24th Birthday

 As I said earlier this was probably my best Birthday to date. My family teases me that I always make my BirthDAY last all WEEK long. This year was no exception, and I even had some excuse because my birthday was on a Sunday. So really it all started Friday afternoon when I got this beautiful bouquet delivered to our house. 

So pretty! Then that night Erik took me to see Hunger Games- my one request for my birthday. It was awesome. We both loved it! 

Saturday Erik granted me a free "all to myself day". (i later learned it was so he could practice a certain dance!) So I started off my morning at a few yard sales (my favorite), then attended a friends baby shower, then headed off to both malls in the afternoon with friends. I was literally gone ALL DAY! I haven't shopped in the mall in over a year. It was so nice. I didn't even buy that much but it was so nice to just walk around and look while chatting with friends. Then to top it off I came home and took a late nap! I felt so rejuvenated from my day. I was so grateful to Erik. 

Then that night I was expecting a nice dinner date with my husband and boy was I in for a surprise. Once I get the pictures from that night I will do a separate post with all the nights details. If you've seen the video you know It was epic! ;) 

Oh wait...it's not even my birthday yet!? ha! Here is our Sunday, my actual birthday. 

Erik made me a gourmet meal complete with this bad bird, as well as homemade garlic mashed potatoes, and homemade french bread. It was so delicious! 

Present time! I got a beach chair! I have wanted one of these forever! So excited! 

And Lu got me some baking utensils. Wahoo!! 

Cake time! More bragging on my awesome husband. This is a HOMEMADE chocolate cake with a marshmallow center. I am not sure what the drizzle is on top, but see those strawberry roses he carved? So beautiful and so creative!

Happy 24th Birthday to me. I told Erik he really out-did himself and he might have set the bar crazy high for future birthday's. 

Love Launguage

I told Erik last night I think I found my "Love Language." And it's called...Mobbed!! 

If you don't know by now, I have the best friends in the whole wide world.

Not to mention an even more amazing husband!!! 

This birthday night will go down in history. Best Ever! Thank you, Thank you!!! It seriously made me feel so loved. I have yet to stop smiling. 

The Rest of the Utah Vay-K

-meeting "woof, woof"! Lucy loved the new dog. I have never heard her giggle so much. 

- playing outside almost everyday with the kids. Lucy loved the playground, swings, and tramp.

-swimming at the rec center and  having Lucy (and mommy) actually getting in all the way! 

- constant attention from loving aunts and uncles

-Helping Isaac make his pine wood derby car in the design of a Wii remote

-free Bk fries and green ketchup on St. Patty's day. 

-Lasagna dinner at Grandma's- boys playing soccer. 

-Visiting Grandma Fox

-Danielle's Jewkes family shower

-Noah's bday

-Nate's "final" family dinner at Golden Corral...yummy! 

-me getting a pedicure

-shopping with my mom and Erik

-sleeping in every other day (switching off with Erik) 

-Playing Life, and every other game in the closet. 

-crying through The Help again. (and brothers mocking me)

- Crying while showing them video's of  flash mobs  (and more mocking)

- practicing the HSM dance...it would have been epic! ;) 

-playing bball and soccer with the boys. 

-Erik learning to be a handy man from my Dad. They always put him to work! 

- sitting Wrestling Gracie in Claires for almost 2 hours to get her "ears pierced" (didn't happen) 

- having my "birthday dinner" with the family and honorary family- the Thomas' and Woodmansee's

-drilling Noah about his prom date. 

- doctrinal discussions with the Pops 

- wonderful family moments with Father's blessings the night before Nate's wedding. 

Each time I visit I am reminded how much I love my family. I know it's changing and growing which will be good in many ways, but I kinda wish it would stay the same. I love having little siblings!  My family is so fun at this stage! I love watching Lucy light up when one of them comes in the room. Most morning's the first words out of her mouth was a family members name. "isaac?" "Wo-Ah?" "woof, woof?" I can tell she misses them and so do we. Thanks for a good time guys! 

Nate and Danielle's Wedding

Warning: Picture overload in a jumbled order.

Props to Aunt Heidi and Lauren for most of the pictures. 

