Future Princess

These three little knights

 are preparing for their princess.

Baby Girl Williams due August 28!

Spring Break

I took the kids to my sister's in Utah for Spring Break. It was a long, agonizing drive (the kids were almost perfect, but it IS still 8 hrs in the car). They enjoyed time playing with their cousins, and we even went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point.

While we were gone, Ryan remodeled our laundry room. For Christmas, I got a new stacking washer and dryer in order to have space for both mud room capabilities and laundry necessities in the same space (a narrow hallway between the garage and the family room room with the guest powder room at the end).

Here are the pictures of the final product...

The bottom closet (stock pantry cabinet from Lowe's) holds my broom, mop, vacuum and trash can. The top of the closet has all the laundry detergents and paraphernalia, as well as extra paper towels and toilet paper.

Each person has a row of their own for shoes in the shoe organizer (online from the Home Decorators Collection) and a drawer on the top for hat, gloves and sunglasses.

And each person has at least one hook for their jacket, backpack, library bag and coat (adults on top and kids on the bottom).

I designed, ordered and planned it all before I left. Ryan just had to make my vision a reality. :-) It has worked really well so far. I love getting organized!

Wild Kratts Birthday Party

I'm pretty proud of the party that Ryan and I put on for Collin's 6th birthday and Brennan's 4th birthday. I'm a Pinterest-junky and Ryan helped a ton, but it was still pretty awesome, if you ask me.

We decided to keep it small, with each kid just inviting one friend. As the little brother, Brennan's friends are really Collin's friends, so really Collin had a friend from his kindergarten class come (who has spent a lot of time at our home) and another friend who is in our ward, his kindergarten class and lives just a few doors down (as you can imagine, she's spent a lot of time here too).

We started out by watching an episode of the Wild Kratts show (about polar bears) to begin, which is good because we had a miscommunication about the start time, and one (of the two!) guests was a half hour late. Then we presented the kids with their Creature Power Suits. Brennan got one too, but he said it was too itchy and wouldn't wear it (surprise, surprise).

Then we took turns letting the kids pick a gift bag. With eight bags, they each got two picks. Inside each bag, the kids received their creature power disc for that animal. I also had made little information cards for each animal with interesting facts and a picture (kinda like a baseball card). We read them the facts, and then they got to play the game.

Here's what we (and Pinterest!) came up with...

Peregrine falcon: The kids tested paper airplanes for the best flight, and then built their favorite with Ryan's help. They were trying to get them to glide into the "nest" (a laundry basket).

Polar bear: They needed to catch the seal by leaping from one ice flow to the next. (Sorry, I guess I didn't take pictures of this one. We placed white towels, sheets and pillow cases all over the floor, and the kids had to jump between them.)

Long-eared desert bat: They hunted in the dark for hidden insects in the basement. They collected them in little cups. Most the kids said this was their favorite activity, but apparently I didn't get pictures of it either.

North American beaver: They built "dams" with pretzel sticks and chocolate frosting. This one was a HUGE mess, but they enjoyed themselves, and we were able to get them cleaned up pretty easily.

Monarch butterfly: They wrapped each other in toilet paper (their cocoon), and broke through to fly around like butterflies.

King cheetah: They took turns being gazelles and cheetahs and played tag. Of course, this one quickly became a wrestling match with Dad.

Large-mouth bass: They tried to eat the gummy worm off the fishing pole without using their hands. This one was the most fun for me to watch. Ethan and I just laughed and laughed. It was pretty silly.

Duck-billed Platypus: They carried hard-boiled eggs on a spoon to their "nest" (bean bag chair).

After each game, the kids put their creature power discs in their take-home bag, and then they gathered for the next bag, disc and facts card.

After four games, we paused for lunch. Nothing excited (chicken nuggets and fruit). I made these cute tags for some green Hawaiian Punch though. I called it "Wild Jungle Punch." They really liked that.

After the eighth game, we did singing and cupcakes. I think Ethan was as happy as any of the kids. He loves socializing... and sugar. :-)

The boys also opened their presents from their friends at the end.

With the time remaining before the parents came for pickup, Ryan built a Tortuga with them in the basement.

I also included in their take-home bag (along with all the creature power discs) an Animal Planet coloring book (with realistic pictures), iced animal crackers, and an animal joke book. They each took home an animal print balloon too.

