A childs Prayer

To Ali-
Ali last week I was out talking to one of our neighbors for quite some time. I was gone talking with her for over 2 hours. By that time you saw that it had gotten dark and you knew I was on my bike. You were so concerned for me. When I got home it was the greatest feeling to have you embrace me and pull me to the corner and have you whisper the greatest thing in my ear. You told me that while I was gone you were worried about me and wanted to come look for me. Dad told you it would be okay and that I would get home saftely. You were still not convinced and if it wasn't so dark you would have come to find me yourself. So since Dad wouldn't let you go, you did the first thing that came to your mind.
All by yourself you went into your room and you kneeled down in the middle of your room and said a prayer. You prayed that I would be okay and come home saftely. Right after your prayer you told me you went to the window and looked out hopeing to see me. After you didn't see me coming you knelt down and prayed a little harder that I would come home saftely.
Ali I love you so much and you give me so much love and strength to be the mom I know Heavenly Father wants me to be. You really make my job easy and tons of fun. Thanks for always worrying about me and having a sweet testimony of the gospel. Your testimony strenghthens me everyday. thanks for your sweetness and love.
Love MOM

Ali is 7

Ali is officially SEVEN!! It is so crazy having a seven year old. Every year I can't imagine her getting any older, and of course she does. It amazes me how much she changes every year and how smart she gets every day. She is my best bud and I love her so much. She always knows exactly how to make me feel good, and how to make me smile on the spot. I love her so much.
For her birthday this year she wanted a TENNIS party. I had a few other things going on so we decided the easiest thing to do was celebrate her party on Saturday when all of her cousins and aunts and uncles would be here. So Thursday night when I was still getting over my food poisoning Fro took Ali and Cam to see Toy story 3 (which they loved) and then on her actual birthday I kicked off her big day by decorating her room before she woke up and had her one breakfast request - a glazed donut- with a candle waiting for her!!

After opening a few presents we had planned to go swimming with a few of her favorite cousins. We headed over to the AF pool and had some swimming fun. Since she has officially learned to swim it has been a lot funner for her.

On Saturday we headed to Park City. We told Ali she could choose something she wanted to do and the first thing she said was "Ride the Alpine Coaster!"
We went up last year with her and she loved it so much. This year we were really hoping Cam could go too, and luckily he could!!

We went on the Alpine Slide first so that the Coaster was that much funner and after the first run both Ali and Cam said "AGAIN". It was a lot of fun, and I don't know who loved it more Ali or Cam. He kept saying Faster, Faster!!


After the Alpine slide and Coaster we went and did a little birthday shopping. We told Ali she could choose a few outfits for her birthday and it was so fun to watch her walk around and figure out "her style". She loves choosing things to go together, and it is fun to see what she thinks goes together!!

After Park City we headed home to decorat for our TENNIS PARTY!!
We themed everything yellow and green with balls, raquets and even a tennis ball cake made by me!! I don't know that I will ever do that again, I am not very good at them!!

We even had some Tennis ball cupcakes!! they were pretty delicious!!


Every year I make the kids a video of them over the last year, and it has become one thing they both look forward to. Ali loves watching all that she did the last year and it is fun to see all the fun the all have together. I get so sad making it because it just reminds me how fast time flys, but I love seeing how much they grow and change and are just so dang cute!!

this year Ali was thinking of what game she would want to play and came up with the idea that she wanted people to run around with cones on their heads and kids could try and hit them off their heads with tennis balls. I laughed so hard at the idea, but laughed even harder watching her uncles (good sports!) running around with cones on their heads getting pelted by a bizzillion balls. It was hysterical!!

We then had a few uncles kneel down and the kids took turns trying to knock off the cones- again Hylarious-- the poor guys got hit at all angles- it was a lot of fun!!

Ali took cover under a box at one point and it was so funny!

We let Ali blow out her Tennis Ball cake and everyone enjoyed some cake and cupcakes!

I am pretty sure that Cam enjoyed them the most. I couldn't find him for some time then I finally looked outside and he was eating any and all cupcakes that didn't get eaten. He also was shoveling it in his mouth with the tennis racket decoration. He is so funny.


Then came the presents. Ali gets so excited about the presents, and what kid doesn't. But in church one week they told of a story of a kid who didn't say thank you or appreciate things that were given to him and Ali was really worried about making sure she said thank you. It was cute to watch her stop after every present and give that person a hug or a huge thank you. she is such a good kid!!


