Happy Birthday to Me, and I Guess America Too :)

I say that jokingly, as I am so grateful for this wonderful country we live in, but for now my kids do think it's all about me and I think that's pretty fun!

I think this was one of my favorite birthdays. We had a lovely day biking, which makes any day better. We went to 2 different bagel shops because I had been planning on bagels for breakfast for days. Luckily we found one that was open and boy was it good. There's something about a sesame bagel smothered in cream cheese that just tastes so yummy. We met Cindy and Travis along the greenbelt and rode for hours. We took advantage of the kids getting along really well in the bike trailer and just kept going. We played at Municipal Park, then grabbed Subway for lunch and ate that at Julia Davis Park. Sarah decided to ride her coaster bike from there. We allowed it, assuming it would only last a few minutes, but boy did she surprise us AND make this bike loving mama, SO, SO PROUD!! She must have ridden her bike 4 miles. Those little legs were cruisin and everyone on the greenbelt thought she was darling--I agreed every single time! :) Finally after she kept complaining that her bum was hurting and she was dripping sweat we convinced her to get back in the trailer. She learned all of the greenbelt ettiquette and was quite the pro at moving over whenever she heard, "on your left".

After our bike riding outing that lasted 6 hours, we headed home where my fabulous husband presented me with an ice cream cake that he and Sarah made me. I am not much of a cake fan, but Richard doesn't think it's a birthday without it. I had mentioned that I had never had an ice cream cake but would enjoy that, so he whipped one up for me. After we had some pre-dinner cake, we headed to Cafe Rio and then met up with Cin and Travis again for the fireworks show. We met some of their friends who had spots saved right up front. It was amazing how cool they were on the front lines.

It was a perfect day!! 35 is going to be a good year!!!!

Happy Father's Day

We spent Father's Day camping at Lake Cascade. It was a wonderful, albeit rainy weekend. If it weren't for mom and dad's new camping trailer we would have packed up our tent and headed home early. But since we had somewhere to hang out while it rained we stayed and enjoyed ever moment. My parents, Cindy and Travis and our family went. Richard and the kids swam the first evening we arrived (while I looked on) and it ended up being the only opportunity they had. We rode bikes, cheered on triathletes, and celebrated all things dad!! Since we weren't going to be at our ward on Sunday to see Sarah sing we practiced our own performance for Richard and unlike the primary singing we were able to video it; that's a plus, I'd say. (if i can ever get the video to upload, you'll get to see it...cross your fingers cuz it's cute!!)

Dad (Larry)--You have always been the most supportive father and I am so lucky to call you mine. I appreciate that growing up and even now, you put us first. Thank you for teaching me all you did. Thank you for taking us fun places and teaching me to enjoy so many different things. I am one lucky girl!!

Richard--You know this, but I could not do this without you! You are a wonderful father and would do anything for your kids and me. Actually, if I think about it, you ARE doing that now. Did you ever imagine yourself back in school at 43?! Thanks for doing what you have to in order to best take care of us. You make us proud. You spend every free moment playing with or reading to our children. You bake with Sarah and teach her all you know. You build sandboxes and paint play tables. You pull bike trailers miles and miles and miles and encourage Sarah while she rides her own. You teach Sarah and Luke to love the scriptures and pray over all things. We are so fortunate! You were worth the wait!! WE LOVE YOU RICHARD!!

Where'd She Learn This?!

(Do you see her pulling the strap down?)

I kept my giggling under my breath, as not to encourage this kind of behavior, but seriously she's 3 and it looked cute for just a bit. But, really, where'd she learn this from?

Surfin Safari

My sister called him, "the cutest little surfer dude, you've ever seen."

I'm NOT going to argue with that!!!

Just For Fun...

We've been working with Sarah Jane on her letters and she's getting pretty good at them. She enjoys practicing in her workbook, but thinks it's even more fun when we use pudding. See that tongue there? My sisters and I, my mom, and my grandma all have that same trait when we're concentrating and I love that she does too.
Sarah has begun coloring inside the lines and all of a sudden has begun drawing things that actually look like what she's drawing. A couple of Sundays ago, I picked her up from Sunbeams and she was working on a picture that had about 9 faces on it. They actually looked like faces and I assumed that her teacher drew them for her, but no, it was all her. The cutest part was that she could tell us exactly who each and every one of the faces was.

We've been making and eating Popsicles like crazy. These ROYGBIV popsicles are the greatest. (don't add the fruit juice though--totally not needed!!!) There are still many of these in our summer plans as Idaho shows us just how hot the summers can get. :) We're trying to beautify our sad yard. It's working slowly but surely. We've planted a garden. It's growing and we're excited. Sarah calls us "farmer girls". It looks darling and I love staring at it out my kitchen window while I do dishes. Richard built a sandbox for the kiddos and they love, love, love it!

We're discovering that our grass is on top of rocks and the more we water the lawn, the more they rise to the top, so occasionally Richard and the kids head out and fill up buckets of these rocks. If only we were wealthy and could rip our entire yard out and begin anew...one day. :)

And Richard and Sarah had fun with her hair one evening after baths. She thought she looked fab-u-lous!!!!

Let's Go Back To Easter...

This was the first year we colored eggs with the kids and of course they loved it. Thankfully I read my friend Taryn's post before we dyed eggs, because had I not Luke would have been dying eggs along with us and what a mess we would have had. But luckily, my smart friend only gave her little one a cup of water and it was apparent she was happy as could be with that setup. So that's what we gave Luke, and he was pleased as could be!!