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!

Summer Surprise

We decided since we weren't taking a family vacation for the second summer in a row (makes me sad!!) that we would surprise the kids with new bikes!

Kiersten's old bike was one my dad found at a yard sale and Hunter's was a couple of years old. So they kind of needed new ones ....Logan well.........we couldn't leave Logan out even though he got a bike for Christmas. Plus we took the kids old bikes to my parents house so they can enjoy riding the new bike trail that leads all the way into town.

The kids were so happy........I think Kiersten was the happiest!

And yes mom got a beach cruiser to try and keep up with the kiddos.......now I just need a little bike seat for Mr. Grant!

I LOVE SUMMER TIME!!!

Hip Hop Gang

This years Spring Recital we had to go to both the Junior Show and the Senior Show.

It was a full day of dance...........Kiersten was way excited about dancing in both shows!

Kiersten, Hunter and Logan all took the beginning Hip Hop class this year. Logan LOVED LOVED it! Kiersten really stood out............she is a wonderful dancer! The boys did steal the show............and I mean the entire show. I have four people I didn't know come up to me afterwards and ask me if they were my boys. When I said yes, they each would say how those boys just made the show. One lady even made the boys promise to keep taking dance because she wanted to watch them again! They did ROCK!

My Hip Hop gang

It was fun to watch they kids having so much fun. Logan was smiles from ear to ear the whole time he was up there. He was just in heaven being on the stage!

Great job kids!

Awards Assembly

At the end of every year the kids have an awards assemble at their school.

They just love being recognized for good behavior, good grades and everything else.

Hunter is a wonderful student! He is super smart and really excels at school with easy. This is Hunter sitting next to Maddie Bigler, his valentines this year! So cute! She asked him.........he wanted that on record.

Hunter, Treven, and Justice

This is Miss Judy, Hunter's aide this year.

These two just had a special bond.

This year Miss Judy challenged the whole class to read 100 books. There were stipulations like the book had to be at least 40 pages long and other things. She told them that whoever read all 100 books would get to have a special pizza party with her during lunch and get an extra recess.

Hunter wanted so bad to get all 100 books read. So he read and he read............and he read his 100th book right before the deadline. Guess what? He ended up being THE ONLY KID that read 100 books. So Miss Judy being the sweet, awesome person that she is changed the party ideas. She asked me ahead of time about her idea and once I gave her the go ahead she told Hunter.

She gave him a balloon at school with his favorite candy bar, Hersey's chocolate bar, that he got to eat in class in front of everyone. He just loved this! She also made him a huge ticket stub telling him she was going to take him to he choice of movie. He was thrilled!!!

So a week later Miss Judy came on a Friday evening and picked Hunter up to take him to the movie. She had her husband and kids with her as well. They went to see Yogie Bear, then they treated Hunter to a Dairy Queen treat. Hunter had a wonderful time and just loves Miss Judy!

Great job reading all 100 books!!!

Hunter and Mrs. Skinner

Mrs. Skinner is a phenomenal teacher! Hunter has just loved her and has grown leaps and bounds in her classroom!

Hunter got all kinds of awards for his high grades in math, reading and spelling. He also got other awards. The one he is most proud of is getting straight A's, all four quarters! He got a cool pin with this award. There was only one other kid in his class that got that award with him.

Mrs. Skinner............yes there are 3 Mrs. Skinner's at DPA.

This is Kiersten with her good friend, Hanna Curtis.

Mrs. Skinner did them together because she said she didn't want to cry twice. She was so sweet and the amazing things she said about Kiersten just melted my heart. And cry she did..............she had to apologize at one point. I will say she didn't get choked up with any other kids. So it really says a lot about these two girls!

Kiersten got lots of awards.

One of her favorites is getting straight A's all four quarter's as well.

Great job...........you are just amazing Kiersten!

Kiersten has just loved having Mrs. Skinner this year!

Piano Recital

This is Kiersten and Hunter's first year of taking piano lessons. Kiersten has just loved it............Hunter doesn't quite feel the same about it. Tracy Brown is their teacher and she is just fabulous! They had a recital at the Central church, next to the temple. They both did great playing their pieces!

It is so nice because Tracy lets me leave both kids at her house for their lessons.

Tracy said that "she has never had a student go through the first set of books as fast as Kiersten did!" She went on to say, "She thinks Kiersten really has a talent for the piano!"

This just made Kiersten so happy to hear...........she was beaming after that lesson.

Hunter is really doing well. He still enjoys playing and practicing the violin more, but he does a great job on the piano as well. It works out great because Tracy lets the kids come Friday mornings when they are out of school. It's so nice not to have to try and fit that in during the school week. We are already super busy. I can't even count the number of times Tracy has told me she "loves my kids!" and how well behaved they are. She is constantly saying positive things about them and what a good mother I must be to have such awesome kids. She has said she'd keep them in a heartbeat and raise them as her own. Even though I am not the best mom, I make plenty of mistakes, it is always great to hear such great things about your kids.

Camping with Pryor's

We always seem to make a camping trip out of some part of Easter weekend.......this year was no different. We talked our good friends Mac and JP Pryor into joining us at Cedar Springs.

We were smart and started bringing our spare swing with us when we go camping. The kids love to find a great spot for it! As long as Mr. Grant had his sand bucket and shovel he was a happy camper!

He just played and played...........the dirtier he got the happier he was! Mr. Grant LOVES Mija!

And Mija is such a good sport to let Mr. Grant lay all over her!

Grammie and Gramps came out to visit. Poor Grammie had been stung my a scorpion that morning so she was feeling pretty sick. It was so nice of her to come out even though she felt so bad. It was great to have them out there with us!

We dyed eggs of course...

It was great fun!

The Pryor's hide the Easter eggs for the kids. It was a grand hunt!

Hunter was even nice enough to show Logan where an egg was because Logan had less then him! What a great big brother!

It was a wonderful place to have an Easter egg hunt...........lots of good hiding spots!

JP even hide one in his back pocket just for Logan. Logan thought that was hilarious...........such a funny kid (both JP and Logan)!

We had a fun time doing Easter stuff and just being together!

Easter Bunny Comes Early

Our Easter Bunny has been coming early for several years now. So once again we were surprised when he came........he actually came several days early which is a good thing because we were headed to go camping with the Pryor's!

Logan's Basket Mr. Grant's Basket

The kids were all very excited to get new fishing poles to go down to the pond to fish with!

Hunting for eggs..........

The kids were so cute and would make sure everyone was getting their share.

The hunt is on....

Man they are everywhere.....

I just love these kids!

I love how the more pictures I took the more Logan posed (all on his own).

Mr. Grant was having a BLAST just watching Logan I think!

Mr. Grant is in heaven with his lawn mower

YEAH MOM!!!