Hot Wheels Birthday Overload!

 I can't believe this car loving little boy is SIX years old! It really seems like yesterday that I held him in my arms for the first time. He was so excited the night before his party he couldn't fall asleep!

But the next morning he was up bright and early ready to go!

 We let the kids usually open one present the morning of their party and this time it was...

 A hot wheels track!

 This cake....oh this cake. I ran out of green food coloring and I ran out of frosting! From the top it looks ok, except the pastel green grass but from the sides it looks pretty sad. Carter placed the cars, flags and candles on it too.I was feeling bad about it but every kid that came into his party he had to drag up the stairs and show each one of his friends. It made me feel better.

 Here's a little party decor and treat bags. I was determined to simplify this year and I did just that! Instead of big treat bags they got 1 hot wheel car and a candy.

 This was the easiest party I've ever done and possibly the funnest. We set up about 6 hot wheels tracks around the house and just let the kids play! They all seemed to really enjoy it because I couldn't get a single kid to look at me for a picture.

We pushed back all the furniture in the basement to make room for the hot wheels extravaganza!

 We ran outside for a quick game of Red Light Green Light and the kids had to jump over trenches and slide in the dirt because we are in the middle of doing our sprinkler system. But they didn't seem to mind.

 Here's the line up of party guests. Mason, Rocky, Brycen, Jaxon, Mollie (who was in heaven being surrounded by all those boys!) Caleb, Carter, and Spencer. Brandt showed up a little later.

 Cake time! White cake and rainbow ice cream was his request for this year.

 PRESENTS! He has some good friends who brought some nice gifts.

 Miss Brielle even got in on the action. She learned to crawl the day of the party and had fun chasing cars on the hard floor.

 And getting into Mollie's markers!

 Later that evening we ordered pizza and opened presents from mom and dad and G&G Reed

 

It's safe to say he was completely spoiled! He kept saying "I'm so spoiled!" as he opened each gift.

 

 Here we are with our not so little big boy! Between the morning and evening parties I was canning peaches like crazy. I guess I forgot to take off my apron. Not what I wanted to be doing but my mom and dad helped so much and it went really quick. Darn peaches couldn't wait a few more days!

 G&G Reed got to spend the day and the kids are always in heaven when they are here. They bough him 3 new Bronco shirts which he thought was pretty cool.

 On his actual birthday we took some treats to school and got sung to and got to pick a surprise out of Mrs. Moore's birthday bag.

 Later that evening we played games as a family and just relaxed. It was quite the busy weekend!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweet boy! Your mom and dad sure love you and are so proud of the boy you have become. Hope you have many happy years ahead of you!

Ogden Temple Open House

 We got the chance to visit the Ogden Temple open house with our family and Chad's parents over Labor Day weekend. The kids really liked it and Mollie loved the sparkly lights! Carter's favorite thing was the fountain. Baby Bri was even quiet for the walk through. (She's entered a major squealing phase).

 And as always it was breath takingly beautiful. I love being in the temple and it is always a special time when I get to take my family there.

 G&G Hymas are ordinance workers in the Idaho Falls temple and we have enjoyed learning bits and pieces about what goes on behind the scenes. We were so glad they could be with us!

 I hope my children will always set the temple as their main goal and go there no matter what. It is the most important thing you will do on this earth. I hope they live their lives worthily to take a spouse there some day. I'm so blessed because of my temple marriage. I truly love to see (and be in) the temple!

KINDERGARTEN!

 AHHH! I've always thought this day was so far off but here it is! I have a kindergartner! After much debating and prayer I decided to just do half day over a full day of school. And I'm so glad I did! Full day is a really long day for a little guy!

We started the day out with some fruit and doughnut hole kabobs. Dad even went to work late so he could take carter to his first day of school!

 

The classic first day of school picture!

 He's a Huskie! I had to explain a few times what a Huskie is and how to pronounce it!

 I honestly didnt shed a tear up until this moment. Then the waterworks started and wouldn't shut off!

 Glad dad was there for emotional support for both of us!

 Here he is in his new classroom with his good buddies from soccer! So glad he knew a few kids to make the transition easier.

 

  

When I picked him up I knew immediately something was wrong. I could tell he was just seconds from major tears. It made me so sad! He had a good day but they were supposed to bring a stuffed animal for the first week to help them feel comfortable so he took his Mickey Mouse and he didnt want to leave it at school although his teacher asked him to. He was heartbroken! We ended up going back and asking the teacher if we could take him home but it was majorly traumatizing for him! He told me his day was really long and that he missed me and didnt know if he wanted to go back. TEAR! We spent a while snuggling on the couch and talking but after a few hours passed he was just fine and told everyone he had an awesome day.

I'm glad to say there have been only smiles (although they are tired smiles sometimes!) after school. By the second day he already didnt want me to walk him into school. THAT was really hard for me too! So glad he is loving his teacher Mrs. Moore and his new school!

SLC Stay-cation!

The weekend before school started we wanted to do one last get away. We planned to go to Bear Lake but we learned that you need to book a campground very far in advance if you want to go there! So we decided to do a stay-cation in SLC!

We started it off Thursday evening at Hollywood Connection with all the rides, mini golf, and arcade games one could want!

 

We then grabbed some pizza and headed to our hotel! The kids couldn't wait to get to the pool and swim.

 

Brielle even got in on some swimming action!

The kids actually even did really well in the hotel! We wore them out and they went right to sleep. We had to play a few games of UNO in the hall while she fell asleep but we all had a good time.

  

Bright an early the next morning we rode the trax into the city. 

 

Carter constantly talks about wanting to ride a train in the city. It was kind of hard with a stroller and 3 littles, but we made our way around the city and I only had to change one poopy diaper on the sidewalk....

 We then went to the children's museum at the Gateway and they all had a blast playing.

 After the museum we played in the fountains at the gateway. This was probably my favorite activity to watch the kids doing. We will definitely  be back next summer!

 Sitting on the benches while the kids played I noticed a candy shop so we hit that up next for some WAYYY over priced yummy candy. And Mollie met Elsa!

 After that we went to the natural history museum which we have had free tickets to for a while. The dinosaur bones were actually quite impressive.

 Carter was really nervous at first to see dinosaurs, but he ended up loving it!

When we were done here we did some shopping and then headed to the Dudschus home for some cousin time! We stayed up late again playing games and had plans to go boating the next day. But it rained us out so we shopped some more on our way home! We had a fun trip but we were all SO exhausted. The kids did awesome for being off schedule so much especially Bri! Sure love spending time with my little family!