The kids had a great time, and Ryan and I had a great time planning and carrying out all the fun. If all parties could be this fun and easy, I think my boys would get one every year. Good times.

Happy birthday to my biggest boys!

Brennan's 4th Birthday

Brennan's birthday was on a Tuesday this year, which was neat because he got to go to preschool. Here's the cute crown he got... and wore!!

One of his gifts was that he got to start taking soccer at the preschool in their gym each Tuesday after school. Lucky him, the first day was on his actual bday!

I forgot to take pictures, but for his birthday dinner he requested corn on the cob. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, no corn on the cob was to be had in Fort Collins, Colorado in January. He settled for fresh pineapple and strawberries with ham slices and homemade french fries. Another interesting assortment.

After dinner, he got to open presents. He received the certificate for his soccer class, but he obviously already knew about that one. He also got a Dora book with stickers (doesn't it get much better than that?).

He got FIVE (yes, five!) pads of art paper. (You wouldn't believe how much paper this boy can go through.) He was pretty excited as it all poured out of the packaging.

He also got a lap art desk. He loves it, and Collin even asked for one for himself. (The pads of paper fit in the elastic bands.)

 His favorite part was obviously the sugar... cupcakes and chocolate fudge ice cream. Yum!

Happy birthday, B! He is really growing up, and I think his tantrums may be mellowing a bit. He still struggles, but he is starting to make more and more adorable observations. I have been praying to love him as his Heavenly Father loves him, and I know that I am receiving Divine help in my relationship with him. It is a work in progress. He is stubborn to the max, but he really does have a loving, caring part of him. I like it when I get to see that side more. :-)

Happy birthday, my middle son! I love you, Big Boy!

Family Photographs 2015

Over Christmas Break we attempted to get some family pictures taken. It was kind of a disaster, but here's the best we came up with. Some were done by a girl in the ward; the others Ryan took at home in the family room.

First, from the semi-professional...

Now, Ryan's...

There you have it. Our family of five.

Collin's 6th Birthday

Here is Collin the morning of his birthday, which happened to be Christmas Sunday.

I always let the kids pick what they'd like to eat on their birthday, and here's what Collin requested... cheeseburgers on the grill, broccoli and mashed potatoes. I love the strange mix that always happens when they ask for all their favorites.

Collin requested 2-wheeler bike lessons for Christmas, and we thought it would be nice as a birthday present. (For those of you judging, we did this Saturday - the day before his birthday.)

 For his birthday, he got some fun foam monsters from his Nana & Papa.

From Ryan and I, he got piano lessons taught by the mom across the street - one lesson per week for four months. He also got a National Geographic book about the earth.

 So far, he has really been enjoying the lessons. (He's on week three now.) Unfortunately, we only have a keyboard, and I guess he is struggling switching between her piano and his practicing at home. We'll have to see about remedying that.

He requested homemade cake - which of course he helped make and decorate - and peanut butter ice cream.

It was fun to celebrate on a Sunday, because we got to spend almost the whole day focused on him.

Collin is my super helpful, thoughtful, smart boy. I can't believe he's already six! I'm so glad he is only in half-day kindergarten. I'm gonna flip when he goes full-day for first grade next year!

Love you, Coll! Happy birthday!

Skipping Thanksgiving aka Denver Stay-cation

We decided to forego the headache of cooking and cleaning up, and we did Thanksgiving a little differently this year.

Thursday morning we headed to the Denver Aquarium. We looked at all the awesome fish, and then paid an arm and a leg for a Thanksgiving dinner buffet. Collin was running a fever all weekend, and I forgot his Tylenol in the car, so we took off after eating. He actually did pretty well given the circumstances.

We stayed the night in a hotel suite, and then met some old Madison friends at the Nature & Science Museum Friday morning. This place is definitely worth a return visit! We only saw a few areas (Space, Rocks & Minerals, special Whale exhibit, Children's Discovery Center and Health), but it was still pretty fun. I can't wait to see the rest of this place.

It was super fun to get to see Jon & Mandie and their kids too. Gotta love all our Madison connections! We got Cafe Rio together for lunch and then parted ways.

That afternoon and evening Ryan and I alternated sessions at the Denver temple. We spent Friday night in the hotel too. Good weekend, eh?

Saturday morning we headed home to cheer our Buckeyes on to a win against "that team up north."

Now that's what I call a perfect Thanksgiving weekend. ...minus seeing all the extended family, of course... ;-(