Super Mario

Griffin’s been looking forward to his birthday for months and months.  He was excited to have a “Mario” party and knew exactly what he wanted to do . . . a Late Over.  His older siblings have ‘late overs’ all of the time and watch movies with lots of candy and friends.  He wanted to be part of that fun and wanted to watch a Super Mario movie with all of his friends and his favorite candies . . . cow tales, sour straws and Skor bars.

The invitation.  My photoshop skills are laughable but he loved it and that’s all that counts!

The party guests.  The cute thing about this picture is that most of the kids had a melted chocolate mustache on their face after they posed for the picture in the summer heat.  Bought the Mario hat on ebay and used a candy mold to make the dark mint chocolate mustaches.

The night before the party, Hadley (my party planner) showed Griffin all of these fun Mario games that he could do at his party.  I explained to her that I had already asked him if he wanted to do games when I started planning the party and he had only wanted to do the late over.  Of course, the night before the party he was all excited about the games.  Hadley offered to put together a “Pin the mustache on Mario” game.  She drew Mario and cut out mustaches for the kids to put on the face.   

More mustache fun

After opening gifts, eating cupcakes and ice cream cones it was time for the main event.  Super Mario movie.  The kids all got their box of popcorn, capri-sun and favorite candy and got comfy with their pajamas, pillows and blankies to watch the show.  There’s a reason Super Mario movies don’t make it to the big theaters.  It was terrible but none of the kids seemed to notice.

Party gift bags for the guests.  Each bag had a white chocolate wii remote, chocolate coins and a different Super Mario action figure.  

It was simple but fun.  The kids were all excited to stay up extra late and didn’t understand why it was still light outside when they were going home.  The beauty of summer nights.

Today was his real birthday but after yesterday and waking up with a birthday party hangover and all of the gifts, wrapping paper, boxes and popcorn strewn throughout the house, it was pretty low key.  We woke up and got ready for church.  He opened his Birthday scrapbook-- a digital photo scrapbook from his 5th year.  The gift he asked for several months ago, saying how all he wanted for his birthday was a scrapbook like the one Mia got for her birthday.  The gift I spent hours and hours making.  The gift he didn’t really care to look at after he opened it this morning.  Then we went to church.  Came home and played with all of his new toys.  Skyped with Nan and Papa.  And opened his new scooter, Mario towel and shirt.

In honor of his 6th Birthday, 6 things we love about Griffin:

1.  He discovered online games this past year and loves to play Animal Jam, Club Penguin, Monkey Quest, and Moshi Monsters while talking on the phone with his friends who are playing them at the same time.

2.  He had a great year of school and is ready for First Grade.  His reading skills have taken off this summer and he reading everything he sees.

3.  He hasn’t tried to ride his bike since last year when we took off the training wheels.  He’s happy to ride his scooter everywhere he goes.

4.  He does a great job at making his bed every morning so he can play with friends or on the computer.

5.  His favorite shoes to wear are his red Mickey Mouse crocs that he got 3 years ago.  He claims they just keep growing with his feet.  The shoes are size 10.  His feet are size 13.

6.  He has the highest pitched voice in the house and the cutest giggle ever.

Happy 6th Birthday Griffin!  We love you!

4th of July

I miss my blog.  I’ve been so busy this year trying to make digital scrapbooks for all of the birthdays that I’ve had no extra time to blog or play around with photography.  But doing the scrapbooks has made me realize how much I need this blog.  Everyday and holiday blend into one and the blog helps me remember all of the details.  Hopefully I’ll have some time to go back and get caught up but for now . . . 

We had a great 4th of July celebration.  I’ve said this before, but the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays.  I love the red, white and blue theme, the yummy food, family and friends, BBQ, and the day always ends with a good firework show.  

Jack was gone for most of the day with his friend’s family, boating.  I waited all day for him to get home so I could do the traditional picture in front of the flag.  He got home hours later than he thought he would and made it home just in time for the fireworks.  

Morgan’s best Iwo Jima shot.

I decided it was time to finally try some of my Pinterest recipes that I pinned for the holiday.  The trifle was yummy.  I let the kids dip the strawberries in the white chocolate and sprinkles.  They didn’t turn out quite the same as the picture on Pinterest but the kids had fun and that’s all that counts.  When no one else is eating them.

