Happy 3rd Birthday, Julia!!!

Three years ago, our baby, Julia Elizabeth, was born! From the get go, her brothers and sisters couldn't get enough of her. She's a momma's girl and her favorite person to play with is her big sister, Katie. Nothing slows this girl down! She holds her own on the trampoline, sneaks treats and hides to eat them, and gives herself haircuts with any pair of scissors she gets her hands on! We love her cute little voice, the way she tilts her head and gives the sweetest smiles, and we love how she hugs best when she gets a running start. We love our Julia! Happy birthday, sweetheart!

The day before her birthday, the two of us had decorated the kitchen with princess balloons and pictures of Julia growing up.  She opened her birthday cards from her grandparents and they both had some money inside.  The kids were all at school on Julia's birthday, so I had hours with Julia to myself to spoil.  We had a laid back morning at home.  After lunch, we spent Julia's birthday money at a local print shop/party supply store.  Julia picked out a pink elephant stuffed animal to fill up with stuffing.  She named her elephant Sophia.

Here's a little note I wrote to Julia to remember some details of her birthday:

Your big brother, Brian made you a strawberry ice cream cake. Tyler helped you open your presents. Katie bought you a Barbie doll and a heart shaped balloon. Daddy gave Mommy ideas for your presents. I invited Great Grandma Hallstrom over for cake. Julia, you are at such a fun age where most everything is exciting.

Happy 36th Birthday, Sam!!!

Happy Birthday to our Superman, Sam! Thank you for always making us feel loved, protected, and provided for! Sam is very dedicated to the well being of his family and spoils us with lots of quality time. The kids and I are spoiled by having such an attentive and service oriented husband and father by our side. Sam has to work today so we celebrated his birthday yesterday. We took the kids on a new hiking trail that just opened up, made fruit kabobs, had a backyard BBQ at home, and opened presents. We love you, Sam! And of course, even though we celebrated yesterday, we still have a few surprises for you today.

Happy 6th Birthday, Katie!

Years ago, I dreamed of having a daughter.  I could just visualize what she looked like as a young girl... dark brown hair, brown eyes... a mini me!  And wouldn't you know, that dream came true when Katie Jane Ward was born!  It's super fun to have a little mini me.  

Katie is so fun to have in our family.
She's always had a great head of hair.

She is very independent and likes to do things her own way.  

This girly girl loves to plan parties and picnics in our backyard.  

She is a little artist and has a wonderful imagination.

Katie's birthday is at a great time of year... 

the end of the school year and the beginning of summer break.  

She ran in her first Wildcat Run three days before her birthday.  

She had fun running the half mile with her daddy and the rest of the kindergartners.

That same day, Katie's class celebrated her birthday.  Her teacher and classmates made a special birthday crown for her to wear in class.  Some of her classmates had some very nice things to say about her:

- Katie is fun!  ~Allyah

- Katie is good at school. ~ Maritza

- Katie is happy. ~ Eduardo 

- Katie is nice. ~ Shayla

- I like to play with her. ~ MaKenna

- Katie is smart. ~ Moo

- Katie is a good friend. ~ Trindon

- Katie is kind. ~ Carson

This year Katie had a character party in our backyard.  We told all of her friends to come dressed as their favorite princess, superhero, or whatever.  Katie couldn't decide what she wanted to dress up as, so she chose two characters: Spiderman and Donatello the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.  She was so happy at her party.  All of the other girls dressed up as princesses and Sawyer Griffiths dressed up as a ninja.  The kids made bracelets, played a Spiderman web bean bag toss game, and then the kids  decorated their own cupcakes.  The kids went outside and we opened presents.  One of Katie's friends, Penny Wheelright, gave her the game Pie Face.  It was super funny to watch the kids play that game.  I'm glad it stopped raining so the kids could go and play outside.  

It's been a fun year watching Katie come out of her shell more.  

She's super excited for the summer.  

She will be taking ballet, participating in summer playground group, going to family reunions, etc.

Katie, we love you so much!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Tyler's 8th Birthday

  We have an 8 year old in the house!

Tyler celebrated early with a friend on Dec. 4th.

Tyler invited Brian, his friend, Dennis, and me to go with him to see the movie, Pan.

We had fun stringing balloons in the party van.

Dennis came over before the movie to have donuts with us.

Pan was playing at the cheap theater.  We got big drinks and popcorn to share.

Dennis gave Tyler an orange Zeon bow.  

Jack wasn't feeling well the night of the movie, but came over the next day with a gift for Tyler, a  remote controlled Thunder Rumble stunt car.

On Tyler's actual birthday, we woke up early before Daddy went to work and had breakfast together.

