Happy Birthday Madison!

Eleven years ago you entered our life, and nothing has been the same since.

Lots of fun, lots of smiles

Lots of playing

Lots of learning and growing

Making your family happier each day.

With Christian, your buddy, always a wonderful big sister.

Always the beach girl

Cutie with jack-o-lantern smile

Getting older - and still the beach girl. Even in the winter.

Always enjoys her cousins. All 32 of them. Here with her cool cousin CJ.

Always on Santa's NICE list

Happy Birthday to our little surfer girl!

We love you and are so proud of the lovely young lady you are becoming.

Now, if you would please stop growing so you can stay in Primary forever . . .

We are so not ready for you to go into Young Women's next year!

Wasn't it a few weeks ago that I did your Nursery graduation?

There you are, in the black dress. Well, OK, I suppose from the looks of this it was quite a bit more than a few weeks ago. But still!!

Assumption

Take a close look at what my son brought home from kindergarten.

No wonder the teacher wanted a meeting with me!

(click on picture to enlarge)

You know what they say about assuming . . .

Now I have to ask, what is your interpretation of this picture? Think about it before you read the following dialogue.

Mom: Christian, did you make this picture in school today?

Christian: Oh yes! Do you know what this says? (pointing to the sideways printing next to GW)

Mom: Kind of OK?

Christian: Yes (proud that he wrote it all by himself phonetically, and that I could read it)

Mom: Tell me about this picture. Why does it say 'kind of OK' for George Washington?

Christian: Oh, because he has bows on his clothes. And I like Abraham Lincoln the best because he has a top hat.

Mom: Oh! (wasn't expecting that!). What about President Obama? Why did you write BAD?

Christian: Oh, because he doesn't have a lot of hair and he's almost bald.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?

I was very happy to report back to the teacher that my little boy was NOT making a political statement in kindergarten. And the beard, by the way, was started by a little girl sitting next to him. I can tell you that Christian truly does NOT like buzz cuts. Last summer his friend got one and I mentioned that we should do it to Christian and he immediately protested. I even reminded him that Uncle Steve has one, and he is a cool policeman. Christian agreed that he is a cool policeman, but he still abhors buzz cuts!

This has been a great lesson on jumping to conclusions and making assumptions. The workings of a child's mind is ever-so-fascinating!

Never assume.

Visitors

Our favorite place to take Cole (the "field") which is just a few houses up the street in our neighborhood had some visitors this morning. Or are we the visitors? I think probably so.

Aside from our canine neighbors, we are thoroughly enjoying the splendor that a wonderful rainfall brings . . . snow-capped mountains, vibrantly green hills. It is spectacular!!

Photos taken by my friend Steve Hallmark from his backyard.

Another Donation

BEFORE

AFTER

Brooke, Gwen Johnson, and Madison were so excited to have an appointment at the hair salon to all have their hair cut and donated!

This is my girls' THIRD time doing it, which amazes me considering Brooke is only 8 years old.

We are so proud of you girls!

Presidents Day Weekend 2010

President's Day Weekend was so beautifully fabulous that we took advantage and went to the beach . . . twice!

On Monday we went to Zuma with our friends the Johnsons. Baby Kate was so happy to be at the beach!

Monkey Brains, Snakes, Boulders, Mummies, Fedoras and BOYS BOYS BOYS!

Christian's Indiana Jones-themed birthday party was a huge success. Here are some of the highlights, and information because I'll probably forget in a couple of weeks how in the world all this came together.

John dressed the part of Indy and Christian was so proud!

We set up our huge tent in the front yard so the kids entered the tent first. Brooke had a table with all of the satchels (that I made from donated upholstery fabric - and they turned out fabulously) that the kids got upon 'check-in'.

The goal was to keep them in the tent until most of the kids arrived and the party could start. We blasted the theme music from the movie, and in came the REAL Indiana Jones - real treat for these 6-year old boys!

He's a happy boy.

Indiana Jones showed the boys the clues he found to start them on their adventure.

After they completed each task, he read the next clue to them and they had to figure out where to go and what to do next.

Pin the Hat on Indiana Jones!

Indiana can't have his adventures without his beloved hat.

It was hilarious watching the boys go all over the room trying to find the right spot.

After they completed this task, they earned their own fedora.

The Fedoras - which used to be neon colored!

Snake Lake

They had to carefully balance themselves as they walked across the lake full of venomous snakes, while carefully reaching down and choosing the snake that wouldn't bite them, and putting it in their satchel.

Off they go in search of the Archeological Dig Site to find more treasure.

They were so cute and cooperative!

They used special digging tools (chop sticks) to find buried treasure (chocolate) and other goodies hiding in the deep buckets filled with beans and rice.

The Mummy Gallery.

The boys wrapped each other up in toilet paper . . .

. . . then had fun with wrestling in the wads of TP.

Then they had to make their way to the banquet, where the bad guys just ate and dropped treasures in

Monkey Brains, Eyeball Soup, and Snake Guts.

The CAKE

oh, the cake.

The cake was very fun to make. I got many ideas from wonderful cyber folks who blogged their creations and we came up with a version of our own.

It's amazing what can be done with two cakes, some cookies, Legos and lots of frosting.

PRESENT TIME

After cake and ice cream, it was time to adjourn to the tent and open presents.

Lego was a popular theme, and young Indy was in heaven.

The party was a great success. I have been told by many different parents that the boys wore their satchels all weekend long and only took them off long enough to go to church. Except one even wore his to church.

Love is in the Air

Will You Marry Me?

YES!

17 years ago, John proposed with 2 red flowers (representing us) and one white (our eternal love). After work on Feb 2, he came home with this gorgeous bouquet, now with six red roses (we've grown!) and got on his knee in the middle of the kitchen. I'll say yes again! and again!

HEART ATTACK!

What fun to see this sweet surprise!

Many of the hearts had messages on them.

And a sweet plate of Valentine cookies!

I wonder what the neighbors think! I think it looks a lot better than TP!