Gavin’s mom makes a flag cake for the 4th of July every year but wasn’t in town this year.  Gavin was up for the challenge and called his mom for the recipe and this was the result.

Gavin and his first flag cake

The evening was spent with cousins at Trevor and Annie’s house.  They have a great backyard where the kids can run all around, swing, play basketball.  And be together.

Zachary, Griffin and Nixon

The boys were having a good talk about who was the oldest which changed to who is the tallest.  Griffin is the youngest but the tallest.  It was determined by a back-to-back.

Mia is such a ham.  She’s sees the camera and quickly goes from pose to pose as I take her picture.  She is definitely her daddy’s daughter because she doesn’t get it from me.

Cousins.  These girls are all within 2 years of each other.

Seven of the nine Seal girl cousins (Lily and Shae live out of town).

4th of July face painting

Water balloon toss.  Gavin and Hadley took 2nd in the toss off.

Then it was time for the fireworks.  Everyone loved the show.  Don’t be fooled by the covered ears and fear stricken face on Hadley.  Uncle Scott always delivers on the 4th and last night was no exception.  It felt like we were at a big show with all of the great fireworks he brought.

And some more poses from Mia with her glow necklace.  Happy 4th of July!

Happy Mother’s Day

I spent last week on a little getaway to Vegas while Gavin was busy in work meetings.  It was the perfect break.  I got to relax and have some quiet time to reflect on all the many blessings in my life as I read the book, Heaven Is Here.  I was reminded of the incredible blessing it is to be a mother.  To have these six children call me Mom.  I was also reminded of the huge responsibility I have as their mother.  Some days I feel like I am completely failing them.  Too quick to anger.  Too impatient.  Too disorganized.  And some days, just overwhelmed.  I hope that through all of my short comings that my children can feel my love and know I am trying and want to be better.  I look at these cute faces and see each unique personality and the important role each one has in our family.  I am extremely blessed to be their mom.  

I got off the plane and had about 30 minutes to get to the church to make it to the Activity Days “Mother’s Day Luncheon and Spa”.    We had a yummy lunch together with our daughters (8-12 years old).

And then we got to relax as our daughters tickled scrubbed our feet and gave us pedicures.  Morgan loved scrubbing my feet (and legs).  Hadley not so much.

My feet are way overdue for a pedicure and Hadley let me know it.   Morgan didn’t care.  She just loved using her pumice stone and splashing water around.

Mother’s Day started just like any other Sunday.  Waking up early and getting all of the kids ready for church before leaving to see patients.  We got a special surprise in Sacrament Meeting though when Gavin’s parents, lovingly known as Nan and Papa, joined us to hear Gavin’s talk and the kids sing with the Primary.  They sat down and asked where Jack and Ryan were.  They had forgotten that both boys are now old enough to pass the Sacrament.  They sat by us and got to enjoy the chaos and my favorite part of church . . . Morgan singing the hymns.  She does her best vibrato and makes everyone smile who’s in earshot of her singing.

We got home and had time before lunch to open all of the gifts.  Of course, most of them I had seen a few days earlier when they came home from school.  It’s hard for 4 and 5 year olds to keep their hard work a secret.  Mia gave me this cute flower with her picture right in the middle. The back has the letters “aMi” scribbled on it.  My favorite part of her gift was a “My Mom . . . “ paper her preschool teacher helped her fill out.  The last thing says.  “My mom loves me because . . . her just does!” 

Hadley made a book all about me for Mother’s Day.  A few of my favorites from her book --

“If I had to compare my mom to a famous person, it would be Martha Stewart because she is a very good cleaner and home decorator just like Martha.  And my mom’s maiden name is Heather Stewart!”

“If I could treat my mom to a shopping spree, I know she would like $600 to go and spend at the D.I. and buy whatever she would like.”  Yes, the D.I. is our local Goodwill/thrift store.  And my girl knows I love my vintage silver and antiques.  I was thinking Anthropologie would be a good place to spend my $600 but the D.I. is more realistic.

Griffin woke up and asked me if it was Valentine’s Day today.  I reminded him that it was actually Mother’s Day.  “Oh yah.  I keep forgetting.”  He made me paper flowers, a coupon book and a painted handprint and caterpillar.  He also picked out poppy flower seeds for me to plant and can’t wait to get them in the ground.

