Brother Ben

It was a very tearful goodbye for a new reason.  My parents are now empty nesters.  They had to say goodbye to their baby as he is living with us for the summer and then off to college.   I can't remember the last time I saw my Dad cry like that.  It was a sweet moment to witness. 

 I can't wait for what this month will hold.  I am probably the sibling who has spent the least time with my brother Ben as he has grown up.  I really look forward to spending time together and creating memories before he's off to college, and mission, and the rest of his life!  

Here is his bedroom we have created in the basement.  It may not lok like much, but it was a lot of work from all of us.   I can only imagine it's a lot better than staying upstairs with us crazies too!  

Final Outing

My parents finally decided on a day to go home :( I am way sad, but it has been such a fun month together.  And having a "room" in the basement made it not even stressful.  For our last outing together we decided to go closer to Guy and Kels since they have been doing so much driving to us.  We had dinner at the studio again, and went to Temple square after.  If you can believe it we have never taken our girls inside the visitors center!  It was fun.  We went a little too late to have a tour of the conference center and go on the roof, but net time for sure! 

Boy or Girl?

Kelsey and Guy found out the gender of little baby today.  Instead of just calling everyone, they wanted to do a "reveal" party.  It was super fun, and if I was to ever get pregnant again (which actually isn't going to happen) I would want to do something similar.  Way more fun than just getting a text or a call.  

We went to the studio, and both sides (of immediate family) were there.  We had dinner, dessert, and a survey before it was revealed.  Guy made these SUPER CUTE cards with questions about the baby that everyone filled out before eating.  It was fun to read them and fill it out.  

Kels asked us to bring a dessert in blue and pink so I brought chocolate dipped rice krispies.

and made them a cute banner to hang.

We had a tally going of who thought it was a boy and who thought it was a girl.  (I'm glad this board I made for their wedding is getting more use, you guys are cute)

in the corner of the room was "the box" it either held blue balloons or pink....

Kelsey looked so cute, like an elf princess...then after a SUPER delicious dinner, we all shared three answers from our survey before the reveal....

( you can't even tell she's 1/2 way along!  Seriously look at that "belly")

They stood together and at the same time opened the box to let the balloons fly.
I LOVE this shot of the first peek at the color emerging from the box.

IT'S A GIRL!  I couldn't be happier.  A cute new girl cousin on the way, and the first recipient of all my cuteness girly girl stuff to get rid of :)

Congrats Kels and Guy we couldn't be happier!  (And what a fun reason to get together)

Yay me!

Birthday's are always fun.  This one in particular has been extra special.  I had SO much fun and truly felt like it was my day and the world wanted to celebrate!  It started yesterday with a shopping spree with my Mother-in-Law.  Anytime I get to go shopping is fun, but without the girls is AMAZING.  We went out to lunch and had a great afternoon at City Creek.  Then "all the guys" went to City Creek together to try and make up for our HORRID experience in trying to celebrate Cha's birthday a few weeks before.  So to celebrate for both of us we went out to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and had a fabulous experience.  (it helped that I wasn't writhing in pain afterward like last time) 

We can't take a trip to City Creek without letting the girls play in the Dino park....

Now for today, my actual birthday.  I woke up to find my cute Mom had hung my happy birthday banner for me and had a couple of presents waiting!  That's what I call a great start to my day :)

Then I was spoiled rotten by Davey.  Shopping again.  This time at Gateway.  More clothes, lunch, and a movie (Men in Black 3)  Lunch was at Happy Sumo.  SOOOO many good things to eat, I'm hungry again just thinking about it.

Picking up the girls from Grandma's (who was watching them for our getaway day)

Then to dinner with my family (in part) at Costa Vida.  After dinner we met up with everyone else at the house. I have been trying to eat healthier lately and I feel great.  So for my birthday "cake" I just wanted fresh fruit.  And boy did my Mom deliver.  MMMMM it was so good.  She also made me a healthy dip (no sugar..) for the fruit and a few sugary one for everyone else.

It's been the best birthday I've had in a while.  Thanks to everyone who made it special.  LOVE YOU!

Happy 4th

Happy 4th of July! 

Our day started out with breakfast at the church house.  I got the girls dressed in cute patriotic outfits and we headed out.  We went alone since everyone was up late coming home from Logan last night.  It was delicious, and always nice not to have to cook :) 

The girls found some friends and went rolly polly hunting.  Cute Ella had SO many!  And she had named them all.  

They all found quite a few and compared stashes with each other.   

Sophie had a cut on her finger and kept asking me for a bandaid.  Corey got this great shot of her showing it off to us. 

After we came back home "all the guys" (as Sophie puts it) came over for some bonding :)  The boy's went over to the church to play some ball...... Well, Guy's face got in the way of Dave's elbow...and a few stitched were required. What's a holiday without a trip to the E.R.??  It was priceless watching the girls' faces when I told them (after having asked me what happened) that Daddy hit Guy in the face.  Then I explained it was an accident....

It was a fun day hanging out with the Fam, celebrating our freedom...and the fun had just begun.
We went on a walk to the Temple at dusk.

Then came back for fireworks.  There are signs ALL over, that fireworks are prohibited in Daybreak.  I totally thought it would be disregarded and we'd see people doing them anyway.  Nope.   Apparently we were the only ones....Dave told me to do them on the sidewalk just in case because that is technically South Jordan property and not Daybreak.  We only had little ones so I wasn't too worried.  About halfway into our "show" a cop drove by.  I was so nervous..but he just drove right on by.  Good thing we didn't follow my advice and do it in the street! Anyway we all had fun with our wussy fireworks and I was happy not to have to go to a real show.  (They still freak me out to this day)

Happy Independence Day.

A Wizarding party (Decorations part 1)

Welcome to platform 9 3/4,  pass through the brick wall and come join us at the party....

How about a game of wizarding chess?

Or a stop at the Transfiguration booth?

Admire some art through the halls as you make your way....

Be sure to grab some caldron cakes in the 

Great Hall where the dessert feast is in full swing

I hope you didn't forget your Galleons, as we pass Honeydukes candy shoppe..

and don't forget to buy a wand from Ollivander...

(Up next: Gryffindor common room and Potions Class)

Details:

Platform 9 3/4 sign found (here)

"brick wall" borrowed from friend (Chelsea)

wall art printables found (here) (here)

house crest images (here)

cupcake toppers (here)

food labels by me

BEST butterbeer recipe (here)

"cauldron cakes" recipe (here)

paper straws and bakers twine (Zurchers)

moss (Dollar Tree)

jute, for wrapping the bolltes (Hobby Lobby) 

honeydukes candy labels by me 

(but using image here, as well)

chocolate frog box printable (here)

chocolate frog mold (Orson Gygi)

ton-tongue toffee recipe (here)

cockroach cluster recipe (here)

wands by me, using tutorial (here)

random decorations (old books, vases,candle stick holders, 

bottles etc...hobby lobby, D.I., borrowed or previously owned)

most of my glassware ("honeydukes" and "great hall") was purchased from Wal-mart

with the exception of my big cake stand (I made), and two vases holding candy (previously owned)

I sent off all my printables to Office Max to be printed.  In the case of the House Crests, I just had them blow it up to fit an 8.5 x 11 paper.  They weren't exactly crystal clear, but they weren't too blurry either.