Maya turns 5!

Maya had quite the birthday celebration this year. It started out 2 weeks ago when we were in St. Louis visiting Grandma and Grandpa. My mom made her a cake and we had a little birthday party with presents. When we got back from St. Louis, Maya's actual birthday was on Tuesday. She got chocolate cupcakes and a trip to Wendy's (her choices!) and then opened up some more presents.

Maya is 5 going on 15. She got a Fancy Nancy doll and book (5 year old appropriate) and also 2 Hannah Montana CDs and 1 Taylor Swift CD (maybe a little beyond her years - but she loves them and practically knows all the words).

On Saturday last week, she had a birthday party with her friends. It was a Fancy Nancy tea party with 7 of her closest friends. The girls had a great time, but I'm glad the celebrating is now over!

Caleb enjoyed unwrapping the presents!

Present unwrapping (also known as crowd the birthday girl)

The cake is a large cupcake.

All the girls at the table, where we spent the majority of the party. The girls decorated purses, made bracelets, colored a fancy princess, and had a tea party lunch.

Happy Birthday Maya. We couldn't imagine the past 5 years without you being part of our family! We love you!

Growing Up

Caleb is now 2 1/2. And he is quite big compared to other 2 1/2 year olds. So, he was getting quite heavy lifting in and out of his crib. It doesn't help that I'm getting bigger and bigger with baby #4 either. So, we decided it was time to move to a twin bed. He adjusted relatively quickly (just a few days) and loves his new bed.

I think he looks pretty darn cute too. Next week we are going to try potty training as well. Caleb has heard the words "potty train" several times and thinks there is an actual potty train (think choo-choo). I'm not sure how I'm going to break it to him.

Baby #4

Had the ultrasound for baby #4 about a week ago. Everything looked healthy and normal. We also found out that the baby is a girl! For some reason we all thought it was a boy. I would have bet money, I was that sure. So, we are pretty surprised to be having another girl. Most likely Caleb will be the only brother. Hope he survives!

Easter 2010

We had a lovely Easter this year. Since it was the same Sunday as General Conference, we had a nice relaxing weekend at home. We dyed Easter eggs, always a fun time. Notice the basketball on top. That is Mike's. He always does something creative.

The kids enjoying candy from their Easter baskets before breakfast.

The Easter bunny brought Maya a very cool jewelry box. She loves it.

Haley got a fun window mosaic that looks like stained glass. She has already completed it and it is hanging on a window in her room.

Caleb got a tool box book, but was much more interested in his candy.

It also wouldn't be Easter weekend without an Easter egg hunt. All the kids had fun and gathered lots of eggs. Maya got the cash again this year. Haley was quite jealous. It was cold and windy, a little miserable, but at least the sun was shining.

Happy Easter everyone!

Happy 34th Mike!

On Sunday, March 28th, Mike had a birthday. We had a really fun day. When we got home from church, there was a surprise for the kids. My parents were at our house. They were flying home from Utah, and had a long layover in Denver. They only got to stay a few hours, but we enjoyed every minute. Mike opened his presents, we had cake, and the kids showed off for grandma and grandpa all afternoon.

Mike opening the homemade card from Haley and Maya (with a blow pop - lucky guy!)

The Grandparents and Haley

Caleb did most of the unwrapping

I love it when you capture crazy expressions with your camera.

Happy Birthday Mike. We love you!

Christmas 2009

We had the best Christmas this year. We were able to go to St. Louis to spend time with my family. We had a total blast, but neither Mike or I are very good photographers, so we didn't get many pictures.

We started out the trip driving to Lincoln, Nebraska to attend Mike's sister Laurie's wedding. The kids loved staying in our favorite hotel, the Embassy Suites. There is nothing better than an awesome free breakfast, swimming in the hotel pool, and a door between the kids' bed and the parents' bed. The wedding was lovely I'm told. I wouldn't know as I spent 95% of it in the hallway with Caleb. We had a great dinner at the reception and the whole family enjoyed dancing. Maya proclaimed it the best party ever.

From Lincoln we drove on to St. Louis. We did so many great fun things while there, but only got pictures of one thing - sledding. The weather in St. Louis while we were there was very cold and snowy, totally opposite of the usual weather when we come for Christmas. Usually we get some super freaky warm days where we are playing outside in short sleeves and and bare feet. Not this year.

It was so cold we had to have hot chocolate!

Haley and Caleb

Maya

Grandma and Haley

The boys (Mike, Caleb and Uncle Joe) played snow football.

When we weren't sledding we did lots of other fun things. We went to a play of The Christmas Story (you'll shoot your eye out), the Magic House, the Science Center, the Butterfly House, on a horse drawn carriage ride to see Christmas lights, Ted Drewes and more Christmas lights, saw Avatar, Princess and the Frog, and New Moon, made a gingerbread house and rice krispie house, made sugar cookies, and played tons of games. It was great to see Uncle Steve (aka Uncle Stop it), Uncle Ryan (aka I have a full time job), Uncle Joe and Auntie Ann, and Grandma and Grandpa. We sure love you guys!

Happy Halloween!

Here are the cute kids in their Halloween costumes. Caleb's helmet is just a little bit too big!

And our attempts at carving pumpkins this year. From left to right: Alien (Mike's), Pumpkin face with bat mouth (Haley), regular old pumpkin face (me), cat on tree limb (Maya).