We had a busy weekend and celebrated for THREE days, but it was so fun and Ali deserves the best. She is the greatest daughter anyone could ask for. She has been such a great blessing to me in so many ways and I love her so much. Ali you are my bestest bud and I thank Heavenly Father for you EVERYDAY!!

The Cool Tooth

It finally happened- Ali lost her "cool" tooth!! What made it so cool- well she got the nickname the "cool" tooth from her dentist when he saw it for the first time. Her top tooth was a fused tooth with another tooth. she had one extra tooth on top that was hooked to her front tooth. No one really noticed but the dentist thought it was one of the coolest teeth he ever saw and made a point to point it out to everyone when she went in for her cleanings.
Last week we were playing and she kept showing me how loose it was and finally I told her we just needed to yank out her "cool" tooth. As I looked closer I realized that her big tooth under it was already coming in. It was time!! So with a couple twists and yanks- it came right out!! she immediately started crying and I apologized if it her her and she said, "they are happy tears!" She was so happy, but so sad and said, "will I still be Cool?" It was so cute to see that she was worried about still being cool!! I Love her!!

Later that night I got really bad food poisoning and was puking and not doing well at all. As the night progressed and I progressively got worse and worse i told fro that the tooth fairy would be coming!!! He looked at me and said, "WHAT DOES THAT MEAN??" I explained that she would be waiting all night and that the tooth fairy needed to bring LOTS of money because it was he Cool tooth that she lost. He then asked how much the fairy would bring since it was a big deal and I told him whatever I had in my wallet. I then told him that the fairy brings fairy dust also. I then had to explain where that was and what he did with it.
As the it got later and later and I got up to throw up I kept asking if the fairy had come yet. He replied that the fairy almost woke her up and hadn't yet. Then again later I asked again and still nothing- I reminded him that she will be checking under her pillow all night and it is a BIG DEAL TO a little girl!! finally at almost 6:00 am he left and came right back. As i said thanks i felt this little tap on my arm. I looked over to see Alis' bright smiling face looking at me. She was so excited that the tooth fairy finally came. she showed me some rolled up money and told me she even felt the fairy slide its arm under her pillow.
Knowing she came in within seconds of Fro I asked if she saw the fairy, and she smiled and said she didn't want to scare "HIM" away so she didn't look!! I asked if the fairy left any dust and she said not this time. I looked at Fro sleeping on his pillow and said "the fairy didn't leave any dust!" immediately he said, "ali let me see that money- OH LOOK WHAT I FOUND in the money- FAIRY DUST!" It was so funny!! Ali kept smiling and I asked her what she was smiling about, and she said "I think you or dad are the tooth fairy." My only response was "I have been in here puking all night, it definately isn't me!"

Keeping Busy

Summer always brings out the creative side of kids and I love watching what kids come up with to keep busy!!

A few of the cousins were over and I came down stairs to find all of them hanging out in our armoire playing. they had filled it up like a house and were pretending to live in it. It was pretty funny. ali decided it is one of her favorite hang out spots in the house!!

One thing that became really popular on our street was street bike races. It started out when Ali and our neighbor Kelton wanted to race. well they started racing up and down the street. As kids watched, more and more joined in. At any given race we had up to 10-12 riders racing as fast as they could down our street. It became a little scary. I had to park at the other end to make sure they wouldn't fly into on coming traffic. Ali loved it because she was usually the only girl and beat most all of the boys. It was so cute. We had to limit the races when one kid couln't stop while riding Fros bike and rammed into another kid. Then one boy kept flying and ran into our neighbors garage door- we decided to make summer last longer for everyone, and now we all just ride for fun!!

notice Cam trying to ride in the front- he was always an obstacle the kids had to manuever saftely around!!

Our ANNUAL Slip N' Slide

This has become ONe of my favorite traditions- it is our 4th of July Slip N' slide!! We have done it for the last 3 years and it has been so much fun for the whole family. My dad gets 2 huge plastic billboard signs that we slide down and have such a fun time doing it.

This year was Heather and Jon and Kates first time doing it, and kate was a little nervous at first but after 1 run she was a big fan. My 3 year old niece Christian would get to the bottom and run to the top then fly down again, and again- it was so fun to watch all the kids have so much fun.

My family taking a little break to warm up!! Cam didn't love it at first but after the first run he smiled but on the second run, all it took was my sister Heather spraying him right in the face,and he was out for the rest of the day!! thanks Heath!!

