Dreams Do Come True!

I was so excited for Lexie's birthday this year.  She had her first "friend" birthday party.  And what better for my princess than to have a princess party with a Special Visitor!

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This is Lexie with the gifts she got from Dad, Mom, Brindley, Karissa and Samantha.

A Quilt, Oreo's, Polly Pockets, Princess Puzzle, Brindley drew her a picture of Snow White and Karissa made the necklace for her.

Lexie with her Cinderella Cake.  After having 4 girls I think I am getting this "barbie" cake thing down.  One of these days I will have to post pics of the first one I made.

 Ready for the Tea Party.  We made heart shaped peanut butter sandwiches with fruit kabobs and ham with cheese kabobs.  We also had pink punch and cupcakes.

 All of the Princesses

 Cinderella reading the Cinderella Story

 So fun seeing the excitement on the girls' face when Cinderella walked in.  They all just stared at first then they wanted to share things with Cinderella....like telling her about school and different things they do.

 While eating they asked Cinderella questions about her Carriage and where Prince Charming was.  They also asked about the other Princesses and where they all lived.

A Princess's version of pinning the tale on the donkey.....Putting Cinderella's Slipper on.

 Cinderella showing the girls how to Curtsy.

The girls' trying to Curtsy.

I love this picture.  Lexie had just opened a present that had sparkly red shoes.  Cinderella is helping Lexie put "the slipper" on.

Cinderella danced with the girls also.

Saying Goodbye to Cinderella.  This picture didn't focus that well, but I love looking at how Lexie is hugging Cinderella as if she has known her forever.

The party turned out perfect.  As soon as Cinderella left Lexie called her Grandma and Dad and told them all about Cinderella.  Seeing the excitement on Lexie's face was worth every bit of frustration I had earlier in the day in preparing for the party.  Thank you to a wonderful Cinderella.  You made more than Lexie's dream come true, you made mine come true also.

Thanks also to Brindley and Karissa for helping me get everything ready.  There is no way I would have been ready if they wouldn't have helped. 

Thanks to Michelle P. also for being here at the party and helping make things run smooth.

Thanks to all the Princesses that came and for the fun presents.

And thanks to my little Samantha who didn't get a nap but didn't "complain" to much about it.

Happy Halloween!

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!  I LOVE TO DRESSUP!  I LOVE "MOST" OF THE DECORATIONS...I prefer the cuter side....I LOVE THE PARTIES!  OFCOURSE I LOVE THE CANDY!  I LOVE HANDING OUT CANDY TO TRICK-OR-TREATERS!

We had our trunk-or-treat a few weeks ago....yes, most of the candy is gone from it.  With Halloween being on Sunday, our girls won't be trick-or-treating.  I have been quite surprised with how they have accepted it and not complained.  So, instead, they are watching "Casper the Friendly Ghost" and we will play games later and eat treats.

Here are pictures from the trunk-or-treat.

Lexie as Snow White

 Jim sprayed her hair black!  It took a few washings to get it out and I am still finding black around the house from it.

Karissa as the MUMMY!

(Glad we had an old motel sheet that had been used to wrap a deer in...it added a great effect to her costume.)

 Brindley as Nancy Drew!

 Samantha as my cute little Lady Bug!

 And of course,  The Witch!  I found a black dress at Wal-mart for $5 on clearance!  So much better than paying $20-$40 for a cheap Halloween witch dress costume.  I almost didn't let Jim take scissors to it at the bottom to make the jagged edge....thinking I could wear it to church too!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL OF YOU!

Happy Birthday to my Lexie Lou!

So thankful that you have been with us for these 5 years.  I (We) Love you so much.  You have taught me so much in the time I have had with you.  Not a day goes by that you don't make me laugh or smile.  You have been blessed with special abilities already that just amaze me.  You are such a passionate girl and you love life so much.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEX!

A funny from Lexie.....

