Joseph's Perfect Pirate Party Pictures

Yeah, the treasure hunt was my favorite part of the whole party. I had buried 6 different maps, one leading to the other, all over our neighborhood park. The last one ended at the camouflaged pinata. The hunt was awesome!

We lined up all of the kids and let the small ones have at the skull first. Notice Dalton trying to be small so he can have a turn sooner.

Joe was the largest of the small kids, and on the second whack, the candy flew.

How amazing that the birthday kid gets the perfect explosion of candy! The white triangle at the bottom of this photo is actually a fallen bone. It really was dramatic.

The bigger kids didn't complain because they got the majority of the loot.

Blow 'em out Joe!

Joseph's friends were just as excited to give them the gifts as he was to receive them.

This really was the perfect party.

28 kids, a few parents, and a happy Joe.

Joe's Birthday Cake

4 boxed cake mixes plus,
4 tubs of frosting plus,
a buck or so worth of sterilized change plus,
a bag of Rolo's plus,
some creativity.
Equals a pretty cool Treasure Chest Cake


I think we're ready for Joseph's 6th birthday party.

Joseph's class party

Joseph asked for twisty doughnuts, so I brought them into his class and was able to observe the first of his birthday festivities. He started by each of the cards from his fellow classmates, I was super impressed. Then, Joseph's class has this fabulous tradition of making a shirt for the birthday kid, and then hiding it in the room and sending them on a hunt to find it. Here Joe is proudly showing his new gift. Ms. Janet's class has been amazing this year. He and I will both miss it next year.

Mirror, Mirror...

On the wall. Who's the fairest, of them all?


I think I like you.


You're fun.


Jennie enjoyed Adelle's dance class almost as much as Sophia did. We attended an informal recital to watch Miss Adelle perform, and then to also get a sneak peak at Sophia's future dance teacher. Ms. Kim was amazing with these pre-schoolers! Sophia can't wait till it's her turn this fall.

Two in tow

I've barely started taking Jennie out of that bulky infant carrier and enjoyed her company in the toddler seat of the grocery cart. I love that at Costco, both Sophia and Jennie can fit. I couldn't manage one good photo of the two of them, but at least their personality is visible in each of these pics.

Jolly Roger Pinata

Joe's first job was to shred the newspaper. I'm pretty sure this was his favorite job.


I made the paper mache paste from scratch, and I ended up using a ton and making another batch. Fun stuff really.


Joe blew up a balloon, and we started the strip by strip plastering. Dalt helped with this part, and really enjoyed his sticky fingered self.


I engineered bones out of ka-bob skewers and tape. Pretty fancy I know.


Once the bones were bodied with some more newspaper, I could start to see the finished product.


I used the leftover paste to make some finger paints for Sophia, a huge hit by the way.


Joe and I decided what our Jolly Roger should actually look like, and started in on the crepe paper embellishing. We got help from tons of neighbor kids, or pretty much anyone who wanted to help, this step took the longest.


Finally finished! I think this project took well over 10 hours and is totally worth buying at the store, whatever the price.

I'm still glad we did it though, we had a ton of fun working together. I hope he'll always remember that he helped with every step even when he's bashing it in on Saturday at his pirate/treasure hunter themed birthday party. Yeah, maybe.

It's cute on a baby

I think Kendra's Tessa, Jessica's Ellie, and Yolanda's Cambria are Jennie's only rivals. I can't stop kissing, squishing, and loving her chub.

I knew it!

You Are Belle!

Intelligent and kind. Your beauty goes much further than your apperance. Also, you make judgements of people based on their personality and not their looks. Attaining all the knowledge that you can is one of your major goals in life, but you are also a person who can make things happen.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Sunday stroll

We decided to take advantage of the lovely weather and go on a family walk. We ventured into the nearest neighborhood where homes for sale start in the million dollar range. It's fun to dream. Doug loves stone, and slate, I love brick, and a garage in the back, but we both agree that a view, and a great yard would complete the dream. Here's the view from one of the yards.

Here's a scary mushroom cluster in another.

We ended up walking for just over 2 hours, and I only had to carry Joe on the stretch past the hospitals (yeah, he's 70 lbs, and I'm the most powerful mom in town). The kids were pretty spent by the end of our journey, but overall we all loved our time together, the weather, and the dream.

Uncle Lew and Jennie

Jennie lights up whenever Uncle Lewis is around. She smiles, squeals, and is absolutely delighted by his attention. In this video, she had been up for hours past her nap time, and was fussing a ton till Lew caught her eye. I love their bond, and I think they love it too.

Bad Mom, Good Neighbor

Soph, Jennie and I were happily checking off our to-do list, just after lunch, all the way across town, when my head bopping cell phone ring caught my ear. Isaac informed me that Joe was safe at his house, and he was happy to keep him till I got home.

What? Joe and Dalt are supposed to lop happily off the bus at 3:35 and arrive home to sliced oranges and reading time with their mama. What?

Somehow, and maybe it's because Joe gets a gazillion notes from his all day kindergarten class, and a gazillion more from his morning kindergarten class, and Dalton gets a gazillion notes from his school, and as the school year end approaches all of the schedules are different and everything's a jumble, and then theres the junk mail and the notes I bring home from church, and the notes I make for myself, I missed the memo that Joseph had a short day yesterday.

Joseph came home to an empty house, lucky for him the front door was unlocked! He shouted up for mom, no answer. He shouted down for mom, no answer. He shouted out the back, no answer. He resorted to his "stranger danger" scream that I've told him will work to get someone's attention in an emergency, and this time... no answer. Realizing that there was no adult supervision, he started in on what I told him NOT to do yesterday, when he was bored with that, he ventured over to Isaac's house to find safe refuge, and play with Owen.

I'm glad for my safety net of a neighborhood. Thanks Isaac.

I told him not to.


He liked the power.

NOT showing off

Jennie's two little teeth were visible yesterday, but I just couldn't seem to capture them. Here's what I did get though, enjoy.

Jabba the Jennie.


Pretty Jennie.


Tongue show off.


She just wanted to touch the camera.


Here's a peak at just one of her tiny teeth.

Joe lost tooth #3

Before


During


After

This is what happens...

when I blog.
Actually I've encountered worse.

Here she goes

Content to sit and watch the children ride bikes, tricycles, and discover bugs, Jennie loves to be with the big kids in the courtyard.

Push Up!

Close up.

She got the Cheerio!

Crawling seems just moments away, I'm a little bit happy and a little bit sad about the whole adventure. I can't change a thing though, so I might as well enjoy it.

Ward Temple Day

We traxed down to temple square this past weekend with some neighbors and met our ward for our monthly temple day. Not to work in the temple, but rather to teach our children the importance of temples, temple worship, and some of the significance behind these historic buildings.

There was a frenzy of squeals every time Sophia met up with the neighbor girls. They play together, (fight together) several times each day, you'd think their love for each other would wear off, but seeing friends out of context was truly delightful for them.


The older kids enjoyed each other as well.


I enjoyed the full blooms everywhere. I wish my thumb was any shade of green.


We all sat for awhile in front of the east temple doors to look at and discuss the temple. Here Joseph is looking at the Angel Moroni.


Sophia and Dalton both enjoyed the reflection pool on Main street.









Touring Temple Square makes any day a lovely day.