Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving was blessedly mellow this year. We didn't have any company, and we mostly lazed about all day until the food was ready.  We started off the day by watching the Macy's parade.  Then the kids built train tracks and played with blocks.  EJ made a turkey out of blocks, clever girl!

The kids spent most of the day outside playing on the tramp.  I dug up some silly string I bought a while back and DMP and I ambushed them. That was fun!

DMP is THE MAN.  He is the king of turkey-making at our house and this year the turkey was our best ever- brined with garlic and rosemary, butter & sage rub under the skin and we let it rest for 30 min. It was so flavorful and juicy- even the leftovers!

We also had awesome stuffing, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. Funnily enough, my kids don't like green bean casserole. Next year I think we'll opt for brussel sprouts- their favorite!

Hoppy Easter!

The girls attended 2 Easter events this year- both at grocery stores, and both were (surprisingly) a success. We kicked off the festivities by going to Maceys where they got their bunny whiskers and ears and a bunch of candy after the Easter "treasure" hunt. It was really fun. Then we were off to Grandma and Grandpa's for a sleepover so we could be at Smiths bright and early (8:30!) for doughnuts and an Easter egg hunt in the store.

They had SO much candy spread on the ground in the aisles and they also had hidden a few Easter eggs on the bottom two shelves with "special Suprizes" inside. Grandpa and I prepped the girls to go for the eggs first. They followed instructions so well, they forgot to grab the candy on the floor for a while :) They each got two eggs with coupons for their very own 2-liter bottle of Soda (or as Birdy says, "Thota").

After the fun in Heber we got back to Provo in time for a yummy ham dinner at Cyndi's with Brad and her neighbors, the Ecktons. The ham was really tasty (also those funeral potatoes and bundt cake). The kids ran around like a pack of wild, um... bunnies? and the adults had plenty of time to visit and eat.

Jane had the best seat in the house. She hung around the pre-dinner prep area and got choice bits of ham and strawberries Cyndi was cutting. She was like a little baby bird!

You'd think that would be enough celebrating Easter, but no, we still had the "real" event. Here are the kids Easter baskets (above). Can I just say "thanks" to all those people who hoarded beanie babies thinking they were "rare" and "of value" only to later donate all of them to the Heber Thrift Store? Seriously I've used these brand-new (tags on!) small stuffed animals for Christmas and now Easter. The kids love them!

The result of our egg hunt. We decided to have a lot of fun and we had 2 dozen eggs each. You can't tell so much from the picture but Birdy cleaned up. I think she had like 50% more eggs than EJ. We decided to do mostly the money bunny this year, so most of those eggs are filled with change. The girls are very into money these days and they were thrilled. We cashed in the change for new small Barbie dolls. (Don't worry, they still have plenty of candy from their store hunts and basket stuff!)

Bear likes his new buffalo (named "Roam") and Weebles (have you seen those? They've brought back the classic ones like Grandma had!). Oh yeah- Easter Grass with a baby? NOT A GOOD IDEA. It was gathered and tossed (and the floor vacuumed) within about 5 min.

I completely sympathize with Cyndi - this shot is the best I could manage of the girls in their new (to us) dresses and shoes. Bear isn't pictured because he was napping and besides, we didn't get anything super special for him :)

4th of July Fun!

I think the fourth of July should fall on a Sunday every year- we had 3 days of celebration and fun. It just needs to happen when I'm not pregnant and tired :). Throw in a bonus cousin hula party and it was a weekend to remember!
On Saturday, DMP and uncle Jeff went fishing in the AM. Then it was time to check out the Freedom Festival in downtown. That means 2 things to our family- fun free art projects and Twisted Taters. These things are awesome- a mix of fries and potato chips with any topping you can think of! That night we went to the "big fireworks" at Thanksgiving Point. It was Birdy's first time staying up to see fireworks like that and both girls LOVED it- there was much giggling and squealing with glee!

Sunday we went to church and then went up to South Fork for a picnic. I can't remember the name of the park, but it was the "higher up", less crowded one :) We lucked out and got a shady table next to the creek.

DMP grilled some chicken sausages and Birdy found a coveted "heart rock". It really is heart shaped and the girls look for them wherever we go- kind of like hunting a four-leaf-clover.