I heated up these yummy cinnamon rolls in the oven and made orange juice.  Tyler insisted on helping me decorate the kitchen the night before his birthday.  We put a large strip of snowman wrapping paper on the table to act as a table cloth.  I taught Tyler how to make a tissue paper pom pom.  We strung it from the kitchen chandelier.  Tyler also helped make and frost his "donut cake."  He thought it was so cool that Daddy found the perfect shade of orange frosting and star sprinkles.  After our homemade mac & cheese dinner, Tyler spent his birthday money to go to The Jump Zone with Sam and Brian.

Tyler was a lucky boy and was able to open his birthday gifts before Daddy went to work.

He got some new books to read, Ninja Turtle pajama pants, a magnetic dart set for his room, and  his favorite gift... this crossbow!  The crossbow came with a target.  Daddy attached a small screw to our backyard fence.  Now Tyler can easily put up and take down his target when he is outside practicing.  I'd say he has a really good shot for a kid his age.

Tyler is a nice brother and even let Julia get a good look at the crossbow.

All about Tyler:

Favorite Color: turquois

Favorite Food: pizza

Favorite Movie: Star Wars

Favorite Sport: Running & Soccer

Favorite Books: Star Wars books

Favorite Friends: Jack Griffiths, Sawyer Griffiths, Dennis Livingston, Beck Susman

Favorite Memories from 2015: being in New York, winning the Wildcat Run and setting the 1st grade school record, playing his first season of outdoor soccer

Tyler likes to play outside, ride his scooter, practice shooting his crossbow. 

Happy 2nd Birthday to Julia!

Happy 2nd Birthday to Julia!!!

She is so sweet and we just love having her in our family. 

On her birthday, we let her pick out her own helium balloon at Macey's.

We also had Papa Murphy's Pizza for dinner.  

We had cake and ice cream with our new friends in the ward, Tricia and Jason Stuart, came with their two kids, Zach (7), and Kelsie (5).

Julia received some great gifts: matching outfits for her to wear with Katie, some crayons, stickers, a tricycle, etc. 

A little bit about this little miss:

- Refers to herself in first person

- Plays well by herself and with others

- Likes to snug with Mom and our favorite blue "gankie" (blanket)

- Sits in a booster seat at the table

- Hates to wear bows or ponytails in her hair.  That is why we gave her some bangs.

- A skilled trampoline jumper

- Loves to give hugs, kisses, and good-bye waves to 

Sam and the kids when they leave on weekday mornings

- Has a big vocabulary for her age

Katie Turns 5!

Katie had her first friend party three days before her 5th birthday!  

She had about a dozen friends come to her Princess Party.

We had so much fun planning her party.

The party turned out just perfect.

I really think Katie loved seeing so many friends, getting super spoiled with presents, 

and being a real princess for the day.  

Sam and I surprised Katie with her own Elsa dress and Elsa braid to wear to her party.

She LOVES to dress up as Elsa all the time now and insists on growing

 her hair out long so she can have her own "Elsa braid."

One of her good friends, Katelynn Smith, has the exact same Elsa dress.  

My sister, Laura, and my sister-in-law, Alice, helped to frost the cupcakes for Katie's 

Elsa dress cake.  We had lots of decorations too.  

And I even wore my high school prom dress just for fun.

Now for the pictures in no particular order:

Katie helped get this table all ready for her friends.  

Each girl got their own princess plate with nail polish, a rainbow streamer bracelet, a candy bracelet, and a princess crown.  

 Julia and Katie are ready to party!

 Katie and Daisy (Katie's best friend from preschool)

 Avory ZaeJoDaeus as Princess Jasmine

 Chloe (Lia Ciccotti's girl) as Princess Sophia The First

 Ellie (Lia Ciccotti's girl)

 Ellie (Lia Ciccotti's girl) as Belle

 Ellie and her princess bling.

 We played a princess matching game and then "don't let the balloon touch the ground" game.

 Lucy Giles as Princess Anna

 Katie insisted that we get these Color Wonder markers and 

a special Princess Sophia Color Wonder book to share with her friends.  

It was a big hit.  The girls all spent at least 20 minutes coloring.

Mariah Crossley, Eden Jewkes, Katelynn Smith, Avory ZaeJoDaeus, Penny Wheelright, Lucy Giles, Chloe, Ellie

We made Fruit Loop necklaces and they each chose their own princess plate of goodies.

Lucy, Chloe, Ellie, Katie

Eden, Katelynn, Mariah, Avory, Penny, Lucy, Chloe, Ellie

 Jasmine (Katie's buddy from Tyler's soccer games), Eden, Katelynn, Ashley Crossley (against the wall), Mariah, Avory

After all the cake, presents, and games, we went out front and the girls each got their own bubbles to blow.  They also played with what I had put in their loot bags too.

Katie loved her party!

Julia's Cake Smash

 We made Julia her very own smash cake right before her birthday!  This is the first time that we've ever done anything like this for our babies.  It was so much fun.  Julia really got into it.  The instant sugar high that she received made her do something for the first time that you can see in the video below (that I will post later):