Saturday, December 1, 2012

Super Heroes to the Rescue

We all know I love a good themed birthday party and those parties often start with the invitations.
Logan's Super Hero Party was no exception!


I had a fun little photo shoot with Logan!  Great way to remember him turning 7......he LOVED that he was flying over New York!  And Mr. Grant is still confused and wants a picture of him flying like Logie!



I knew this party was going to be a lot of fun the minute I was working on these invites!



Logan was very excited to get to pick out his own cake at Bashas.  This is the first year I haven't traded birthday cakes for pictures.  But the kids enjoyed the change.  Me not so much...........next year will be home made cakes again.



Isn't he adorable!


Great job picking out your cake Logan......looks yummy!



Logan was thrilled that Miss Hannah, his aide at school was coming to help as his birthday party.
It just made his birthday party that much more special for him.
He adores Miss Hannah!


The boys were all made Super Heroes by none other than Bat Woman herself.
Wouldn't you feel safe with these handsome guys around?
I know I do!




It wasn't long before the party was crashed by two villains!
They dropped "bombs" that the boys had to pop.



The Super Heroes were amazing and popped those bombs with ease.



Next it was time for our Super Hero Training Course.
Climb tall buildings (the rock wall), Fly through the air (slide down the slide fast), jump tall buildings in a single bound (jump over the Lego building) and then show your super speed (run to the fence). 


Look as Super Ryker getting some air jumping that tall building.
The boys LOVED the Super Hero Training Course...........they all wanted to do it again, so we did.


I am pretty sure Mr. Grant thought the party was just as much for him as it was for Logan!


All the Super Heroes cheered each other on while they went through the course.
Love Mr. Grant sliding down the slide and Grant Allen with his arms in the air cheering him on.



It wasn't long before the two villains returned again to try and ruin the party.



These villains should have picked a different party to crash because my Super Heroes weren't having it!


The tall villain had a really scary voice....



He told us that he knew what would steal our powers...........Kryptonite!!!!
He dropped Kryptonite all over the yard........a.k.a. green ping pong balls.



Good thing we were prepared with a hazardous materials container.


Nathan Rogers being very careful with the tongs getting that kryptonite to the container safely.



Ryker showing his speed.  I love how into this the boys all got.


Grant Allen
I love how all the boys even liked watching the others get the kryptonite.


Love how the ball is in mid air.......Ryker is hurrying super fast to give the tongs to someone else.



Mr. Grant loved it so much he didn't want to give the tongs to anyone else.  He just wanted to keep picking up the kryptonite.



With all these Super Heroes in their capes and masks I couldn't resist some more pictures of them.



I just love how in all these pictures Logan is doing a different pose!
He is hilarious!  Where he comes up with this stuff I do not know.



What handsome and strong Super Heroes these were!



The villains returned again claiming they were going to ruin the party and steal the cake.
Don't worry the Super Heroes were armed with Spider Man Webs......a.k.a silly string.



There was quite a bit of running involved but with the help of the webs and by working together the Super Heroes captured both villains!!
YIPPEE!!!



They got the villains to the ground and waited for the police to take them away.



It wasn't long before the police arrived, sirens and all!!!



Thank you Officer Shupe for handcuffing these villains and taking them to jail!



The boys LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it when they heard the sirens of the police car coming!!!!



Officer Shupe took both villains away in his cop car.
There would be no villain that could ruin this Super Heroes Birthday Party!



This picture tells a story all in itself....
The minute Officer Shupe started handcuffing Mr. Grant's Daddy, Mr. Grant pretty much had an emotional melt down.  I tried explaining that daddy would be right back and that the police man wasn't going to hurt daddy.
Mr. Grant didn't care what I said he just kept crying and screaming.
It was funny but then it was sad because Mr. Grant was seriously very distraught about the situation.



It was at least 7 minutes or more before Justin returned, out of villain costume of course.
Mr. Grant cried that entire time and even had a hard time once Justin was back.



Look how sad and worried this little guy was about his daddy being taken.
So yes there is now documented proof that Mr. Grant will indeed need therapy!!!



After all that hard work of defeating the villains it was time for drinks and cake!



The boys got to choose the super hero favor they wanted....



Then we made Italian soda......
boy were they yummy!



Everyone was ready for some cake.....


Especially Super Logan, the birthday boy!



He is shy just so you know and really hates attention....ha, ha!
He is my performer for sure!



