Happy Birthday to ME!

Wow, am I really 30 years old?! Seems so strange....but age is just a number, right?! As long as I don't act old and boring it doesn't matter what my number is--or at least that's what I'll keep telling myself! :)

My birthday was on a Monday, Brett got up extra early before work to make me breakfast in bed...so sweet! Monday is usually my laundry/cleaning up from the weekend day. Well I threw that right out the window! The kids and I went to this awesome splash pad in North Salt Lake. The weather was HOT, but both the kiddies are water babies, so they loved it!

 We came home for naps and baths and Brett surprised me by coming home a little early from work. YAY! I told him he didn't need to bake me a cake...i just wanted a maple bar this year :) MMMMM. Maple Bars! Emri, eyeing my frosting!

 The kids gave me beautiful flowers and cartoon balloons :) (Dad is good at making everyone happy!)

 That night we met up with my parents and Kade's family at the Cheesecake Factory @ the new City Creek Center for dinner. Kade's birthday is 2 weeks before mine, so we did our celebratory dinner together.

 Just outside the restaurant is the Disney Store...Papa can't say no!! What the...it's MY birthday and the kids all walked away with a present of their picking?! HAHA! Too bad I couldn't talk Emri into the $150 Rapunzel wedding dress-up dress :)

 Our fam...first time at City Creek. Definitely want to go back soon and wander the shops!

 Dad/Mom and Kade's fam...oh, and Emri who couldn't be left out!

Brett asked a while back if I had any present ideas....I told him NONE because our trip to Vegas was for both our bdays. Then about a week before my bday he asked again. I jokingly said, yeah....I want to  go to Southern Cali and see my bff Katie. Well, my bday card from Brett said "have fun in Cali!" Yep, I'm spoiled (and luckily my brothers have cheap flight hook-ups for their favorite sis)! I CANNOT WAIT TO HAVE A RELAXING WEEKEND WITH MY FRIEND I HARDLY EVER SEE ANYMORE!! Sleep in? Eat out? Lay on the beach? Girl chat? YES PLEASE!! September can't get here soon enough! Maybe I still do like this birthday stuff....

Happy Birthday America!

 The annual Anderton extended family sleepover is always packed with fun and activities for all ages! 

The toddlers are left on their own to operated motorized vehicles...

 Kids (big and small) swim with sharks...

...and life-size turtles.

Although the firework ban is in full effect for our overly dry state...the rebels in us busted out some sparklers for a wild time.

 Kids are allowed to cruise, un-seatbelted, behind their 85yr old great-grandma's sweet ride!

 The Pirates showed up to host a game of BINGO....

 ...and we all had to don some pirate apparel to be able to play!

 Even the babies dress up!

 We did silly things like pick up cotton balls with our vaselined noses....

 ....stacked cookies on our foreheads....

We  ate....ate....ate...and ate some more!

 Some participated in the Henefer 5k race the morning of the 4th, where several of the "pure bred" Andertons all took 1st place medals in their age groups.

 ...And for the "non pure bred" Andertons...well, they feel bad for our, slow running and ended up drawing my name for the big raffle prize instead!!  Hello....I'LL TAKE IT!!!

 The runners :) In all, it was a WILD, couple of days! Thanks to my wonderful in-laws for their hospitality and hosting SO MANY PEOPLE!!

****************

For the afternoon of the 4th we ventured south to my parents house for some more swim time...

 Teasing Papa (he's usually egging her on)!

 Dunking big kids in the pool (if you can catch them), a fun game of volleyball (which i was playing in so there are no pics),

And watching the whole valley's display of fireworks that night, right from Momma Max and Papa's deck!

 And of course...it's not a trip to Papa's without sitting on some kind of big kid toy before we leave!

Syracuse Heritage Days Parade

Brett is working 2 days a week at an office in Syracuse. I don't think being in a parade is really up his alley, but when Emri was invited to come along I don't think he could resist!

