Summer

I haven't blogged anything since July and this is why:

Hawke Family Reunion up at McCall



Camping in the back yard with the kids.




Ward Campout ( I was in charge of planning)



Other things that happened this summer:

* Lots of BBQ's and Water Parties!

* I cut my hair short (8 inches)

* I got contacts

* I hit my 100 workout at Curves

* I got called as the Activity Committe Chair Person for our ward

* Hyurm started first grade

* Ella returned to computer class

* Hyurm started soccer

I'm sure I'm missing a ton of stuff and I didn't take my camera for alot of things (I'm not big on taking pictures) so you'll just have to take my word that it was a busy summer. I'm so glad that it's fall and things are back on a schedule. I might even blog more than once every 3 months.

Fourth of July BBQ

It is a tradition in my family to have a neighborhood BBQ on the fourth of July. So, for the last 3 years we have continued that tradition in our own little neighborhood. We provide the burgers, hot dogs, drinks, and paper products and then everyone brings a side dish. We had about 30 people this year and we had tons of fun.

We set up the yard with kiddie pools, tents, balls, ect. and the kids pretty much entertained themselves while the adults were able to actually eat and visit.

After dinner we went to another neighbors house to set off fireworks we all bought and we gave the kids a bunch of glow sticks so we could keep tabs on them. Then we walked over to the ball field to watch the Stadium of Fire, which was pretty disappointing this year. We still had a great holiday together with our friends and look forward to doing it again next year.

A Green Thumb

This is the first year we have attempted a garden. We've never bothered before because the deer eat everything in sight. However, this year Ben put a huge wire fence around the whole thing and the good news is the deer haven't eaten the garden yet. The bad news is bugs have. We still have been able to keep them growing, but boy are gardens a ton of work. This is why I stuck to planting a flower garden and Ben is in charge of the vegetables. He planted cucumber, zucchini, squash, green beans, cherry tomatoes, and roma tomatoes. So far we've had one cherry tomato ripe enough to eat. We had the ceremonial tasting of said tomato and I'm really excited for the rest to come in.

Hyrum's T-Ball

Hyrum finished t-ball several weeks ago, but I never posted the pictures of him with his medal. He was so proud of that medal.

Several of their games got rained out and one game they just kept playing in the pouring rain.
Their last game was so hot that Ben had to keep pulling him into the shade so he wouldn't pass out from heat exhaustion. I say he definitely earned that medal.

A Mario Party

Hyrum's sixth birthday has come and passed and I've procrastinated as long as I can for writing a blog about it. So many cute things happen and I think "that would be great to blog about" but I just don't have enough time in a day.

Anyways, Hyrum's birthday fell on a Wednesday, so for playgoup that week we went to the duck pond and brought cupcakes for all his little friends. Grandpa drove down for business so we had a yummy pizza dinner together (thanks grandpa) and then met Ruth and Jeff for Hyrum's T Ball game.

Having a big cheering section must have helped because Hyrum played better than he ever has. They even let him play "pitcher". Here's a video below. I really wish we had a video of him running. So funny!

Afterwards, Hyrum opened his generous mountain of presents and we made homemade strawberry ice cream.

On Saturday, Hyrum had is birthday party with friends. Now if you are reading this and thinking "Hey, I didn't get invited" please try not to be to offended. I told Hyrum he could only invite 6 friends. He would invite everyone including the mailman (which he has invited to come over for a BBQ) but after his 4 year old party with 32 people, I started setting limits.

He decided he wanted a Mario Party Theme (from the game on the wii and playstation) and so we made invitations with a little help from photo shop.

When the kids first arrived they each got a Mario or Luigi hat. This was to divide the kids into 2 teams (although I didn't tell them that).

And they got a bag to hold all their "gold coins" (werther's candy) that they earned from the mini games.

The first mini game was called "Speedy Graffiti". There were chalk shapes drawn on the sidewalk and each team had to paint their shapes all the way in with water. The winning team earned 3 "coins" and the losing team earned 2.

I'm sad we didn't get pictures of the rest of the games because we were too busy trying to actually play the games, but the next game was "Mario Madness". There was a blow up boat full of little colored balls and each team had to try and grab as many of whatever color I called.

The third game was called "Shoot the Boo". I printed of a bunch of King Boo's and taped them to trees. The team who shot all their Boo's first won.

The next game (which was the funniest to watch) was "Get the Goomba". We blew up a bunch of brown balloons and filled some with "coins". Two kids at a time would jump in the gated off area and sit on the goombas trying to find coins. It was so hilarious to watch.

The final game was "Smash the Chomp Chain". We painted a soccer pinata to look like a Chomp Chain and filled it with candy.

When we were done with all the games, Hyrum opened presents.

And then we had cake. We did a big star, like the one you win in the game.

Before the kids left they also got a Mario and Luigi sucker (thank you Andrea for helping me cut out all the million pieces).

I get such a kick out of planning parties and have such fond memories of the parties my mom would plan for us, but I think I'll only be doing birthday parties on milestone birthdays instead of every year. It is a lot of work.

