HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAKE!

On the Saturday previous to Jake's fifth birthday, we threw him a Cars 2 Party. On his actual birthday, we celebrated as a family! 

Decorations:
The Cozy Cone Motel-Popcorn in Cone-Shaped Paper
Luigi's Tires-Donuts Stacked
Sarge's Surplus Hut-Goody Bags
Ramone's Body Art Shop-Face Painting
Luigi's Tire Toss-Bean Bag Toss into Tires
Outdoor Activities: Obstacle Course with Cardboard Cars
Red Light, Green Light
Plasma Car Races
During Party: We ate food that would be found at a race: hot dogs, chips, water, popcorn, donuts...

More Decorations.

...On Jake's birthday, we celebrated by going to Game World.

We have a tradition where we pass a paper labeled "You Are Special", and write what we love about that child. Here is what was written about Jake:
I love you smile. -Mom
He makes me laugh. -Hailey
Easy to get along with. -Dad
He lets me play cars with him. -Amber

Good at including others. -Mom
I love Jacob's willingness to be happy. -Hailey
Goofy boy. -Dad

Best at playing. -Amber

He cuddles a lot. -Mom
Fun Laugh. -Dad

Contagious Smile. -Mom

He tries to be like Jesus. -Hailey

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRYAN!

I am so grateful to be sharing my life with my best friend! Everything good has branched from my decision to be married to this man for Time and All Eternity in the temple.

Happy Birthday, Amber!
Amber requested two activities for her birthday: The Cheesecake Factory, and Game World. We had so much fun at both locations; however, the highlight of the evening was when Amber got her ears pierced!

Cheesecake Factory

Amber wanted her ears pierced; however, in our home there are two rules a girl must accomplish in order to have this privilege. First, she must be eight; and second, she must demonstrate responsibility for a month. Amber has been working for over a month on reading the scriptures, and practicing her piano without reminders, and she has done a fantastic job! We were thrilled to surprise her on her birthday with her ears being pierced!

We have a tradition where we pass a paper labeled "You Are Special", and write what we love about that child. Here is what was written about Amber:
I love you smile. ~Mom
I love it when Amber tells me her adventures at the end of the day. ~Hailey
I love Amber's sense of humor. She is funny and clever. ~Dad
I love Amber's desire to do what is right. ~Mom
Gives me candy. ~Jake
I love that Amber wants to be a good girl and follow Jesus. ~Dad
I love Amber's testimony in the Gospel. ~Hailey
I love her that she gives me cake. ~Jake
I love that she watches out for others. ~Mom
Amber is nice to her little brother and plays with him. ~Dad
I love Amber's need to serve before getting. ~Hailey
I love her because she pretends to be Santa and gives me presents. ~Jake

MY FAIR LADY

For Christmas, we gave the girl's tickets to "My Fair Lady". It was Amber's first Broadway play. (Hailey went to "Wicked" with mom and dad the previous year.) It was a perfect date for mom and her two little angels!

Eating at PF Chang's prior to show

Our night was a bit exhausting for Amber

 

Happy New Year

We spent New Year's at Grandma and Grandpa Elkington's. We watched a movie, and then when it was midnight, we set off a few fireworks! 

 

AUNT MICHELLE's CABIN
After visiting the Miller Family in Featherville, we went to Alpine to visit the Elkington Family.

 

Hailey, Amber, Piper, Cooper

The kids got a nice and easy ride, but our ride was meant to kill us! I truly thought I was going to die--either by laughing too hard, or by falling off.

FEATHERVILLE

 

A sheet of ice was outside the cabin due to a pipe breaking.

CHRISTMAS EVE & CHRISTMAS 2011

 

CHRISTMAS EVE:

Re-enactment of Christmas Story



Opening Christmas Pajamas on Christmas Eve

CHRISTMAS MORNING:

 

CLOGGING; November 23

MONSTER CONCERT

Hailey and Amber performed a piano piece with 18 other pianist. They worked for months on perfecting their individual parts. On the day of the performance, they met with the other pianist and competed for the GRAND PIANO. (Only the best teams would play on the Grand Piano.) Hailey and Amber were selected for the GRAND, and that evening they played completely flawless with 19 other pianist! It was amazing to hear 10 pianos all on the same beat!