Angry Bird Says Happy Birthday!

The kids and I decided to surprise Justin with an Angry Bird birthday party.

He did know we were throwing him a party, because otherwise I couldn't get him to take off work early............he has been a crazy worker this whole summer, heck this whole YEAR! (Okay basically since we moved back to help run the company to be honest!)

But he didn't know what we had planned. He did make me promise it was just our little family...........with the way his depression had been he didn't feel up to having friends over. So we kept it small, just the way he likes it!

The kids watch Cake Boss all the time, so they were thrilled when I bought some fondant for them to make little angry birds with. They did an awesome job! They had so much fun pretending to be on Cake Boss! We had promised not to buy each others gifts this year, but I did get him an angry bird shirt to wear for his party........I had one too! Then we needed a few angry bird items for our games.We ate Angry Birds on skewers and squash, because that's what angry birds do is squash things!

So I had been collection boxes (and so had Wendy) for weeks and weeks!

We built our own Angry Bird stage and placed the stuffed pigs and angry birds throughout it.

We them used a sling shot and slung different angry birds to try to collapse the set up on the stuffed pigs and other angry birds.

We had a great time!

The kids loved rebuilding and knocking it over. Something about getting to be destructive that always appeals to our kids!

Justin was excited about his whole party, especially when he found out the kids planned the whole thing! They were so creative and I basically just helped them with their plans. It was awesome to see them all work together to come up with such a creative party.

They were beyond excited for the party day to finally arrive!!!

Instead of cake we made brownies, because Justin likes them better. The kids placed their angry birds made from fondant on the pieces of brownies. Justin couldn't have been happier!

We ended the party with sparklers!

Always a Hit!

Happy 34th Birthday Babe!

Happy 32nd Birthday Justin!

The kids voted for Panda Bear Cupcakes for their dads birthday treat. Justin was a great dad and agreed that was what he wanted too! Didn't they turn out so cute? The kids were excited to do our traditional candle blowing. With each birthday dessert we let everyone blow out a candle even if it's not their birthday and they all think it's the funnest thing ever. It's great that kids are easy to impress when they are young!

For Justin's birthday we took a little trip up to Mt. Graham and picnicked at Snow Flat. The weather was nice and cool. They kids loved finding slugs!

My oldest kid, the birthday boy himself utterly enjoyed being a kid for the day. He had a blast catching minnows with his hands. He seriously forgot we had three kids to take care of, but it was his birthday and I was happy to see him enjoying himself so much!!

The kids were excited to see the little minnows! Logan loved seeing the little fish and caring around his cup full of slugs!

Hunter enjoyed holding them for a minute then putting them back in the cup.

Justin caught 16 minnows with his hands, which to our children made him Father of the year! Justin was fitting since it was also Father's Day weekend. Justin is a wonderful father who is actively involved with the kids and their activities.

Kiersten was bound and determined to catch a minnow herself. We told her she'd have to be extremely patient to catch one. She indeed was patient and after 20 minutes or so caught a little minnow. She was so happy! Great Job Sweetheart!

Hunter wasn't so interested in being patient, but he was equally happy to have found a real treasure.............corn on the cob.

Hunter got silly while listening to his ipod! He was dancing so funny and kept asking me to take his picture. What a character!

Once Kiersten had caught her minnow she had fun playing with her American Girl doll which she apparently named, Ryan Abigail Cluff.

Happy Birthday Justin!!!

Justin turns 31!

As you can tell he was very excited about his gifts. We got him stuff for his playstation 3, we just got. Really these gifts are more for the kids, but he is a good actor!

The kids hide his presents around the house and loved watching him find them. Wish I would have video taped it because he was pretty hilarious! Kiersten decided that she wanted to take Justin out to dinner for his birthday. She was so excited about it and even wore a new outfit that she had been saving for "something special!" When we were getting ready to go pick up Justin from work (on Friday), Kiersten ran back in the house because she wanted to put on "prettier" ear rings for Justin's birthday dinner! She was so cute about looking good for her daddy!


On Saturday, Justin's actual birthday, we wanted to take out the rail and go explore. So we packed some dinner and off we went. We went up Taylor Canyon! It was so much fun. The kids loved the ride, but loved getting out and playing even more. They picked berries, made a fort, went on a hike, and had a great time as a family!

Kiersten stopped playing long enough for me to snap this picture.


Justin and the kids!


I asked Logan to smile and this is what he did. Two year olds, what can you do with them?

Logan was so happy he just kept jumping over the rocks and singing. He loves to sing, and yey this time it wasn't Jingle Bells!

The kids weren't too happy with me taking their picture. But it's like my sister-in-law says, "too bad I'm the Mom and I WIN!"

Logan loves his goggles! He is so cute with them on! He is starting to really love the rail. We kind of traumatized him at the Dunes in Yuma, so we are trying to take it easy now so he'll like it.


We had a fun time together!

Hunter was so excited to find gun shells. Justin took out the bullets and gun powder. We were surprised that when Justin asked Hunter what the powder was inside he said gun powder.

Hunter always has something in his pocket.............rocks, gun shells, bugs, once it was even a live frog. He was just keeping it in his pocket, how the frog survived was beyond me.

The kids were a little bummed that Justin didn't have any candles. So he did a good job pretending to blow out his fake candles. We decided to make a new dessert instead of typical cake. It is called Strawberry Whipped Sensation........................oh wow was it Divine! I'll have to post the recipe. It was so easy and delicious! It looks so fancy when you cut it into slices.

Justin's Birthday Dessert!

We LOVE Daddy because.............

1. He makes us food. (Hunter)

2. He sometimes takes care of us & plays with us. (Hunter)

3. He takes me to work with him some days. (Hunter)

4. I Love Daddy.....................I Love Chocolate Milk! (Logan)

5. He throws me high up in the air. (Kiersten)

6. He takes me on rail buggy rides. (Kiersten)

7. He takes me to the beach and we look for sea shells together. (Kiersten)

8. He takes us to the sand dunes in Yuma. (Kiersten)

9. Watching basketball with him. (Hunter)

10. He took us to the pool when mom was sick. (Kiersten)

11. He gives us chocolate milk! (Kiersten)

12. He reads us scriptures at night, if he's home. (Kiersten)

Justin is such a wonderful father to our children. I couldn't have asked for a better eternal partner! There are so many things I could list that makes Justin the great dad and husband that he is. He has always taken an active role in caring for the kids, especially considering he's gone so much. When he is home, he is always willing to help bath, feed, play with and take care of our kids. I love him so much for being such a help to me. He never complains if dinner is fish sticks and macaroni and cheese or even Top Roman. I love that he makes it a point to tell me how much he loves being home with us, when he is able to get away from the office early. When we have newborns he is so good to take them when they are fussy (which is 95% of the time with the babies we've had!). He'll get up with them in the night after I feed them if they are still fussy. He supports me with things I am interested in. I love him because he is my right hand man with my photography business and is always thinking of ways to make my business better. I love that he doesn't care what other people think of him. He'll dress up in a clown costume for his kids birthday party and do it with a smile! He dresses up with our family on Halloween in whatever crazy costume idea I have came up with. He makes me feel good about myself 100% of the time! Thanks for being so good to me and the kids! We love you!

The kiddos eating popcorn while watching Enchanted. They love to pretend like they are at the movies!
We love you Daddy!