It's Great to be 8

Avery is 8 years old! I can't believe how fast 8 years have really gone by! She had a very special birthday because she was also baptized. She has been looking forward to this special birthday and we are so proud of the sweet girl that she is! She is such a great example to everyone as she always tries to choose the right, and a wonderful BIG sister in our family.

We love you Avery!

SURPRISE....

"Happy Birthday!!!" Yep that's what we all screamed as Avery walked into the room where her friends and family were all hiding behind couches and under tables. She about fell over from shock as she walked through the door. Darren told her they were going to play tennis afterschool on her birthday and then tricked her and said they needed to go back to the car to get the tennis balls, taking a shortcut through the "party room." It was such a fun surprise party! it was decorated Luau style and we played water games in the field. I think a favorite game was the sponge relay and water balloon toss. Then the girls swam and ate yummy BBQ and ice cream cake and sang karaoke. I think everyone had a great time!

Lucy and Mary's Blessing Day

I know this is WAY past due but I have to remember these special occasions for my journal (since it's all I've got.) My sister Amber and I had our 4th babies only 5 days apart so we decided to bless them at home with all of our family. It was one of the HOTTEST days of August and we all gathered at the park for an early dinner in the sweltering heat! The daddys gave sweet blessings and then we ate salads and sandwiches and yummy desserts. It was a special day! It is going to be so fun to watch these little girls grow up together and be the best of friends! Cousins are the best! Congratulations Lucy Emilia and Mary Anna Belle!

This was the picture we used for the family invitation to the blessing

Lucy in her blessing dress

grandpa and his baby girls!

Cute cousins

So Happy!

The proud (sweaty) parents

relaxing in the park with more cousins

My cute brothers!

Mia and Eva

Avery and her cute uncles..... (single uncles) haha!

Happy Day!

She's 4 months Today!

Lucy is 4 months old today and just rolled over to her stomach for the first time! Logan was showing Lucy all of his Thomas trains and I think she really wanted to roll over to play with him. She was so happy to be on her tummy and I just couldn't resist taking lots of pictures of her in action. Gotta love the drool from the teeth already coming in too! She is such a doll..... LOVE her so much! Logan wanted in on the photo op too...so silly!

Happy Birthday Ella!

Ella is our Labor Day Baby.... every year she has a birthday sometime during Labor Day weekend which makes it fun for everyone to celebrate all weekend long! This year we just had a family party and we were lucky grammy could be here visiting us too. She reminded me many times before her birthday that she wanted Cocoa Krispy cereal and cinnamon toast for her "breakfast in bed." (birthday tradition) Since her birthday was on Sunday we went to church and she was so excited to have the kids in primary sing to her! We had a fun BBQ dinner and then opened presents with cake and ice cream. She got a baby doll that she can put the bath or the pool, lots of new Barbie doll clothes, the Madeline movie, High School Musical pens and papers and a Barbie scooter. She had a great 5th birthday and is so happy to be a kindergartner this year! We love our little Ella Bella!

Baby Lucy is 3 1/2 months!

Lucy is 3 1/2 months and cuter than ever! I took some pictures today and I could not get her to keep her fingers out of her mouth. Those lower teeth are coming! She is an angel baby and I just LOVE those thighs!

Lots of "FIRSTS"

Summer is over and the new school year has begun! I have so much summertime fun to post but I am going to start with FIRST things FIRST. Ella is a big kindergartner this year and Avery is a 2nd grader already! They really are growing up so fast. They just started their FIRST full week of school today and so far so good! Saturday was the FIRST day of soccer games and "mini kickers." Daddy is helping out with the coaching again and keeping mommy chasing Logan on the sidelines. (so much fun) Thank goodness for the park right next to the field at Avery's game! Avery played goalie for her FIRST time and did awesome and Ella lost her FIRST tooth last month. I threw in the picture of Logan and Vaughn at their FIRST Saturday of MANY watching their sisters play soccer.