We were so lucky to get to go to Utah for my brother's wedding last week. Thank goodness our spring breaks lined up! It was a beautiful day, with good weather, and a wonderful spirit. I loved seeing Nate so happy. I am excited to have another girl in the family. Congrats Nate and Danielle. Glad we could be apart of your special day. 

Lucy's best Aunt. Gracie and her made beautiful flower girls. 

I took waaaaay to many pictures of Lucy. I couldn't help it. I love a baby girl in a huge poofy dress! 

This trip she developed a good crusty face. 

waaaay over exposed but so adorable. 

trying to re create a picture from my wedding that I can't seem to find. My brothers claim my wedding day as "the most boring day of their lives." They said Nate's came in second. 

We loved catching up with friends from the good ole Virginia days. Love these people. 

Wandering around at the Luncheon held at Los Hermanos. 

It was pretty windy which made it a little cool at the temple. Daddy lent Lucy's his jacket- what a gentleman. 

Also- you may notice something weird going on under Erik's eye. The night before we flew out to Utah he was playing basketball and got elbowed in the nose/eye and developed a mean black eye. It was still lingering around on the wedding day. Erik begrudgingly allowed me to put some makeup to cover it up...which may have just made it worse (not his shade). Oh well. Photoshop for the professional photo's right? 

The happy couple! 

Now their having fun! ;) Decorating the car against Nate's will. (like we were not going to!) We were nice though. 

In between all the events we hung out in a nearby church gym. We played games, gave Lucy a nap and ate snacks. It was nice to have that. Plenty of space for Grace to practice her cartwheels. 

I know, a lot of kissing pictures. ew! ;) 

Danielle's dress is her grandmothers. Isn't it beautiful? Beautiful bride and Groom. Love you guys! 

Friend Festival

 The trivia questions were in the straws and the kids had to blow them out and whichever "zone" it landed in that's how many points that question was worth. Big hit! 

I love this picture! I love that I thought this activity was soo fun, but then I look at this and think "were we just torturing these kids in these silly costumes?" haha! Poor guy, I think we let him take that off soon after. 

Another favorite. I was shocked this boy let me put it on him. So funny! 

 Team 2 up top, Team 1 below. I love all these silly (and some mad) little kids. haha. I swear they had fun even though some look miserable! ha! 

This Sunday we had a "Friend Festival" in Primary.  Our Primary President came up with this fabulous idea. We made sure every family had a copy of the February Friend magazine and asked them with there parents to study it cover to cover. Then at the end of the month we would have a party all about that issue. We played a trivia game, played a silly costume game, and each kid made a CTR shield with way's they were going to Choose the Right this year. I have to admit I wasn't sure that it would go down that well but it turned out fabulous! The kids loved it and knew most of the answers. 

Of course it was a LOT of work, and I felt like I had ran a marathon afterwards, but it was blast and I think it got the kids excited about the magazine. 

I know I have said it a lot but I will say it again. Being in the Branch has changed my life. It's true. I love these kids. My heart goes out to those who have rough home situations, I love watching them grow and surprise me every week, I love laughing at the funny things they say. It's hard work but it is soooo worth it! 

A Perfect Day

Saturday we had lots planned. We started our day at the awesome Children's Museum downtown. They were having a special event. There were a lot of fun things to do. 

Of course we met up with our favorite kiddos! Will and Lydia...and Jack. 

getting dizzy 

Crawling through the tunnel! She was a little more brave than usual. She even went into the bounce house for a little bit. 

Making Music! 

At the Water Table. Lucy's favorite Spot! 

Cow! She loves animals! She kept kissing him and saying "Hi Cow!" 

We even got her face painted. She held perfectly still and wasn't scared of a stranger grabbing her face. I was shocked! She got a pretty flower. 

After Naps we headed to Dorey Park for the Kite Festival.  After our 30 minute drive we arrived and found it was cancelled. Darn! We still enjoyed ourselves! 

Aren't they cute? We love these guys! 

Ducks! Lucy loved seeing the ducks and geese. This birds were huge, it made me a little nervous to have the kids so close! 

I turned back and saw Will trying to take Lucy's hand. Lucy was confused but after reassuring her she obliged. 

They are so cute! 

We ended the day with some pulled pork sandwiches with our friends, Just Dance 3 on the Wii, and the 2nd Harry Potter Movie in our Marathon. Day's like this can't get any better!