Happy Birthday Christopher!

Christopher turned 11.   He's so anxious to grow up.  He tells me he's a tween and reminds me that this next year will be his last year in elementary school and primary.  I just want to hold onto him and keep him little forever, but it's not working.  He just keeps growing and growing.  He's bound and determined to be the tallest in the family, and he just may out of sheer will power alone. 

For his birthday he wanted "A Portal Cake".  Technically it's a chocolate praline layer cake, but we call it a Portal Cake.   It's a long story.  There's a girl, a dance, and the video game 'Portal'.

Christopher helped decorate it with exactly 11 cherries. The original cake doesn't have cherries, but the portal cake does. Even though he doesn't like cherries.  They must be there.

And Christopher realized his life long dream of having a pool party.  Now that we live in a neighborhood with a pool, we could do that.   We had pizza for lunch, and Christopher really wanted a pinata.  I found a Darth Vader pinata so naturally we used a lightsaber to bust it open.  My friend Linzie came and helped with everything and she was a total lifesaver.  I couldn't have done this alone.  (Plus the big kids were awesome)

Anyway, I think Christopher had a good day.

bringing back the scrunchie

My friend Audrey invited me to go with her to a concert.  Not just any concert, the New Kids on the Block concert.  Heck yeah. 

When I was in junior high, ALL the other girls went to see them in concert when they were super popular.  Like I am fairly certain I am the only girl I know who did not go.  And I'm not saying that as a "whoa is me"  kind of thing.  As in, I was too cool to go.  I thought their music sucked and all my friends were pathetic and had terrible taste in music.

That being said, fast forward 25 years, and I am super stoked to go.  Getting to spend an evening pretending I am 15?   You better believe I'd be there.  PLUS, they were performing with Paula Abdul and Boys II Men.   (In the spirit of honesty, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I was a Boys II Men fan back in the day... talk about terrible taste in music... )

ANYWAYS, naturally I had to dress up 90's style.  Except I don't have my Doc Martens anymore, or a flannel shirt...  However, I did have a scrunchie. And a teenage daughter to help me with my hair and makeup.

It was so much fun.  The people watching was Ah-Maze-Ing.  I was surrounded by an arena full of 15 year old girls trapped in 40 year old bodies (and many very understanding husbands).

But I had to hand it to those New Kids, they gave those women what they wanted.  They played all the old songs, did all the goofy dance numbers, even wore some of the same ridiculous outfits.  It was awesome.

Last day of school

It's been a tradition with Christopher since always that I come pick him up on the last day of school. 

I think it started when he was younger and he wanted to give his teachers caramels, but since he has so many people who love and take good care of him all day, I would bring in the bag to make sure that they all went to the right people.  One year I showed up, with like 8 bags of caramels, and before I had Christopher hand them out, the teacher thanked me for them, and told me they had enjoyed them very much.  Apparently Christopher had already given them a bag, (the bag he was supposed to give his morning bus attendant) and they all split it.

Anyways, even though he is much bigger and can follow directions better, he still wants me to come on the last day and pick him up and take him home.

Sometimes he talks about not wanting to be in Spice anymore, sadly I think it makes him feel different from the other kids, but good golly I wish he knew how lucky and blessed he is to have all these people love him and take care of him all day long.

On the last day of 6th grade the 6th graders run around the halls and say goodbye to all the younger kids.  There's lots of cheering and clapping and high fives.  Except for one rather large boy.  He was Christopher's friend, and he was huge for a 6th grader.  He cried as he walked through the hallway and when he got to Mrs Shaffer he just fell on her and sobbed big heart breaking sobs.  I had to look away.   While the other kids were ecstatic and thrilled to be done with elementary school, his heart was broken.

Anyways, 5th grade is officially over (and 11th grade for Maddie, and 9th for Zach, although I don't have pictures of them...).

art masterpiece

Maddie and I took a painting class at a women's church activity the other night.   It was fun, but sadly we didn't uncover a hidden talent or passion.  Well, Maddie is much more of an artist than I am, so I really can't speak for her, although we each liked the other's picture more than our own.

But what is art, really?  Don't they say "It's subjective"? and "Art is in the eye of the beholder?"  Who knows?  Maybe after we're dead, someone will find these canvases and decide they have a priceless treasure on their hands. 

End of an era

Christopher had an eventful evening at his cubscout pack meeting. 

He earned his Webelos badge

And his arrow of light.

 And then all that was left was to cross the bridge from cub scouts to boy scouts.

And just like that, we are officially done with cub scouts.  Christopher is so beyond excited to join the ranks of boy scouts like his brothers and go on all the fun adventures that he's watched his brothers participate in. 

Mother's day

I love mother's day.   Not cause it's an "all about me" kinda day, but because I'm always reminded what really great kids I have.  I mean, I know that, but in their efforts to make my day special, I'm reminded just how flipping lucky I am to be their mama. 

Plus with a missionary out, I get to skype with Nick.     That's the BEST.  We only get to do this twice a year, four times total, and this one would be our last before he comes home.    It was so great seeing him, he's grown so much. 

The Anderson's had us over for dinner, and we stuck around and shared Nick with them, because they love him too.

Orchestra concerts

Christopher and Maddie both had orchestra concerts.  (Zach had a band concert as well, but all the pictures I took must have mysteriously disappeared off my phone.  That's the only explanation as to why there are none, because to consider that I might not have taken any is just crazy.)

I got a front row seat to Christopher's performance this time.  Isn't he just the cutest little cellist ever?

I texted Maddie that I wasn't sure why I even bothered to get a picture.  It's not like she can be seen.   She responded with the hashtag #lastrowbestrow.   That girl.

Taking the long way home...

Given that we had a whole day to get from St George to our home in Gilbert, we decided to take the long way home, namely go across the bottom of Utah, drive through Zion's National Park, and then stop and see the Grand Canyon.    It had been years since most of us had been there. 

Just some pics from our adventures...

Kaeli got married

Just right off the bat, I gotta mention it's a little weird when kids younger than your kids start to get married.  Kaeli is six months younger than Nick, and here she goes getting married.   Which isn't to say that I'm not thrilled for her, because I am.  From everything I know, she has found Mr Right.   Her parents are thrilled, and I honestly have every reason to believe that she will have her Happily Ever After. 

So, on to the festivities.

Luckily for us, the chose to get married in the St. George temple.  Other than getting married in Arizona, this is literally the closest temple to us, and although we had a bit of a drive, it was totally doable.  (Kaeli is from Texas.  That's a lot farther away.)

We found this sign on the way to St. George.  My kids begged me to turn around so they could pose for a picture.

Corrine rented a few large houses on the same street for all of the family and wedding party out of towners to stay at. 

The day was beautiful, and so was the bride. 

And it was so fun to reconnect with family we haven't seen for way too long.

Christopher was so excited to be as tall as his grandma Linda.

They had a ring ceremony later that evening for those who couldn't attend the temple sealing.

And then of course there was the party. 

Christopher has some pretty sweet dance moves. 

And Corrine did everything.  I was totally blown away how she threw together this whole wedding from another state.  She was even decorating the cake herself 30 minutes before the guests would arrive.

Multi-tasking at it's finest. 

We were so happy to be able to be there to celebrate with Kaeli.