5 alive

Oh my Parky shark. My little man finally turned 5 and will be off to kindergarten in the fall. He has been the best sidekick at preschool. This year I had 4 classes. So every other day was a repeat from the day before. Do you think parkin would mind? No he would act surprised and happily redo the activity he did the day before, sometimes raising his hand to explain something he remembered form the day before. Parkin is a lady killer, they all wanted to marry him at some time, some days he would make them so happy when he said he would marry them and other days he would say no and they were left wondering what went wrong. But everyday for me he would give the most powerful hugs and kisses. benjamin and I always tell him that he has special powers. parkin always says no I dont. we explain to him that his hugs take away any bad mood, he really does have the ability to make you feel so loved and important. His smile really makes you want to smile too. Parkin is smart and quick, he recognises patterns and retains information. He is funny and his laugh is contageose. His little sister Adrianna thinks he is the coolest thing ever and Parkin trys his best to live up to her idea that he is a hero. When I unload the car and unlock the house parkin never leaves anna alone in the car, he will stay by her side untill I come to get her. This is a job that he came up with. Parkin is a leader, a fun leader that other kids want to follow.

 I teach two preschools if I invited all his friends the house would be packed, so for his birthday we invited cousin Collin, Desmond and Daniel (and of course Adriana too). These guys are his best friends anyway. I took them to McDonald's which was the most exciting thing on the planet. Then we went to see a kids movie at the cheap seats, the show was weird but the kids didn't mind. We went back to our house an opened presents and the kids played for a while till I took them home. It was a great no fuss party.

Parkin I love your kisses and hugs you melt my heart. Your happy attitide is so refreshing and everyone that comes to know you wants to benefit from your dispostion. Kindergarten is getting one great boy!! I love you son XXXXX000000.

Eleven is one more than 10

I dont know why we get so excited about birthdays around here. I proably could "blame" it on my mother because she would throw the most exciting parties that had the best themes. I think she did it to make us feel special and maybe they were over the top because there were two of us celebrating. Bella plans her parties months in advance they alwyas seem to be a big deal and this year was no different.

This year we thought it might be nice to invite everyone who already knows each other, so we invited just class mates. she invited six friends from her 5th grade class. The girls get a long really well so it was really nice. We had a cupcake decorating party. Here is where it gets over the top. Bella and I made aprons for all the girls plus her and Olivia and we made close to 100 cupcakes. We made a ton of icing and bought several icing applicators. It was nuts, Bella had a great ime and that is all that matters. Because Bella's birthday is not near christmas I could find her pictures easily.

Bella means beautiful and that is what she is. She is so kind to everyone, she looks out for the friendless and helps little children when ever she can. She was voted "most outgoing 5th grade girl" in her middle school. she is smart and beyond that she is a hard worker. She attends Basis middle school in tucson, their highschool is the #1 charter school in the nation, it is ranked in the top 5 schools in the nation from many publications. The school's motto is we think the average student can accomplish great things if you challenge them. Bella takes latin, classics, geograophy, kempo, algerbra, language arts, music, art etc. She has averaged an A in each of these subjects this year. Bella has risen to this currciculm, she is smart and beautiful, but more than that she is fun! She makes me laugh with her funny dance moves or a witty remark. Did I mention she is old enough to babysit?! we are so grateful she is in our family! I love you Bella Jules, you are our jewel!

Nine is sublime!

** Still loking for Birthday photos arggg

Olivia turned 9 on December 26 and these last couple of months have really been amazing for her. She has accomplished so much these last 5 months. About a month before she turned 9 we set a family goal to fast for Olivia so that she would have the courage and determination to stop sucking her thumb, as far as habits go this is a very tough one to break!! When Olivia was born she had a hicky on her wrist of where she sucked in the womb, a habit she had before she was born, we even have sonogram pictures documenting this! So for a month we would pray at every family prayer and every personal prayer for this goal. Then when the fast Sunday approached we all new what was on our families thoughts. Sunday came and went with no real change. Then the following Tuesday on the way to piano lessons I saw Olivia about to put her thumb in her mouth, she paused and then put her thumb down. I knew at that exact moment that she was ready! I told her Olivia do you feel that in the air? She said what mom? I said it is something amazing you are done sucking, this is it! And to celebrate we need a reward, I will take you out to get a pedicure and you need something else, what should it be? She said I would like to wear mascara to church for a month. I said done! With the help of the family prayers and the strength she got from the Holy Ghost she did it!! All before she turned nine! My sister Lindsey told me that amazing things happen after kids get baptized and they have the Holy Ghost to help them always, she was right, we consider it to be a great miracle in our family.

For her birthday we had her best friend from school over, friends from church and her some of her cousins over for a cookies and a hot chocolate party. This was the first year we had her birthday before Christmas. Usually her birthdays consist of a family gathering, I mean it is Christmas time after all. She always gets a cake and presents but usually we don't invite friends because it is family time. So she was so excited to have friends. We made a ton of sugar cookies and icing. We ate pizza and decorated cookies. Then we took beanie caps and decorated them with felt flowers and buttons. The girls were very creative. We played holiday music and served the hot coco in tea cups and talked in British accents. It was a very fun all girl event.

Olivia amazes me. She is confident, independent, helpful, nurturing and so very smart. One of her best qualities is she forgives freely and doesn't hold grudges. She is beautiful inside and out. When she sets a goal she goes for it and tries her very best. I never can predict what Olivia will say or how she will react she is unique, we call her our spice, she adds flavor to an otherwise boring day. I love you Livvey Jane and consider you to be a young woman of great strength and courage. Love and Hugs always.xxx000xoo0

Seven is heaven

**I know this is way late, but I wrote this post back in December but was waiting to post it with his birthday photos, which I cant seem to locate on the computer. If I am to catch up on my kids birthdays I must publish their birthdays with different pictures.


H-Man turned seven December 1st. He wanted a dog themed birthday party,which I have done before but wanted to make unique for him. I got doggy bowels at the dollar store, one for each guest. I made chocolate cupcakes and put it in the the bowl and covered it with "puppy chow" the rice cereal that is covered in peanut butter and chocolate and then sprinkled in powdered sugar. I t was adorable, if I do say so myself. Holman still uses his dog bowl for cereal. He had a good group of friends come, he is a shy guy at school but has made some really close friendships with neighbors, class mates and church friends.

Holman is my sweetheart. He is responsible and really looks after his siblings, he loves Adrianna and is always helping her, he does this even though she doesn't always show her appreciation :) He is an excellent big brother to Parkin and even will pick a fight with older kids if he thinks his older sisters are not being treated well.

Holman from birth you have been easy going. My only kid not to require a binky or suck on your fingers, you were just chill. That is how you are now, you are incredibly funny not in a showy way, you wait for the best timing and say your comments sudaley and then we all bust up laughing over your wit. Just last week we had cut up cucumbers for dinner as a side dish, after dinner you quietly grabbed two and laid on the couch, put on each eye and just laid there with your hands behind your head all zen like. I love you son so very much and I think the world of you and look forward to watching you grow.