My Baby is One!

Time really does fly! Logan celebrated his first birthday on May 1st. We decided to go to Chuck E. Cheese (we do that for all their first birthdays, but I have no idea why), and it actually wasn't too bad. The place wasn't that crowded and Logan was enthralled with the little singing muppet things (personally they creep me out.)

The pizza wasn't too bad (just overpriced) and Logan ate several pieces on his own! I was just glad they had a salad bar.

The kids had fun playing games, but Logan was still a little unsure about it. He'd want to get off a ride about three seconds after I put him on. He was more content just to climb on the stationary rides.

After Chuck E. Cheese we came home and opened presents. The boat was a big hit. Now if I can just keep the older two out of it so Logan can actually have a turn.


Logan loved the cake, both making and eating eat. If you notice he's in two different outfits as a result from the "making" of the cake.

Here's some 1 year milestones:

* Weighs: 20 lbs. (13%)

* Height: 30 inches (59%)

* Had his first hair cut (he held suprisingly still)

* Has 7 (almost 8) teeth

* Can take 3 or 4 steps without any help

* Drinks whole milk now

* Can drink from a straw

* Cimbs up on anything and everything

We just can't imagine life without you Logan!

I HATE MUSTACHE MAY

Need I say any more?

New Pizza Place?

This is a little conversation in the car the other day:

Hyrum: Where are we going to get pizza Mom?

Mom: Papa Murphy's.

Hyrum: I don't remember Papa Smurfies. Do I like Papa Smurfies?

(my sister and I trying not to crack up)

Mom: Yes Hyrum, you love Papa Smurfies.

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

I'm ready to rejoin the technological world again after turn off you t.v. week (which basically includes any kind of technology). It was actually really nice and I didn't really miss t.v since I'm not a big t.v person anyways, but I did miss reading everyone's blogs ect.

We've had a lot of time to spend together as a family since the week before that was Spring Break. We were able to go to the Dinosaur Museum, Jumpin' Jacks (totally crazy by the way), and play lots with friends. The weather was freezing so we had to get creative on inside activities.

Then my sister came at the beginning of t.v. turn off week, which was nice to have someone help entertain the kids so I could at least shower. We had so much fun together. We played cards, had tons of picnics, ate Macho Nachos at 3 in the morning, went to Farm Country, the park, and since the weather cooperated we were able to spend lots of time outside. We worked tons in our yard and with any luck it may actually look like a yard come summer.

Then the rain came and ruined our plans to attend the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point Gardens on Friday for our date. It all worked out though because Ben and I just went to Trafalga (which is way fun since they remodeled it) and then the weather cleared up and we were able to go to the Tulip Festival last night with our friends the DeVries (aka Bishop). It was so beautiful and just makes me wonder what the Garden of Eden must have looked like. I can't wait for that celestial garden; then I can just give up on mine :)

Ella's Favorite Holiday

We actually do all the Easter Bunny stuff on Saturday and then celebrate Easter "the resurrection" on Sunday. So, the kids were up nice and early around 7 in the morning on Saturday to see what the Easter Bunny brought them. Personally the whole concept of a giant bunny leaving candy eggs sounds a little bizarre to me, but the kids love it. They were especially excited to see the bite marks the Easter Bunny left in the carrots. P.S. Please disregard Hyrum's off the shoulder "Madonna" look with his jammies. That kids had stretched those things to peices.

Later that afternoon we had a ward party and decorated eggs and had relays (which I totally dominated in). We also had some sandwiches and a million desserts and the kids just had fun running around with the plastic spoons and eggs trying to repeat the relays.

That night Ruth, Ben's sister, babysat for us so we could go to the movies. We went and saw Paul Blart Mall Cop, which starred Kevin James and of course was hysterical. I wasn't sure in the beginning if I was going to like it, but I ended up really liking it. (I don't think there's a movie with Kevin James that I don't like, oh except for I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. DO NOT rent that one.) This movie was really clean, and playing at the dollar theater (always a bonus).

Sunday morning we actually got to enjoy having Ben home in the morning because the bishopric didn't have meetings. So, I was able to get ready on time and try curlers in Ella's hair. She sat to still the whole time and didn't even complain.

Here's the finished product. The adorable dress is courtesy of my extremely talented sister in law, Liz. She made matching dresses for all the girls in the family. I think they turned out so cute, and I'm so sad we couldn't be there for a group picture.

We also let her have a little eye shadow and some lip gloss.

I think it's safe to say that Ella's new favorite holiday is Easter. Not only did the Easter Bunny bring her a basket full and candy and presents, but she also got to prance around and be vain amidst the showers of non stop compliments of how adorable she was. (I've seriously created a monster. . . .)

After church, Ruth and Jeff were able to come over for dinner. We had turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, yams, fresh fruit, rolls, and salad. Then after the kids went to bed we were able to play some card games. It was a terrific Easter and we were so happy that we were able to share it with family.