I Have a Boyfriend

His name is Christian.

He's turning 3 TODAY!

We celebrated Saturday with pizza, cake, ice cream, family and friends.

Christian had a BLAST!

He loved that it was his day, especially after watching the girls have their turn twice each the week before (actual birthdays and friends parties).

He woke up last Wednesday - Morgan's birthday - and I told him it was her birthday. He said, "No. It's MY birthday. Morgan already had one."

So to celebrate HIM was such a treat for my sweet little boyfriend.

We had a Shouka birthday cake because Christian absolutely loves watching our video footage of Shouka the whale from Six Flags a couple summers ago.

Devils Food Chocolate with Melissa's Buttercream Frosting. YUM!

This was the absolute sweetest: When we sang Happy Birthday to Christian, he sang along... but instead of singing the lyrics, "Happy Birthday to you...", he replaced "you" with "me". Watch his lips. It's the cutest thing. I sure love this little boy. (Can you tell?)

Christian and Tyson cracking up over something very funny.

Since it was his special day, I smiled and took photos of him sticking his finger into the frosting and licking it... repeatedly. After his friends started doing the same (which I thought was dang cute and got a video of) Martin decided it probably wasn't the best idea since we'd be serving the cake to our guests within minutes. Party Pooper!

Aunt Carly and Grandma Sally came down to celebrate, too! We sure loved having you guys here. The party was a PARTY because you were there.

Time for presents. I love how intent Christian and Tyson are.

YAY! A tractor from Grandpa Clyde!

Never seeing this dog before, he opened it up and exclaimed, "MY DOGGY!!" as if his long lost friend had returned. Thank you Kylie Rose and family. He loves his new pal!

Christian and Mr. Bennett - Cute Cousins that could really pass as brothers, if you ask me.

Morgan and Julianna

So Lillie absolutely loves my sister. It is soooo funny how much she loves her. She even coerced Carly into playing "Troll" in the playground. Carly, you made such a lovely Troll.

Paige, Lauren and Liv

The gang!

Aunt Margaret with Baby D

Shouka Cake

My Morgan Turns 10

Happy 10th Birthday Dear Morgan!

My little Miss Morgan turned 10 years old yesterday... a whole decade old!

Morgan is our spark plug, our little spitfire, our FUN! She brings such energy to our home and without her, we'd be so boring and dull. We love our MoMo!

Morgan began her day by opening one gift then heading off to school where I later brought Dairy Queen ice cream sandwiches for her classroom birthday treat. The class sang 'Happy Birthday' to my bashful girl - it was so cute!

Morgan loves Funfetti cake and wanted blue frosting. It was a crazy night trying to pull it all together (dinner, cake, presents, afternoon movie with her girlfriends...) but I think it all worked out in the end.

Morgan is my expressive child.

Olivia's gift to her little sister was to share her DS any time Morgan wanted.

WOW.

That actually is a very, very, very generous gift considering.





The highlight of Morgan's birthday was inviting two of her girlfriends to see High School Musical 3. It was a darling movie - even Delaney sat through all of it!

Morgan, Rosie, and Haley

More Birthday Fun

Morgan is my silly girl! Here we see her being... well.. CRAZY SILLY. The video speaks for itself.

Olivia's big gift was a new cell phone which we'd wrapped then hidden. We told her to go find it, then called it. When she found the package and heard the ringing, she didn't clue in what it was and said, "Someone's phone is ringing." When she realized that it was in HER package, she FREAKED! I am soooooo mad at myself for not having the camera ready. Dummy me.

She finally figured it out and started ripping that wrapping paper off the box, but Christian didn't like that. HE wanted to open the gift for her. Be patient, little man. Your birthday's a week and a half away...

The excitement continues. I am so proud of her for saying Thank You through all that!

FYI: Schedule of events for the upcoming 10 days.

Started with:

Thursday October 23 - Middle School Harvest Festival

Friday October 24 - Sleepover celebrating Morgan's 10th Birthday

Sunday October 26 - Olivia's 12th Birthday

Wednesday October 29 - Morgan's 10th Birthday

Thursday October 30 - Ward Trunk or Treat/Autumn Festival 6-8pm

AND

Party at home celebrating Olivia's Birthday 8:30-11:30pm

Friday October 31 - Halloween! Trick or Treating

Saturday November 1 - Soccer game then... CHRISTIAN'S 3rd Birthday party

Wednesday November 5 - Christian's 3rd Birthday

Heaven help us. Can you even imagine the constant sugar highs we're on and will continue to BE ON the next 10 days?!?!?!

My Olivia Turns 12

Happy 12th Birthday Dear Olivia!

