Hunter is 7 years old!

Hunter also wanted a Hogwarts Birthday party (thank goodness!).  The only change to the party was "Dementor Tag."  I learned about 1 minute into the party that there is a big difference between 9 year old girls and 7 year old boys!  I had to come up with something quick for these very active boys.  Our Dementor was perfect (thanks sweetie :)!  Here are some of my favorite pictures from the night.....

Then on Hunter's actual birthday, he chose to go to "Crepes de Paris" for dinner--yummy!

Afterwards, he opened presents....

Then he requested that we all play a game of "Ticket to Ride!"

What a fun night!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

When Hunter and Savannah woke up this morning they realized they had forgotten to make and set out a trap to catch a leprechaun the night before.  They both asked if Madison and I could create one during the day.  This is what we came up....

We created the "Lucky Charms Roller Rink."  

Then we took the "Roller Rink" out to the backyard.....

We put gold coins around the "roller rink" in hopes that it would attract some leprechauns--you know how much they love to collect gold!

When the kids came home from school....

The Leprechaun ended up taking all the gold and left a note inside the "Roller Rink."  

"Hee, hee, hee!  

You can't catch me!

  You tried to trick me with the gold, so I have tricked you back....

I've hidden your gold around the yard.  

Each of you have to find 10 gold coins hidden around your yard. 

 Better luck catching me next year!"

A little more madness in March.....

Tonight was my first game for the 3 v 3 Women's Basketball League.....I'm tired.  I can't believe I am playing again.  I guess the madness in March is catching on!!!

March Madness!!!

Tonight we filled out our NCAA brackets.  Every March, each member of the family fills out a bracket.  The winner gets to choose where we go out to dinner.  I'll let you know how it all goes!

 (For Eliza, we had her roll a die)

Another year older....

Jesse and kids surprised me with a very heartfelt birthday present.  Jesse sat down with each kid and had them answer 22 questions about me.  It's both touching and funny to hear who I am to them.  Here are their responses.

MADISON

1. What is something mom always says to you?

  “Clean up!” 

2. What makes mom happy?

  When I give her something.

3. What makes mom sad?

  If I don't give her a hug.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

  If she makes a silly joke

5. What was your mom like as a child?

I don't know.

6. How old is your mom?

  29

7. How tall is your mom?

  This tall [reaching from floor to ceiling as high as she can]

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

  Work on the computer

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?

  Do things that she wants to do like chatting with her friends

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

  I don't know.

11. What is your mom really good at?

  Making art and painting.

12. What is your mom not very good at?

  Not good if she doesn't paint.

13. What does your mom do for her job?

  Picking stuff up.

14. What is your mom’s favorite food?

Fruit.

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

  I don't know.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

  Princess from Princess & the Pea and Ariel

17. What do you and your mom do together?

  Make stuff that's our own.

18. How are you and your mom the same?

  If we wear the same dresses to church.

19. How are you and your mom different?

  If we don't wear the same dresses.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

  She says, “I love you.” [with sign language]

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

  That he picks her up.

22. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?

  To play with her friends.

HUNTER

1. What is something mom always says to you?

  “I love you.”

2. What makes mom happy?

  When the house is clean.

3. What makes mom sad?

  When we say mean things.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

  When I'm sad and trying to be grumpy she cheers me up and I start laughing.

5. What was your mom like as a child?

  Silly.

6. How old is your mom?

  34

7. How tall is your mom? 

 3' 6”

8. What is her favorite thing to do? 

 Rest. (After the I read their letters I told them I wanted to take a picture of them with their letters.  Hunter said, "I should of said your favorite things to do is take pictures!)

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?

  Cleans up.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

  I don't know, she's really good at a lot of stuff.

11. What is your mom really good at?

  The computer and helping the children.

12. What is your mom not very good at?

  Baseball.

13. What does your mom do for her job?

  Cleaning the house and giving the children lunch.

14. What is your mom’s favorite food?

  It depends on what she's in the mood for.  

15. What makes you proud of your mom? 

 She teaches us about Jesus Christ and the gospel.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?  

Snoopy.

17. What do you and your mom do together?  

Play sports and the dishes.

18. How are you and your mom the same?

  We both have brown hair.

19. How are you and your mom different?

  I'm a boy and she's a girl.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

  She takes care of me.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

  He helps mom.

22. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go? 

 To the store.

SAVANNAH

1. What is something mom always says to you?

  She doesn't say this every second of the day, but I feel her telling me, “I love you.”

2. What makes mom happy? 

 When our family is happy.

3. What makes mom sad?  

When things don't turn out the way she expected.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?  

Sometimes she tells jokes.

5. What was your mom like as a child?  

She lived in a big house and had lots of fun.  She was a fun child.

6. How old is your mom?  

32

7. How tall is your mom?

  Ummm ... is it OK if I guess?  About 6 feet, maybe?

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

  Spend time with her family.

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?

  Does things around the house to make it cleaner and happy.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

  Being the best mom in the world.

11. What is your mom really good at?  

Helping me with things like homework.

12. What is your mom not very good at? 

 Playing the piano.

13. What does your mom do for her job? 

 Cleans around the house and takes care of our family.

14. What is your mom’s favorite food? 

 Grandma's Sunshine Chicken

15. What makes you proud of your mom?  

 That she helps me when I need help, like if I get hurt.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? 

 Belle

17. What do you and your mom do together? 

 Sometimes we go to the mall.

18. How are you and your mom the same?  

We both have blue eyes.

19. How are you and your mom different?  

 Different hair color.

20. How do you know your mom loves you? 

 Because she shows me by hugging me and helping.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

  Long pause . . . she likes everything about Dad but most of all she likes that Daddy helps with things around the house.

22. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go? 

 The mall.

9 years later...

I finally found Utah!!!!  It was the last state quarter I needed.  After I placed the final quarter in the book, I had this overwhelming sense of accomplishment--wow, I am done...I really did it...I have finished collecting them all...there are no more empty spaces!  Then I looked around the room and saw the kids all playing together and I realized how much time has passed since I started collecting these quarters and all the things that have happened in my life over the past nine years.  

When I started collecting these quarters, I had no kids and now--9 years later and four kids later--I have all the quarters!  Kind of crazy....

It snowed!!!

It finally snowed!!!!  Sure the sun is already shining and the roads, sidewalks, and driveway are clear already, but it snowed!  I can't believe I am excited about snow, but it has been so long since we last had snow--I think December 5th!  Crazy!!!

I love freshly fallen snow on the trees.  Here are some more pictures I took.  Enjoy!