Sydney turns 1!

Sydney, Jack, and Ronin all turned 1 within a few weeks of each other. It seems like last week that we (Carly, Kinsey, and I) were all pregnant and delivering those babies! We decided it would be "easier" to have a combined birthday party so we could save on cost and time. Let's just say nothing is "easy" when I am involved! We added so many details, which by the way were super cute, that took a lot of time. But the plus side being we got to spend many evenings together (big plus, I LOVE these friends), and the party was a so much fun.

Seems like the theme for the moms was how many blog tutorials can you put into one party? Like those poms hanging ? I almost killed myself getting them up there. Ok, I didn't but it was a bit scary teetering on a small table.

Love the cupcake tower carly made? uber-cute!

quite simple decor overall

We had a lot of fun making the banners. I have made so many now that i am a pro!

Birthday babies on their thrones

my little princess

Jack tore his cake apart, well really he just enjoyed every bite!

proof i was there.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR BABIES!

and thanks to Carly and Kins for a great time!

Gracie is 4!

In case you are unaware Grace and Syd were born on the same day, Aug 3rd (also the same birthday as an aunt and cousin-kind of amazing. I wonder if it has anything to do with the new moon schedule or something). We haven't thrown a party for Gracie since her first birthday (before we moved to OR)! We had a "Berry" Fun extravaganza! All Strawberry Shortcake themed. It kind of snowballed into a big deal. We had 6 areas/rooms decorated for each of Strawberry's friends who each had an activity for the kids to do.

Ginger Snap invited them over to make gingerbread houses with candy. It was a blast!

"Eden's" house was perfect! I wonder why???

Raspberry Torte invited the kids over for some necklace making. (she runs the jewelry shop)

Huckleberry Pie had them over for fishing and bowling.

Orange Blossom had orange playdough for them, and Blueberry Muffin (who runs the library, in case you need to know) had them come and color fun strawberry shortcake character pages.

And Strawberry Shortcake herself had a cake and ice cream, and strawberry drink for all!

I loved how Gracie's banner turned out!!

Gracie picked out the castle cake online! She LOVED it.

She had this expression for every gift. Since she hasn't had a party since her first birthday she has never had the chance to open presents all on her own. She was in HEAVEN!! Thanks to all the friends who made her day so special!!

Gracie is my little sweetheart.

Grace is everything you could want in a little girl...and then some. She is very much into the girlie things, the color pink, dress-up, dolls, etc, but loves to try new games and run around (but she is not much for getting dirty). She loves reading and learning, loves playing on the computer and watching movies, and watching Avatar (the last airbender(cartoon)) with her Dad(mostly so they can snuggle). Lance likes to say that his favorite thing about her is her imagination and although it causes us to check more often for monsters (it was alligators and foxes last time) in her closet, it is pretty neat that she will go off in her own little world and then tell us in-depth, really involved stories about all the things that she does when she is playing. She has begun really playing well with Kami in the last 6 weeks and will go over an hour in their room, quietly playing together and having so much fun! It is funny to see the kinds of things that she picks up from us and really funny to have our sayings and mannerisms played back to us from a four-year-old's perspective. For instance, she has begun cracking her knuckles just like Lance does, in the exact same disgusting way. We really enjoy her at this age and love that she is so helpful with her sisters and obedient. Last night she came out of her room and said "Dad, I just need some quiet so I can go to sleep" Too funny! (Kami gave her binkie up this week and is having a hard time settling down each night). We love our Gracie girl and although we like her how she is now, we are really excited to watch her as she grows. Love you GEM!

August Randomness

Down at the Fish hatchery

showing off the teeth. (two more have grown in since then!)

meet Herman. the sturgeon. he's HUGE!

I think Syd like spaghetti. maybe.

syd's first ponytail. she ripped it out in the car on the way to church.

Thanks Bella & Grumpa

The tutus, crowns, wands and wings were the best birthday presents EVER! or so says Grace. LOVE YOU and thank you!

Fun with the Hortins

Tre-bo

Brinley and Grace are good friends!

Meet the Hortin Family. We have so much fun together. Good thing too or we would really make fun of Lance picking up Mike on his way home from clinic. (of course we made fun of them, but at the same time were glad they were willing to ride together so we didn't have to pack up the kids and go pick them up.)

WE LOVE STASIA!

Meet Stasia. The best babysitter/playmate/friend EVER! Who else gets a 18 year old to babysit 3 crazies whenever they want. Stasia left us for UVU. I don't blame her. College is fun and she will have a great time.

It was hard for us to say goodbye to Stasia.

We love her soooooo much! The girls ask for her all the time and even Syd still remembers her and says her name when prompted with a picture.

See you at Thanksgiving Staysh!! LOVE YOU!!

It's Rough Being Students

A tender mercy was delivered straight to my heart this afternoon.

Again, the Lord has shown me exactly how much he cares for me and my family. It's the end of the quarter, and bills are due. We were much too close this month and there was not nearly enough money in our checking account to go around. I have been praying for weeks to find a way to make ends meet. I started to squirm and freak out, and contemplate what to do. I had a feeling to pay my bills, and get on with it...not 30 minutes later I went to go count the cash I had on hand. (Big confession: I take out cash each quarter to set aside for the big insurance bills.) Somehow, I counted and counted ( I think I counted at least 4 times) and found there was too much. MUCH too much. It was what we needed. I don't know if I accidentally withdrew too much somewhere along the way, but my heart tells me it is a gift. I know my Father in Heaven is watching over us and taking care of us. I am so grateful for His hand in my life.