 The office handed out these bead necklaces (a total hit--especially with Jet) and tootsie rolls. We dropped Brett and E off to their staging area, then Jet and I found a spot to watch on the route.

 Probably the most exciting part of the parade was at the very beginning when the firetrucks drive past, blaring their sirens...All of a sudden the sirens stopped, firemen jumped out, unloaded all the people off the top of the firetruck and sped off to an emergency.

 Jet was thoroughly entertained....

 ...and I must have been too!! I almost missed Brett's office "float" going by! Emri was up front with one of the office girls holding a fishing pole and tossing (read: eating) tootsies. By the time I got her attention and pulled my camera out, they were too far past to see her! Bummer! But, here's Dr. Brett lookin' good as ever!

On our way home Emri told us her "tummy ache hurts!" Yep, she definitely ate too many treats!

She asked for it...

...when she said "Jet, let's wrestle!"

Now she's rethinking her decision! He's a ham. Period.

She's got moves....

Emri has always loved music....she's always bustin out sweet moves too! ha!

Did you like how she stopped to pick/eat the food stuck in her teeth?! What a wacko!

Don't worry... we didn't use this frosting on the cookies we brought to your house :)

Somewhat Spontaneous...

While chatting with my cousin on her birthday I decided it was time to head north...so I called my mom and we planned this spontaneous trip to Idaho for a weekend visit.  Here are the top 10 Highlights of our weekend with family.

#10:

Visiting the cemetery in Ashton where my grandparents are buried. This was Jet's first time there. Emri had a potty emergency while we were there. No bathrooms in sight. She got to "go" in the field next door. She was pretty excited she got to "potty like a dog!"

#9:

Cooling off at "Rexburg Rapids"

#8:

Being in the "country." I think I'm still trying to figure out if I'm a city girl or country girl. This picture is heavenly! And that airplane up there....that's my uncle :) I also enjoyed a morning jog on the country roads....it was Friday morning, not too early and I think only 5 cars passed me in the 40 minutes I was gone.

#7: 

NOT getting a speeding ticket from the Idaho Highway Patrolman that pulled me over. Thank you officer (no photo available)!

#6:

Chillin' @ Uncle Kent and Aunt Lynnette's house! Jet warmed up to Chester ("World's Greatest Dog") which was a big deal for him....

...and the kids made themselves right at home (not that we run around naked around here or anything)!

#5:

SLEEPING BABIES! Emri NEVER sleeps in past 6:45. While we were in Idaho she wore herself out and each morning didn't wake up till 8 am! NICE!

#4:

No trip to Idaho is complete without a stop at "the Drug Store" for a milkshake. The new owners remodeled everything, but kept the old bar and barstools the same. My mind FLOODS with childhood memories when we walk through those doors. We even went right before dinner...in true grandpa fashion. It didn't matter what the clock said...it was always time for a milkshake :)

#3:Swimming, swimming, and more swimming! Uncle Kent and Kreed impressed us (and soaked us) with their tricks from the trampoline into the pool.

#2:

Kelti scheduled the "big girls" appointments for a spa day! Hallelujah! 3+ hours of pampering! I had a manicure, pedicure and scalp massage!

#1:

Probably our best highlight of the trip was when Uncle Kent said it was time to go flying!!  It's been a long time since I've been in that plane! We got a great view of the Rexburg Temple, the Grand Tetons, and the he flew us over Grandpa/Grandma's house (the middle right pic). So beautiful! Another flood of memories....lots of time spent at the house and the Snake River growing up! Emri was in HEAVEN---and I loved seeing that smile on her face!!!! She thought it was so cool that we had to walk on the airplane wing to get in! Also, he did a "tummy tickle," where the nose of the plane drops, then goes back up. Emri got the biggest kick out of it and asked to do it 3 more times! I had to tell him 4 was plenty...I started to feel like i was going to vomit!! haha!

Thanks family for your hospitality and letting us come play! Can't wait to see you in Bear Lake next week!!!