Birthday Week

 Birthday Week 2020!

Birthday week always starts out with Lulu.  She had it all planned out.  We were going to open presents in the morning and eat donuts for breakfast.  After church we'd head over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for grilled hamburgers and hotdogs.  But then she got sick and it ruined all her plans.  She still woke up and opened her presents but she wasn't feeling well enough to eat a donut.  Then she stayed home from church and had to miss the dinner that she planned at Grandma's house.  We decided to wait until the next day to eat the cake she designed.  It was a chocolate cake with purple frosting, sprinkles, her name, and cookies and cream candy bar around the bottom.  She was pretty happy with it.  Good thing her illness didn't last too long.

Then it was time to celebrate Gennie's birthday.  She didn't have quite as specific plans as Lulu.  She just wanted to open her presents in the morning and she didn't care what we ate for breakfast.  For dinner she requested buttered noodles and meatballs with broccoli.  She didn't want cake but brownies instead with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.  I was happy to oblige.

Finally we celebrated Charlie.  He just really wanted to take a nap on his birthday! Easy peasy.  He really made it easy on me and bought all his own gifts this year.  But he did request an ice cream sandwich cake which I was happy to do for him.  It was fun to have three different desserts that they each planned out this year. 

Happy Birthday!

Feeling the Spirit

We had our ward Primary sacrament meeting program recently. The three youngest participated in it. Our music leader asked the girls if they would sing together two lines from the hymn I Know That My Redeemer Lives. The whole Primary sang the first verse together then the second verse was split up among a few kids singing the lines as solos.

As the kids started singing the first verse I’m telling you those words alone have power but then you get a whole Primary full of children singing it takes on a whole new meaning.

I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with His love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.

The second verse was then split up and a few children sang two lines together as solos or with a sibling.

He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my souls complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.

Lulu, Gennie, and Sadie sang together the last two lines in the verse. I’ll be honest it was not the greatest performance. Some of the kids forgot the words, some kids sang other kids lines which messed up the next kids, and some kids (like mine) sang quietly and were a bit shy.

But it did not matter! The Spirit was so strong as those kids sang those sacred words describing our Savior, his role in our lives, and how he truly does live and care about every aspect of our lives.

And here’s the best thing ever ever ever! My kids felt it! Lulu actually had tears in her eyes as she sang the song.  It’s the best feeling in the world when you know without a doubt that your child is feeling the love of our Savior. It was such a sweet moment.

After the program was over I asked Lulu how she felt. She said she didn’t know. I asked her if she was crying because she felt the Holy Ghost and she said, Yeah, I think so! It was the sweetest thing ever.

School's Back!

Usually I'm so ready for school to start back up again but this year I wasn't feeling strongly one way or the other.  It just kinda came upon us and we rolled right back into a new schedule.  Dallin started middle school this year (yikes!), Kenzie is in 5th grade, and Lulu is in 1st grade.  I was a little worried about Dallin starting at a new school and taking on the big middle school but he's surprised me with how well he's been able to keep up with everything and has been very responsible.  I was also a little worried about Lulu having all day school for the first time, but she too has proven I had nothing to worry about.  They've all handled the new transitions very well.  Kenzie is excited to be the oldest grade at her school and LOVES her teacher, Mrs. Curry.

Kenzie, Brykin, and Lulu

While the big kids are in school I get to hang out with these two cuties whom we affectionately call Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum.  They sure are cute but they are also a handful!  When they aren't fighting for my attention or fighting with each other, they are drawing on walls/furniture/floors etc, or making huge toy messes all round the house, or helping me in the kitchen, or creating lovely pieces of art.  It's weird to think that in just another year I'll have four in school and in just three years ALL of them will be in school! Sheesh!  

Dallin and Lulu

Lulu adores her big brother and wants to do everything he's doing.  Dallin usually lets her play along but 9 times out of 10 Lulu ends up crying over something.  However, she keeps going back for more every.single.time.

Lulu Spring Soccer

Once again our little soccer player is out there doing it again.  She started out the season really strong, scoring 6 goals in the first game.  She had a lot of growth this year and showed some real improvement.  I think this one is going to be pretty passionate about soccer.

Silly Girls

Gennie was invited to a princess party at Roxy Coleman's house.  She was so excited to wear her Rapunzel dress again.

And since Gennie was getting her picture taken Sadie and....

Lulu wanted their pictures taken too.  Goofballs!

Lulu's first lost tooth

Alayna lost her first tooth!!  These are monumental occasions around here so they must be documented.  She's so excited to get her first visit from the tooth fairy!

Lulu's 6th Birthday

We got to celebrate this awesome 6 year old on her birthday.  Things we all love about Lulu:
1. she's super smart
2. she's super silly and funny
3. she rocks it out on the soccer field
4. she has a powerful presence in any room
5. she has a strong testimony and says some beautiful prayers
6. she's very sensitive and aware of her feelings
7. she's a very passionate person
8. she remembers EVERYTHING!
9. she's a hard worker when she puts her mind to it
10. she's really good at Minecraft and Terraria (X-Box games)

Run and Run and Run

These girls love to run laps around the main floor.  There is usually a stroller involved and it almost always ends in someone crying because they tripped over something or ran into each other or they didn't "win".  But they just run and run and run!  It's worth it to get their energy out.

Sisters

The girls had a picnic on the deck and were playing really nice with each other.  I hadn't really taken very many pictures in a while so I grabbed my camera.  I didn't love how the sun was peaking through the pergola...oh well, it is what it is. Opted for black and white to change it up a little.  Such cutie pies!!