Watch out this Super Hero might just blow so hard the cake blows away!
Love that Nathan is covering his ears!


That sure looks like one happy birthday boy to me!



On to presents...




Money is always a favorite with my kids!



Now the gift from Mom and Dad.....


Yay a remote control car! Just what the birthday boy wanted!



I just love my Super Logan!
He is Super in so many ways.

7 Super Things I Love About Logan

1.  I love Logan's love of life......this kid is just happy all the time!
2.  I love his personality.....he makes life fun at our house!
3.  I love his hugs!  He is a hugger and hugs everyone!
4.  I love his talent for performing in front of people.  
5.  I love that he loves to dance.  I have had several people, on different occassions tell me how good Logan is and that he just feels the music.  And it is true we've always said he was born with rhythm!
6.  I love how sweet and caring Logan can be.  He always feels bad when he makes a mistake and is quick to ask forgiveness.
7.  I love Logan's laugh!  He is just a joy!  Everyone that knows Logan loves him!

We Love You Super Logan!
Happy Birthday!

"Now Your Life Begins"

So our little Logan, well he's not little any more he just turned 7!  When I picked him up from school the other day he was very excited.  He told me about this girl in his class and that she has a "crush" on him.
I asked him how he knew she had a "crush" on him?
He said, "Okay let me tell you the whole story!"
Already have to love it when a 7 year old starts off the conversation like that...
He went on to tell me how at recess this little girl in his class came up to him and told him, "I have a crush on you Logan!"
I asked him "What did you say back?"

His response was hilarious, he said I told her, "Now Your Life Begins!"

(Kaely & Logan Sun Splash  9-2012)

I think Logan must have gotten some tips from his Uncle Doyle up in heaven because that sounds like something Doyle would say.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Riding Quads at 3...........that's just what we do!!

After asking for weeks, we finally taught Mr. Grant how to ride the quad ALL BY HIMSELF!


He could not have been happier!!!
Yes he did just turn 3 and at our house that is when he teach them to ride quads alone!
Mr. Grant did awesome!  I am sure all his practice driving the putt-putt around the neighborhood helped with the steering.


Since The Smith's haven't yet landscaped it makes for the perfect place to ride quads just outside our garage.  They are happy as well because we keep down their weeds that way.


I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!

The story behind it is adorable as well!  
Justin had to go to Ace Hardware and of course Mr. Grant wanted to go.  BUT he refused to take his helmet off.  Justin thought he would kind of budge on the idea once they got to town.  Oh no, Mr. Grant was insistent!  So being the good daddy that Justin is, he took Mr. Grant all through the story, actually two stores, with his helmet on!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Turkey Trot

This Thanksgiving Day started out like many others..........The Turkey Trot!
This year it ended up being only Hunter and myself that raced.  Kiersten was signed up but got strep throat the day before.  She still wanted to race but she looked so sick I wouldn't let her.


I was so happy Hunter was there to run the race with me!  It was a gorgeous day for a 5K run!
I hadn't been the best with my Crossfit work outs in the months prior to this race.  But my goal was to run the whole way and I did!

27:39
.....about a minute slower then last year but I was happy!


Jeremy Bingham and I

I had a great time visiting with Steph and Jeremy as we waited for the drawings to be handed out after the race was finished.
And you'll never believe it, I know I didn't, but I actually got drawn and won $25 to Pollock's!
I had told Steph if I won I would do the whole Price Is Right run down to get my prize.  You know I am a woman of my word so that is just what I did!


Aiden, Bailey, Gavin and Hunter
Hunter had fun running with these boys.
He ended up running about 3/4 of the way!
Great job Hunter!


Steph and I
I just love this woman!
I am so thankful for her friendship!  
We've helped each other through some crazy times that's for sure!


Our Thanksgiving dinner plans were to go to my parents house this year but with Kiersten being sick and my mom recovering from her last round of chemo we decided we'd better stay home.  So I went and got dinner from my moms.  We of course had pitted a turkey, thanks to our good friends the Binghams for always letting us do that with them!  So I got everything else from my moms and returned home.  We had a nice, laid back dinner.........actually we were going to ride quads later in the day so we didn't even get cleaned up or anything.

One thing I had done was make these cute little May Flower boats filled with rocks (thank you Pinterest).  As we ate Thanksgiving dinner, we went around and each of us took out a rock and said something we were thankful for.  Here is our lists....