It is always a ton of fun and we always look forward to the next year~~

"Pooh Blanket"

At my family baby shower my sister in law Jen gave me a blanket she had made. I didn't know at the time,but it would become Alis' favorite blanket. She has slept, traveled, thrown up, slobbered, you name it and this blanket has been by Alis' side for the last (almost) seven years. Ali from day one had a connection with what we know call her "Pooh" blanket. When it was first made it was bright pink and had a very subtle winnie the pooh figure in the fabric, now, you barely can tell it is pink, all the cotton has lost it's fluffyness and there pretty much isn't a spot that resembles winnie the pooh. Ali has loved it X a million. The best part about this blanket is my sister in law also made a matching one for my neice who was born 5 days later, so they both have this special blanket which has become both of their favorites.



One day last week Ali walked up to me and said, "Mom am I getting to be to old to have a Pooh blanket?" (her birthday is in a week, so i figured she has been thinking about turning 7). I told her that even grown ups have things that are thier favorites, and keep them as long as they want. I told her it didn't matter if she was 7 or 77 if she has something she loves than she can keep it as long as she wants. She looked a little torn- and said, "well I just think I might be getting to old for it." as she said that her eyes filled up with tears. She started crying and I told her there isn't a reason to cry because no one was making her give it up. She continued to cry some more and I asked if someone told her she was getting to old. " No one had" she just felt like she is a lot older and needed to make a big girl decision. (I had no idea, turning 7 makes you so mature!!)
After we talked for a little bit, she left the room. I wanted her to make her own decision, but as she was crying my heart was also feeling really sad because this was a part of her that I didn't know if I was ready to be done with. Something about it just makes me still feel like she is my little Ali. I didn't want to persuade her either way though and so i didn't say anything more. After some time she came back in and asked if I had a box. I played dumb and asked what it was for, and she said, "It's just time!" so i went to the basement and found a file box an handed it to her.
The next thing I knew she was in her room poking holes into the box and writing on a paper. As i got closer I looked at the note it read....
Good by forever Winay a Powe, (heart, heart) good by

and she left her favorite teddy bear and picture of her in the box. She then sealed it up with tape and wrote on the top..
I'm nover going to see you again. I love you.

It was the saddest thing in the world. I asked her if she was sure, and she just sadly nodded her head. I asked where she wanted it and she wanted it packed away in the top of the closet. Since I am pretty short, I told her I would as soon as I got a chair. I had forgotten about it as the day progressed, and was busy with other things. As it got later, and later I looked over and saw Ali looking at the box. I smiled at her and she then said, " I guess I don't have to get rid of it today!!" then she pulled it out and went to sleep.

It was so sad to imagine what one little blanket has meant to not only her, but me as her mom. THere have been many nights when she just couldn't function or go to sleep unless she had that "pooh" blanket. I don't know what made her think she was to old, but it was cute to watch her emotions try to figure out what she should do. I love Ali so much and no matter what the situation is she always tries to make the best decisions, and I love her for that!!

This is a picture of her blanket now, vs, the original fabric. It is pretty funny how much she has loved it to pieces!!

More Photobooth

 

these are all my nieces and nephews who also had their pictures done and they all turned out so cute. I wanted to post them also, they are so cute!!

Photo Booth

 

My best friend lindsay did it again. I called her at the last minute to help me do a photo shoot with all my nieces and nephews for my mom for her birthday. Of course she fit us in the next day and made it fun for everyone. Well almost everyone!! You can't tell from Cams pictures but he was crying almost the entire time, and she managed to capture almost all of his expressions in the 30 seconds he wasn't crying! She is AMAZING!! THanks Lindsay they are awesome as always and your the BEST!!!

Hoagle ZOO

I have officially learned the trick to Hoagle ZOO!! and for all my friends I will share it with you. Go to the zoo at 4:30!! It is as simple as that!! The park stops admitting people at 5 so honestly it is cooler and there are not very many people there. It was wonderful!! We pretty much had all the animals to ourselves. And the train was almost all ours!!!

Since they stop letting people in at 5 they continue to leave the park open until 6:30, so we had plenty of time to see all the animals and enjoy the less chaos that usually is associated with the crazy zoo!

Cam hadn't been to the zoo yet since he was a tiny baby and he loved it all. He was so excited about everything from the new baby elephant "ZURI" to completely empty cages that he was determined to see something exciting!




the funnest part of the whole thing was we got the entire zoo to us and our cousins. We had almost the whole family there and it was fun being with everyone!!