31 Layouts in 31 Day

I have started a challenge with some friends. I am trying to create 31 layouts in 31 days. I’m behind a little, but thought I would share what I have done so far.

She is How Old?

Yesterday was Alex’s 4th birthday. The whole weekend was a lot of fun. My parents came up on Friday night and that is basically when the “party” started. She absolutely loves being with her grandparents.

Since her grandparents were visiting and because her birthday is on Sunday, we had a family party on Saturday night. After much deliberation, Alex settled on a butterfly cake. She changed her mind several times - after first wanting a dog, umbrella and a hot air balloon cake (all designs from a little cake book we have.) She helped make her cake and while I’m not a great cake decorator, it was perfect for a four year old girl. We also had fun with a small, but very hard to crack piñata. Thankfully there were no piñata accidents like you will sometimes see on America’s Funniest Videos. It’s amazing that she is four and we look forward to many more fun birthday’s with her.

Snow Day

Saturday morning Ryan went out to shovel the driveway and Alex just had to go too. She got ready to go outside just as Ryan was finishing up. He stayed outside with her and helped her make a snowman that she has wanted to make for a long time.



Connor was at the window screaming because he wanted to go out as well, so I got him and I bundled up and we went out.



Connor wasn’t too sure about the snow. Whenever we set him in the snow he would freeze up and start to whimper a little - it was pretty funny. He did make a snow angel with Dad’s help, but for the most part he just wanted to be outside and watch Dad and Alex play.



Here is the snowman they made with a carrot for the nose and chocolate buttons for the mouth - what a tasty snowman

I’m not sure what happened to our Christmas pictures. Hopefully this time it will work. About the story, it’s not for all to know. Next time we talk you’ll have to remember to ask me. 

Our Christmas Travels

We left Idaho the Saturday before Christmas and stopped off in Bountiful, Utah for the Blosch Christmas party (my dad’s family). The food was good and so was the entertainment. They had a microphone hooked up and some of the kids were singing Christmas songs. Alex got in line to sing and when it was her turn, she stated her name and gave a stirring rendition of “twinkle, twinkle little star” in front of 50 people. It was especially amusing, because she decided to do it all on her own without any prompting. After the party, we headed to my mom’s so Ryan could watch BYU’s bowl game. He was stressing for most of the game, but jumped around like a lunatic when they won.

Sunday was just a relaxing Sunday before all the fun started. (No comment on my most embarrassing moment that happened at church.)

On Christmas Eve we went to Orem for Ryan’s family dinner. I always look forward to his family’s Christmas Eve dinner, complete with English Christmas Poppers and party hats. After dinner, the kids acted out the Luke Chapter 2 with our oldest nephew Andrew being the donkey. Before Ryan and I got married. Ry was the donkey that Mary rode in on. After singing some songs and listening to Grandpa Stout’s poem the kids opened cousin gifts and presents from their Great Grandma Henderson from Scotland.

Once we got the kids down for the night, the fun continued. We wrapped all the presents and stuffed the stockings and put everything under the tree.

Christmas morning – Wow! The kids got everything they wanted and more. I feel like we might have gone a little overboard, but that’s the fun of Christmas right?
A quick list of the kid’s gifts
Alex
Cinderella castle with Cinderella doll and prince
Island Princess Barbie and prince with her own dress up dress and DVD
Dress up shoes
Light Sketcher
Minnie Mouse
Puppy in a carrying bag (thanks Grandma Stout)
A few other small things…
Connor
Basketball hoop
Assorted balls
Big Lego blocks
Mickey Mouse
Farm animals (thanks Grandma Jan)

All in all it was a great Christmas. We stayed in Utah until Thursday. Now that we’re home reality has hit. Where I’m I going to put all this toys? Most of them are still up in the front room in boxes. I’ll get it figured out sooner or later.

I have added a few pictures of our Christmas week starting off with the Sanford’s (Stout’s) Christmas Eve dinner and then Christmas morning.









The bottom picture is not a very good family picture, but is was the best we could do right before church. Dec.23, 2007