Happy Birthday Gavinator!

This year for Gavin’s birthday, we decided to keep things low-key and celebrate with just our little family.  He of course had his special “birthday shopping” with Grandma Carolyn, and Grandma Laurie and Pop took him for a day of being spoiled, but the rest of the celebrating was just us. 

Troy took Aliyah with him to Walmart and they shopped for just the right gifts for Gavin.  Most of what they brought back had Lightning McQueen on it, with the exception of a small fish tank that Gavin has been begging for. 

After he opened his presents Troy took him to the pet store to buy some guppies, and Gavin was in seventh heaven with his new gifts and pets. 

Happy until…. he remembered that birthdays=birthday cake.

And we had no cake.  I thought he would let it go, but over the next few days, he persistently hounded me for a birthday cake.  Sunday night I realized he just wasn’t going to let it go (what kid would??) and so I dove into the pantry and whipped up a tasty chocolate cake. 

Angie, James, and Sam came over (apparently cake isn’t any good without your favorite cousin to share it with) and Grandma Carolyn brought over some icecream she had in her freezer. 

After a week of pestering, we finally had one very messy, but very content birthday boy.  I can’t imagine loving him more than I already do, but every year I love him more.  Happy birthday my sweet boy!

Tuacahan , Grammy & Great-Grandpa Don

This October Aliyah, Gavin and I took a little trip down to St. George with Grandma Laurie to visit Great-Grandpa Don and Grammy.  We had such a good time, and it was wonderful to see Aliyah and Gavin have such a good time with the grandparents I love so much. 
The only down side of the trip was that I had just barely found out I was pregnant, and was soooo sick!  I tried to hide it for the first few days, but finally I had to tell Grandma Laurie.  She was so excited, and so mad I hadn’t told her sooner. 
We hiked Zions, hiked Snow canyon, went to a movie, ate out at a few restaurants, and most important of all, went to the Tuacahan to see The Little Mermaid.  The performance was spectacular and Grandpa got us the best seats ever with his special connections.  We were on the second row!  The backdrop was a gigantic curtain of water that they projected images onto, and throughout the show bubbles would start floating out of machines at the front of the stage.  It was truly magical. Well, for everyone except Gavin.
Halfway through the show he wanted to go home.  I asked “Don’t you like this show and all the cool stuff?” He said he did.  I asked if he didn’t want to find out what would happen to the Little Mermaid.  He said “Yeah, but, why do they got to sing about it?”  Such a boy!
At the end of our trip we were sad to go, we had such a great time. Hopefully though we will be back next October for another visit!
Aliyah was so excited for the show to start!

Gavin and Flounder

Ariel was just as beautiful in person as on the stage.

Breakfast with Grammy and Grandpa Don

The pumpkin under Gavin’s head was my favorite toy at Grammy and Grandpa’s when I was growing up.  It was my “Huggy-Pumpkin” and Gavin loved it just as much as I did!

School Days

Well, it’s official.  Aliyah has embarked on an intellectual journey that will last at least the next 16 years of her life.  Thanks to her Preschool teacher Mrs. Suzee, she is well prepared and excited to learn. 

Both of us got a little teary-eyed, but I am proud to report that neither of us cried or threw a tantrum or refused to let go of each other.  I’d say we handled it pretty well.  It helped that she had such a loving send-off, with Dad, Gavin, Grandma Laurie and Aunt Linda there to cheer her on.  Grandma Carolyn couldn’t be there, but provided the fashion for the occasion and was there in spirit. 

Because Troy is home from work all day on Fridays, I have the chance to volunteer in Aliyah’s class every week.  I love spending time with the kids and getting to see how Aliyah behaves herself for her teacher.  So far, so good.  I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things she will learn, the people she will meet, and how we will handle the good and the bad along our way.  I guess learning is a journey that, once embarked upon, never ends.

A Fairy Happy Birthday to You!

Aliyah's birthday was this last week, and let me tell you, I was so reluctant to allow my baby girl to turn 5.  Five years old means school, and school means I have to let my little princess out from under my very protective wings.  Sigh.  There's just no stopping time, is there?  Today she's turning five, tomorrow she's driving. 

So in honor of this momentous occasion, we threw a magical fairy birthday party.  As the girls came in the door, they got to choose their wings (which I had made from poster board and tissue paper), decorate their wings, put on fairy makeup, curl their hair, and get dusted in glitter from head to toe.  Aliyah’s older neighborhood friends and babysitters come over to be fairy “beauticians” for the little girls, and everyone had a great time.

After beauty hour, we went outside for the tea party.  My friend Sheila Nielson came by to read the little girls a story about fairies.  Sheila is a very talented artist and author, and pretty much an expert on all things magical.  She read the girls a story called Dear Fairies, with real miniature letters from fairies hidden throughout the book.  Aliyah loved being the special helper who got to open the letters for Sheila to read. 

After the story, we had our tea party and presents.  When all the unwrapping was finished, the girls fluttered and spun to princess music until their parents came to pick them up.  Heavenly Father sent the biggest gift of all, which was a bright pink and purple sunset in honor of our girlie party. 

Well, happy birthday little girl.  I hope your big day was magical, and that no matter how big you get, you never lose your imagination.  Love you!