I'm two!

The birthday girl...My new loot...
My new Backyardigans book from Tutu and Papa Steve...
Two choices of Birthday cake/pie...
I really blew out both candles all on my own...
I can't believe how fast the last two years of gone. I also can't believe how fun it has been. Kamryn is a piece to our family we always need. She is always willing to give her one-of-a kind kisses (with tongue) and her hugs that make me melt (and of course pause and relish the moment.) We love her cause she is constantly making us smile and laugh (mostly at the dinner table of all places.) We love you!

Ashlyn is 6

Ashlyn turned 6 yesterday. She already thinks that she is 6 1/2 today! Time flies, but not that fast! She has such a big personality on the inside. It is not hard for her to run the show. She plays a real good teenager impression (too bad it isn't an impression) but she can be so kind and gentle (most often when she is not in my presence, I hear this from others.) Yet she is still so small on the outside. I realize just how young she is when I see her walk home from school with the older kids. Not to mention she still wears toddler size shoes!

So tonight we had German pancakes for dinner- her favorite.

I lover her to pieces because... 1. She is a great shopping buddy 2. She is an amazing artist 3. She gives the best hugs 4. She tells me when I look good or when I don't, and she is usually right 5. She loves shoes just as much as I do 6. She is a thoughtful friend

Ashlyn asked for a Ocean Birthday party... Her wish is my command...
The waves, bubbles, and fishing net...The fish cake...The ocean water with fish ice cubes...We enjoyed some great weather on Ashlyn's birthday so we played a few games outside.

Octopus Ring toss...

We timed everyone's crab walk...

Until someone stole the cones...

The kids loved tossing the water balloons! One side of the cannon...

And the other side...

No one really got very wet so we had to hose them down...

I can sum up what Ashlyn received (and asked for) for her birthday in just two words- shoes & Barbies- and she is darn happy about it.

Cake, ice cream and an entertaining movie- Barbie Mermaid Tale 2!!! Whew, it's over!

Continued learning

This is something I am really proud of. Not the kind of proud I get when I finish a sewing project, much more than that.

I was recently called as the RS pianist in my ward. I can play the piano but not great, so I knew this was going to be a great opportunity for me to work on it. However, it is more work than I had hoped. This week I have been working on this song...
If you look closely it is really marked up. It is a 6/8 time signature. I realized I haven't had any good experience with this time signature. The first day I felt like I was reading Japanese. I buckled down and had to write every single count in. Now that I am on day 5 of practicing I have picked the speed up to where it is supposed to be and I am not counting every single count anymore. Whew! But I am proud because I have worked really hard. I considered asking if the song could be changed to a simpler one, but I stuck with it. I learned a lot from this. I am also proud to tell Dylan, who is taking lessons, that even I have to practice really hard on pieces that are difficult and then it gets easier.

So here's to my slow, old fingers and my poor eye-hand coordination- or so it feels.

Our First Blue and Gold

The begging of the end has arrived! Dylan has begun his scouting career. He received his Bob Cat award at our Blue and Gold banquet a few weeks ago. Luckily he shared this big first as well as his baptism with his good buddy Ben...He has already mentined more than once how much he loves scouts and how he wishes every night was scouts. He also loves his den leader, Jane, who also gave the most wonderful talk at their baptism. He asks often to go say hi to her since we are kinda neighbors. And of course the best part of every Blue and Gold...the plethora of desert!One of my callings is part of the cub committee. I put together the center pieces. I will have to admit, they turned out rather cute but they took longer to make than I imagined!
Scouting here we come!

Dylan's Baptism

Dylan Connor Thompson, my first born child, was baptized Saturday, March 3rd. I was proud yet so humbled by this wonderful experience. I am amazed that the outstanding young man Dylan has become.

Dylan was baptized by his Dad, and both his Grandfathers were there to be whiteness and to stand in the circle when he received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We really are proud parents, can't you tell?Even Cami, Connor's sister came down from Cleveland to attend the baptism. All these wonderful people made this day even more special...

We of course had to enjoy the time we had with family in town. We ditched school and wen to the children's museum to make pizza...
And be pirates...
We went to Pullen Park to climb like monkeys...
And pretend to be part of the Swiss family Robinsons. Okay so we really road the carousel till we got sick (well, just Connor)...
And we sailed like captains...
And road like... well, just passengers...
My parents brought with them a lamp my grandfather brought home from Japan, I'm in love...
Of course we had to take advantage of Papa Steve's handy-man skills. Since Corbin is attached to Papa Steve's hip he became quite a good little helper. He put in two new electrical outlets, fixed our stair railing (once and for all), fixed a few drafty windows, re-caulked a shower... And Hung a swing from the deck...
And of course we played hard...
We love and miss you all already! Come back soon!

Father/Daughter Dance

Ashlyn's Elementary school had a Father/Daughter dance . Ashlyn was very excited to get all dolled up for her big date!
After dinner, dancing and a double date with a friend for desert they came home and showed me their new dance moves!

Bottles

I'm in love with my recent project...
Random clear vases/bottles/cups coated with desired color of paint. Quick and easy- my type of craft. Now I need to get motivated to start a few other neglected projects on my list.

A Moment

These are the moments I live for..The picture alone is more eloquent than any words I could put together.

4 is More

Every Little boy dreams of having a Disney Cars party! Corbin is no exception...

"Welcome to Radiator Springs"

Ramone's House of Body Art

I think they would have tattooed their whole bodies if I let them.

Bingo

we will hang on to this game for a rainy day!

Fillmore's Organic Fuel and Oil

Luigi's Casa Della Tires

We build out own leaning tower...

Ashlyn stacked the highest...We went down to the race track to help lightening McQueen. As his pit crew we had to pin the tires on lightening...

Flo's V8 Cafe for some goodies

It was terribly fun to entertain these guys! We had so much fun.

Corbin is now 4. Somehow 4 seems WAY older than 3 for some reason. Like it's official- he's big now. I love Corbin's hugs, they are the best! I have enjoyed watching him learn how to dribble an adult size basketball and write his name. He wants so badly to hang out with Dylan and his friends when they go to the creek or play football. Kamryn calls him "buddy" since she can't pronounce his name. She adores him. He is also one determined little man which can be good, but also it can be REALLY bad. I am sure as we learn to channel this tendency it will become a great strength. Love you buddy!

8 IS Great

I can't believe how fast 8 years has gone. I also can't remember what it was like without Dylan in my life. Sure, we endured some "difficult" years with Dylan when he was an infant/toddler, but now he is a pretty GREAT kid. I am so proud to watch him reap the rewards of his hard work. I am also amazed to watch him help his siblings struggle, he notices and then finds a unique and fun way to help them. I am so happy that I have such a great example for my other kids to follow!

Dylan requested a Skylander themed party. Sadly, they are too new for me to copy any party ideas off the internet. I also got really lazy with the cake as you can see, but I am not sorry.

Each guest created and original Skylander. They drew their pictures and wrote a bio for each one. This was pretty cool to see how creative these guys can be...

We then played "guess the Skylander." I didn't realized how much these kids knew about the characters!We did what all Skylanders do... we search for "things." We had a two team "Treasure and Eternal Sources Quest" (aka scavenger hunt.) This was one serious game!

Presents were a hit of course! Thanks everyone! Thankfully, only one present was Skylanders...Since the boys were literally bouncing off each other, as if I had pumped them all full of sugar or something, we had to head outside. Of course, Dylan put together a game of football...Happy Birthday My not so little man!