Birthday Boy!!!

Nathan has been asking for quite a while now when he was going to turn 5 and if when he turned 5 he could go to Kindergarten. He's been so excited for the day to come and we've had to explain to him a few times that yes he'll go to Kindergarten once he's five but will have to wait a couple months for school to start. 

Well, Nathan celebrated his 5th birthday on St. Patrick's day and now that we have a 5 year old get to plan on more adventures with him, including...yes, Kindergarten this year. 

(He may be ready to go, but I'm not sure I'm ready yet!)

Anyway, since his birthday's St. Patrick's day I like to make a fun treat for his class and this is what I did for this year...

I found the idea in the Family Fun magazine and as soon as I saw it, knew it would be what we'd do this year, both Nathan and Audrey seemed to like how they turned out and I know I do.

Since he was having his actual birthday party on Saturday we took him to the store and let him pick out a small cake to celebrate that night.

Here's the birthday boy! Can't believe he's 5 already, time sure does fly.

 We also let him open 1 present for his birthday and as he was opening it, he took the paper off and exclaimed, "A box of diapers!" We had to explain to him that he needed to open the box and inside he found a cute pillow pet. He said the next day that he wants more pillow pets, but not until everyone else has one too.

Since he turned 5 this year, we decided that he got to invite some friends over for his party and decided on a Fireman theme, including a visit to the fire station. 

Here's some pictures from the fun...

 Good bags made from fireman fabrics, they had chocolate licorice to represent the fireman's hose, life savers and roll ups (stop, drop and roll) as well as stickers, a water gun and some bubbles. I also got Nathan a fire chief hat at the party store and found yellow fireman hats at the dollar store. (The firemen at the station said the chief actually does wear a red hat and the other guys hats are yellow.)

 I also got some red fire hats to use with the decorations. The table set with balloons and life savers.

The birthday banner I cut out with my Cricut.

And we decided on a Dalmatian birthday cake. Not my best cake, but Nathan seemed to like it so that's all that matters. 

 Once the kids got there they each colored a name tag to wear before heading to the fire station.

 Audrey, Nathan, Loren and Esther.

 Nathan and his buddy Loren...

 Cute Esther...

 Talking with the fire chief about fire safety...

 The fireman all suited up showing the kids that he's not scary when he's all dressed up in his gear and if they see him in a fire, not to hide from him.

 Showing us the fire engine.

Checking out the ride.

 Fireman in training!

 Group shot. The kids did have a lot of fun, but they were ready to go when it was over. Not much attention span, but they all seemed to have a good time.

We then headed home and did presents and had some cake and ice cream.

Happy Birthday Nathan! So glad that your ours!!!

Fun with friends...

So this year I decided to do something fun for the kids and throw a little kids party for them and some of their friends. I probably got a little carried away with some of the stuff, but the kids all seemed to enjoy themselves. We had the party for them the weekend before Halloween, October 23rd.

Here's the invitations I made...

I also made some candy pretzels...

 And some gift bags...

For the party, the kids decorated picture frames and made masks (didn't get pics of the masks)...

We played a beanbag toss game. I got the instruction here if you want to make one next year...

Also played Pin the Heart on the Skeleton (he's a nice skeleton)...

And decorated sugar cookies (should have got a better pic of all the candy they had piled on them)...

They also had a lot of fun dancing around to the music that I had playing. 

Here's the gang...

Kingston, Nathan, Sydney, Whitney, Tali and Audrey.

I also wanted to show the decorations I had up. I saw somewhere (can't remember where) someone had done silhouettes of some Halloween shapes. I thought it would be fun to replace the kids photos on the mantel and put up pictures to represent them Halloween style...

 Not sure if we'll do another one next year (it's a lot of work) or not, but glad that I decided to throw one this year for them.

24th of July

Ok, I'm gonna try and get caught up again. We'll see how it goes. 

Since the 24th of July landed on a Saturday this year, we decided to take the kids downtown and camp out to see the 24th of July parade.  This was the first time for me and the kids. We met up with some of my friends from work and their kids Friday night and set up camp. 

We spent the night talking, playing games, reading and just enjoying one anothers company. We did end up setting up next to some interesting people and it seemed a time or two to be in the middle of a gang war with the cops stopping by to talk to our neighbors, but overall had a great night. 

