Celebrations and more celebrations!!!

May is our month of celebrations!!! Blake of course didn't really want anything for his birthday. So we just kept it low key. He wanted some oatmeal chocolate bars a few days before his birthday and said it was his birthday cake. So we put a candle in the last piece and sang to him before it was all gone. I thought it would be fun to go on a date, just us for his birthday. So we traded babysitting with another couple in the ward and we headed out. First we stopped at Popeye's chicken and grabbed some food and took it to the bird refuge by our house. We ate dinner, then walked around the refuge looking at different birds. We had Kelsi with us and she slept the whole time. We saw a few birds and Blake told me all about them. Nothing new for him though. We did get to see a barn owl flying back and forth. They are so peaceful when they fly. It was fun to just relax together and talk.

After the refuge we went back to where the kids were and played games until almost midnight. Then headed home.

Sunday morning I woke up to breakfast it bed! They brought me waffles, ice-cream and berries on top. It was delicious. They also gave me some new shoes. Sparkle shoes! Remi and Alissa were so excited that I now have sparkle shoes like them. They have just the right amount of sparkle for me. Blake did great picking them out! I think Remi probably helped:)

I think the kids enjoy breakfast in bed as much as we do:)

Monday was my birthday and I woke up really grouchy. The kitchen was still a mess from dinner the night before and so was the house. I didn't think I should have to clean on my birthday, so I was just going to leave it. Then I decided that I better clean it or I would be in a bad mood all day. I don't like relaxing in a messy house. So I started doing the dishes. It changed my attitude. I realized that I like being a home maker. I wanted to do the dishes and make my house look nice. I wanted to make dinner and a cake. I did these things because that is what I like doing. So I went and played tennis with my friends then came home and made dinner the way I wanted it and my cake the way I wanted it and I loved every minute of it! When Blake got home from work I told him I wanted to have people over for my birthday. I was all ready to call them and he said he would call. I think he knows I don't like calling people. So he invited all my friends over and we enjoyed eating cake and ice cream and visiting. It was We had Hatch's, Ingersolls, Christensens, and Sjostroms. It was a great birthday and I loved knowing that I can do what I want on my birthday, even if it is the same thing I do all the other days.

Blake and the kids got me a new camera case for my birthday. It is perfect! Our old one was falling apart. I also got a thing of suckers made into a bouquet that said "30 Sucks!" My young:) friends brought this to me. I don't really feel different being 30, but I think they get a kick out of me being 30 when they are still so young.

Yes, I feel comfortable enough around my friends to hang out in my workout clothes without much make-up. I know they don't care. 

Whitney Rob and Emery

Andi and Jacee

Parker with his pants on backwards

Our anniversary was pretty uneventful. We watched Emery for the Christensen's while they were in London and just had a relaxing evening.

Parker being all boy playing with a snail.

Kelsi sticking out her tongue

 On Mother's Day we attempted family pictures to send to our moms. We were going to do it earlier in the week, but the weather wasn't cooperating. We snuck them in Sunday morning before church and more rain.

Its great to be 8!!!

Remi turned 8 on Monday the 15th of April! They didn't have school that day, so we let Shaylee and Rilyn stay the night on Sunday night. She told us on Sunday that she wanted cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Luckily Grandma was here to make home made cinnamon rolls because we didn't have any of the ones that come in the can.

When Remi woke up she wanted breakfast in bed for her and her brothers and sisters and friends. It was pretty cute all of them eating breakfast in "bed."

After breakfast I took Remi to the doctor. The Wednesday after Kelsi was born we went rollerskating and Remi fell on her arm. She thought it was broken, so the next day we took her to the ER. They thought she had a break inbetween her thumb and wrist, so they put her in a big brace and said the orthopedic doctor would call us. So almost 2 weeks later we finally got an appointment with the orthopedic doctor. He looked at the x-rays and said he couldn't see a break, but according to clinical diagnosis he thought it was broken at the growth plate. He wanted to cast it just in case.

We explained that she was supposed to be getting baptized on Friday and she would be going all the way under the water. He said we could come in Friday afternoon and he would take off the cast and she could wear a brace. Then come back in Saturday morning and he would recast it. So we left with a pretty pink cast!

After the doctor we madly dashed around getting things ready for her candy birthday party. We went to the store and got candy then rushed home to make a cake. I think it was a record for fasted made cake. Done in 2 hours!!! Thank goodness Grandma was here to entertain kids, decorate and help get games and house ready while I did the cake.

Remi planned the whole party, from games, to cake to candy! She even made the giant lolly for pin the lolly on the lolly. She had so much fun doing it!

Shaylee, Rilyn, Broden, Parker, Mackenzee, Alissa, Remi and Avery

Remi's giant lolly

After the birthday party we headed on base to get pizza for dinner. We gave Remi her present from us too. It was a hair cut. She has been wanting to cut her hair for about a year. I have been holding off for that long. I did tell her that if she cut it she needs to donate it. It was plenty long to donate, so I thought she would love it as a birthday present if I actually let her do it. She was really excited!!!

Friday afternoon Remi got her cast off. Blake picked up some sandwiches on his way home from work and we headed up to the church. We took Remi's friend Katy with us. We got there and started the font filling. Then we ate, got everyone dressed and set up the table with programs and the table for treats after. We took some family pictures, then people started coming, so Remi and Blake got their baptism clothes on and we started. It was such a wonderful night. I can't describe how proud I am of Remi and her choice to be baptized. I love seeing how happy she is with her decision. She knows she is doing what is right and I love it!

The Sunday before her baptism I took her out to take some pictures of her in her baptism dress. I wanted to take pictures of her with her long hair too, because her birthday present from mom and dad was a hair cut.

Remi is such a good helper at home. She loves making things and doing crafts and helping in the kitchen. Her favorite foods are tator tot casserole, spicy chicken, lasagne, spagetti, I could go on and on. I guess she would say her favorite is pizza, but she eats almost anything. She doesn't really like taco soup or onions. Remi is year 3 in school, or 2nd grade. She loves her school and talks with a British accent when she is around her British friends. She is learning to read really well and is getting especially good at reading scriptures during family scripture time. She loves creating games to play during family home evening and relating them to the gospel. She is so much help with her younger brothers and sisters and loves to be the grown up that takes care of them. We are so proud of what a sweet, beautiful happy girl Remi is. We love you Remi!!!