Justin is thankful for...
His beautiful wife, that he didn't do the Turkey Trot, good weather today, that Kiersten is feeling better then yesterday, family and cute kids, that we aren't at Disneyland, time off of work, Temple in the Gila Valley, and the good choices our kids make

Becky is thankful for...
My family, good health, The gospel of Jesus Christ, my mother, handsome husband, Disneyland, Justin's job that provides a good living for us, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, kids that like to be involved in the arts, Our Heavenly Father's plan of happiness and vacations!

Kiersten is thankful for...
Family, food, house, Dance, backyard, playhouse, that she gets to buy cute clothes, Disneyland, friends, for growing up LDS, good health and not being in a hospital,  and that where we live is a safe place.

Hunter is thankful for...
A home, soda, Kiersten his lovely sister (those were his exact words), his dad has a good job, ATV's, silly Grant, Disneyland, his pet bearded dragon Spike, Dad, his hair, his good looks and everything about the gospel.

Logan is thankful for...
Mom and dad, love, family, the earth, Heavenly Father, Grammy Cluff, Disneyland, hamburgers, sports, skateboards, crazy brother Hunter, and people that take care of him and respect him...like Grammy Cluff.

Mr. Grant is thankful for...
The rocks, Disneyland, Disneyland, Disneyland, Disneyland, Disneyland, Disneyland, Cheeseburgers, Disneyland, Disneyland, Disneyland and last but not least Disneyland.

So a couple of explanations here..........

Logan had just been on his birthday sleep over with Grammy Cluff the night before and some sleep over it must have been because he mentioned her twice in what he was thankful for and the skateboard he got her as well.  It was so cute!

Mr. Grant well he loves Disneyland and Mickey Mouse.  He asks me several times a week, if not every day, if I will take him to Disneyland!  He tells me all the time he wants to go to Disneyland.  After seeing the pictures from this summer when I took the other kids but left Mr. Grant home he is bound and determined that I take him to Disneyland like the other kids.  Remember he is only 3! So with that explanation you'll understand why each of us mentioned Disneyland as well.  Mr. Grant kind of insisted that we each say "Disneyland."  Now the Cheeseburger comment from him means he has watched Madagascar 3 WAY TOO MANY TIMES in the car as we drive the kids to all their after school activities.  Those of you that have seen it know what I am talking about.  When he said it he just started laughing and thought he was so funny!

All in all it was a wonderful day and we have so much to be thankful for!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Gila Valley Strings Showcase

Kiersten and Hunter were both party of the Gila Valley String's Showcase at the Safford Center for the Arts.
Mrs. Skinner wanted Kiersten to play with the high school group but Kiersten was too shy.  So she played with her age of kids as well as at the junior high level.  Besided playing with his age group, Hunter was able to play one song with the junior high kids and was proud of himself for that.  We are so proud of these two!   We love hearing the sounds of the violin ringing through the house each morning.



What good lookin' kids we have!


After the show was over, our good friend Terry Williams, let the kids have a run with the place.  He turned on rock and roll music and the kids went WILD!
This picture isn't good but man did Logan put on a show with his dancing.  We had several people that were still there comment on Logan's dancing and ability to entertain.  Even Terry was like, "we need to book that kid here!"


Terry even let the kids play with the lights!
Man did they think this was AMAZING!


We enjoyed the concert and the fun we had at the Center for the Arts afterwards!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Dentally Challenged

All of our kids have been dentally challenged.  I don't think any of them have lost teeth until at least mid 1st grade.  Which I guess isn't a bad thing so says the dentist.

(Logan 11-19-2012)

Logan was extremely excited to finally loose his first tooth.

He was thrilled to get two gold dollars!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Shootin' with The Norton's

We had a wonderful time shooting with Tracy Norton and his girls.
Kiersten and Grant stayed at Grammy Boswell's house to keep out of the cold.


Watch out!
It was so much fun having Tracy teach us all about cop stuff.


Logan getting some tips on how to aim.
Love our little squirrel gun.  It's perfect for the kiddos!


This is Tracy teaching us how to enter a building in style!
Don't we look like the real deal!


Get ready.....


I don't think Hunter was prepared for the power of the 9MM.


He sure loved shooting dad's 22 250.


Hunter enjoyed Tracy's AR 15!!!



Thanks Tracy for the fun morning of shooting!


Can you see the bullets that were ejected in these last too pictures?