Amelia turns 13!

For Amelia's 13th birthday I picked her up from school and took her for an overnight get away at the beach. We stayed at a hotel I used to go to with my parents when I was a kid. We ate out, watched movies, painted nails, and she beat me badly at monopoly. The next day we went shopping then she did a glass blowing class. It was so much fun! Then we came home and her friends surprised her at the movie theater, then surprised her again at one of their houses for ice cream and presents. I think it was a pretty fun way to turn 13! I love this beautiful girl. I'm so lucky to be her mom.

Grandma Lucy turns 96

On January 30th Grandma Lucy turned 96! We planned a surprise birthday party for her at her home. We all just showed up at 4 with food and gifts. It was our last family gathering in her home. She was preparing to move into an assisted living home. It was a nice evening surrounded by family.

Hayden's birthday

Hayden turned 10 on November 10th! I took her and 6 friends ice skating the next week. (Due to the bazaar being the week of. ..) she had a wonderful day! We also on her birthday went out to dinner, and she got a repunzel barbie, a mattress, and a puppy. That's what she asked for! (The puppy wasn't real!)

Ethan Turns 16!!!

 These are not in order but I just wanted to post a few pictures of this kid who made me a mom 16 years ago today! I love this kid more then I thought possible. I know he's going to continue to be awesome!!!

Funny kids

I realized I have posted so funny things on facebook that I wanted to share here so I don't forget them.
#1 Today Ruth and I were discussing what women can do when they grow up and she said, "I want to be a doctor or a hairstylist, how can I be both. ...I know I'll do doctoring one day and hairing the next! Ya that's how I'll do that!  Feb 16,2016
#2 Loving listening to me newly 12year old daughter's sleep over. They are now having sing along dancing in the living room. .. when I turned 12 I had a slumber party and I remember singing and dancing to Bon Jovi. This may shock some of you who know I'm a die hard New Kids on the Block fan. But right at age 12 I also had a HUGE crush on Jon Bon Jovi. So there is a little known fact for you all. (Except my mom who may remember listening to us belt out Bad Medicine, and you gave love a bad name, and wanted. ..) he only came second to my love for NKOTB. ANYWAY my daughter is having a sing along to Disney songs, mixed with a few from our dance classes. Makes me smile! Feb 5,2016
#3 Today picking Ruth up from school we heard a boy teasing a little girl calling her a "poo poo" over and over. I hesitated to say something only long enough to hear Ruth yell "NO! That's a bad word and I shouldn't hear that! " I did ask him a little softer to be nice. She is so bold! Not afraid of the big kids. I'm not too worried about her taking care of herself and asserting what ok and what's NOT. She must get that from aunt Emily Apilado. Jan 28th 2016
#4 After a long morning of fits over homework, I made the wrong breakfast and all the food I make is disgusting, and don't comb my hair, your putting my socks on wrong. ... I told her she could eat breakfast at school and talk to her teacher about her homework because I tried to help with all of the above and she chose NOT to let me help. ..(I also kept reminding her she had choices this or that, this or that... you don't choose I choose for you. ...) we get in the car, only because I KNEW she won't walk to school in that mood.... we get in and on the radio the song says "don't have anyone to blame but my self" over and over. I turned it up for effect.... Jan 6, 2016 
Just keeping it real! LOVE my kids and their funnies!

Amelia turns 12!

Twelve years ago this happened. Two little boys met their baby sister for the first time! It's funny how things can seem like they flew by but at the same time that feels like forever ago! I can't imagine my life with out this amazing girl in my life. She is such a kind, loving, fun, sweet, girl who has filled our home with love from day one!

She gets to have a slumber party this weekend with her friends and tonight she gets her favorite dinner (spaghetti) and ice cream cake! Then she will be off to Young Women's activity tonight! BUSY day!

Amelia's turns 10!

 Amelia wanted to do a fashion design party for her 10th birthday. We got all our ideas from her American Girl magazine she had gotten the month before. We played a fashion design game and all the girls designed their own shirts and then we had a fashion show. Sorry some of them are out of order but I have a million pictures to sort and I'm not spending hours on that! I'm lucky I'm posting at all but I don't want to forget how much fun it was so here we are...

 The girls amazed me! Some of them were really good at drawing and designing their own clothing lines. They all took their time designing their shirts and did some really cute stuff!

 Here is Amelia showing off her cute shirt! She made it say Hi in flowers and glitter paint!

 That night we had all 26 of family members that live close, and our amazing missionaries (Elder Pawlowski and Elder Child) over for dinner. I am so glad she picked simple food! Spaghetti and meatballs! I did 2 ice cream cakes too. It was yummy, loud and fun!

 Amelia got this Kitchen for her American girl dolls from us for her birthday. This was not her actual birthday but wasn't going to fly with the big present so she got to open that one early.

 Here is some more of the fashion design process.

 Some of them were bold in their modeling debut, some a little more shy! But it was all fun!

On Amelia's actual birthday we were in Disneyland! I had made her a camp fire to go with her tent and sleeping bags for her American girl dolls. It also had all the stuff for smores! She was so excited! I made one for her cousin last month for her birthday and Amelia was really hoping she would get one too!

Brock turns 11 (late)

I know I know I use to be the super nice mom who posted ON my kids birthday's and made it super special... well no one reads this anyway and I basically use this as a picture journal. So I have gotten behind sometimes.

 The only thing Brock asked for for his birthday was Dinosaur legos. I bought these the same time I bought the one he got for reading the Book of Mormon (I hope I posted about that...?) I just hid these in my room till his birthday. He was really excited. A couple days before his birthday we (Larry and I) took him out to see Jurasic Park in the theater and for dinner. This kid has loved dinos since he was 3! I was worried it might be to scary but he LOVED it! In 3D it was way more fun!

 He chose a home made cookie dough ice cream cake! MMMM! I have to admit I am loving that my kids are starting to go for taste vs what animal/ object they want their cake to look like. Don't get me wrong. I loved making them and had lots of fun doing it and have a few more years to do it for Ruth but for now I will enjoy this very YUMMY cake!

 Brock has a hard time picking what to do for his birthday every year! In March I took Ethan to Lazer tag and pizza with his friends for his 13th birthday. He loved it!! Brock was sure that was what he wanted to do. So we loaded up the van with 10-11 year old boys (and Ethan) and away we went.

 They all had a great time spending the tickets they earned.

 The very next week Brock and 2 other cub scouts got to do their cross over into Boy Scouts and earn their Arrow of Light award. We were proud of him. It was hard sometimes for him. Ethan loved scouts and flew threw stuff but there were times Brock struggled with it. He is fired up about Boy Scouts now so we will see how far we get with it.

Good job Brock! We love you and are so happy you are part of our family! I'm sure a lucky mom!