Count-down

So many of you know that we have been planning a trip to Disneyland with my family for a long time now...it has been hard not to count down first the months, then the weeks, and now the days, but I think it is finally time to start an official count-down. My Mom flies into town in one week!! I can't wait, I know that I just saw her in June, but it has been two years since she came to me, and that was when Ben was born and we didn't get to do much playing...not so this time! My sister Dot and her husband Jonathan are coming in the next evening. We should have a semi-ordinary Sunday, and then we will leave early Monday morning! James is so excited, and to be honest I think we all are. One more week. I keep saying that to myself over and over as if that will make the time go by any quicker...I think it actually makes it go by slower. But, never the less, all the festivities start in 7 days! I can't wait to see all of you...and for those of you I don't get to see- Yes, Cassy and your wonderful family, I'm talking about you- if there were anyway I could make it happen, you know I totally would! But don't you worry I will plan a totally awesome vacation for us to take together too! Love you all!

Birthday Bash!

The event we were waiting and preparing for over the last month and a half finally arrived- James had his Superhero Birthday Party. We had 8 friends come, some from our new ward, some from our old ward, and some from school. It was so much fun. James specifically asked for a Birthday sign so we made that one together and put it up on the garage door to help our friends know they had the right place. Once they came in, they all got to pick a cape and put on a mask. Then we got to work finding all the "bad-guys" in the Villain Hide-Out (a balloon jungle, and the villains were hiding in some of the balloons). We had the kids pop the balloons- some loved the activity, and othesr thought it was too loud and decided to opt out. Then we decorated paper bags for our "superhero kits" or party bags to put their masks, capes, party horns and the candy from the pinata we hit later on. Then we played pin the mask on the superhero, and catch the bad-guy (hot potato with handcuffs, and I was the bad guy they got to catch). We had cupcakes and other "super food" fruits and veggies to help make us super strong! Then after food and presents we hit the pinata. When I first made the pinata I was worried that it wouldn't stay together...but after it was all dry and everything, we couldn't break it open. Each child got to hit the pinata once with a blindfold and once without it. After every child got to go twice I just ripped the stubborn thing open and emptied out the candy. The parents arrived as we were taking our second round of swings at the pinata. It was so much fun, but I was glad we had planned for only an hour and a half. 10 kids that age can be a hand full to keep busy and happy.
I had Sean put an empty memory card in the camera in anticipation of the party. It turns out that managing that many kids takes too much attention and we didn't get any pictures of the kids...so sad!!! But here are the pre-party photos!

Thanks to all that came, it was so much fun to have all our friends come and join us!

My hero!

This last weekend was General conference, which means I had a lot of down time, as I listened to the talks. So this is what I let my hands do while I listened- and Conference was wonderful! James has been asking for a Halloween costume for a while now and has flip floped between power rangers, captain hook, and Batman. Well, he finally decided on Batman, but since he has been so unreliable about what he wants to be I decided I didn't want to spend any money on a costume just yet, so I used the extra fabric I had laying around and made this for him. The cape has the batman emblem on the back. I figured I could dress him in all black with the belt, cape and mask and the costume is close enough that he everyone should be able to tell who he is, and he is content with it! He hasn't taken it off (except when we made him for bath and bed time) since I finished it yesterday. It is pretty cute to have such an adorable superhero!

...and coming soon are pictures from his Birthday party scheduled Saturday with what theme do you ask? Superheros of course!