Birthday party fun...

Brityn had her birthday party at a trampoline/jumphouse/indoor playground place. It was huge and all the kids had a ton of fun!

They had a large inflatable slide that the kids just kept going up and down. All the pictures look blurry because the kids never stopped running!

There was a jumphouse and a place to throw basketballs, footballs and soccer balls into holes.


Of course, all that running around means you need to take a water break.


This is a shot through the trampoline wall. They had balls in there and we've seen them have dodgeball games in there too.

More sliding.

And racing.

Some of the kids cooling off by the big fan. That was entertaining all by itself!

Kendyl got to invite a friend to come and play too.

Another water break.

Even Sawyer got bounced a little and loved it!

Lots of trampolines all seamed together to make one giant "court" with trampoline walls.


The kids got to jump and play for an hour and then we opened presents and had cake and icecream.

Everyone had a great time. Thanks to all the friends who came to celebrate with us! Happy Birthday Brityn!

Happy 5th Birthday Brityn!

It's hard to believe that it has been five years already since Brityn was born, and yet here she is, our beautiful, smart little girl!

She was up early to open presents because she had a primary program practice.


Brityn has always been a sweet girl. Eager to help and learn, she is a good helper and a wonderful big sister. She is always ready for a hug and likes to tell me "I love you" at precious times throughout the day. She loves school, dancing, gymnastics, tennis and swimming. She only likes animals from a distance and is terrified of dogs. She used to get hysterical if there was a fly in the room!


She is a smart student and loves going to kindergarten and for being a picky eater, has enjoyed getting hot lunch at school. Thanks for the birthday dollars Grandma and Grandpa and Tutu and Papa Jack!

She has always been our early bird and gets up early no matter what time she goes to bed. She got a princess alarm clock from Daddy so she can see what time it is before getting out of bed!


She was very excited she got a Zhu-Zhu pet, since that is pretty much the only thing she asked for.


Thanks to Grandpa Jerry for the color wonder books and markers and thanks to Aunt Kaylene for the fun soaps and games!


She had pizza for lunch after her primary program practice where they sang happy birthday to her and then she had a fun party with her friends! Happy 5th Birthday Brityn! We love you!!!!

Brityn is the Student of the Month!

Yesterday we went to the girls' elementary school for their first spirit assembly of the year. And Brityn was selected from her kindergarten class as the first student of the month!

This is the kindergarteners sitting as a class. She has loved school and has done well with all-day kindergarten. She is excited to go to school and sits right down after she gets home to do her homework page.

We spotted Kendyl standing with her class for the assembly.

They called the kindergartners last and Mr. Schrodi's class last, so Miss Brityn was the very last one called up!

She marched right up with a big smile on her face.

To get her certificate and sticker.

So happy!

We are so proud of you Brityn! You are a wonderful girl and we love you very much!

This is Brityn with her principal, Mrs. Popolo. She got to have a pizza party with the principal for lunch! I was going to go have lunch with her since her birthday is today, but I guess it will have to be another time. I did go in to help out in her class for the afternoon and bring in her birthday treats. She chose Krispy Kreme donuts with sprinkles and juice. Her teacher was very good with keeping the students attention, was organized, and very fun. I'm glad she is having a great time in kindergarten! What a fun pre-birthday day!

Labor Day fun...

We've had such a busy summer with lots of company and lots of "projects", we decided to try and relax for the long weekend. Except that everytime you try to "relax" you still find yourself busy. Steve enjoyed his Friday off and while the girls were in school, we took the boys and ran errands, did some shopping, cleaned the office and even had a lunch date! Saturday we had a barbeque and went swimming at Kim and Ryan's and had a great time. Sorry, I forgot to take the camera for that. Monday, the girls wanted to go bowling so we headed to the bowling alley.



We've been before and as much as the kids excel at bowling on Wii, real bowling is much more challenging. It then turns into a lesson on being a good sport and encouraging everyone to keep trying and learning to have fun even though you don't get a strike every turn.

Sawyer was a good sport and WAS sleeping when we walked in, but promptly woke up to watch all the excitement.

Kendyl played great! She used the bumpers and didn't use the ramp until the very end of the second game.

Way to go Kendyl!

Brityn used the bumpers and ramp and got pretty good lining up her ball and had several spares.

Nice job Brityn!

Ryder wanted every turn to be HIS turn and we had to corral him into the chairs and distract him with snacks.

He would run back to give everyone high fives after he bowled.

Steve bowled well, and beat me in the first game, which made him happy.

I beat him in the second game, which made me happy! :)

And Ryder, beat us ALL both games! What? How did the 2-year-old win both games?!?

The proof is in the score.

Sawyer update...

Our little guy is growing up so fast. Sometimes I just want to freeze time and enjoy it just a little bit longer!


He is finally sitting up all by himself without me worrying he's going to face plant or whack the back of his head. It has taken him awhile because he much prefers the freedom that laying down and rolling around gives him.

He has 2 bottom teeth in now and likes to chew on his toys, fingers and blanket.


Last month he finally acquired a taste for "puffs". It took him a few tries, but now he scoops them up and inhales them faster than I can put them on his tray!

This is his version of crawling. Scoot and roll. He'll push up with his toes to scoot himself forward and roll over and turn himself on his belly. He is very mobile and can maneuver himself around the whole room. Each of our kids had a different crawl. Kendyl crawled with one leg extended out to the side. Brityn did the army crawl. Ryder hardly crawled at all and went straight to walking. Now we have the scoot and roll, very interesting.


He loves to play with toys. This does not always go over well with Ryder who has STILL not mastered the art of sharing.


He is getting quite vocal, making lots of talking sounds and babbling. Great for development, not so great for church. We spend about half the time in the hallways.


He is a decent sleeper and I can lay him down in his crib and he will put himself to sleep. He usually catnaps in the morning while we run errands and walk to school and then he'll take a longer nap in the afternoons. Its been great to lay him down and be able to put the other kids to bed all at the same time.

Sawyer is a happy baby and loves to be cuddled, tickled and played with. He loves it when his sisters play with him and give him attention. He likes to be held and sit on my lap and let me rock him. Just don't ignore him--then he'll throw a fit!

We love our little cutie pie!