On Monday AM, DMP (with a little supervision from Birdy) made Papper's hotcakes. This time, though, he added fresh blueberries and we had raspberry syrup and whipped cream- Red, White and Blue hotcakes. They were awesome- I want some more. Actually, everyone liked them but Birdy. We discovered that she takes her regular syrup hotcakes very, very seriously. She was VERY concerned that Daddy wouldn't make enough non-blueberry ones for her!

Monday night was our neighborhood Sidewalk of Fire! celebration. This is it's 6th year, but the first we have been able to go to. It was a lot of fun. It kicked off with a children's parade. The girls dressed up and decorated their bikes/scooters.

EJ wanted to dress up like a rock star and Birdy was a princess (what else?). There were other activities like bubbles, sparklers, desserts and face painting.

Of course the evening was topped off with fireworks! Everyone who attended (over a hundred, easily) was invited to bring fireworks. Birdy thought they were kind of loud, but she still liked them!

They sorted the fireworks from little to big and set off something like 20 at a time, it made for a much more impressive show than we would have come up with on our own!

From the Video Archives- St Patricks Day

April Fools!

Sorry for my super-happy loud voice in this. I don't know why I do it :) Anyway- we had more April Fools fun planned, but DMP had a busy day and decided not to make meat loaf cupcakes as planned. Oh well, there's always next year!

Independence Day!

We had a really, really fantastic 4th of July. In spite of doing lots, it felt low-key and fun for everyone. First we got up and drove to the mountains to Cascade Springs:

"Oh Beautiful..."

It looked like maybe, possibly it might sprinkle so it was a good excuse to bring umbrel-la-la's (as Birdy says).

Looking for fish.

After we played in the mountains, we went for hamburgers (what's more American than that?!?). BTW- DMP chopped the tip of his finger off chopping spinach- check out the cool bandage!

We continued in our American activities by playing some backyard T-Ball. Birdy is GOOD!

DMP at the bat...

Grilling is SERIOUS business (what a hot guy!)

Hungry girls!

4th of July dinner- Aisan Corn on the Cob, Salmon Burgers with Herb Chevre, and Funyons :)

Even our third child got some corn cobs to munch (one of his favorites!)

We ended our day with our newly made patriotic signs, flashing pepsi cups, glow bracelets, and our very own fireworks show. It was a good day!

Easter 2009

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="294" caption="Birdy is excited about her treasures!"][/caption]

We had an awesome Easter. We went to Aunt Cynj's house where it has become a tradition to have an egg hunt with the cousins. 

My sister totally outdid herself with a great crepe and min-pancake breakfast.  Then, after the egg hunting, she made a ham dinner, funeral potatos (yum!) and all she let me contribute was some measly asparagas (that J cooked on the grill- very yum!).   It was a delicious meal.  Then, to top it off, she made Aunt Venta's pioneer peach cobbler- the best ever.  *Sigh* I love food.

The girls LOVE their cousins and EJ in particular loves to hang out with Sam and her other cousin Sarah.  Aunt Jenn, Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Brad were all there to join in the fun. It is always great to hang out with the big family and the day was beautiful for it.

[caption id="attachment_523" align="aligncenter" width="294" caption="EJ, Sarah and Sam- on the hunt"][/caption]

As awful as it is, the Easter Bunny came to my girls 3 times this year. Yep, 3.  He left baskets of toys and treats in the morning before we left to Aunt Cynj's.  Then he hid eggs all around her yard. THEN he hid eggs in our house when we got home while the girls and I were walking Chester.  Amazing! 

[caption id="attachment_525" align="aligncenter" width="294" caption="Look at Sam's game face! All the kids got leis. I don't know why..."][/caption]

We went for a walk a little while after we came home and EJ kept asking if the Easter Bunny was going to leave stuff for them to find when they got back. DMP and I said that we thought 3 times in one day is his limit and he was probably tired.  That night she prayed for the Easter Bunny that he wouldn't be too tired!

In all it was a fun Easter. There was good food, fun with family, sugar meltdowns, and sunny spring weather. The perfect holiday :)

[caption id="attachment_524" align="aligncenter" width="293" caption="DMP was photographer and he mostly got Birdy shots. Favoritism?"][/caption]

Our Valentines Day

We had a pretty fun v-day. What can I say melted cheese + Melted chocolate = LOVE

Birdy loved the melted cheese fondue best: