new addition born a week late, and now she is 2 months! Man, time flies. I will write down the birth story so I can remember and fill in the blanks in between then and now. But, for your viewing pleasure here is the cute little baby girl who has stolen all FIVE of our hearts! Happy Fourth!!

Baby pic by the amazing Reb

Spring Has Sprung!

We are enjoying our Spring Break--We went to House of Bounce, picnic and hiking at Walney Pond with cousins, Downtown D.C. for a picnic with Mr. Mud and to see the Cherry Blossoms, and today had a picnic and egg hunt at the playground. I love when there is no school. Give me Summer already!!

Here are also some belly pics for those who have been requesting them...I am bigger than I've been with any of the kids! Maybe, just maybe, it has to do with all the burgers, fries and milkshakes I've had from Elevation Burger the past 9 months.

ps--that shirt is a XS (non maternity) from Anthropologie. I love buying clothes that fit me pregnant and not!

The Coolest Parents on the Block

Here's why we are the coolest parents on the block:





1. We have a HUGE moonbounce with a slide in our LIVING ROOM (This SAVED us during the blizzard)!! I leave it deflated and the kids go turn it on when they want to bounce. It takes 2 minutes to inflate. It is used every day!


2. We took our kids to the Big Apple Circus for getting good grades/reports from their teachers.




Sure, we only let them play 30 minutes on the wii a day, and they only watch TV on Movie Night (Friday) (with an occasional Little Einsteins or Magic School Bus during the week). They don't use the words "Mean" or "Hate." Man, they are some good kids. Rules are important, and fun is, too!

Guess Who is Two!?!?!

Please excuse the pizza sauce on her face.



I love how happy her brother and sister are when they are with her.

Nay celebrated her 2nd birthday! We had a last minute birthday dinner at Grandma and Grandpa A's house after piano lessons. Some of the cousins were there (other local cousins were off tubing in West VA), Aunts and Uncles, and both sets of Gparents. I made the Elmo cake that has been made for every child's 2nd birthday.

Some things we love about Nay:

She is hilarious. Seriously. She has personality.
She sings (including the instrumental parts on songs).
She dances--she goes into Boo's ballet/tap class and pretends she is one of the 6-8 year olds.
She laughs. A lot.
She puts on her own shoes.
She picks out her own outfits (okay, this can actually drive me crazy. Especially with 9:00 church)
She is a good hugger.
She is a good tackler.
She is an awesome snuggler (the other kids were not at this age).
She loves to dress up.
She loves her brother and sister.
We are so glad she is part of our family!

Crazy Snow Storm 2010

We've been enjoying some time in the snow. It's been a crazy few days! Last night when we were shoveling at 11pm it was snowing with lightning and thunder!!! How crazy is that? I've never seen that before and it was so cool!

Today consisted of shoveling, making a snow fort with a tunnel and slide, making graffiti in the snow with colored water, shoveling, hot chocolate with whipped cream AND marshmallows, digging out the car half-way, naps, and movie night. Maybe tomorrow we'll be more productive!

Who else is ready for SPRING?!?!?!

Haiti kits

When something devastating happens in the world--do you tell your kids?

We told our kids about Haiti a few days after the initial earthquake. We showed them some {edited} pictures, and the moving video about the woman being found at a bank 6 days later. We donated some money the day after it happened, but didn't bother telling the kids. Then Awesome Gma had an idea to put together some hygiene, first aid and newborn kits to give to those in crisis-situations like this one. The kids would be involved. It was a good teaching opportunity. My eight-year-old niece observed that there was MINT toothpaste she said how she didn't like mint and "what if they didn't like it." We talked about how whomever received this was just going to be so happy to even HAVE toothpaste. Our children need to be more grateful. They need to see how lucky they are. They aren't living in tents outside broken-down buildings. They have food, toys, clothes, warmth. We pray for those in Haiti everyday.

Here's the info for making the kits. If you are LDS and live near a Bishop's Storehouse you can also take the made kits there.


Hygiene Assembly Instructions

2 unbreakable combs (no sharp handles)
4 toothbrushes (packaged)
1 tube of toothpaste (6-8 oz., no pumps)
2 bars of soap (approximately 4 to 5 oz.)
2 hand towels (new towels, approximately 15" by 25". Please do not use dish towels or washcloths. To sew towels, serge or zigzag the edges of terry cloth to make a 15" by 25" towel.)
Place items in a heavy-duty, one-gallon sealable bag. Remove all air before sealing. Place hygiene kits in a cardboard packing box.



Newborn Assembly Instructions

1 double receiving blanket (see receiving blanket guidelines below)
4 flat fold (single thickness) cloth diapers (100% cotton Birdseye Cloth or 100% cotton diaper flannel), approximately 25". Please do not use pre-folded or disposable diapers.
4 diaper safety pins
1 pair booties or baby socks
2 regular-size bars of soap (Ivory or other non-allergenic brand)
1 newborn layette gown (please, no footed sleeper
Place items for the newborn kit in a heavy-duty, two-gallon sealable bag. Remove all air before sealing. Place kits in a cardboard packing box.

You mail them to
Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center
1665 Bennett Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84104