Happy Birthday Kenzie

YIKES!!  We have another teenager in the house!  Kenzie turned 13 this week and we had a fun time celebrating her.  She got lots of new clothes, cupcakes, ice cream sandwich cake, phone calls, cards, Olive Garden dinner, and donuts for breakfast.  Despite not having any friends or extended family to celebrate with, I think she had a fun birthday.

Kenzie is seriously the best big sister and daughter I could ever ask for.  She's patient and loving with her siblings.  She and Sadie have a special bond and connection full of puppies and nicknames.  She's a pro on the hoverboard, loves to read, plays the violin, creates cool drawings, writes fun stories, and has lately gotten into organizing her room.  She's our peacemaker and quietly goes about spreading cheer and love and happiness wherever she goes.
 

We love you Kenz! Happy Birthday!!

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!  

Kenzie's 10th Birthday Bash

It was time for Kenzie to have an actual birthday party complete with friends, games, prizes, candy, food and fun!  She chose to invite Brykin, Peyton, Payton, Lila, Lylah, Breanna, and Bailey.  They played the candy ball game, cotton ball game, oreo game and cup stacking game.  They ate pizza and donuts and played outside.  Then Kenzie opened up all her presents.  The kids had such a fun time.  Happy Birthday Kenzie!!

Random Girl Stuff

Seriously, this girl is just too cute!!  Or, I should say "tute" as Sadie would say.  Sadie truly does bring so much joy to our family despite the drawings on the walls and the many rifts she has with Lulu or Gennie.  

Then we have little miss bookworm.  Kenzie LOVES to read and always has a book nearby.  Her favorites are Harry Potter, The Land of Stories, and pretty much anything with a dog in it. 

One of Sadie's favorite things to do is to pick the wrapping off the crayons and leave all the little wrappings all over the house.  It's such great fun cleaning up after this girl!

Geneil is our independent four year old that wants to do everything for herself until she wants my help all the time.  She's an adorable storm, seriously!  She's such a beautiful girl and can be so sweet and kind and caring and in the same minute can be angry and fierce and hurtful.  Charlie and I both realize we've got our hands full with this one!

Museum Fun

The museum has a special exhibit right now on extreme mammals.  After you walk through the exhibit you can get your picture taken with some extreme mammals.  We had a lot of fun planning our pose.  Gennie didn't want to take part, party pooper.  Speaking of pooper...where's Lulu? LOL!!

Fun Run

The kid's school, Canyon Creek Elementary, held it's annual fun run and the kids were excited to get out there and run and have some fun.  Lulu blew us away with the number of laps she ran, I don't think she ever stopped!  It was fun to watch and cheer them on!

I Spy

I was looking for something the other day and thought it might be in Kenzie's desk drawer.  I opened it up and this is what I saw.  I kid you not!  I didn't add, move, change a thing.  It made me laugh and instantly reminded me of those I Spy books where you have to find the hidden objects.  Too funny!!

She Did It!

I've been trying to teach Kenzie how to ride a bike for years and she's just not been interested until finally I told her that she's NINE years old and it's pretty pathetic that she can't ride a bike when most 6 year olds can.  She finally agreed.  We worked on it for 3-4 days on our street and it just wasn't clicking with her.  Then I decided to take her to the church parking lot where she didn't have to worry about the neighbors watching her or cars coming and SHE GOT IT!  She finally did it.  It was so fun to watch her succeed and having fun.  

First Day of School

Well, here we are!!  Summer has come to a close and school is now back in session.  This year Dallin is the big man on campus in the 5th grade.  His teacher this year is Ms Clayton.  Kenzie is in 4th grade and has Mrs. Penrod.  And our Alayna is FINALLY old enough to go to Kindergarten!!  Lulu started school a few days after Dallin and Kenzie.  She attends every morning for 1/2 the day.  Her teacher is Mr. Candelarie.  She loves riding the bus with her big brother and sister.  We're excited for a new school year at Canyon Creek Elementary.

Kenzie's Birthday

Kenzie turned NINE years old!  We had a little surprise party for her with her three good friends from school: Makayla, Payton, and Brykin.  She was TOTALLY surprised, she had no idea they were coming over.  It was awesome to see the excitement in the kids' faces.  My friend came over to help me with the birthday cake...well she basically did the whole thing for me.  I could never do anything like this, she's amazing.  We had a great time watching Kenzie blow out her candles, open presents, and celebrate her on her special day.

We love you Kenz!  Happy Birthday!