Matthew's Pirate Party

Matt had a fun Pirate Birthday this week!

Here are the invitations that I made:

(Some people tell me I am creative, I really am not--I just take ideas from other people, so to give credit to them, you can see all the ideas I stole on my Pinterest inspiration board HERE ---including the invitation I attempted to copy).

We made a this path to our house:

We looked at a few pirate books while we waited for everyone 

(I HIGHLY recommend those David Shannon books--my kids love them).

Then we got everyone dressed like a pirate (hats, swords, eye patch, etc).

(Thanks Eliza for letting Lindsay use your awesome costume!)

After everyone was dressed we had a big sword fight.

Next we had lunch.

We had hot "scurvy dog" ships.

"Swashbuckling swords"

Jello Jewels

(And thanks Christy for getting me those awesome swords).

Orange boats (Most of the kids took a flag, but left the orange).

And fish and chips.

And check out this AWESOME cake that my sister helped me make 

(or should I say I helped her....she did most of the work--thanks Heather!!)

After lunch we played "pin the treasure chest on the treasure map, then "Walk the Plank"

Next we had a cannon ball fight--they really liked that.

Last Matt discovered a treasure map!  So, we followed the clues!

(Sorry, I do realize my poetry is really bad--my dad even told me so!)

Ahoy there Matey! We’re glad you’re here!

Come look for my treasure like a buccaneer!

Enjoy singing a sea shanty on the boat.

Your first clue is near a piano note.

Avast ye scallywags! Get ready to plunder!

Hear the cannons as loud as thunder!

Swab the deck and be sure to scrub.

Then look for the next clue by the bathtub!

Me first mate is also the cook.

Listen close and get ready to look.

Shiver me timbers! You’re getting hot!

Your next clue is inside a POT!

Aye, me hearties, me booty is getting near!

It’s marooned in a chest, not too far from here.

One step closer to getting the loot,

Go look inside Matthew’s BOOT.

Yo-ho-ho, this is the last clue!

If you solve it, you’ll be through!

The treasure will be yours for keeps--

if you look where the baby SLEEPS.

(Isn't the treasure always under a coconut tree?  

Luckily we just happen to have one in Andrew's room!)

(thanks Heather for letting me borrow your chest and other decorations too!)

Happy Birthday to my best buddy, Matthew!  

Love you pal!

Darin's 34th

Poor Darin often gets overlooked on his birthdays.  With two kids’ birthdays in the same week, and Matt’s just the day before, I am a little burned out by his birthday.  But, he likes low-key birthdays anyway.

Would you like to know how I REALLY feel about Darin?

He is the best man I know.

He is the best dad I know.  You should see him play ball with Matt, wrestle with Andrew, or do ballet with Lindsay.  The kids LOVE  him, and will chose him over me every time, no question.

Darin NEVER says ANYTHING bad about ANYONE!  Really!  He doesn’t!
That includes people I think have been unfair or unkind.  Nothing. 
He doesn’t even say bad things about people that would never even find out if he did say something (celebrities or political figures).  He always assumes people are doing their best and gives everyone the benefit of the doubt.

Darin is a HARD worker!  He has been busy at work and will go in early, go straight to church meetings, and still has energy to help me with the kids.  Just last week he let me go to a girls night, and when I got home the house was clean, the kids were fed and in bed, and he took all three kids to the flower shop to buy me flowers!  (Side note: Darin said while they were at the flower shop, Lindsay kept telling the workers that they were engaged and in love HA!)

He is GOOD!  He works hard on his calling.  He loves everyone!  He is kind to me and listens to me. He is a wonderful husband and loves me.  I could go on and on—and I will....in my journal.  For now, here are a few pictures from his big day!

I did get up early and make him a pretty mean waffle--

Darin LOVES ice-cream.  I let each of the kids buy him a different flavor.

Happy 34th Birthday Darin!!

Lindsay's BIRTH day

Even though Lindsay already had her birthday party, we had to make the actual day special too.

Birthdays are always a little tricky on Sunday, but I think she had a great day!

She loved everyone singing to her in primary (now that she is "officially" in primary now).
And she walked down the hall in the church saying, 

"Your best buddy, the birthday girl, coming through."  

She doesn't like attention at all (wink).

We started the morning with a little rainbow pancakes. 

I caught this cute moment of her sleeping with her new barbie!

That night we had a few friends and family over for cake and ice-cream.
Another great day!

Lindsay's Rainbow Birthday

Lindsay had a fun 4th birthday party yesterday.

At first she wanted a "rainbow dash" party.  Then a "bubble gum" birthday.
She finally decided on "Rainbow Gumball" birthday theme.
Here is what we came up with....

When the kids first came, we made fruit loop necklaces while we waited for everyone to come.

Next, we had a little lunch.

