The unbirthday birthday party

{Lila opening her gifts, donut cake, cracker jack favors, birthday girl at breakfast}

This was the year of the 'family birthday dinner'.  You know, the year we skip the friend party.  Well unfortunately for me I saw a groupon for the trampoline park for $32 for 2 hours of jumping for 4 kids.  That's a savings of $70!  So I told Lila that after school on Friday I would take her and 3 friends to jump, no problem.  The day I went to get the groupon it had expired.  But the seed had already been planted and the jumping turned into a play date and then morphed into a full on party for a dozen girls before I even knew what hit me.  Huh?! 

Honestly I don't like planning kid birthday parties.  I don't go on pinterest and make the triangle banners or get the fancy color coordinated paper straws.  What I do is thank my lucky stars that Lila wants a donut cake ($3.75 at Walmart for a dozen glazed) and pizza (also at Walmart, $6.98 for a huge cheese), and am glad I picked up those cute cracker jacks at Costco ($5?) a few weeks ago.  Since I only used half the box of cracker jacks, that brings my grand total for this party to $13.23.  Of course the candles have been around the block a few times.  Waste not want not.  And I served water. 

What I lack in fancy details I make up for in fun!  It's the most fabulous thing to have a creative tween who loves to help with the entertainment.  Emry created the invitations & planned out all the games for the party.  There was a fun scavenger hunt all around the neighborhood, a group dance contest, and lots of trampoline jumping & music. 

So Lila had a fabulously fun party with all her girlfriends in attendance. 

But next year, really I promise, I will not be duped by a sweet little cherubic 11 year old.

Feeding Five

Emry you've equaled me in heighth and are now on the road to surpassing me.  What's more interesting is that I feel your mind is on that same road.  It is the strangest thing to see a child, your own child, know and understand things that perplex you.  I can't figure out if you're just naturally a genius, or if you get up when we're sleeping and study all night. You are so sure of yourself, you know who you are and where you're going.  You're a 'take charge' kind of girl.  You've thrown yourself into the thespian life with so much joy and vigor, it's so fun to just watch you burst into song and dance at any moment .  You're still a slob.  You give me a hard time about walking Brutus. You don't let me pick out your clothes anymore.  But it's a small price to pay to stare at you and feel my heart speed up as I anticipate your future.  You've always jumped in with both feet, there's no middle ground for you.  You don't have a scared or embarrassed bone in your body.  You're open and honest and tell it like it is.  I adore you.  I want to be you.  Wherever you go in life........ take me with you.

Lila.  There is one word that encapsulates who you are.  Sweet.  When anyone describes you that is the word they use.  You are rainbows and fairies and ponies all wrapped into one.  You love little things and even have a 'little things' club at school.  Little Pet Shops, little 'Squeenkies', it doesn't even matter what, as long as it's little and cute.  Which is funny because those words are YOU!  You are also our resident rubber band as you cartwheel and back flip through the house.  Rest assured I am well aware of your mischievous streak as well.  Ever since you were 3 and I saw you rub your hands together saying "bonk the Ethan" and then you did!  Oh yes, Lila, I am watching you.  I love, love, love every night when I come to tuck you in and you grab my neck, pull me close and say "I never want to stop hugging you loving you!!!!"  I never want to stop either.

Ethan right now I am your world.   The first thing you do when you wake up is come to my bed and say "I love you".  They are also the last words you say at night when I tuck you in.  You love Tom Sawyer and Moby Dick as well as The Wimpy Kid.  A day doesn't go by that you don't read.  I think I've kind of spoiled you and hope somewhere out there in the world is another 7 year old whose parents love her so much she will be able to pass on that love to you and adore you as much as I do.  You don't like to be alone, if Emry and Lila are busy you are beside yourself.  But when you get together with your cousin Nathan, oh my gosh watch out, you two don't stop.  You will play Army in the bushes for hours and proudly show off your 'war' wounds upon arriving home.  I give thanks that you have a boy cousin who teaches you how to be tough.

I love feeding you kids.  I love feeding your souls and heart as well as your belly.

Career Day

The kids elementary spirit day  this month was 'Career Day'.  I am sure my kids will change their mind a hundred times before they actually settle on a career, but as of now Ethan wants to be a Police Officer and Lila wants to perform with Cirque de Soleil.

We found this snazzy leotard at the Salvation Amry and complimented it with lots of colorful sparkly makeup.  Lila's never seen a Cirque show but I've seen many & I think she would do great!

 This isn't actually a police outfit, but I asked around to some friends and this is the best I could come up with.  Even with 40% off at the Salvation Army Lila's outfit was almost 15 bucks, so sorry Ethan,  a Park Ranger's outfit that's a few sizes too small will have to do.

At least I got the Ugg's right.  I know all Park Rangers wear Ugg's.

When you wish upon a Star............

 

Lila Glenn turned 10 and a pink party was in order.  She had about a dozen friends over for pink food including pink grilled cheese sandwiches, pink popcorn (it's not a celebration if there's not popcorn!) some crafts & a doll fashion show.

I couldn't have done this party without Emry and her friends.  They decorated, learned how to do the craft on youtube an hour before the party started, made awards and were in charge of judging the fashion show.  They were so cute and interviewed each girl and asked about all their dolls favorite things and talents.  Of course each girl got their own award fitting to their doll.  Utterly Adorable.

Lila sporting the hat and boots she got as gifts, & the necklace craft we made.

As much as I love the kid parties, I was really excited for the next night when all Lila's adult friends, who happen to be my friends :), came over for a dinner party.  This Raspberry Truffle Cake was so rich and decadent.  I guess I take after my mom in that I made enough food to feed an army.  Guess I won't have to cook all week :)

Clockwise from left - My parents and Lila - Katelyn Downs, Emry, & Maddie Dixon - The Dixons, he is the Bishop of our ward and we love their family - Jeannette & our friend Sarah.

The moment I've been waiting six weeks for (ever since it arrived in the mail).  Honestly I've never been more excited to give anyone a gift than I was this doll to Lila. The American Girl Caroline doll.  She is absolutely beautiful.  Ethan & Emry gave her the set of Caroline books and my parents gave her an outfit.  That hat - it kills me, it is beyond words precious.

It truly is more blessed to give than to receive as seeing Lila's reaction to her doll was more fun for me than anything and everything I've ever received combined.

Glenn & I are very aware of not spoiling the kids.  Of teaching them how to work hard and be responsible.  Making sure they are considerate of others needs and not just thinking of themselves.  That school is a priority.  But sometimes ............sometimes it is breathtakingly beautiful to throw caution to the wind and make all your child's dreams come true.  To get them the one thing they've been wanting for 4 years.  To throw fairy dust up in the air and witness the magic it creates as it falls down all around them and takes their breath away.

Caroline had 4 outfit changes that night.  A few hairdo experiments.  Dozens of hugs.  And if a doll could feel loved (which I believe they can) then she must have felt utterly adored.  I watched Emry & Lila kneeling in front of the doll crib for a good 10 minutes tucking her in.  Putting another doll next to her so they could sleep together.  Making sure the blanket was perfect.  Tucking in her pet owl as well.  Emry is probably as excited as I am for Lila.  They both went to bed talking about all they would do with her the next day.

Glenn & I take parenting very seriously, but as well as all the hard work that goes into these kids, thankfully our job also includes making sure they have enchanted memories like these that will hopefully stay in their minds forever.