ellie girl turns seven

Ellery really wanted breakfast in bed for her birthday.  Sprinkle-topped waffles was on the menu.

She got a new bike!  She had outgrown Starburst, and so it was time to upgrade to a bigger model.  

These masquerade masks were at the top of Elle's birthday list this year.  I got her two...because with a best sister, two is way more fun than one.  

Elle chose a gymnastics themed birthday party.  

We had several "events" that they had to compete in.  After each event, they got a bead to add to their medals.  Ribbon dancing was a favorite, and so fun to take pictures of!  Before this event, they decorated their ribbons wands with washi tape and picked out their perfect ribbons.

Next was rings.  They had to hang and twist and twirl on these playground rings.

We had a floor routine where they could do a freestyle routine of cartwheels, kicks, leaps and whatever else they chose.

Not pictured is the balance beam and obstacle course.

Next up was the piñata! 

As they all dove for the candy, I couldn't help but notice that all eight of these girls have the exact same color of hair.  Summer blondes!

Time for cupcakes.  

I love this sweet girl very much.  She is so thoughtful, sincere, happy, care-free and sensitive.  She is the best older sister, she is artistic and unique and fun.  So glad she's in our family and I'm so happy to be her mom.  Happy Birthday Ellery Jane!

layla turns four

Miss Layla turned four.  This was not her year for a party, but we did make her a nice Frozen cake, which was almost as good.

We opened presents in the morning, and then everyone headed off to school and work and the day belonged to me and Layes.

We went to the children's museum at Thanksgiving Point with Jana and her kids.  They had so much fun, and I feel like we only explored a little bit of what was there.  We could have stayed much longer.  

Layla was in heaven running all around the music room, the wind tunnel, the vet's office...it was really fun.

We had a picnic lunch outside and it was pleasant for awhile, but then a family of wasps decided they wanted out lunch, so it became very unpleasant.

What can I say about my Layla?  She is such a joy to our family.  She is enthusiastic, funny, independent and she definitely knows what she wants.  She can make firm decisions in an instant and it always surprises me.  There is no wishy-washy choice with her- that is so different than me and I love that about her.

She is learning how to be a good friend (learning...still learning) and is the "best sister" of Ellery.  She likes to pick her own clothes, loves water in all capacities, and still has a weird habit of licking inedible objects (ie: rocks, the ground, dirt, the bottom of her shoes).  At her well child appointment the doctor said this is either a phase or Pica.  My guess is that it's just one of her little quirks.  

I don't know what I would do without this little girl coming into my bed nearly every morning and giving me the world's best snuggle.  It takes me right back to when she was a tiny baby and she would fit next to my body just like we were two perfectly-placed puzzle pieces.  We still fit together pretty well and I love snuggling my little girl.

She is my sunshine.

space party for a soccer fanatic

This nine year old woke up to breakfast in bed.  Can't get any easier than Toaster's Strudels.  My mom used to this on my birthday and I loved it, but we haven't done it consistently for our kids.  McKay requested breakfast in bed this year, and may have started something here.  Brian is not a fan.  Eating in bed under any circumstance makes him a little crazy.

He got right to opening his gifts.

I don't know what he liked more.  This Real jersey or the ginormous soccer goal that was set up in the backyard.  

When we ran the 5k in the spring, McKay won a free mission to the Discovery Space Center.  We kind of talked him into doing this for his party, even though he had wanted a soccer party.  He was hesitant and didn't really know what it was, but in the end he had a great time and loved it.  

It did feel a little funny to me dong a random space party for my son who doesn't have much of an interest in space...but I just went for it.

We had pizza, apples and cucumbers.

The part of the party that was held at our house was only about a half hour.  That is cake, presents, and a little bit of soccer all in a half hour.  It was quick.  I felt bad breaking up this game because they were having so much fun, but it was time to go.

Brian didn't take a picture of the group at the Space Center like I asked him to.  But he did take this one inside the ship.  I think they all loved it and were all abuzz with excitement when I picked them up after it was over.  McKay was the captain.

After all the buddies were dropped off, we went in the backyard to play soccer to end this birthday boy's special day.  

I sure love this boy.  My nine year old.

mckay's birthday interview 2013

I guess I'm still trying to do these birthday interviews.  Here is McKay's 8th Birthday Interview.  He's getting older.  But he's still just as cute as ever.

McKay Jack Matthews - 8 years old

• Some things you like to do?  Spend time with my family.
• Favorite sport to watch?  Basketball
• Favorite sport to play?  Baseball   
• Favorite thing to do at home?  Play with friends
• Favorite foods?  Ravioli, Rib-e-que sandwich at school
• Least favorite foods?  Quinoa, Butternut squash soup (incidently, two of mom's favorites)
• Favorite outfit?  A pink shirt, gray shorts, my gray shoes
• Favorite color? Pink and gray
• Favorite place to go?  The Allred's house
• Something that makes you happy?  Being with my family
• Something that makes you sad?  When my family is mad at me
• Who are your best friends?  Dawson
• Favorite TV show? Tom and Jerry (first answer: "I don't really watch tv." True.)
• Favorite movie?  Les Miserables
• Favorite book?  All books (mom would say Diary of a Whimpy Kid)
• Favorite thing about school?  Recess
• Other than recess?  Computers 
• What you want to be when you grow up?  NBA Player 
• Who is your hero?  My daddy.  Because he is the best- he's nice and plays with me and since I only have two sisters he plays with me.
• If you were an animal, what one would you be?  A panda bear- they're awesome and they're purple sometimes and I would want to be a purple one.