Rainbow Jell-o!

Rainbow fruit.

Rainbow cupcakes.

Rainbow Veggies 

(There were about the same amount of veggies when we ended as when we started--apparently 4 year olds don't love peppers!--And can anyone think of a BLUE veggie?)

After lunch we played "pin the gumball on the gumball machine" and "gumball, gumball, who has the gumball?"

 Our last game was twister--but they didn't quite get the concept of that game--it's tough when you don't know your left from your right.

Last, they opened presents!  Such kind, sweet friends!

Happy Birthday Lindsay!!

The Orange Chair & Power Tender Mercies

THE ORANGE CHAIR

Many people know that I LOVE parties! And I LOVE the details in a party.  I do realize that the details are probably more for me than Lindsay because she is so easily pleased.

After Lindsay decided on “rainbow gumball” theme (ha ha), I had an idea that it would be cute to have little chairs for each kid in the colors of the rainbow.  I only had 1 red chair, but my mom just happened to have yellow, green, blue, and purple.  That meant I only needed 1 orange chair.  I called about 6 stores—and they didn’t have ANY (let alone orange).  I posted a want ad for ANY color and thought I could just spray paint it.  Again, nothing.

Then, 2 days before the party, and still no chair, I said a little prayer telling Heavenly Father that I knew it shouldn’t be a big deal, but it was something that was important to me and to please help me find an orange chair.

That night at Relief Society, I was visiting with 3 friends and I had a feeling to ask if by any chance they had a red chair I could borrow (I had the thought that if someone had a red chair, I could paint my red chair orange).  My friend Camie said, “I don’t have a red chair, but I have one that I spray painted orange.”

I know that this story may not seem like a big deal, but it was just a little blessing to me to know that Heavenly Father was listening to my prayer and that he loves me.

THE POWER OUTAGE

The day before Lindsay’s party, I had a bunch of unexpected things come up that took away from me working on Lindsay’s party.  I started doing the prep work around 9:00 at night—which is normally my bed time.  At 11:30, I was so tired I decided to go to bed, then wake up early the next day.  As I got in bed, I had a strong feeling that I needed to go finish.  So, I got up, made cupcakes, frosting, a cake, jello, and charged the battery to the camera.

The next morning when I woke up, the power was OUT!  And it didn’t come back on until an hour before the party!  I felt so blessed that I had had that prompting to finish because if I hadn’t, nothing would have been done in time for the party!  I’m so thankful for a Heavenly Father that is mindful of me, and the little things that are important to me.

Not on a SUNDAE

For Family Home Evening I told the kids that we were going to make ice-cream Sundaes.
Then I asked if they liked chicken, (yes) but would it be could on a sundae (no)?
Do you like pickles?  (yes),But would it be good on a Sundae? (no)
Do you like chocolate? (yes)  Would it be good on a Sundae? (yes)

We built our ice-cream Sunday and then I told them how there are a lot of good things we do during the week, but they aren’t good for Sundays (swimming, shopping, etc.) And we talked about keeping the Sabbath day Holy.

I thought the lesson went really well until the end of the lesson, Matt said, “Why can’t we eat chicken and pickles on Sunday?”  ha ha  Apparently he’s never had a SunDAE before, and he thought I was talking about SunDAY the whole time!

Which kind of explains his confused face in this picture:

Also, funny side story...You'll notice one cherry is missing (from Lindsay's scoop).  

When I bought the cherries she said, "Ooo!  What are those?"  

I said, "Frog hearts!"  

She said, "Oh I LOVE frog hearts!"  

Then she started eating it happily.  

Just before she swallowed, I said, "I am teasing Lindsay, they're not frog hearts, they're cherries."

Then she spit out her cherry and said, "YUCK!  I don't like cherries!!"

I got the original idea for this lesson HERE 

Sick Little Lindsay

Lindsay has been sick the past few days.
She’s had a nasty cough, been really lethargic, and just not herself.
When I took her in to the doctors, she had croup, just as I had suspected.
She also magically turned the corner while we were at the doctor’s office.

Dancing and talking nonstop.

She enthusiastically told the doctor all about how she got to eat soup in a special bowl, on a special tray, IN HER BED!  And told the doctor that her dad brings mom fruit on that special tray for her birthday. And on and on and on.

I guess being sick has a few perks!

Now, we need to make sure she is healthy, so she can go in for her MRI next week.

When I explained to Lindsay a little about the upcoming appointment, she said, 

“Woah!  I did not see that one coming through the door.”  

Funny kid!

In a Jam

Sometimes when you are cleaning up breakfast, two of your kids will ask you to read a book.

And, even though you’re not finished cleaning, you read the book anyway.

And then, you may get half way through the book and realize your 3^rd child never came in.

Then, when you return to the kitchen, to find said child, you find this: