A special thanks

I just want to thank my sister Necia, Brett, Ian, Colin, and baby Hawkin(that's what we call the baby). It was so much fun. I can't wait until they move closer to us. We had a lot of fun that I didn't take pictures of:

• Necia gave me a mini pedicure. I know she is the one 8 months pregnant, but I did offer to do hers
• Necia got me addicted to NCIS, if you haven't seen it watch it
• Necia and Brett also got me into Big Bang Theory, if you haven't seen it watch it
• Eli and I got wooped by Necia and Brett and cards, we know you were cheating we just don't know how.
• I was able to see a "severe thunderstorm" which I was sure was going to turn into a tornado and kill us. (it obviously didn't)
• most nights Aubree would fall asleep during the reading books part of her nightly routine, after one night of Brett reading to her she wanted him to read to her, not me.
• Hayley learned to go down stairs, backwards.
• Jimmy Johns sandwiches, I was so sad when they left Provo.
• Fire fly's, we saw them the same night as the storm. Who knew that MN had them? Brett and Necia didn't.
• Played hair

Thanks so much Brett and Necia, it was so much fun. Nothing could have made the trip better, well maybe if Eli and Brett wouldn't have had to work.

God Bless America

Oh, wait not the song? It's the mall of America? On the way to the Mall of America Aubree thought it was God bless America, so she sang the song. Ian was so frustrated he keep asking her to stop, but she kept singing.

Here are the "twins" Ian and Aubree on the bumper cars. Eli on the monster trucksAfter riding a few rides Aubree asked to go on the wonder boat. Necia said if she wants to ride it we need to ride it now. So we did. The Wonder Boat, was a ride that the kids strap into and then it takes them up and down. The first time they started going up Aubree looked really nervous, but once Eli told her she was having fun, we couldn't get her off the ride.
We also took her on the log flume ride, it had a few big drops we didn't know about. If you ask Aubree about it now she will tell you how scared she was, but it was a lot of fun. The boat only hold 4 people so our boat just had Eli, Aubree, and me in it. The picture is priceless, so we bought it. I need Eli to set up the scanner so I can post it, but hopefully soon.

Pirates life for me

One thing that Aubree wanted to do more than anything was make a pirate video. On Necia's blog a couple of months ago they posted a pirate video. She watched it every morning for a least a month. So when Uncle Brett said they would make on when we got there she was so happy. She was a little nervous before every shooting that the "evil alligator" would get her. After a lot of pep talk and a lot of patience we got it done. Brett is just finishing editing it now, so when it is done I will post it. This is a picture of the kids in the "boat", Hayley was so happy to get to join in on the fun.

One of my favorite places in MN

I love Look Out Ridge. It is an indoor playground. When the weather in the winter is well below 0, people start to get pretty inventive. It has huge slides and ropes to climb. It is somewhere that parents and take their kids and choose to play or watch. Hayley HATED it, she was upset anytime I got her close to the park equipment. Aubree and the boys were having so much fun. This is one of the entrances to get in:

Auntie's little helper

Ian was my little helper when it came to feed Hayley. When I started to feed Hayley, Aubree came in and asked if it was her favorite? (blueberry's and applesauce) When I said yes, she asked if she could have some. I gave her a bite, which in turn made Ian to take a bite. He also like it. Then I asked him if he wanted to feed Hayley. He sat down in my chair and would give Hayley a bite and then give himself a bite. I was impressed how much Hayley ate for him. She loved spending all that one on one time with him. I tried to get a picture of Ian eating it, but my camera was never fast enough.

DQ in WI

After we found out that my sweet sister Necia is going to be having a baby boy, (it took 34 weeks to get a definite answer, I had Aubree at 34 weeks). we decided to celebrate. We took the kids to eat dinner at Dairy Queen. They all like dinner, but loved dessert. Hayley sharing a cherry dipped cone with me. Can you tell she loved it?The boys wanted "orange" (butterscotch)dipped cones, and once Aubree heard there was chocolate that was it. Here are the happy cousins loving their ice cream:Here is the happy couple. Congrats on the new little addition to be. I love this picture because Brett looks so much like Colin in this picture. We had no idea that small cones came this big!

The Great state of Minnesota part1

After taking the red-eye to MN, all 4 of us had to get back on schedule in our own way. Eli, Hayley and I all took naps during the day. Aubree decided to fall asleep on the way to dinner, she wouldn't wake up even to eat this:She slept all the way through dinner, woke up to take a bath then went to sleep for the night. The next day Aubree was a little sick, we think it was just her body's way of trying to figure out which end was up. By the time Sunday was over we were all up and running again.