I am so proud of this young woman I have living in my home who calls me Mother.

She is a cherished daughter and friend

and I couldn't love her more.

By Olivia's request, vanilla cake with strawberry filling and pink and blue frostings...

Also by request, Chicken Enchiladas for dinner. We had some fun Mexican fruity drinks, too.

Squeals of delight were heard throughout town as this gift rang from a wrapped box!

When girls turn 12 in our church, they advance up to The Young Women's program.

Olivia is now considered a Beehive and the Beehive leader and several girls from her class came over to wish her a Happy Birthday and welcome her into the program.

Olivia has been waiting for this day for MONTHS! She has been so excited.

Morgan's 10th Birthday Party Sleepover

It's 1:51am and there's no end in sight.

We've Come A Long Way, Baby!

521,548 vehicles

4 jobs between the two of us

1 teensy weensy apartment

2 homes

3 wards

4 perfectly imperfect children

1 college graduation with honors

1,000 soccer, t-ball, softball games

2 speeding tickets

2 Caribbean cruises

a dozen or more trips to Disney

a bazillion prayers answered

new friends and old

a few tears

a LOT of laughter and happy-ness

14 years of Joy

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Babies on My Birthday

Congratulations to TWO of my friends, Brittany C. and Matt Janzen.

They, along with their families, each welcomed babies into the world

Friday July 18.

Wasn't that nice of me to share my birthday with these special little angels??

Congrats you guys.

Your babies are absolutely perfect.

Baby Emeric Pierce - born to Matt and Kaisa

Baby Ella Kate - born to Brittany and George

So speaking of my birthday, a big thanks goes out to my dear husband and kiddos. They made the day so very special for me. I came downstairs the morning of to a clean living room and kitchen and the table all decorated. The kids had brownies with candles and sang a beautiful rendition of Happy Birthday to me. SO CUTE! The girls also had a Birthday Cheer all choreographed. SWEET!

We celebrated later that evening with a little painting at The Potter's Quarter then on to dinner at Johnny Ocean's. After dropping off the rugrats at home, Martin and I enjoyed "The Dark Night".

(For a sneak peek trailer bite, click here.)

It was bittersweet to watch Heath Ledger's performance. I will miss him and his acting. The movie was great - I didn't find it as disturbing as many others have talked about.

Says alot about me, doesn't it??

What A Blessing

Oh, what a happy day.

We blessed Delaney on Sunday.

A blessing in our church is similar to a dedication or christening in other churches. The baby is held in a circle and given her name (Delaney Katherine H) and a sweet blessing by her father. Martin blessed Delaney with such wonderful things, several of which are:

• 
  
  to know how much she is loved by her parents and siblings and the rest of her family


• 
  
  to be able to feel the Spirit so she will know what Heavenly Father wants her to know for her to be in tune to Him


• 
  
  to challenge herself in learning; to expand her knowledge


• 
  
  with a desire to serve; to serve Heavenly Father


• 
  
  encouraged her to to the extra mile; to give of her friendship to those around her


• 
  
  with the desire to marry; to marry in the House of the Lord to someone who'll be willing to give the Lord the same level of commitment that she'll have


• 
  
  with strength through tough times that are before her and to grow strong through every trial

...this and so much more.

A sweet lady in our ward took notes during the blessing and typed them up for us. Bless her heart. Thank you, Eve.

Thank you especially to our wonderful family and friends who took time out of their busy weekend to join us on Delaney's special day, some of you driving 2 hours to get here and then 2 hours back home:

Grandma Sally

Papa (Irene and Zach, we missed you)

Carly

Grandpa Clyde

Grandma and Grandpa H

Uncle Greg, Lowden, Parker, Lauren and Bennett (Margaret, we missed you)

Jennifer, Lonnie, Madison, Ryker, Julianna, Lillie and Kylie Rose

Merilee and Ken

We loved having most of you over afterwards for dinner. I am always up for a party! When are you all coming back??

It was a perfect day for our little angel.

(if for some reason, the slideshow isn't playing... simply press the X in the top right corner to get it started again)

Our 4th of July Celebration

When I get the photos off *my* camera, I mean Margaret's camera, I will post them.

(I let her take most of the pics that day.)

We spent our 4th with family out at Kent and Ludene's home for a bbq over Kent's new firepit then letting off our own fireworks.

Kids had fun. Adults had fun.

It was a perfectly relaxing day.

Grandpa H. with his local grandkids.

Christian and Bennett playing tug-of-war.
(These two little men are about a year and a half apart.)

It's never an easy feat to get eight kids to smile, hold still, and not do bunny ears all at the same time. This collage is a group of photos that Grandma H. tried very hard at...