A party {FOUR} him

I can take no credit for this cute invite other than taking credit for being able to have awesome friends. Thank you Carly.

As tradition in our house, the birthday boy woke up to a decorated room.



As the guests arrived we filled their tummies with food to give them their super powers.



With their tummies full and the powers they needed, they were ready to make their shield.

Next up-Capes.
(what is that you see...more amazing friends helping me. Yep, I am pretty lucky!!)

Lets not forget a sword.


Who knew this game would turn out to be such a bust?? The point was to keep the balloons in the air by hitting it with your shield. It turned out to be a terrible and hilarious disaster!





I had each guest give me their best super hero pose for a picture. Most kids were shy, but Bennett is not like most. I didn't even ask him to pose.





The next day a few family members came over for dinner and cake.
Simple joys. Love.


I decorated his cake with sprinkles and then some more sprinkles. I love how it turned out.....as did he.



Lucky guy!!

I felt over whelmed by the love showed to him for his special day. He really is a lucky boy to be surrounded by so many that love him.

12-25-11

Santa came!

Can you guess which stocking is Jon's?? When I found that I may have celebrated out loud in the store. He loves a Christmas Story.

Most of our Christmas pictures had to be taken on my phone due to low battery. I apologize for the many blurs.

Only a one year old stops unwrapping half way to celebrate, before she even knew what it was.

Off to church.

This is a terrible tradition that I am going to curse myself for starting every December 26th for the rest of my life. But, damage is done.
Track down all the loot they got, arrange it to be seen in a picture, stick the kid in the midst of it (hopefully they are wearing their Christmas pj's)and if all those stars align you can snap a picture.


It is so easy to get out of hand. It is also so easy to make kids happy. So this year keeping that in mind we did a stocking, something from Santa, something from Mom and Dad and something from your sibling..........and then we went to the Grandparents houses:)

Fall and stuff

As a general rule it would be a good idea to blog the holidays in order, but I've never been much of a rule follower. Here is what we did in the fall.

Bennett came home with some cute crafts from school.

Punkin' Patch




I found this idea for caramel apple bites, genius.

We took the easy route on pumpkins this year but they were a big hit. I tried to make each of them resemble my kids.

Carnival with cousins


Our spoooooky breakfast.

The big day!!



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Christmas Time

It seems like December we were running non-stop but yet I look back at it and worried that we didn't take full advantage of all the fun festivities. Here is what we have to show for it.
Bennett had a program for his preschool. It was loud, out of sync and off key....just the way we like it. The kids were so cute. Bennett was so brave and did a great job standing in his place, participating and saying his part. "While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads" Leading up to the program he was supposed to practice his part at home. It started out being, "While fig and plums danced on their beds" He did such a great job, we were oh so proud.


The lights at Thanksgiving Point have been a must every year. This year we added reindeer into the mix.




Our "Gingerman House"


I found a cute breakfast for the kids on pinterest.

December 17th Jon and I celebrated our 7th year of wedded bliss. We went to the MoTab concert at temple square and enjoyed the lights and sights and a movie.

Jon and I were out of town during the Festival of Trees, but my parents had our kids and were nice enough to take them along with my sister and her family.

We made reindeer food to hand out to friends and family. Bennett was so proud to deliver it to all his friends and give them the run down on what to do.

Reindeer Food Recipe
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup glitter or red or green sugar crystals (as used for cake decorating)
I threw in some red hots to give it some more color.

Her name is Libby

I guess I have never fully written down how Libby became Libby. For her sake and because I might forget..........

In 2004 Jon and I were engaged and I was teaching preschool. I taught a little guy named Jack. Jack had a little sweet sister named Bella. (You thought I was going to say Libby didn't you, oh no, this story is much longer than that) I fell in love with her name, just Bella, no Ana, no Isa, just Bella. Jon loved it, I loved it, it was settled. (Insert tired screeching) Little did we know that a Teen Paranormal Romance Novel Series would soil our plan. I tried liking the books, I really did, but after 1.5 of them I had to admit to the female population that they were just not for me. I still love the name, but after all the hype and it climbing to like #1 on the popularity charts it was ruined to me.

So it was to plan B or L if you will. Another name I have loved for years also starts with L and I am going to be a total goob and not say what it is in hopes of still using it some day. Her name was going to be ---- Willa, no other options, it was settled. And then I found out it was a girl, then out of the blue a name popped in my head and never left. Libby, Libby Willa. It felt weird to totally change plans after KNOWING for so long that ---- would be her name. We tossed around naming her what essentially is a nick name, but I am a believer in naming them what you want to call them, plus I really didn't like the directives. (Elizabeth, Liberty, alot of people asked me if it is short for Olivia, which is so funny to me-Olibia) I also worried about it just being a cute little girl name, not a good adult lady name. But delivery day came and in my heart of hearts I knew that I loved the name Libby the very most. We revisited the 2 others for about 30 seconds but she was Libby for sure. After she was about a day old Jon said to me "you know she really does looks like a Bel...." I told him don't even say it, because I totally agreed. But holding firm, she is a Libby and it now I can't even imagine her being anything else.

A few other perks to her name:
I LOVE all things pumpkin. At any given time, all year round, there will be cans of this in my house. I even buy it in bulk because it is hard to find in the summer and spring.

Libby from Lost, this is possibly where I got the name, I can't be sure. Jon and I LOVED LOST, and Libby was one of my favorite characters. She was a very sweet and compassiante person who also had some a few negatives but we won't go there.

Favorites @ 4

In preperation for her big day........

I had my oh so talented friend take Libby's pictures to send out with her invites and to decorate with. She did a great job, Libby and Carrie. They turned out just as I had hoped.




I love them all but this one especially takes my breath away.

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