May Recital- Alice in Wonderland

Every Year my neices- also alis best buds- have thier dance recital. Ali took ballet with them until she decided she didn't like her legs "stretched out" by someone else!! She quit ballet because it wasn't for her, but she still supports her cute cousins when they dance!!

this year they did a ballet rendition of Alice in Wonderland and they did a great job. Ali gets a little bored that there are no words during the ENTIRE show, but she brings her snacks and cheers them on!! they did great and they are getting better and better every year!!

Activity Days!!

Several Months ago I got a call from a woman in our ward inviting ali to this years Stake Activity Days activity. At first I was so confused about the call until she explained that Ali would be turning 8 and she would be allowed to go to activity days with the rest of the girls. It hit me for the very first time at how fast my daughter is growing up!! She is going to be 8!!
Memeories of me and all my friends going to activity days activities flooded my mind and I couldn't believe it was now Alis' turn to do those same things. It was a crazy feeling.
I didn't mention the activity to Ali because I knew the second I did she would say "No thanks, I don't want to go!" She isn't big on social settings involving a bunch of girls and women she doesn't know. So as time got closer I kept mentioning little things to warm her up to the idea. Her first reaction to the idea was exactly that " No thanks mom!" She doesn't do primary activities or even friends birthday parties, so I wasn't suprised.
She started playing more and more with our cute neighbor Saige and they have a great time together. As it got closer she talked a little more about it and I told her saige would be there and probably other kids in her school class. She warmed up slowly and even got Excited to go to the activity.
I was still in denial that she was old enough to go!!
AS the week of the activity came she got an invitation to go and a t-shirt and she was really ready. She loved going and had an amazing time! She was gone from 9:30 - 2 so it was like school, but she had a great time. I asked her about it and what she learned and was so glad that she has opportunities to get together with other girls and learn about her savior and her testimony and that even though she doesn't quite understand what having a testimony is, she definatly has one of her own.
The theme of the whole activity was "Fly- the sky is the limit!" and also - Become who you are meant to be! It was themed around an airport theme and the girls had passports to travel all over and they had activities to show their individual strengths and talents, and show they are all special in different ways. She learned a lot and loved it!!
Having her get baptized has been an eye opening experience as a mom to make sure she knows why we are baptized and also that she chooses to do it for herself. She is an amzing example to me of what a Christlike person is. she always wants to do good, and thinks about her savior a lot. I am so blessed to have her as one of the greatest strengths in my life!!

The "Nerd" Club

The "Nerd" Club is a self named club that Ali and a few of her class mates made up. I thought that it was so cute that they called their own club the nerd club, and that ali was in it with a bunch of other kids. Each day she would come home and tell me their latest "song/chant" that they made up just for their club. Then she would come home with some dance moves that they made up all dealing with being a member of "their club!" Then stories about other kids started coming home. Some of the stories involved kids saying mean things and some of it not very nice in the end. I was starting to wonder a little bit about what to do when Ali came home and we had this sweet little conversation.

As I was tucking Ali into bed last week she pulled me close to hug her and asked if she could talk to me about something. Of course I put on my serious listening ears because it must be serious to her. She told me that she didn't want to be a member of the nerd club anymore because she didn't like the way they were acting and treating other people. She told me though that if she quit she wouldn't have anymore friends because most are a part of the nerd club. I asked her what was the problem and she said that some of the girls whisper and say mean things about other girls and they are not nice to them and she does not like it. I asked why they did that and didn't just play and have fun and she said they just act better than everyone else and tell people that they can't play with them because they are not in the nerd club. I looked at her wondering exactly what the right thing was to say when she responded, "I already know I have to quit because it isn't nice and the way i would want to be treated, I just am really sad because then I won't have any friends left."
I held her close and told her that if she makes the right decision, which she has already decided on, then she will have more friends because then she won't be one of those girls who is mean and will be even better than the "nerd club!"
It made me realize that it is these little stepping stones and moments that help us build up who we are to become and stand for what we know is right. I can't imagine the obstacles that she will face in the third, fourth, fifth and forever, but one right choice at a time!

