My IN-LAWS...

Are pretty much the best there ever was. That really sums it up. And not just the Mother/Father ones.....

I've said it before and I'll say it again...After growing up with only brothers (and let me reiterate-- MY brothers--whom I love!) I think I deserve to end up with seven sisters that are ALL SO SO AMAZING!! Mindy was in town so we got together for a mommy playdate at Tiff's...and the kids tagged along too :) I'm bad at bringing my camera with me these days, so my pics are courtesy of Mindy's blog! Thanks!

The girls (minus Jaimilyn)...and a few little rascals that snuck in too!

All the couples went to dinner and to the Bountiful Temple to do sealings for Sharon's birthday (minus Michelle and Jared who's kids were sick). It was a wonderful night and so nice to be all together without 25 kids running wild!

Thanks to Momma Max for taking our kiddos so we could have a date night!

Always appreciated!

Greenie Day + Baby Shower

The week of Greenie Day Emri and I made a rainbow with Fruit Loops....

and that's about as crafty as it got!

Our Greenie Day this year was pretty busy....but not all with mischief and green food!

Though, there was plenty of mischief (even without Leprechauns visiting)!Brett's cute cousin Katie is having a baby in a few weeks....and her shower was on St. Patrick's Day. The theme was "Little Man" and her sister made these adorable and yummy mustache suckers!I made a diaper cake to help with the decorations. It's always nice to knock out a gift and decoration all in one shot!We had a delicious build your own "Bleu Cheese Crumble Salad" bar, aunt Kim's amazing orange rolls, and aunt Kim and her daughter Jordan did this Italian Soda Bar. It was the cutest, funnest, yummiest shower idea yet! I'm pretty sure over the course of a few hours I had at least 3 (ahem, 4 or 5) sodas! haha! The flavors were just all so fun I couldn't help myself! This pic was after the cute setup had been used and abused....they also had these darling soda glasses to add to the fun! After the shower we also had our first RAGNAR meeting. Yes, you heard me right. Pick your jaw up off the floor. I will post about this later! During our meeting the kiddos ran wild outside, flying kites and playing in the sand and on the playground at Gma/Gpa Andertons. I'm soooo loving these occasionally warm days and can't wait till they're here for good! Cute little GREEN hug with E, Mac (Sawyer is in there too....you can see his shoes) and Gpa!We had the traditional "Greenie Day Dinner," just the next day since Saturday was a bit busy! Sadly, I took zero pics of it!

Jet @ 13 Months

Happy Greenie Day....and 13 months to this big boy!

We've had a few nice days recently which have allowed for us to venture out on a couple bike rides. Ignore the "too cool" face, he really enjoyed himself in the trailer!

The boy is a tease....he's relaxing on Emri's favorite blanket that she doesn't like to share (while he stares at her in the distance), enjoying his time there till she realizes what's actually happening!
tubby time (pre-hair cut, obviously)
One day he'll hate me for this pic, but as soon as I put him down from dinner, he cruises up the stairs and stands here till I get the bath ready!
Costco trip....the only place Emri will sit in the cart because she knows there's food :)

knee deep in laundry....must have been a monday!

At 13 Months, Jet:

• loves being in his new (to him) carseat
• got his haircut for the first time this past week....looks pretty spiffy!
• Is no longer attached to momma! I finished nursing him this week---a bittersweet moment for me, but he's done great without me so I think we were both ready :)
• can successfully turn himself around to go down the stairs, which has been nice for both kids to go up and down as they please to play without me having to undo the "gate" (read: card table--ghetto) everytime someone wants to go down.
• is also playing more on his own and with Emri, though there are still many times when he can't leave my side.
• can stand alone for a few seconds at a time...isn't too brave to take steps yet.
• is getting a bit more relaxed around "strangers" (read: people other than Mom, Dad, E and Grandmas).
• GRINDS his 4 little teeth ALL THE TIME. Sends chills through my body!
• has been a much happier boy the past month....it's nice to see so many smiles!
• On good days he takes 2 naps/day and sleeps 11.5-12 hours at night (though with the colds he's had there have been many interrupted nights. Makes us more grateful for the healthy days :)
• He's on the go....now that I'm in Primary, Brett gets the job of roaming the church halls with him for 2 hours since he won't sit still in class!
• No new teeth this month, but looks like several are getting close!

got the hairs cut...

