Let's play!

should it be toys. . .

or boxes?

These days it's boxes since most of the toys are packed;
good thing he likes them so much!
P.S. Thanks Julie for the endless supply of boxes--you're the best!

Now back to filling them up. . .

great!

Because AP loves the computer so much we have to keep it password protected to monitor his time. Of course he is always trying to find out what the password is. . . so the other day I finally gave him a hint. I told him it is something that I am. He thought for a minute and then brightened as he said, "the password is GREAT?!" Well, no but I loved the guess! Those little unexpected and uninteneded compliments are the best.

So not perfect

Gotta say I agree with Suzy, that while blogs can be a lot of fun they can be a huge downer too. I've had one of those weeks where I look at other people's blogs and realize how truly imperfect I am. I know comparison is not a good thing and we're supposed to focus on our own strengths and talents while appreciating others' . . .but it's just been one of those weeks where I can't help but think, "how does [that person] do it all, with such a great attitude, AND great hair, AND (among other things) perfectly dressed and manicured children in every single picture on her blog . . . and wouldn't it be nice to be like that." But then again I probably couldn't handle whatever challenges she actually deals with (even though there don't appear to be any). So I'll take what I've got and just be happy with seriously imperfect me.

Beautiful baptism day

AJ was baptized on Saturday and it couldn't have been a nicer day. The weather was a little cool, but the sun was shining and so was she! Amber gave an awesome talk on the "3 Bears" of baptism: bearing one another's burdens, bearing the name of Christ, and bearing testimony of Him. Kyle spoke about the Holy Ghost and it's role as a comfort and a guide. I loved the Bishop's remarks and his comment about her bringing the sun with her each morning when he and LeAnn see her riding off to school. Thanks to Cathy for playing the piano and LeAnn for leading the music. We appreciate the family and friends who came to support her. It was so wonderful to have you; we love you all so much! When I asked AJ how she felt after she said, "It's hard for me to keep the tears back because I feel so happy."

Ready to go!

The sun was so bright!

With Grandpa, Grandma, and Amber

Happy HAPPY birthday

Sweet little AJ. She has blessed our lives in so many ways. She came with such a calm, kind, and independent spirit. That independence was such a needed blessing when she was small (though as she gets older it has been a bit much to swallow). I'm grateful for her willingness and desire to comfort, to help, and to include others. I love her bright smile, her sweet hugs, and her creativity. We are so grateful to have her in our family!!Things have been so busy I wasn't sure when I would get the birthday shopping done. But Costco had me covered this year! I found everything she wanted while shopping for groceries. They had a webkinz pack with the two she wanted most (a husky and pink cat), the Hello Kitty CD player she has been asking for the last two years, and a littlest petshop set with a husky and lamb (two of the three she asked for)! I was beyond thrilled to finish my grocery and birthday shopping all at once. And she couldn't have been happier with her loot!

(Squeal of delight) "I have wanted this forever!"

We give our kids the option of having a birthday party at home with unlimited guests or taking one friend to do something bigger. This year was a tough choice. She really wanted to take her best friend to Build a Bear Workshop, but didn't want to leave her cousins. . . so we took all 4 girls and had a slumber party too. I have to admit I was a bit relieved afterward when she told me she didn't want another birthday slumber party until she is 12 or 13.

I honestly thought I was going to get out of doing a themed cake this year. I planned to do a double layered marble cake (her favorite). But when I asked her what kind of frosting she said, "well I like vanilla, but want it to be a brown bear with pink nose and ears." A bear?! Her response, "It is a Build a Bear party." When I explained my plan she was so disappointed I had to comply to her bear request. Here she is blowing out the candles!

Mr. D

Ready to go with sunglasses and a gogurt smoothie.

He thinks the laundry basket is his personal ride. It comes out and he wants right in!