Ali- I am so proud of you for realizing that what you and the girls were doing was not okay and that by making people feel left out, and "whispering" and being mean are not what we are here for. You are an amazing, sweet daughter that I am so Lucky to have and learn from!! You will always be better than any Nerd in my eyes!!

Cam is officially THREE

My little buzz is officially THREE!! He was so excited this year to be three, but even more to have his own BUZZ LIGHTYEAR party. He had been talking about it for weeks. All he wanted for his birthday was a "big buzz lightyear!" So that is exactly what he got! and then a whole lot of other stuff!

 

We had a fun party with all the cousins and uncles, and Cam was a little overwhelmed at first, and then as the party progressed he had a little more fun. It is hard for these kids to have ALL the attention!
We had buzz cupcakes, and played hot buzz ball, and find the scattered army men. Cam had a lot of fun and i am so glad he has so many fun cousins to celebrate it with!

Cam is a big kid for his age, at his 3 year old checkup he is over 90% in height and weight. He weighed in at 37 lbs and the doctor was amazed at just how solid he is!

He loves.....
Pizza, not eating anything i make, TREATS, TREATS, and more TREATS. He sneaks to the treat cupboard whenever he can. He loves cars, trains and anything BUZZ lightyear or woody. He loves lint and it makes me laugh constantly at how perceptive he is to any tiny piece of lint! He makes us laugh and loves calling people random funny names like- stinky pete. He loves playing outside-anything outside! and loves movies. He still takes a 2 hour nap everyday- it is wonderful!! He loves bikes, dirt and staying up late with mom and dad! He loves Me and it makes me smile anytime he tells me I am the best mom!! I know he is mine for so many reasons and he teaches me, loves me and makes me frustrated all at the same time!!
Cam I love you so much and i could not imagine life without your tight squeezes, warm tickles and dark brown eyes!!

EASTER

I don't know what it is about dying Easter Eggs, but I love it!! I think it is the choice to be as creative as you want, or just simply add one color and see how it all turns out. This year I tried to make a ton of eggs because Ali usually can dye 12 in 12 minutes or less so I knew with Cam on board I would need A LOT. Well luckily my brother Bud and sister in law Camille came over and they brought 18 just for them- so they thought!! My kids had stolen, broke and dyed several of their eggs without blinking because they were having tons of fun being creative. Cam would just get his colored when- WHACK-- he would drop it, or smash it-- he needs a little help in that area. But overall they turned out good, and were fun to do.

The creative juices were flowing in this group!! Camille is competitive at everything even egg dying!!! Hers were the best!!

Ali did a great job making hers all unique and fun!

 

The saturday before Easter my whole family got together for a easter egg hunt. I went biking with Fro right before the hunt and was FREEZING the rest of the day- this Utah crazy weather is killing me!!
Luckily the weather turned out ok for the kids to do the hunt outside and they had a great time. They ran wild and everyone had tons of fun. After the hunt we had our 2 annual-(i am making it annual it is that fun) Easter egg FIGHT!! We gathered all the eggs togeather, I armed every kid with a ton and told all the parents we had planned something to show them. As the parents walked in the room, the kids went wild!! They were nailing everyone with easter eggs. We did this last year and it was a riot, and it was again this year. The older guys go nuts trying to give each other the biggest welt and it is hilarious. The kids think it is great that they don't get in trouble when they pelt each other in the head because that is after all the fun of it!! It was fun and it will continue again next year i am sure!!

On sunday we went to my sisters house for dinner. I ventured out and decided to make some cupcake chicks!! I was pretty excited how they turned out because I am not that culinary. Everyone thought they were so cute and fun and most of all delicious!! I may have to continue to dabble in that it was fun being creative with them. We had a great easter and I love Easter because it is just another holiday to get together with everyone and have a great time, and Yes Pappa did tie in the whole reason for Easter by showing the kids Easter videos from the church website!! Good job Pappa-- We love you!!