St. Patrick's Day Fun

Happy St. Patrick's day!

 St. Patrick's day fell on a Saturday this year and that was so nice. No, pre-school rush or anything. Just a relaxed morning together. The kids woke up to find this set up with gifts from the leprechaun.
The kids cleaned the house on Friday night so that the leprechaun could visit and bring treats as opposed to playing tricks on us and making more messes.
They were thrilled to find their treats. 

Look at all these lucky little faces!

We had lucky green pancakes for breakfast and then just hung out the rest of the day. 

Love this boy!

I love my happy go lucky kids!

31 Acts of Birthday Kindness

I was blessed to spend my entire birthday with my wonderful family. Tucker, Benson and I spent the morning doing acts of kindness  for others. We delivered a freezer meal, wrote kind notes to others, we mailed letters of encouragement. We left a kind note for the mailman and change in vending machines at the store. It was so fun!

Then Aunt Sarah and Aunt Julieta came over and hung out with us. Aunt Sarah brought us some sushi. 

When the kids got home from school we did more service. My goal was 31 acts of Birthday kindness and we were able to complete them all. Most of the acts of kindness were small but we worked hard together and I feel like it made the day so special. 

When Dad got home he made a delicious seafood dinner for us and he even got me a birthday cake. 

Tucker did attempt to blow out my candles again but I beat him to it. 

It was a wonderful birthday and I feel so blessed. It was great to spend the day giving back!

Dr. Seuss Celebration Week at ETE

The best day of any spirit week or any celebration week is always the last day. This week was no different. We just finished celebrating Dr. Seuss birthday with a whole week of themed dress up days.
Dressing up two kids each day in special outfits and hair styles is exhausting, but the kids LOVED it! I was just relieved that Tanner wanted to participate this year. Last year, some kids made fun of him at Sugar Creek Elementary and he didn't want to dress up anymore for spirit week. It was so sad. Kids can be mean. Luckily, everyone at Elm Tree Elementary participates in spirit week so everyone looks silly together. Each day during Dr. Seuss week was themed around a different Dr. Seuss book.  

Monday was "Oh, the places you'll go" and the kids all wore clothing representing their favorite college. Obviously, Bailey and Tanner were rep'ing U of A in RAZORBACK RED. 

Tuesday- "Fox in Socks" day and the kids wore crazy socks. 

Wednesday- "Wacky Wednesday" and the kids got to have crazy/wacky hair day.
Tanner loved his blue hair and Bailey's hair was super fun to fix. You can't really see the pink in her hair from the front, but you can see more of it from the back. 

Then on Thursday it was dress like your favorite Dr. Seuss character day. 

The kids went as "Thing 1 & Thing 2". 

However, it was also "Muffins with Mom" and book fair morning. So it was quite the busy morning. I left for school early with the kids so we could go to "Muffins with Mom". 

Then after we ate our muffins, we went to the book fair and both kids picked out a new book.
Books are one thing that I don't mind buying typically. I know the kids will read them over and over again and I love their love for reading. It was fun to see what they picked out. 

Then finally today, Friday, was the last day of Dr. Seuss week and it was themed around "Cat in the Hat" and all the kids got to wear their favorite hat. 

Yay for Dr. Seuss and all the fun books he wrote that have blessed the world. 

I'm so glad the week of dressing up is over, but I'm glad the kids wanted to participate. 

It was fun to see their excitement and enthusiasm each day. 

Fun in Mtn. Home

The kids and I drove to Mtn. Home for the weekend on Friday. Daddy had drill in Little Rock so he couldn't come, but we had a good time without him. 

We arrived in Mtn. Home just in time for some outdoor laser gun wars. The kids had a blast battling it out with Papa and with their cousins. 

I love this one of Papa and Tanner shooting at each other

Tucker hated getting shot but loving shooting everyone else. 

Tanner took it all very seriously. lol. Look at that face.

After the epic laser gun battle, the kids went to bed and the adults were able to chat and visit until we were all to tired to move. 

The next morning, Papa and Benson spent some quality time together with the "Johnny Jump Up". This is the same one that Papa bought for Tanner when he was a baby. It's held up pretty well. 

That afternoon we threw a big 30th birthday for Aunt Julieta. She was totally surprised and it was so fun to get to celebrate our favorite Mexican.

We did a cactus theme and it was so cute. I really love how it came together and so did she.

She was so appreciative.

We partied hard and then I got my kids ready for bed.

That night the adults stayed up late playing "Catch Phrase" and laughing so hard together. It was so fun. Julieta loves playing "Catch Phrase" so this was the perfect way to end her party.

Sunday morning we went to church with Nanny and Papa. I just love all these cute little faces.

They are my favorite little people.

After church we let the kids pop all the balloons from the balloon garland and they loved it.

I love this picture of all the kids running at the balloons.

And this one of Tucker in mid-air- love it. They had a blast!

It was the perfect way to end our time at Nanny and Papa's house. 

We headed home after this and got home in time for bedtime.

I look forward to our summer visits when we don't have to race home for school the next day.

It was such a great visit! Happy Birthday to Aunt Julieta!

Tanner's First "Blue and Gold Banquet"

Tonight we got to go to Tanner's Cub Scout "Blue and Gold Banquet".

He loved it so much. Tanner loves everything about cub scouts and I'm so happy that he does. It means I get his full enthusiasm whenever there is anything we have to work on together.

So the ward fed everyone dinner at the banquet, but they asked the boys to bring a dessert to share and awards were given for creativity. Tanner picked out what he wanted to do and I helped him make it. He was so funny about it. He knew just what he wanted and he worked so hard. 

I cut out the baskets, fry bags and the brownies shaped like burger patties.

Then Tanner did all the rest. He piped on the different color frostings, he added sprinkle sesame seeds and he stacked the cupcakes to look like burgers. I like of love how they turned out.

Then he helped me roll out the cookie dough and then we sprinkled it with sugar and baked them. Then as soon as we took them out of the oven, we cut them with a pizza cutter into skinny fries and placed them in the fry bags.

Presenting Tanner's cupcake burger sliders with a side of sugar cookie fries.

He was so happy with his dessert. All night at the banquet he watched as people came and got one of our desserts and then he would turn to me excitedly and say "Mom, look someone else wants to try our treat." He loved it!

I had to snap a few pictures of my boy during the banquet program.

He looks so handsome in his little wolf uniform.

How cute are these boys?

During the awards ceremony part of the banquet Tanner was called forward and asked about some of the adventure loops he earned. He was so serious up there. It was cracking me up.

But he was brave and spoke into the microphone.
His leaders talked about Tanner a little bit and said what a fun kid he was. They said he brings a great energy and enthusiasm to their den and the love having him in their group.
I'm grateful for Tanner's cub scout leaders and their hard work.

Tanner loved winning an award for his dessert.
He won "Best Presentation" and he was so excited. 

This boy had a great time at his first "Blue and Gold Banquet" and I'm so glad we were all able to be there together. We sure love our cute little cub scout.