I felt like Jet was starting to look a bit Geroge Washington-ish, so I took the plunge and got his hair cut. It was SO HARD to trim off those baby curls. Maybe because I felt like that was the one thing left to keep him a "baby" (I cut him off--nursing--the night before).

Our next door neighbor has a salon at her house, so it was convenient. Jet was content to let her do anything as long as he had his sucker!

What a handsome little man! Brett was mad I got it cut, which in turn made me feel bad I got it cut :( I guess it will grow back.

It is pretty cute....it's starting to grow on me (not literally, yet).

Emri also got a trim that day....just a little one though. This was the only pic I snapped of her....in my mind, the best part of getting your hair done.

the End Cap of the Birthdays

We had planned a special birthday party for this sweet 3 year old....with lots of friends, and as luck would have it she came down with croupe the DAY BEFORE the party. Ugh. I was the bad guy that had to call all the parents and postpone the party (that made for lots of sad kids). Luckily Emri doesn't really know what "tomorrow" means...other than sometime in the future, so she wasn't too broken hearted when the party didn't happen as planned.

Grandma and Grandpa Anderton came by to bring presents and were going to take her for a pancake dinner, but that was also postponed :( She got so many fun new things to make art projects with. She loves using them at her new Dora table!

Jet was just happy to chill on "Moosey" instead of opening his present.

We put off the party for a week....and did a lot of this to pass the sick days by. One night from about 3-430am Brett and I took turns with her outside in the cold, then in a steamy bathroom to help her breathe and get rid of that awful bark cough :( She knows the routine now, since unfortulately this isn't her first go-round of croupe...or even the second...or third.

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FINALLY it was time to party! So, I ask....

Q: What do you do to entertain 13 kids between the ages of 2 & 4 at at birthday party?

A: You pay someone else to entertain them! ha!

We had the party at TumbleKats...a tumbling/dance studio. I thought it might be a fun place to get lots of wiggles out, and it was! The coaches had the kids do all sorts of flips, trick, and dance moves.

I meant to get a pic with all 13 kiddos in it, but forgot. Probably would have been impossible anyway, right?!

I think E like the trampoline the best!

A little "freeze dance"...

parachute games....

presents (she was a bit overwhelmed and so excited at the same time)!

pizza....

Her cake...(I will pay someone else to frost it next year, ha)!

I think she started to wonder if this "party" would ever really happen....and I was so ready to be done with this 3 week birthday business!

It was a great turn out! Tho....she might not have another party till she's 12 :)---either that or we will start celebrating her 1/2 birthday so we can play OUTSIDE when it's warm! Thanks to everyone who came....and set aside TWO Saturdays for E!

Emri's 3 year old "20 Questions"

Saw this cute idea on Pinterest....thought it would be fun to do each year! So, without help....these are the answers straight from Emri's mouth! :)

1. What is your favorite color? pink
2. What is your favorite toy? baby and stroller
3. What is your favorite fruit? blueberries
4. What is your favorite tv show? Word World
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? hot dog and cheesestick
6. What is your favorite outfit? jammies
7. What is your favorite game? play hide and seek
8. What is your favorite snack? fruit snacks and pretzels
9. What is your favorite animal? moose (since they got the huge stuffed one)
10. What is your favorite song? Twinkle, Twinkle
11. What is your favorite book? "the animal push one"....the plush animals make noises
12. Who is your best friend? Tabitha
13. What is your favorite cereal? "Momma's cereal"--Honey Bunches of Oats
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play bubbles
15. What is your favorite drink? lemonaide
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? "bear and don't forget my blanky (princess)"
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? "crackers and dip" (graham crackers dipped in milk
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? spaghetti---(although, we had this last week and she barely touched it...I made something else and brett was so bugged with me that i didn't make her spaghetti. :/ )
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a dentist