A Birthday Party with GIRLS!

All I can say is OH MY GOODNESS!  11 year old GIRLS!

We did a birthday party for Brindley.  The theme was "Minute to Win it".  Jim did some awesome invitations.  Brindley came up with a bunch of games, and I of course had to clean the house for this party and do all the shopping!

And only once did I get told "Mom! Stop!  You are embarrassing me!"

**********

  Waiting for others to arrive.

In this game she had to shake all the gumballs from one side to the other.

In this game she ate three saltine crackers then tried to whistle in one minute.  (Not possible)

In this game they blew up a balloon then used the air in the balloon to blow cups off the bench.

With Samantha's help, the cups kept getting put back up.

In this game they had a tissue box belted around them.  The box was filled with ping pong balls.  They had to shake them all out within a minute.

In this game she had to make a pyramid with cups then take it all down using one hand.

Pizza, Salad (RANCH) and Soda....Makes Girls Happy!

Even though it was for the Girls, this made Mom happy!  It was soo Good!

One of the prizes from the games.

With Jim in the house, there is always music!  So of course, there was DANCING!

And Little Sisters are in the middle of all the fun!

Brindley!

I realized this morning that it has been a week since Brindley's birthday.  Won't she be glad to know she has one less week to wait til her next birthday!  But, I am feeling like a slacker.  I haven't posted about her b-day.

First of all, a few pictures through the years.  You can tell when we got a digital camera.  I don't have any digital of Brindley at a younger age.

This is Brindley's third birthday.

 Brindley age 4

Singing Karaoke at the 4th of July celebrations in Koosharem.  Age 5.

 Age 5.  First day of Kindergarten.  Notice her waving goodbye.  This picture still makes me cry.

 Age 6.  First day of 1st grade.

 Age 7. Brindley took dance for a few years and did wonderful.  I loved fixing her hair for dance recitals.

 Age 8

 Brindley has always had GREAT hair!  It is perfect for crazy hair day at school! Age 9

 Age 9

Age 10

 Brindley is in band and recently participated in a Band-O-Rama at the High School.  Almost 11 years old.

Brindley is such a help.  I feel like I have made her grow up faster than she should have with all that I have her do.  With Jim being gone alot, Brindley has really stepped up and helped.  She jumps in and helps with her younger siblings when she can tell that I need a break.  She will fix dinner when I need her to.  She is concerned about others and doesn't like seeing others sad.  She is a great example to her friends and family.  She strives really hard to do what is right.  She is beautiful and is one of my BESTEST friends.  Love you Brindley Jo!



Four Times Four

It has been a few weeks, but I was tagged to do Four times Four!  Thanks Sandra!

Four Places I Go:
1. Pre-K
2. Walmart
3. Church
4. To Bed

Four Favorite Smells:
1.  My 2 year old just after she baths and has baby lotion on.
2.  Rain
3.  The Forest
4.  Mom's Cooking

Four Favorite TV Shows/Movies
1.  Grey's Anatomy
2.  Parenthood
3.  Survivor
4.  Biggest Loser

Four Recommendations:
1.  Take time to play with your kids.
2.  Watch a Sunrise.
3.  Say, "I Love You."
4.  Compliment others.

Now to Tag 4 others:
1. Suzanne (FB it)
2. Michelle P.
3. Mandy J.
4. Alison F.

She's Saving!

Lexie:  Mom, I have enough money for Disneyland!  I hope I can go on a Roller coaster!

Little Lambs

I think it is funny when I tell people from back home that I go to Bethleham Lutheran Church when they know, or knew that I am, or was a very active LDS member.  It catches them by surprise and they try to hide that surprise in their already wide-eyed expression.  They really don't know what to say, and usually all that comes out is, "Ok."

Yes, once a week I take Samantha to Little Lambs at the Bethleham Lutheran Church.  It basically is nursery during the week.  The Mom's hang and visit for the first half hour while the kids play with toys, then we clean up, pull out a parachute for all the kids to sit on, and a bible story is read.  After the 2 minute bible story we play games with the kids and the parachute.  The kids love it and it is good for us Mom's to visit.  When it started at the beginning of the year the only Mom's that were there were 7-8 from my LDS Ward.  I think it is funny that the LDS mom's are funding the Little Lambs.  There has been another mom with her two kids from BLC that has joined now, along with a new instructor.

********

These pictures are from Valentine's.  We brought treats and let the kids exchange Valentine's.

And just so you all know,  I am still a very active member of the LDS Church.  I love the Gospel.  I know it is true.  And I know that "Jesus Loves Me" :).

Stylish Blogger Award

So the rules go like this:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award

2. Share 7 facts about yourself

3. Award 7 new bloggers with the award (and comment them so they know they've won!)

 

Thanks to my cousin Stephanie for sending this award this way.  She is a very talented girl who has an adorable little boy. 

 

Hmmm, 7 Facts about me???  Not sure what to put.

 

#1 I Love to Dance...Just crazy like in my house, with my girls, with loud fast music.

 

#2  I have to floss my teeth every morning....just something I started doing once and now I can stand not having them flossed.

 

#3  I have to watch TV for a few minutes in bed before I fall asleep everynight.

 

#4  I Love being a Mom to 4 Girls.  They keep life entertaining with all the DRAMA!

 

#5  I Love camping/4-wheeling/hunting....Being in the Mountains

 

#6  My first vehicle was a Truck

 

#7  And best of all, I am married to my Best Friend!

 

 

I award the STYLISH BLOGGER AWARD (or tag) to the following:

 

#1 Kate Thompson

#2 Amber Bradley

#3 Carolee Ewell

#4 Vicki Johnson

#5 Kara Reeves

#6 Alison Roylance

#7 Marie Jensen

 

Samantha's Birthday

Patiently waiting for Mom to finish her cake.  She found the headband and put it on herself.  Notice Lexie playing the recorder

This was the first time I have ever used Rolled Fondant Icing.  It was even homemade.  The cake isn't the best, but it worked.  This is Pokey the pony off of Gumby.  Samantha LOVES Pokey.  The picture on the left is what I tried to follow.

 Samantha loved her Pokey Cake.  I told her she couldn't touch it so she just smothered it with kisses...making sure to kiss every foot, the mouth and nose!

 For lunch we got McDonalds.  It just so happened the first two Mcdonalds we went to had no power so they were closed.  We had to drive just a little further to get her cheeseburger!

 When Brindley and Karissa got home from school they played with Samantha in the snow.....which is one of Samantha's favorite things.  She loves to walk in it.  Brindley walked with her around the block.  Samantha walked in the gutter (which was filled with water) the whole way.

 Samantha loved every minute of it!

 For dinner we had OLIVES! OF COURSE!  We did have sloppy jo's too.

 Samantha opening presents.  She got some Pokey and Gumby Bendables.  We couldn't get a picture of her with her Pokey because she wanted it open right away!

 I told her to put her head down by her horse so I could get a head shot of her with her cake.  Here's what a two year old does when you say, "Put your head down by the cake."

 Love her cheesy smile!

 She actually blew out the candles from sitting clear back in her chair.

 First Bite!

I Love this little pill so much!  She definately keeps me on my toes.  She is into everything all ready.  She climbs the bunkbed latter.  She gets into Brindley's fingernail polish. She finds my eye glasses and bends the heck out of the frame.  She loves to do the laundry from putting it in the washer, then the dryer, then folding it, then putting it away.  She loves to run to her dad when he comes in the door from work.  She throws refried bean cans out of the cart and across the isle at the grocery store.  She runs from me at the grocery store and giggles the whole time she is running.  She loves to fill the cart with groceries while I'm not looking.  She loves her sisters and wants to be a part of whatever they are doing.  She LOVES Pokey and asks to watch it every night before bed.  She loves to eat yogurt or fruit smoothies with me every morning.  In her cute little sentences, she asks almost everyday if we can go to the Walmart store to buy yogurt.  She loves to go out and go to the stores.  She loves to read storybooks or have them read to her.  She knows where her dad stashes his treats.  She LOVES chocolate chips.  She is my chocolate covered baby.  She has a sensitive heart and is full of love for others.  She gives the best hugs and kisses.  We are so lucky to have her in our family.  Love you Samantha James!