Morgan made me a few cards and gave me her writing book from the school year.

Gavin and his cute mom, Lolly

We went out to lunch with Gavin’s parents.  It was a nice break from cooking.  Unfortunately the stomach flu had been running through our family and hit both Gavin and me late Sunday night.  We both wished we hadn’t chosen a buffet for our lunch.  I spent all day yesterday sick and in bed.  Just glad it didn’t hit me until a few hours after Mother’s Day was over.

Then we had dinner at my parents with all of my siblings (except my big sis who lives in Portland) and got a picture of all of us with my beautiful mom.

I am so blessed to have this amazing woman as my mom.  It took me having my own wild brood to appreciate my mom and understand the depth of her love for me.  At times, I felt lost and unloved in my family as I was growing up.  I now have a child who also feels like that at times and I know they aren’t lost or unloved.  If anything they have more of my love and concern.  My mom had 6 children just like I do.  It’s busy and crazy and chaotic but somehow she managed to do it all.  Home cooked meals for breakfast and dinner.  School lunches packed with love.  Family home evenings.  Kneeling by our beds each night as we prayed together.  Tickling our backs as she told us a bedtime story.  She gave up her evenings every night as she went from bed to bed to say good night to each one of us.  I remember being with a friend’s family on vacation and one of the kids asking if they could have the last popsicle and her mom telling her no, that she was going to eat it.  As silly as it is, I remember thinking that my mom would have never responded that way.  She would’ve happily given it to someone else.  She is the perfect example of sacrifice and unconditional love.  I am so lucky she is mine!  Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!  I love you!

Ooh la la . . . Paris birthday party!

Hadley turned 11 last month and had a big Paris-themed birthday celebration.  She wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted to do for her birthday this year but knew she wanted her dad’s crepes and to watch a movie in the ‘theater room’ with all of her favorite concessions.  She didn’t jump up and down with excitement when I suggested a Paris birthday, two of her cousins both recently had Paris birthday parties and she was afraid she was copying them.  It didn’t take long though for her to get excited and help plan the party when she heard about some party ideas.  We had fun shopping together for all of the decorations.

She had two birthday wishes . . . a digital scrapbook and a visit with Zeus.  After a few texts and begging, I finally got a text back from Zeus’ owner that we could visit him the Sunday after her birthday and take him to a nearby park.  I spent the last few months working on her scrapbook and luckily had it all ready for her birthday surprise.  If you wanna peek inside the book, click on this link.

In typical Hadley fashion, she shared opening gifts with her siblings and let Morgan, Mia and Griffin each take turns opening one of her gifts.  I don’t think she really cared what was inside the wrapping paper after reading the card and finding out she was going to visit Zeus in a few days.  It’s all she had been wanting and talking about ever since we drove off without him 2 months earlier.

Her birthday was on a Wednesday which happens to be her busiest day of the week.  She had to open presents quickly and didn’t have time to even look at her scrapbook before she left for piano lessons before school.  Luckily we checked her out of school for a birthday lunch so we were able to spend some time with her during the day.  She had to go to her dance/singing practice right after school for 3 hours.  We picked her up from class and went straight to a late night dollar movie, We Bought A Zoo.  We got home after 10 pm and made everyone go right to bed so they could wake up for school the next morning.  She was so excited to finally get to look through her scrapbook the next day after school.  

Lunch at Blue Lemon

The birthday invitation

The Paris theme made it so much fun to decorate for the party.  I had my sweet friend come over and help me get it all set up.  And by help, I mean she did it all while I sat on the couch blowing up balloons for the balloon arch.  My favorites from the party were copied from pinterest and etsy--the balloon arch and the candy Eiffel tower suckers.

I had big hopes for Hadley’s cake.  I found the perfect cake and tutorial on pinterest.  And even though I’ve only used fondant once, I was certain I could recreate this amazing masterpiece (on the right).  With only 10 minutes until the party guests arrived and an undecorated cake sitting on the cake platter, I realized some things may not work out and the cake was one of them.  I quickly rolled out the fondant, put it over the cake and then used my newly acquired quilting tool to make some messy lines.  The party guests still loved it and asked if it was fabric and not icing on her cake.

The party started with guests getting to order their custom crepe.  Nutella was the party favorite.  I tried to sway a few to try the cheesecake  filling but they knew what they wanted and it wasn’t cheesecake.  Or any cake.  They were all too full after the crepes that we didn’t even cut the cake or get the ice cream out of the freezer.

Gavin had a boys (aka father and sons) trip planned to St. George to see the air show that weekend but waited until everyone had eaten their fair share of crepes before loading up the car and heading south.  Hadley will be the  first one to tell you that her dad is the most handsome, crepe making dad around.  We even have it written on a post-it note on our kitchen wall in case we forget.  I think this may have been when he was asking the girls for compliments to the chef.

The party guests

We cleaned up the crepes and turned the dining room into a Parisian perfume factory.  The girls could choose to follow a recipe for a particular scent (sweet, citrus, musky, flowery) or if they were wanting to be even more creative, they could add their own secret ingredients for a personal scent. I borrowed this set up from my friend but this could easily be copied with a perfume kit from Amazon or etsy.  Here are a few I found in my google search and thought were cute--HearthSong or Scientific Explorer’s Perfumery Kit or Solid Perfume Party Pack.  Or you could switch it up and have them make lip gloss-- Lipgloss Making Kit.

The party moved downstairs to finish the evening with the movie, Madeline.  Hadley wanted to make sure there was enough time to watch the entire movie since the other years they didn’t get to see the ending on her movie night birthday parties.  We were in a tight time crunch but they made it.  Start to finish.  They watched it and gave it raving reviews.  It’s now Mia and Morgan’s favorite movie.

As great as her party was,  I think she would have been just as happy with just this . . . 

It was a really cold and windy afternoon.  The owner told us about a park we could take him to that was only a few miles away.  We got there and saw signs posted everywhere “No dogs allowed in park.”  So we drove across the street and ran around on the grass in front of some business offices.  Morgan had as much fun seeing Zeus again as Hadley.  They ran all around with him until they were too cold and we drove him back to his house.  It was hard to say good bye again but I thought there was a lot of closure with seeing how happy he is in his new home and how much his owner loves him.

In honor of her 11th Birthday -- 11 things that make Hadley unique.

1.  This girl has earned the name of “sister”.  I couldn’t ask for a kinder, more loving big sister to Morgan, Griffin and Mia.  She is always looking for ways to include them and show them love.  She patiently shares a bedroom with Morgan which means a few compromises but she rarely complains.  She takes time to go on bike rides, jump on the trampoline, read books, color and craft with the kids.  She even made one of her birthday gifts and gave it to Morgan for having a good day at school.  And she loves supporting Morgan at her cheering competitions.  She is Morgan’s biggest fan!

2.  She remembers everyone’s birthday in the family and does something to make it special.   I think this is her favorite way to spend her babysitting money . . . on others.

3.  She wanted her own make up for her birthday so she wouldn't have to borrow mine anymore for performances.

4.  She gets to perform in San Francisco this summer with her singing group.

5.  She is always humming.  Background noise makes me stress out so I feel like I am constantly asking her to please stop humming.  But it really is one of my favorite traits.  It’s just one more reminder that she is always happy and positive.

6.  She is independent.

7.  She started babysitting this past year and really enjoys it.  She wanted to do it for free so everyone would call her first.  She’s really excited to babysit her baby cousins one day.

8.  She LOVES to read.  I told her she could see The Hunger Games movie if she had read the book.  She read it in a few days and finished the series before I even started the first book.

9.  She’s now old enough to go to the maturation program at school.  I wasn’t sure what to expect but actually enjoyed the program.  We had a great presenter who made lots of jokes and made it fun and  we both survived.

10.  She’s in her last year of Primary and excited to finally finish everything for her Faith In God award.  I am her Activity Days leader and after a rough start, we’ve got a good thing going and I am loving being in there with her and Morgan.

11.  She’s an early riser, just like her daddy.  She likes to wake up a few hours before she needs to be somewhere to ensure she has enough time to get ready.  She hates being late.  Anywhere.

Happy 11th Birthday to the sweetest girl, Hadley!  We love you!