We even got free breakfast out of it. Some people left their canopy and chairs and asked us to keep an eye on it for them and they brought us bagels the next morning.

The kids had such a great time hanging out, but I was glad when we got done. Of all the fun we had, we didn't get much sleep. We are thinking we might have a go at it next year too. 

Here are some pictures of our fun...

Playing with bubbles...

Checking out the stars...

Waiting for the parade to begin...

Our friends Angela and Kingston

Daddy getting cooled off by Audrey...

A little bit of what we saw...

The policemen/women all were wearing mustaches. Guess it's some kinda tradition. It was funny to see.

President Uchtdorf

Some of the floats and such...

There were sure an amazing bunch of floats. The only thing that would have made it better...more sleep and not so much heat.

Good bye old friend...

It may see strange to be blogging about my old ratty quilt, but I have had it for so long that it needed some type of recognition as it's on it's way out the door.

I have had this quilt since I was in second or third grade (I think, it's been a while) and it's been a great friend of mine. It was made by my mom and I think I even got to pick out the backing fabric for it. It has been on many a sleep over, many road trips and has kept me warm during camping trips. When I moved to Utah, I did make a replacement for it, but still brought it along. Until I got married it was always on my bed although did little to keep me warm as it has been falling apart for quite a while, but it was hidden in between my sheets and other blankets and quilts as a comfort. 

I was cleaning out the hall closet the other day (ah...spring cleaning) and ran across it. I have decided that it's time my old friend was put out of it's misery and would pass it on to Lucky to enjoy and destroy. So, I took this picture to remind me of what my old friend looked like, to remember forever. 

Now Lucky is enjoying it (he really does seem to love it) and when he's completely destroyed it, it will be thrown out.

I know this may sound harsh, I know people that still have old baby blankets and this quilt is really near and dear to my heart, but honestly who but me is gonna appreciate it years from now when I'm gone and they find it hiding in my closet. At least now Lucky will enjoy it and I can remember all my fond memories of our time spent together everytime I look at this picture. :)

So, Good bye old friend! I will remember all the good times we've shared and the comfort you've given me in bad.

Me mateys...

Nathan was invited to a birthday party for one of his cute little friends, Loren, from Nursery/Primary. It was held on Jan.18th at the Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy. It was a really fun pirate party. And having it at the aquarium really worked with the theme. Chris had to work in Logan and wasn't able to get home in time to watch Audrey, so she was able to come to. Unfortunately I didn't think to bring my camera, but when we got home the kids wanted to dress up in the cute pirate dress up items they got from the party. 

Loren's mom made cute little capes and bandanna triangles. The kids had to go to different stations to win the different items. They also got eye patches and some chocolate "loot" (coins) at each station. The stations included walking the plank, talking like a pirate, etc. 

Audrey even got into it. She came over to me making a really goofy face...I realized she couldn't say Aargh, but could make the face that went with it. So cute. 

Audrey doesn't have whisker stubble, that's chocolate milk. LOL!!

Here they are dressing up. I even pulled out Nathan's pirate swords from when he dressed up a couple years ago for Halloween. They make some really cute pirates...I think at least.

Recipe Day

I figured it was time to share another recipe with you today. This is a recipe that I got from my friend Tammy that I used to work with at Clarke American. She brought some in one day and they looked yummy, so I got the recipe from her and guess what!! They are really yummy! At least I think so. Chris doesn't enjoy them so much, but he suffers through them every once in a while.

Sour Cream Enchiladas

Sauce:

1/4 c. butter

1/4 c. flour

2 c. chicken broth

1 c. sour cream

8 oz diced green chilies

You'll also need:

Flour tortillas

Monterey Jack cheese, grated

Yellow onion, chopped

Make the sauce: Melt the butter in a pan, add the flour to make a rue. Cook for a minute or 2. Add broth, use whisk to blend into rue. When evened out add sour cream and chilies. Let sit on low to thicken.

To make enchiladas: Wrap cheese and diced onion in tortilla, filling as much as you like and place in 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Pour sauce over enchiladas. Add more cheese on top. Bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees.

Some alterations to the recipe that you can try: I use whatever cheese, ususally cheddar, and onion that I have on hand. I also always make mine with shredded chicken ( I actually haven't ever made them without). I did also try them with shredded turkey the other day since I've had so much around here, not as good as with chicken, but still pretty good.

