Emily's 7th Birthday

Emily turned 7 this week, actually...she turned 7 today...but we celebrated her birthday a few days ago with a big shebang at Peter Piper Pizza. Our kids get friend parties every other year, and this was an on year for Em. She invited some of her best friends, and some of her fun cousins (we are so lucky to have six of her cousins that live in the area) and we partied the night away. It was a fun--and crazy--celebration.

And so the party begins...

Me with my girl...


games, games, games...



Crazy Girls...

The birthday girl with Grandpa Hooper...

Eden spent most of the party with Grandma H...

Ready for cake...Emily looks so serious in this picture.

Maybe she's contemplating her wish?

Out go the candles!

The whole crowd, ready to open presents...

This picture makes it look like some of the kids are

trying to steal away one of Emily's gifts and she's holding

on for dear life. But actually, the gift was just stuck in the bag and

they're helping her pull it out. I just thought it looked funny.

Party's over!

It was a very good night.

I Heart my New Necklace

In general Dave and I don't get a lot for each other for Christmas. We both feel (as I'm sure most parents do) that the majority of our Christmas budget and planning as far as presents go should be for the kids. This year we decided we'd just get each other one thing each. Dave needs a new suit...so that's his present for this year (even though I am actually surprising him with something else that's fun...of course...he's the best!), and then I just thought I'd leave it up to him to decide one thing for me. But then I remembered these necklaces from a bow party that I went to a few months ago. This nice girl in my area makes hand stamped silver jewelry (I know in the picture below the necklace looks bronze, but it's silver.) She does all sorts of different words and designs, and they are so pretty. The particular one I had my eye on was made of silver discs with your children's names stamped on each one. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I saw it, so when we were talking about Christmas I decided this was the perfect time to get my necklace. Dave was more than happy to let me go about getting it picked out and ordered. :) And it arrived today! I just love it and am so thankful for this nice present. I know it's early...but I'm wearing it anyway! I realize this is kind of boring stuff...but I just love it and wanted to share!

Like I said, the necklace is silver, not bronze (even

though that would be pretty too!) And if anyone is interested

the web-site is...http://www.simplyornamental.net/

Celebrating Christmas Part 1

This is gonna be kind of a big update. We've been busy and had a lot of fun the last few weeks...it's just that time of year I guess! Anyway, keep scrolling for multiple posts!



Starting off...last weekend we went to see some fun Christmas lights in our area. A nice, local man with a big yard sets up a super fun Christmas lights display for the public to enjoy for free! There are lights everywhere, fun Christmas displays, Santa, hot chocolate and cookies for sale, and even a fun train ride. We had a great time.

All bundled up for the light show...

On the train...the kids thought it was so fun...

Eden liked it too!

I like this picture cause of Justin's funny facial expression

Eden's face as she checked out the lights...

Almost got it...

Visiting Santa at our ward Christmas party.

Emily asked for a Littlest Pet Shop VIP, Justin asked for Transformers.

(done and done :) )

We also decorated Christmas cookies with friends last week...

so fun!

Justin loves his Santa hat...

he wears it day...and night!

Eden likes it too...

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Decorating the tree

I have to confess that I really, really don't like our Christmas tree. I know that sounds awful, but it's true. We've had the same dinky, little tree for years...and every year I plan on buying a new one, and every year I decide that we really don't need a new tree and we can stand our old tree for just one more year, and there are more important things to spend money on right now, etc.

Thank goodness that our kids don't care and think our tree the most beautiful tree in the world. :) They had a wonderful time "making it pretty"...I just love how excited they get about the simplest things...decorating our tree was truly a magical evening for them!

Justin had the honor of putting up the first ornament...

Emily next...

and Eden finally got to put up her first ornament ever!

more decorating, they were so into it!





Look at our pretty tree Eden!

The finished product...

Afterwards I caught the kids doing this...

and this...

They truly love our tree!

(Good thing somebody does)

Thanksgiving Rewind

This Thanksgiving post is coming a little late. I've been waiting partly on purpose so that I could steal pictures from my family's blogs that we shared the holiday with. I was able to get some good ones from my sister-in-law Amelia...thank you! Mine didn't turn out quite as good as yours!

We had a super fun Thanksgiving weekend. It was full of some of the best things...Grandma and Grandpa, Aunts and Uncles, and cousins! Also...yummy food, visits to the park, going to the movies, shopping and football. It really was a great weekend!

We had so much fun with Dave's parents and two of his brother's cute families...

Ready to eat

These kids are big fans of turkey



cute girl cousins

Normally a caption to a picture like this taken on Thanksgiving day would mention something about tryptophan. But the truth is Dave falls asleep easily any time, anywhere...with or without the turkey. :)



Fun with Franny....

What a sweetie!


Fun with Grandma...
Eden couldn't resist...

One of the best parts of visits from the Grandparents...reading with Grandma. :)

We went to the Butterfly park and the park at Town Square...

the kids had so much fun together.

Pink

O.K., so this topic may be somewhat controversial, but I just have to say it. I love pink. Not so much for myself--but for my sweet little daughters. :) I know of many moms who shy away from pink for their girls--they prefer to dress them in purples and pretty blues and browns and greens. And believe me, I totally understand--I really love all those other colors too. But I just can't help myself--my favorite is still pink.

So why do I love pink so much? I'm not really sure. Maybe it's the way it makes Emily's and Eden's pretty cheeks even more rosy and sweet. I just love how girly the color is. There is also something really innocent about pink. I much prefer it to the Hannah Montana rocker girl style that is so popular right now (nothing against Hannah, I know she's got a lot of fans.) Anyway, I hope to keep Emily in pink for as long as she allows (for now she still loves it.) And I plan to keep Eden in all the girly pink outfits I can get my hands on (even though I really do love all the other colors and she still has plenty of those.) I just had to come out with it...I love this color. And after seeing these pics from a recent photo shoot of Eden (taken right before church) you'll see why!

This is also a great post to see Eden's many facial expressions. :)

Also, for a great book to read with your daughters...check out Pinkalicious. It's one of our favorites!