Same old game.

While we were trying to pack for MN to visit Necia's family. Hayley wouldn't stay out, so we had to tag team her. Aubree had a whole other game she was playing, keep the buddies away from the parents.

Cookies anyone?

My girls enjoying some Oreo's. They are a family favorite.
Aubree before:
Hayley after:
Too cute not to post.

Sometimes it weird to see things in real life.

Here is the house from Father of the Bride, as well as Rumor has it. I have had many friend tell me it where it is, however I never ever went. While my parents were here we decided to try out their new GPS system and find it. Well here it is. It's weird to see it with my own two eyes. So here it is.

Hungrey? Eat something.

After the dance recital we had some lunch. Here is Aubree, Gran, and Papa enjoying their couch picnic.
If there is something we all love its when we go out to eat with Papa because he always shares his milk shake.There is always enough to go around.

Some where over the rainbow

Aubree had her Spring dance recital. She was Dorthy from the Wizard of Oz. She did so GREAT!!! I was so proud of her. I was also proud that I made her costume with the help of my wonderful sister-in-law Tina. I also made Aubree's friend's apron. It was so much fun to sew with Tina, that I am now looking for something else to sew.

Here fishy fishy

A couple of weeks ago Papa and Gran came to visit. As part of the fun Papa took Hayley to her swim lessons. She had so much fun. Hayley loves playing with the duckies, she is becoming quite the fish.Here is a video of Papa getting Hayley to jump to him in the pool. She won't do this for me, but Papa was in the pool for 20 minutes with her and she loved it.

Aubree also is enjoying learning to swim. She loves that she is big enough to not need mom and dad in the pool with her.

Princess galore

To top off the birthday we had dinner at Ariel's Grotto in California Adventures. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to dine with the Princess'. The food was very good and the restaurant is very kid friendly. In the middle of dinner the princess all stop by you table so you have about a minute with each to take pictures and get signature. Hayley wasn't sure about it at first but by the end she loved it. Aubree of course loved it from the begining, every time a new Princess would come over she would get very excited until Gran would tell her she could hug them and then she LOVED IT even more.

My family with ArielAubree with BelleHayley with Bellemy girls with Snow Whitemy girls with Cinderellamy girls with Sleeping Beauty:For dessert they served us a plethora of desserts. One of which was a white chocolate conga shell. The girls loved it.
Thanks Babe for the wonderful Birthday. Nothing could have made it better. (well maybe if papa could have been there)

M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E

To celebrate my actually Birthday we took the girls to Disneyland. It was so nice to have my mom and Eli with us. I would highly recommend spending your birthday at Disneyland, they give you a pin that says its your birthday and your name, so everyone tells you HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It was nice. It was a very warm day so we stayed hydrated with beverages and played hard. The girls were great and pleasant to spend a day with out naps with.
Hayley and I riding Dumbo, it was the longest line for Dumbo I have ever waited in for a long time.Aubree and I in Mickey's house, Aubree loves the houses in toon town.The girls and I on Minnie's couch:Hayley loved to see herself in the mirror's, Eli got this great shot.:Hayley had a lot of fun.

I scream, U scream, we all scream for ICECREAM

Eli planned a dessert Party for my birthday, and invited all of our friends. The patio is perfect for a party just like this. Everyone brought some dessert and we had lots of ice cream and drinks for all. It was the perfect beginning of a wonderful Birthday. Eli and Aubree's friend Julie greeting our guests:Eli being the amazing husband and father and entertaining all of the kids with games and bubbles:The patio with our friends My friends daughter Emma drew this cute picture for me.Aubree enjoying her dessert. I think all of us left the party on a sugar high.

and the girl was swimming all around

Our good friends were house sitting for a family member so we were invited to go over to swim in the pool. If you know my family you know that we love to swim. So who could turn down swimming especially with good friends. The pool was great and the hot tub was even better(if you ask me). To top it off they have a very sweet and loving dog, which my girls love. We had a blast and are very grateful to our dear friends.
getting ready to eat after swimming.

My family is my life.

The other day we were out and Aubree was having so much fun playing on this tree. She was sitting there posing and singing. She was so cute I had to take her picture. Then Daddy and Hayley had to join. Can I just tell you how much I love my family. I wouldn't change a single day with them, I just wish they would pass slower.