2009

My bro took pix for us with our camera, and then we took pix of them with their camera!

I think they turned out pretty good!

Not bad for FREE :)

I LOVE MY FAMILY

the simple facts...

I LOVE

US

together

There's no one else for me.

just for my record

August 19th. This was a GOOD day...for many reasons.

4 generations

We came home from our fabulous Holland family reunion, I got to talk to my dear husband on the phone, then we stopped by to see my sweet Grandma.

We had fun visiting and going out to lunch. It was a memorable day for sure!!

ONE BUSY DAY!!

I just have

too much fun

when I come home to Utah!

I've been going non-stop and it's been awesome!!

I've been able to meet two more spectacular blogging friends who I can now call "real-life" buddies!! Holly and I met Jeanelle last week and had a fabulous meal at Cheesecake Factory and enjoyed some fun girl talk. Jeanelle is soooooooooooo awesome! Thank you SO MUCH for coming to meet us, Jeanelle I think you are too good to be true.

You are so beautiful, so sweet and sincere, and so much fun.

I had a blast and can't wait for the next time we get to do lunch!! xoxo

Then a few days after that I got to meet Denise!!!

And THANKS to you too for coming all the way up to meet me and have some play time. Denise ROCKS. You are so dang cute and sweet and I wanted to whisk your kids away forever they were so super duper adorable!

We had tons of fun playing at the Gateway. The kids ran through the water fountains, got free treats and prizes and had a blast enjoying the fun atmosphere.

I loved every second, it was SO SO fun!!! xoxo

After our outing with friends, Tanner and I stopped in at The Gateway Museum for a little while before picking up Dad at the airport so he could finally join our vacation! Tanner had a blast with all the interactive games and activities.

We loved the museum!!

Check out this yummy sandwich he made me!!

Then we arrived back at my parents house and my dad took us all out for ice cream to celebrate his birthday!!!!!

Thanks dad!!!

You're the best.

The celebration didn't end there though....we kept going and going and going!

It was a fabulous day. And this is only one out of two weeks so far that I have to tell about...

OH WHAT FUN!

my Tanner

Dear Tanner,

You are 5 years old now.

You are such a big boy and I can already tell a difference in your personality just these past few weeks that you have grown.

You continue to, and always will be a light in my life and your Father's life. You've filled our hearts with more joy and love then we ever thought possible.

You have a quiet reservation about you, yet your so outgoing and such a people person! Your energy is like static, clinging to everyone around you.

You're stubborn.

You're pure and sweet.

You're competitive.

You're a little bit spoiled!

You're my cuddle bug.

You're perfect in my eyes.

You LOVE, which is an understatement, PIRATES.

You love dress up; ninja, batman, fireman, superman, cowboy...you love to be "someone else" and your imagination is so alive!

You love Reeses PB cups and always grab a package when we check out at the grocery store.

You love books. You bite your fingernails.

You're obsessed with gum. You'd eat a pack a day if I let you!

You have a hard time saying your "r" letters and are starting to get a little self conscious about it because when you pronounce your name it sounds like Tanno. It's adorable.

You cry when you get hair cuts! You finally like playing in the dirt with bugs and worms!

You've accomplished music class, gym class, swimming lessons and are about to start soccer. We love watching you excel. You're about to start your third year of preschool and in just one more short year you will begin kindergarten!

You can hardly wait to go to "the big school."

You love your friends and are starting to notice trends in clothes and hairstyles!

You like to ride your bike and scooter, but still have a little fear of going TOO FAST!

You whine about taking baths but then you stay in for hours.

You love Scooby Doo and Tom and Jerry.

I cherish every moment I get to spend with you.

I love nothing more in this world than being your mother. I am so honored I have this responsibility.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Love always,

MOM

Preparing for pirates

Captain Jack here is

turning 5

and he couldn't be more excited about it!!

His bday is actually in two weeks but we will be in Utah and he

has been anxiously looking forward to his

bday party with friends, so we partied last weekend.

Of course I prepared the night before...set out all our pirate decor,

which Tanner took and made with his fort to scare people away! Drawing the parrots that the pirates will finger paint with their hands for feathers!

Filling the pinata and getting the bomb ready for hot potato.

Setting out the hats and skull wands they will each make.

Cap'n Jack trying on his new costume to make sure it fits!

Making the pirate ship cake the morning of.

Tan man helping me place the pirates appropriately...

and kindly correcting me which way the flags should go!

Of course sneaking a little lick.

Finishing my totally amateur pirate ship cake!!!

Getting the loot ready in the treasure chest for their hunt.

Let the fun begin!!!

Beware, Pirates ONLY

Let the party start!

Only pirates were allowed at this party.

I bought each of the kids a pirate costume to wear, so before hand they could come as scurvy PIRATES! They came and made their wands and hats. Then they lined up and set out for a pirate adventure in search of gold and treasure!! They went from clue to clue trying to find their booty. They braved walking the plank and fighting for their lives through the murky waters with snakes and alligators...they trudged through the jungles looking through tree's, escaping danger around every corner...

But alas, they found the buried treasure chest and devoured their jewels and gear!

Now they are fully jeweled and decorated

PIRATES.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrr mateys!

Then it was a battle of the bomb.

(hot potato)

Captain Jack wanted to capture this adorable girl pirate!

We needed evidence of these mangey pirates...but the Cap'n himself was a little too grumpy at this moment!

Ay, but that's what pirates be, mean lil bilge rats who steal and plunder.

Appropriate I suppose!

Next these scurvy pirates needed a parrot for their shoulder...

so they finger painted the feathers on!

Pirates LOVE their treasures and this lil pirate got plenty of presents!

He loved them all and has such fabulous friends :)

Tho he best beware that no one plunder his gifts.

Pirates take your place...prepare to behead the pirate pinata.

We had some tough pirates, but it was the Capn of all Capn's that had to behead the pirate...thanks Dad for giving the kids more loot!

Tanner had his hands completely full and was asking for people to

put more candy in his mouth!!!

Singing a sea chantey to the birthday boy...

Yo ho Yo ho a pirates life for me!

Or...maybe it was

Happy Birthday to you!!!!!

I hope he made a good wish!

Finally winding up the party and trying to get these plundering pirates to calm down a wee bit while Capn Kirk read "The Jolly Roger."

It was a high pollutin' party. One we'll never forget!

Happy birthday to my angel pirate boy.

No more growing after this one though.

I forbid it!!!!!!