Halloween

Halloween this year went like it does most years.. We waited forever to pick a costume and then finally decided to shop in our costume closet instead of the store. Ezra was a police officer, Makai was Thor, Deklan was a pirate and Brynlee was a cabbage patch funky fairy ;) Yeah, I made the last one up. lol.

We went trick or treating with a lot of our friends. Here the kids are with Haley and Ryan waiting for it to finally be time to beg people for candy!

Our neighborhood had some good houses and some lame ones. A lot of people didn't answer and some that did didn't have any candy. The kids had a good time running around together though, and we came back with enough candy to fulfill mommy and daddy's cravings, so we're good.

Maybe I'll try to plan better for next year. I always have big ideas and then not even time or "know how" to make them happen. Ezra wants to be luigi and Makai wants to be "Hulk Smash" next year. Maybe we could all be Mario characters! Yeah, probably not gonna happen, but I just might wear a black or orange shirt next year so I'm going big!

Brynlee's Baby Blessing

Our Beautiful Brynlee Bear was blessed August 3rd, 2014. The blessing was given by her handsome and gentle daddy, James. It was a wonderful blessing. She was blessed with virtue to last her through her life which was my favorite part. I teared up when the idea of her being a mother and raising Heavenly Father's children was said. It made me feel so connected to her and I realized I am raising a mother who will raise more mothers so I better do a good job!

She was calm the whole blessing even with the feathers from her bow tickling her face while she was bounced ;)

She's an angel baby and we're all in love.

Ezra and Makai's Birthday

This summer I decided to do another combined party for Ezra and Makai. I was planning on having it before the baby came, but since I was induced early we opted for later which worked out better for them anyways since it ended up being right in between their birthdays. We did a pirate party. And since we did it the same weekend as Brynlee's baby blessing, we were lucky enough to have BOTH of their grandmas here for it too!

I had so much fun planning their pirate party. Aside from the pool party portion of it being rained out, everything went great.

I had to drink a lot of root beer to get these invites. lol.

I'll save you from the individual pictures of the food and just give a summary because I felt cool having my dishes labelled. lol. We had peg legs (corn dogs), cannon balls (cheese balls), Pirate ship (watermelon fruit bowl), 7 sea dip (7 layer nacho dip), Chips ahoy cookies, fish and chips (goldfish and potato chips), buccaneers jello surprise, just a standard veggie platter that I don't know if I named and then some pirate marshmallow pops and cupcakes. 

My mom worked hard painting this for a ball toss "feed the shark" We still have it :)

I spent a lot of time drawing and cutting out swords from cardboard for a couple of months before the party so we could start with a "decorate a sword" table. I also had telescopes for them to decorate. This was so cute to see kiddos getting creative! 

My prized pirate marshmallow pops

Treasure hunt. I found this plastic chest at walmart and just spray painted it. We made a special trip to the beach and I filled it with sand and then mixed in lots of treasure! 

yeah.. there were a lot of kids! 

pin the flag on the treasure map 

Dek-o had to get in on the action too.

MakaDuke went a little crazy with the jello.

Singing Happy Birthday to my big boys! 

Grandma Lene was there standing guard around Brynlee while she slept the whole time! She's seriously so easy! 

The line up for the treasure hunt. I was shocked they all waited so patiently for their turn.

Our walk the plank that Deklan claimed the second James set it up. 

We also had a "ring around the sword game" and a cannonball toss that we never got to. Kids got crazy and just ran around instead. lol. It was so fun. A lot of work, but well worth it.


Ezra turned 6 on July 17th and Makai turned 4 on August 14th. They both got new bikes for their birthday!

Walk the Plank

For Ezra and Makai's pirate party this summer I made a plank for a "walk the plank" game. It's so silly how walking across a board can be so much fun for kids. My kids loved it and even had to dress up in character while they played with it around the house.

I have some goofy children and I just love them to pieces! (notice sweet B Lee in the background? She's an angel baby!)

My Baby Shower

I have some incredible friends who went above and beyond to make this baby shower extra special. With this being my first girl after a "long" wait, they decided it needed to be a big deal and it certainly was. I feel so blessed to know these women and to call them my friends. They are amazing.

The room pre-shower

Sarah and Katie

Sarah and Ashley

A good chunk of the planning committee (there was actually a committee!! haha)
Dana, Sarah, Katie, Ashley, Lesley (and Katy behind the camera)

walking in with my girly escort

Eating lunch. They served wonderful food.

obviously the present table ;)

opening presents with my girl, Haley (aka Ezzy's best friend and my little sugar)

They did so much DIY stuff for this shower it was so touching.

Loved this little display. And the table next to it had a book display for  signed books instead of cards. It was a great idea and Brynie B got her first princess books here!

My favorite flower -stargazing lily on every table. Above and beyond!

Sarah made a gorgeous cake that I didn't get a picture of so I am trying to track that down. They had games and beautiful prizes and yummy food and treats. And most of the decor they sent home with me for Bryn's room!

I am just so honored and I feel so humbled to see the work that they put into making this shower special for me. I know it wasn't easy and sometimes it probably wasn't even fun, but any time I told them to simplify I was shot down and told that they wanted to do this for me. It brought me to tears. It lowered my stress of a scary pregnancy and helped me to focus on the excitement of having a baby girl. I can't say 'thank you' enough. I love these girls and I loved my girly shower!

Introducing Sister to Brothers

The boys all came with my mom to visit us in the hospital the day Brynlee was born, but they were far more interested in my "owies" and Nana's phone and their friends that also came to visit than they were in their new baby sister. However, their interest was raised the next day when we brought her home. They were all so loving and so excited to see her. They think she's beautiful and our little princess and they are so amazingly gentle with her. They all love kissing her and hugging her and touching her. Ezra enjoys sitting by her in the car and helping her if she gets fussy. It's adorable.

They were all eagerly awaiting our return. It made coming home so exciting. They even colored pictures with Nana and hung them on the door for us :)

He did not want to let this baby out of his arms. I kept trying to take her back and he just held her tighter and squawked at me. He is a very proud big brother. He comes in every morning to check on her in her bed. He was fascinated by her umbilical cord and gets alarmed and concerned when she gets fussy.

Makai loves her and shouts her name every time she's awake.

Proud Big Brothers

Ezra is such a great helper with her and is already protective. Though I can't get him to change her diapers, darn it!

He really would not let her go any time I let him hold her. It kind of made me nervous because he would just squeeze her tighter.

They can't wait to see her crawl and hear her talk and keep asking me what she can do now. Lol. Even though she may not be very interactive right now, it is so sweet to see these boys love her and get excited to have her in our family! Such good big brothers this lucky little girl has ;)

And I am loving playing dress up every day:

cutest little Minnie Mouse I have ever seen

4th of July

I love my little girl :)