A few weeks ago I wiped a hair of Lexie's face.  She wanted to make a wish on it like you do with eyelashes.  She made the wish then blew the hair.  I asked her what she wished for.  She said, "That my birthday was tomorrow!"  I told her that if her birthday was tomorrow, then it would already be here and be gone the next day and she wouldn't have her birthday to look forward to.  She got a sad, worried look on her face so I jokingly said, "Let me pull out one of your eyelashes and you can make another wish."  She turned to me to do it and even after not getting one on the first tug, she let me pull again.  I got an eyelash and she made her wish.  I asked her what she wished for this time and she said, "That my birthday wasn't tomorrow!"

How can I not Smile?!

Not much new has happened with us.  I am trying to keep caught up with my kids which I think is impossible.  Jim is busy with work.  He is so willing to help with what ever I need help with around the house.  Brindley finally got her new glasses that she has been patiently waiting for.  She looks alot more grown up.  Karissa finally lost a tooth without the dentist having to pull it.  She won't put her tooth under her pillow because she doesn't want the tooth fairy to take it.  Lexie is loving Pre-K.  At snack time they are supposed to pour their own juice or milk so, of course she wants to do it at home too.  O Man!  Sometimes I have to close my eyes and just let it happen!  I think the pictures below explain Samantha a little.  She is a HAM!  She loves to take someones spot/seat if they get up for just a minute.  She goes constantly until you force her to lay down and then she is out like a light.

One evening I hear a scream from the kitchen, "MOMMY!"  I came running to find Samantha playing on the cookie sheet.  The chicken that is in the pie tin was on the cookie sheet.  Samantha moved it and then played in the crumbs! 

 She keeps me busy!

 Partners in Crime!



LDS TEMPLE PICTURE GIVEAWAY!

I have a VERY TALENTED and CREATIVE FRIEND that does photography.  She has some AMAZING and very BEAUTIFUL TEMPLE PICTURES.  She is doing a GIVEAWAY on her blog.  Go check it out!

LDS TEMPLE PICTURES by CHELSIE BROWN

Goin' on a BEAR HUNT!

Kokanee Salmon run in Taylor Creek....Lake Tahoe

Alot of people go to Taylor Creek to see the Salmon.....which are quite neat to see, but when we go, we are hoping to see more than just the salmon.

Do you really think we can see what we came for when there are 8 kids in tow?

Yes, we were able to see what we REALLY came to see!  Actually I was the only one who saw this bear.  It was across the highway and we didn't want to take all the kids across with all the cars.

This is the first time I have seen a bear in the wild!

We were just heading back to the cars when we saw a guy pointing to something up high in the trees.  I went over and asked what he was pointing at and he showed me another bear.  This one was just hanging out in the tree.  We apparently had walked by it and didn't even know.  Now we know to look up too!  The kids did see this bear.  They were pretty excited.

It was getting dark so it is hard to make out the bear in the pictures.

We had been told by other people that there were a few other bears wondering around too.  We had just missed them while we were checking out the fish.  We definately will be going back for some more BEAR WATCHING!!

My cup is filling.....already.

I am really looking forward to this weekend.  We are so lucky to get the opportunity to listen to the leaders of our church.  As I think about this weekend and how wonderful I feel after listening to the messages, I am already getting excited to have that spiritual "HIGH" again.
Today I am also feeling especially blessed.  Today marks 5 years since I started one of the hardest trials I have ever dealt with.  One of the hardest, but one that I was blessed the most with.  Yes, I am scentimental and like to remember certain dates and events that happen in the past, but I look at how far we have come in those 5 years, and how that ONE event has helped me get through other trials.  Because of what I have learned I would never change what I went through back then.  I have a healthy, beautiful, strong-headed, funny, gifted, happy, almost five year old.  I have a closeness with Jim that I wouldn't have had if we hadn't gone through this.  I have two daughters who understand how fragile life is and how important it is to pray to our Heavenly Father, and how important families are to help hold each other together.  I have a 19 month old who reminds me everyday what the most important thing is....FAMILY!  She also reminds me that though things may not go as planned one time, they will or can be different the next time.