All about Sara

 Sara turned 2!  She got a play kitchen for her birthday, which she absolutely loves.  This girl loves food.  We had strawberry shortcake to celebrate. 

At her annual checkup. She thought this gown was pretty cool.

She is such a happy girl, and I love her more than anything.  

She is starting to say lots of words.  Words I think sound so cute... like "So so" (cereal)

"Gengki" (blankey) and "Dwee dwee" (dirty)

To greet people, she says "Hi Hi!"  I love that.  When we were camping this summer, we opened up the tent window one morning and she kept saying "Hi Hi" over and over again to Chris Brady.  :)

She also loves to sing.  Her favorite show is Cocomelon, and she has learned many songs from it.  Songs like the ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle, and Rain Rain Go Away.  Also she sings this song:

Good Good, Food is good for you

Yay yay yay, I like it Wow.

I love that she loves to sing

She also loves animals.  Whenever we go outside, she wants to get Rosie the bunny out and play with her.  She also loves Lucky.

Sam's 13th Birthday!

Sam turned 13!  Where does the time go?

We started out the day with German pancakes, and then he wanted to open his presents before he left for school.  We surprised him with Oculus (a VR video game), and a new xbox game called "Gangbeast."  (Ashlee's recommendation)  He was not expecting those at all, but was pleasantly surprised and the kids all love playing the new games.

Next I took Sam out to lunch at Jersey Mikes.  It was crowded, but he was excited to miss some school for it  :).

Then we got to go watch Sam play in his last volleyball games at PINS.  His dad was his coach, and they played great!  Sam looked like the best player on the team!  He played really well.  Ben helped coach as well.

Then we went home for In n Out burgers and the best part-- raspberry cream cake!

Grandma and Grandpa came over to help us celebrate.

I think Sam had a pretty good day  :).  Sam, I can't believe you are a teenager now!  I love how you make me smile, and how caring and considerate you are with others.  You have a big heart.  You have your priorities straight-- you love video games, but you know you have to set limits with that and your phone.  You know you could cheat and play more, but you choose to be honest and have integrity instead.  I love how you like to talk to me, and tell me things.  You love saying "noob"  and "Guess what, chicken butt!"  to me ALL the time, but I don't mind it TOO much. :)  You try hard in school and in sports and piano, and are way more mature than all the other deacons.  Friends are tough at your age, but things will get better as you get older.  I love you so much, and I am so glad you are part of our family!!!  

Ashlee's 18th Birthday!

Ashlee turned 18!  How is that even possible.  We have an adult child now.  Crazy.

For Ashlee's birthday, we went to Olive Garden with Grandma and Grandpa.

Then a lemon bundt cake for dessert.  Delicious!

The next day I took Ashlee shopping at the Outlets, and bought lots of new clothes.  Then that evening she invited a few friends over and went to a movie/ hot tub.

Oh I love this girl more than words can say.  She is such a good girl, and hilarious.  She always keeps us laughing.  She is a good friend to others, and has trouble deciding which people to hang out with, because everyone always wants to hang out with her.  Her mom and dad feel a little left out sometimes because she has such a busy social life.  She is a hard worker.  She has always excelled at school, she tries hard in sports, and is amazing at piano.  She is super responsible as well, and often reminds me of things I need to be doing that I forgot about.  She keeps her room clean, and does her own laundry.  She and her sister Sara have a special connection, and often times Sara calls her "mama."  Ashlee is amazing, and I love her to pieces.  Still in denial she will be leaving for college in a few months.  She will always be our little girl, and now I am tearing up just thinking about it.

Love you Ashlee!!! 

 

Christmas Break-- Part 2

The day before Christmas Eve we hurried back home to get ready for the big day.  Christmas eve was spent unpacking, doing laundry, shopping, and preparing food for Christmas eve dinner at the Black's house.  Andrew and Morgan, Michael and Hollan were all there.  The rest of Gabe's siblings would arrive in the next few days.  We did the posada, and the honor chair, then hurried home to get to bed.  

And of course, the kids all got matching jammies!

Sam was ecstatic he got a new phone!

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

Christmas break-- Part 1

 The week before Christmas we went on a roadtrip to my parent's cabin in Wyoming.  We were very excited to see all the snow, and were dreaming of sledding, snowmen, and igloos.  Well it didn't exactly work out the way we thought, because that week the temps dropped drastically and most days were at or below zero.  I think one night it got to 24 below zero!

We did attempt to make some igloos, before we got too cold and had to go in to warm up.

Instead we decided to have fun inside!

First thing, make gingerbread houses!

We finished this puzzle and almost finished another.

We also played an escape room game, watched Wednesday and A Series of Unfortunate Events (unfortunately...), and Ashlee, Grandma and I painted!  

We ate lots of good food, including Grandma's delicious chocolate chip cookies!

Eventually one day was nice enough we played outside, and we found a sledding hill that dropped almost straight down close by the road.  It was still cold though, and I couldn't stay out very long because my toes kept freezing (I need better boots.)  The kids were able to stay out a lot longer than me.

Other adventures we had:  Grandma and Grandpa took Ashlee to buy more white paint, and had to buy chains to come back up the hill.  It took forever to put on the chains and all of them came back in a bad mood.  

Also a pipe burst in the other house from freezing, but luckily Sam caught it soon after it had started leaking.  Gabe was able to help my dad take care of it. 

We had a wonderful time at my parent's house before Christmas.  As I get older, I appreciate that place more and more.  It holds a special place in my heart, and I feel closer to my ancestors and family there.  It heals my soul.  I love being with my parents too, and I wish I could see them more often.  I get worried that we are all getting older, and I just want to soak in my time with them as much as possible.  I love them, and I love Gabe and my kids so much.  I have been truly blessed.

Eliza Turns 5!

Our sweet little Liza had a birthday this week!  

On the day of her birthday, we invited Grandma and Grandpa over for dinner and cake.  Eliza requested her favorite In-n-Out for dinner and "a pink cake." She loved all her presents!  Grandma Black got her some Frozen slippers, and I gave her a little music box.  Ashlee gave her some eye shadow, and she has been seen with it all over her eyelids.  She also got some dolls from Sam and Thomas, and Frozen legos from Ben.  She was a happy girl.

We postponed her party with friends until the following Monday, and almost all her friends came!  (Just missing Ethan because he didn't want to go to a "princess" party.  

We started out with making crowns, then Thomas led them on a treasure hunt.

I'm so glad the weather was nice enough they could play in the backyard.  They had a lot of fun jumping on the trampoline, and playing on the swings.

They also loved meeting Rosie, our bunny.

Time for pizza!

Next up was the pinata.  Everyone got to hit it once, then on Thomas's turn he broke it open.

Here is the cake I made for Eliza.  I think it turned out pretty cute!

Happy birthday sweetheart!  I love your happy personality, and what a good friend you are to others.  Everyone loves you!  You are beautiful, inside and out.  I love how you like to be wherever I am, and do whatever I am doing.  You are my little sidekick, and I just love it.  You love pink, and princesses, your toys, and your favorite pink blanket, but you also are very willing to share with baby Sara to make her happy.  You are in a dance/gymnastics class with your friends Abigail and Sloan, and you love your preschool class too.  You are very smart, and I am starting to teach you how to read.  You love to go over to Mila's or Ethan's houses whenever you have a chance.  You are constantly coloring, or drawing pictures and giving them to me.  I am so proud I get to be your Mom.  Love you Eliza!  Happy birthday!!!

 

Escape Room

Fun Escape Room with the Jenkins!

"The Locksmith"