I want to make that someday!

So I've decided to do a post of some of the projects I have found online that I would like to make someday. I figure some of you might want to do some of these as well and I can save you some time from searching websites all day and night (like I seem to do).

I just found this one last night and I love it. A cute Ruffle Sleeve Top. It's for a size 4/5T but I think I can size it down for a littler girl.

I've seen lots of instructions for these, but have yet to try to try one out. The Pillowcase Dress. Here's another Pillowcase Dress tutorial with a twist...it's reversible...two dresses in one, can't get any better then that!

Need a Storage Container? Here's one made with fabric and some cardboard. I can see some cute ones with some car or dino fabric for Nathan in my future! Oh and how about some for Audrey in pinks and greens, and to put in my bathroom....the possibilities are endless.

A cute little Backpack. I'm thinking Christmas present for Nathan for this one.

Something for your little one who's learning their ABC's. Rag Quilt Letters!

If you sew, or want to learn how to sew, here's a simple but really cute pattern for a Disappearing 9 Patch. I've done regular 9 patch patterns before, but really want to try this one out!

How about something cute for you to carry around. Look at this Buttercup Bag Purse. I love it! Gonna have to make one in every color! J/K!!

Need a game for the kids? How about some Tic Tac Toe?

Do you have little girls who love dress up?? Here's some instructions for making your very own TuTu's. And another one...No Sew TuTu.

I also think these Pillowcases are so pretty! I love pillows and pretty fabrics!

This is really just the top of the barrel of fun things I've found to make. I'll share some more at a later date, don't want to overwhelm anyone with all this good stuff!!

Hey! I just had a thought, if there is something you would like to make too, let me know and maybe we'll have a little sewing night...or two, together with my friends and we can put together some of these little projects.

Or if you find a project online that you'd like to try, but aren't sure how to, or just want to share with me...Let me know and I'll help you figure it out or we'll try making it together!!

What do ya think? Any takers??

P.S. If you don't have a sewing machine, but really want to try one of these projects out yourself let me know and you can come over an use my machines, I have 2 so we can still both sew :)

Fireworks fun!

Every year for the 24th of July (aka Pioneer Day, Day's of '47) we head down to Liberty Park to meet some friends and watch the fireworks. They close down the road and we sit in the middle of the street to enjoy the show. We have so much fun doing this and the fireworks are always great, this year was no exception. (Sorry, no pics of the fireworks, haven't figured out how to get them to turn out yet).
Nathan was being his usual silly self!
The kids waiting with their friends Isaac and Breanna for the fireworks to begin.
Chris and the kids with our friend Isaac.
We don't do a whole lot for this holiday and I usually end up working it, but we are hoping to one year camp out and see the parade that is held.
We'll let you know if we make it next year.

Last friday, June 19th, we went to our wards Annual Camp out and had lots and lots of fun. We weren't sure how the kids would do sleeping in a tent overnight, but overall it was a great time and the kids did much better then we expected.

Nathan loved being outside and able to run and play in the wilderness. He would run and play and if he was out of sight and we yelled for him he would promptly come a runnin'. Such a good kid.

Audrey enjoyed being outside too.
She had fun with some of her friends and loved checking everything out.

Here are some pictures from the night and early the next morning. Sorry there are so many...believe me there were many more that I took and didn't include.

Nathan giving Daddy some loves.

Audrey wearing Daddy's hat. She loved it and spent the rest of the evening trying to steal it back. We might have to get her a hat like this that's all her's.
Audrey and her cute friend Talitha.
The next pictures are of some of our friends and the fun we had...

We had a yummy BBQ Friday night and then some yummy breakfast the next morning. Here's some of our friends filling up their plates.
This is the little Andrew in his 'action' shot...such a handsome little boy!
The bishop...he's wearing his wife's pink Diet Coke hat.
Brian and Peyson working on a potato car for the potato derby.
The Meyers, who's gonna carve the fastest car?
This is Scott...being Scott. He's a funny one for sure!
Betsy gettin' ready to roast some marshmallows.
After a fun night we got all worn out. Audrey zonked!
Nathan in his camping sleep gear. Yes I did pick it out. Isn't it a lovely outfit?!
On the way home, all worn out...
Audrey...
and Nathan too!
We had so much fun! We'll definitely be camping some more this summer.