Five . . . and a Half!

So, we started the tradition last year of having a half birthday party for Brielle. This gives her a chance to have a party with friends AND have it in the summer time even though her birthday is on Christmas. It was so fun last year, we went for it again on June 25 (actual half birthday).

I took Brie to the party store so that she could choose what kind of party she wanted and get invitations. She chose to do a luau/hula girl party. Why did she choose this over all the little girl party choices???? Because she saw that grass skirt and fell in love. She JUST HAD to be the little hula girl in a grass skirt and coconut shell bra!! I let her do a luau party and I even let her get a grass skirt. She then spent the next hour after leaving the store whining and complaining and crying and fighting with me because I wasn't going to let her wear a coconut bra. "But I CAN'T be a REAL hula girl if I am wearing a shirt or a swim suit!!!!" So, we went back to the store and returned the grass skirt. Brielle was an extremely unhappy 5 and a half year old!!

Lucky for us though, Brie's cousin Annabelle had a birthday luau party just days before ours and let us borrow/use a lot of the decorations they bought for it. Lucky again because it ALL came from the dollar store! Lucky three times because they had a grass skirt to loan us and Brie decided to be a hula girl that covered herself a little more. Yahoo!

Invitations went out and party day came. It was so easy and so much fun. All the girls were chanting at the end, "Best Party Ever!!" So happy.

I just did fruit (pineapple, mango, grapes, kiwi, strawberries) and pineapple juice. No candy at all. Success.
We started by watching hula dancers and then learning a hula dance to "Little Brown Gal". No, I am not a professional instructor in hula dancing.
Then . . . LIMBO!
We went outside for another game, hula hooping, swimming, slip n' sliding and jumping.
All the girls trying to "crack the egg" with Scott.
Now Scott's turn to "crack the egg". There was A LOT of squealing and giggling.
Still trying to find a place to put these new toys. We have Barbies EVERYWHERE!
Happy half birthday to the hula girl.

MARY POPPINS

This year the girls ballet/tap recital was Mary Poppins. It is always a very big deal. The show is performed at Kingsbury Hall. It is certainly professional quality. They have dancers from 3 years old on up to some really amazing ballerinas. It's always good, but I think this was my favorite year so far. It was REALLY good. The music, the costumes, the dance choreography - awesome.

This was Ava's first year dancing. To my utter shock and amazement she actually went into her first dance class back in September and stayed. She has gone running in every time since. She really likes dance and shows me all of her "dance moves" over and over again at home. Sooooooooooo, I thought she might like being in the big show. Yikes. We got to the dress rehearsal and she clung to me in a death grip. She wouldn't let me put her down and if I tried she screamed and cried. Why? Because she was terrified of the poor, little 16 year old girl playing Mary Poppins!! So, she didn't rehearse, but was all smiles as we walked out the door when Brie was done. This is Brielle's third "big show" and this is TOTALLY her thing. She loves everything about it - the dancing, the costumes, the make up, the friends, the audience! She was a little girl on the merry go round in the show and she did great. She knew her dance so well and even added a little bit of her own flare as well.

Pretending she is on a horse. Get it?
The big day came and I was so nervous all day. I played the music for Ava's dances for her. I had her watch the Penguin part in Mary Poppins. I explained exactly how things would go. I encouraged how fun it was going to be. And I let her know that if she decided not to dance, that would be okay. I even drove her up the canyon to put her to sleep for a nap. Well, I'm happy to say all of that work paid off when she easily went with the other girls back stage to wait for the show to start. Scott and I sat in our seats getting more and more nervous for her turn. And then . . . . . like she owned the stage, out came Ava and the other penguins and she did every bit of her dance with no problem!! Yes, there were tears, by us though. We were so proud of her for being brave. Brielle did a great job too. She was one step ahead of the other girls, kind of showing what came next. Again, this is totally her thing. Both girls were thrilled afterward to find me, Scott, Grandma, Papa, flowers and bubble gum!I'm so happy they had such a good night.

Father's Day

Elder H. Burke Peterson wrote:

“I have often wondered what would happen if the method of introducing a father to his newborn child were different. Instead of a doctor coming out and saying, ‘It’s another girl,’ or ‘It’s another boy,’ how would we react if each time a child was born our Father in Heaven made this kind of introduction to the parents:

“‘Thank you for preparing this little body for the spirit I have created. Now, I present her to you for a season to care for. Please teach her of me and of my Son. I so much want her back with me some day. … Remember this: She is loving. She will respond to teaching. She wants to learn. Please treat her with respect. The road will not be easy. Some of the time it will be most difficult. I want to help you raise her. Please call on me often for advice and counsel. Together we can help her fulfill her purpose in the earth.’” (Ensign, Jan. 1973, p. 115.)

This Father's Day seemed like an extra special one to me. I felt so very lucky and blessed to be married to a man that I really love, that I am really happy with and that is such a wonderful father to our kids. I'm thankful to have kids and to be parents together.

After four years in this house, the man finally got his wish come true . . . a ceiling fan for our room. Now he just needs to learn to install it. Landon's house is going to be the "practice house".
Can you guess who just endured 2 hours of nursery and is ready for an afternoon nap?
I was also touched when I thought about the miracle of my dad in the past couple of months. It is one of the biggest blessings of my life to have my father alive and getting healthier by the day. He has been an amazing influence in my life. He and my mom have taught me to be who I am. I was so completely blessed in the "goodly parents" department. I'm grateful every day that I was raised in their home. And I can't say how happy I am that my kids will have a relationship and memories with "grandpa".We had Fred (and Rama, Brian, Rachel and kids) over for Father's Day dinner. We also spent last night with them at the girl's recital. It is ALWAYS nice to be with them. Fred is so good and loving to me. He always greets me with a hug. He wants to talk and discuss as if he really enjoys my company. He is a good, good man. Partners in crime. Get these two together and it is trouble. They are hilarious.

The Reception

After a week of us lounging by the pool and Tawna honeymooning, it was time to get working on putting a reception together. Saturday morning we woke up and got to work. We set up tables and chairs, hung poof balls (?), made centerpieces and my mom and Becca cooked the food. The happy couple supervising the work.
Some found better things to do. This is Krista working hard to help with the reception:Aiden's spot to survey the work in progress.
Brielle found just the right spot.
So we joined her. It was wonderful.
By 7pm we were all ready, guests started arriving and the party got started. Scott worked the cotton candy machine. The kids loved it. I loved it too. If it is possible to eat your weight in cotton candy, I might have done it.
There was only one camera to smile into. Mine.
Jacob found a creative spot for his caramel apple in dad's statue.
Ending the night with present opening . . .
and a goodnight story.