Wynnie's Wonderland Party!

Today we had Wynnie's birthday party! When we woke up it was snowing--perfect for a snowman birthday party, but then it kept on snowing, and snowing, and snowing--not so perfect if you want anyone to come to your party :) It's a good thing we invited a bunch of die hards who didn't let a little snow get in their way!

A couple of months ago Wynnie asked Mechelle if she could have her party at Mech's house. She was tired of ALWAYS having her party at our house...Hannah didn't have to have her party at our house (we usually have Hannah's at a park because it is warm) and Wynnie didn't want to have her party at our house anymore...so she made other arrangements...which made it easier on me! So after we got ready we packed up and headed to Mechelle's to decorate the cake and get things ready. After several failed attempts to make frosting for the cake (who knew it was so hard to make frosting) we threw the cake in the garbage...you don't NEED a cake at a birthday party right? Just kidding, luckily Mechelle had some store bought frosting (Betty Crocker, I'm a failure...but at least I keep you in business!) Although, the cake didn't turn out anything like the vision in my mind at least the kids all recognized it as a snowman which was a plus because on more than one occasion that day I felt like throwing the thing across the room!

Once the kids all arrived we made snowflakes out of flour tortillas (thanks to Nancy for the great idea...the kids all loved making the snowflakes....and eating the tortillas!)

After that we made treat bags, played pin the nose on the snowman (This was the one game Wynnie wanted to play and she even drew the snowman and all the noses!) We also played "Cold Snowman" our version of "Hot Potato."

Then Wynnie opened her presents and we had cake and ice cream. It was a great party...I know this because Wynnie had a smile on her face the whole time...that's what matters right?

Look who's walking...

Today at Wynnie's birthday party Esther decided she would start walking. She stood up and just started going! She is really good with her left leg but she's not quite sure what to do with her right (Jeremy thinks this is a sign that he will finally have another left hander in the house!)

I see dead people!

Today I was lucky enough to hitch a ride with Mechelle and Aaron down to Salt Lake to see Body Worlds 3 (they were going down to an eye appointment for Aaron.) This is the last week it will be here and I really wanted to see it! The older two girls were funny about me going. For some reason Wynnie thought I was going to work and she would tell people "Mom is going to work at the body museum" and then she would make a funny face! And when Jeremy took Hannah to school she asked him why I had to go look at the bodies...It's interesting...that's why!

Dad was nice enough to watch Wynnie and Sophie and I took Esther with me--she was my Body Worlds Buddy! We got down there at about 10:30 am and didn't get out of the exhibit until almost 1:30pm! There was A LOT to see...I probably could have stayed longer but not with two babies (Mech and Aaron had Preston too.)

It was very interesting and informative. Lots of stuff I already knew from school but it was really neat to see everything (unfortunately they didn't let us take cameras in so I couldn't take any pictures.) I have always found the human body so fascinating...it is just an amazing machine! It was cool to see it at work in the exhibit!

Happy LUCKY birthday Wynnie!

Today Wynnie turns 5! I can't believe how fast time flies! The girls have gymnastics today so we decided to have Wynnie's party tomorrow...I will post more on that later! I'm so blessed to have such wonderful girls! Wynnie is such a help to me! She loves to help out with her sisters (especially Esther...she is like a second mom to her!) She has such an amazing imagination...she is able to go into her own little world and have amazing adventures. I will often hear her talking and when I peak in the room to see what she is up to she will be involved in an elaborate game with her dolls, toys, and sometimes even with just using her hands as puppets! Wynnie is definitely an entertainer she likes to be in the spotlight and she loves to make people laugh!

I can't believe how big she is getting! A couple of months ago she came up to Jeremy and told him he needed to teach her how to read. They have been working on it a little here and a little there but I'm sure she will be reading before kindergarten! She is excited to be in school (like her sister) but was kind-of sad that she'll have to wait until fall (in her mind she could start school as soon as she turned 5--she asked me this morning when she got to start school and when I told her in the fall she almost started crying!)
Wynnie can always make us smile...I'm so glad she is in our family!

