Shelby's Golden Birthday!

This cutie turned 2 on the 2nd! To be honest, I think her brother and sisters were more excited than she was! They almost opened the presents for her. 

We watched conference together and at one point she started singing to Emily, "happy birthday to me!" I guess she was finally understanding that it was her special day!

We headed over to the Stevenson's for traditional after-conference homemade pizza and celebrated with golden cupcakes! Shelby loved blowing out the candles! After she did it she smiled and said (and signed) more! So we let her do it two more times! Adorable!

Happy Birthday Shelby! We love you!

School Carnival

The daddy daughter campout got cancelled last Friday so the consolation prize for everyone was Carlie's school carnival at Hillcrest elementary that night.

We had a lot of family fun eating and talking with other families! The kids loved the games prizes and treats! One of their favorites is always face painting. They also enjoyed the mustache prizes!

Here are some pictures of our good time:

National Pirate Day

Argh! Carlie's eye patch was the motivation behind this excursion. Krispy kreme gave out a dozen glazed donuts for free to those who dressed up as pirates. In honor of national pirate day on Monday. After dressing up and waiting there for 2 hours we ended up with 6 dozen donuts! Mark took 2 dozen to work and we gave a dozen to our neighbors who let us borrow their lawn mower. And we've been nibbling on the rest for the last couple of days. Emily and Devin have loved having donuts in their lunches at school! Our friend Natalie Chacon and her mom, Blanca, came with us. It was a tiring excursion but fun. Shelby was exceptionally adorable especially when she held up her weapon and would say arrrg! 

Carlie has been a champ with her eye patch. She has to wear it for two hours every week day. It has been a significant challenge for her so any incentive to wear it and keep it on is a plus. I'm hoping to get her in for a second opinion with a pediatric ophthalmologist soon.

Pirate Time!

Arrrg! Meet Captain Carlie! It's taken us almost 3 weeks to start pirate play time but it's finally begun! She will wear her pirate patch 2 hours a day for 5 days each week on her right eye so her brain will start helping her left eye improve.

She is really a trooper! Her eye appointments are not easy for her but she always has a great attitude and is a willing patient to whatever is needed to be done for her eyes. It opens my eyes to what a "willingness to submit" looks like. I'm grateful for what my children teach me everyday!

Eating Champion!

First time eating rice cereal! Huge success! He gave me a look like, "Mom, I've been ready for this for a long time!" He is my eating machine! Love this cutie!

Stuck!

I heard Joseph screeching in the other room and walked in to find him halfway under the couch, stuck! How he got there I have no idea! He was on his back over on his blanket near the fire place when I walked out of the room. I was completely surprised to find him where I did! So funny! After taking his picture Shelby tried getting in the same position and pointed to herself saying "picture, me". Lol! Then while I was writing this blog she got her babies and stuck them under the couch too! Hilarious!

Love these kids!

Emily's Golden Birthday!

Ladies and gentlemen! It's official! This beautiful Emily girl is 9 years old on the 9th of September!

We started off the day with happy birthday and opening presents! We followed with her favorite breakfast, birds nest!

Midday we took treats to Emily's class. Her teacher asked if she was doing anything for her birthday and she said I opened presents this morning. Her teacher said anything after school? She was like no not really. 

(Heeheehee little did she know!)

We took Emily and our family to the "golden arches" (McDonald's) for dinner. Afterwards, Mark said he needed to run errands and took Emily along with him. Then I and the rest of the kids booked it to pick up ice blocks and ice cream for a surprise party for Emily! She had no idea! We went to a park and got all set up. Mark ended his errands at the park. When they got there all of the cousins were hiding at the top of the hill. Mark told Emily to race up the hill since she wanted to roll down it. At the point she started running for the hill, all of the cousins came running down to her. Emily had no idea until they pretty much tackled her! 

She was so surprised! The rest of the evening was spent ice blocking, eating ice cream with golden sprinkles, exploring the park and letting her gigantic golden number 9 balloon go. We had a magical time!

(I only forgot the spoons for the ice cream. Lol. Thankfully Grandma and Grandpa Stevenson saved the day!)