SNOW fun!!!

Earlier today Mechelle called and wanted to know if the kids and I wanted to come play in the snow. We were knee deep in paint flecks and wall paper scraps (from scraping the walls in the girls room) so I told her probably not today. Around lunch time I was more than sick of scraping the walls so I called Mechelle and told her maybe we could go sledding after the kids took naps. When the kids woke up we headed off to sled--it was almost 4:30 so we had about an hour before sunset--which was more than enough time for our little ones! Sophie and Preston got cold and started crying so we spent some time in the car while the others finished sledding. Sophie LOVED sledding I think I just need to get her better gloves. Her hands were cold but it broke her heart to stop sledding and get in the car. She kept telling me "Go down, GO DOWN!" Hannah and Wynnie had a blast! They were sliding down the hill on their bottoms then they turned over onto their bellys and slid down like penguins--laughing all the way! Wynnie even grabbed one of the sleds and went down by herself! I couldn't believe it! It scared me at first. She was going so fast but Wynnie wasn't scared at all...you could hear her laughing the entire way down! Hannah even went down by herself.

I have to tell you a little about the sleds we have. A couple of years ago my dad gave them to us and now I know why--you start out going down the hill fine but no matter what you do the sled will turn itself around so you end up speeding down the hill backward! The girls loved it--it makes for a fun ride (personally I prefer seeing where I am going!)

Of course the tears came when it was time to go! I think the girls would have stayed there all night if we would have let them! We will definitely go again!

Mom was nice enough to make hot chocolate for us so we stopped by her house when we were done. Even with all the wall paper scrapping it turned out to be a great day!

Terrible Mistake!

Out with the old and in with the new! This new year has inspired us (actually it was Jeremy.) Yesterday he was going stir crazy and told me he was going to go buy materials to work on the fence--in the middle of winter with snow on the ground--I told him I thought we should wait until Spring. He told me he just needed a project so I put him to work!


3 Years ago when we moved in I did this to the girls room:




I know, I know, I've seen the light and don't know what I was thinking! In my defense at that time in my life I:

A) was watching WAY too much HGTV

B) was suppressing a child hood dream of being a circus performer

C) was totally out of my mind!


Now I am 3 Years older (and wiser too!) and I:

A) have sworn off HGTV (who has time for TV with 4 little ones running around the house!)

B) have read Water for Elephants which is all about circus life and has cured me of ever wanting that for my life!

C) ...well I'm still totally out of my mind but 2 out of 3 isn't bad!


For the past 2 Years and 11 months I have absolutely hated the paint job in the girls room! So yesterday I put Jeremy to work scraping off the wall paper (and in effect getting rid of the awful paint job!!!) In no time at all we will all be able to sleep better knowing this awful mistake has been fixed (I'm sure it is the crazy walls that keeps Esther up at night!) I'll keep you posted on the progress!

HAPPY 2009!!!

I can hardly believe 2008 is over! For the most part this has been a good year for us: we got to meet the newest member of our family (We love you Essie Sage!), Jeremy ran for office (we met a ton of really neat people and learned a lot about the election process), the girls have kept us busy (dance lessons, gymnastics,...boundless energy), we got a new car (WE GOT A NEW CAR!!!) there are many other good things about this last year (that's not to say we haven't had our challenges--because we have but the good out ways the bad (it always does) we are truly blessed!) I'm excited to see what 2009 has in store for our little family!

We had a great time bringing in the new year last night! My parents and Ryan and Amanda came over and we played games and hung out (Mechelle and Aaron joined us VIA phone--they had sick boys!) It was a good time!

At midnight KST (Kid Standard Time)--OK, it was actually 10:00 pm but we thought that was late enough for our little ones to be up--we celebrated the new year!

We hope you all enjoy this New Year!!!