I'm still here....

So, add one more thing to our loooongggg list of things that have broken this year....our computer! Mike said it's the video card, so it's in for repair. Until I get it back, I am unable to function! So, I'll update my blog soon, I hope!

Late night party!

For Amanda's party, she wanted a late night! Oh help me, Rhonda...just kidding. The girls were really good and a great time was had by all! Scerena, Suzie, Lizzie, Sydney, Amanda, Susie, Maddy, Hanalee, Brinley, Bridgette, Paige

Singing Happy Birthday!

We started out making our own pizzas! The girls had a great time and made some good pizzas! Then, we decorated pillowcases....again, darling creative girls! Then, a small group wanted to doorbell ditch a boy in the neighborhood...so I told them just that one house!
We played a game with Skittles. You draw two skittles out of a bag without looking. If you get the same color, you put them in your mouth and chew. If they are a different color, you put them in your mouth and don't chew. You keep drawing until you get same color.....the record was 16 skittles (I think). Easy game, but the girls loved it and it kept them busy for awhile!

Opening presents and then a quick movie and it was time to go home! Amanda had a great time and I think the girls enjoyed it, too! Happy Birthday, Amanda!

Birthday Day for Amanda!

She's eleven years old! Unbelievable! We started the day with birthday spankin's....

Then, we went to dinner at Tepanyaki and sat at the sushi bar. We got Amanda her fill of sushi! Even Brandon was downing rolls tonight. Crazy kids....

We then made the kids go with us to a wedding reception for an old neighbor in Murray. So, by the time we got home, it was late, but we had to have some Backer's cake! Happy Birthday beautiful girl! We love you!

Party on Amanda!

It's birthday week! Monday, we had both grandparents up to celebrate Amanda's birthday! We had her choice of french dip sandwiches for dinner and a lovely homemade cake!

The Arvy grandparents gave Amanda Taylor Swift CD's and a cute shirt from Justice.

The Gibby grandparents gave Amanda a couple of books and some $$$.

Favorite game is 1, 2, 3. Grandpa Arv and Daddy each take an arm & leg and swing the kids!

Amanda is too tall to be in the 'swing'.....but Sydney & Brandon still beg for it!

Haunted FHE!

Mike is such a fun Dad! Last night, he took the girls to Nightmare on 13th haunted house! They did this last year and scared Sydney to tears! This year, she was fine and it was Amanda who was scared! She didn't cry, but she had some nightmares and came into our room in the middle of the night asking if she could sleep with the bathroom light on (the bathroom light sends a stream of light right in on Amanda).

Afterward, Mike treated them to a shake at McD's! I love that they do this! I know they made memories last night!!!! I just read on Nightmare's website that the Travel Channel named them America's scariest haunted house!! Awesome! I can't wait until Brandon is old enough and we can all go together! Happy Halloween!

Catching up with Sydney

I didn't quite get Sydney's birthday all blogged before Amanda's hit. I guess that happens when you have birthdays 2 weeks apart! Sydney got to have a special birthday party at the Lion House this year for her 8th birthday. She shared the party with her bff, Abigail Orison. It was great fun and these girls are so cute! Happy Birthday, ladies!

Having the delish Lion House sandwiches, etc.

Both girls got a chance to blow out the candles.
Lovin' the cake! We ended up getting the lucky gumball! Yea! We could really use it right now!
Cute girls getting a giggle after reading Sydney's card to Abby.

Present time!
Couple of pictures of the party girls.

Gracie, Elyse, Danielle, Brittany, Paige, Addi, Lucy, Abby and Lucy!

Last picture of the party! Sydney upset that Amanda had pinched her, still refusing to smile for the camera. Classic.

Happy Birthday Amanda!!!!

I can hardly believe that 11 years ago today, this beautiful baby was born and made us parents! I remember so many of the details of that day still. It was so amazing to have given birth to this strong, beautiful baby and have her change our lives....our very souls....so profoundly. I loved watching my sweet hubby in tears as he took our child out to introduce her to her grandparents. Amanda and her Dad still hold a special bond.


Here are some fun facts about Manda Panda:
1. Amanda loves sushi! She has always loved seafood. In fact, we are going to get sushi tonight for her birthday dinner!
2. Amanda is a great big sister. She likes to pretend that Sydney annoys her, but she is very protective of her, especially at school. Sydney told her at the beginning of the year that she could make it to the bus on her own and didn't need Amanda to pick her up anymore. With Brandon, she is so fun. She takes care of him, loves him and teases him. They love to play together.
3. Amanda loves babies! She loves playing with our 3 cute 1-year old neighbor boys.

4. Amanda loves to read! The librarian at school is Amanda's friend and keeps her in interesting books....(Grandma Gib gets her great books, too!!)

5. Amanda loves to ski! We were loving how quickly she took to it! I haven't skied with her yet, and I'm a little nervous that she'll show me up!

6. Amanda loves to go boating! She is crazy on the tube and is awesome on the wakeboard! We love to watch her have fun.

7. Amanda is EXTREMELY helpful! I don't know what we would do without her. She is very good at asking what else she can help with. She has save my sanity many a day!

8. Amanda is a great soccer player! Her coach likes to give her the corner kicks. She enjoys it so much and we love to watch her! We also love to watch her dance in her ballet performances! She is so graceful! It's wonderful to have both talents that seem so opposite of each other!

9. Amanda loves music and loves to make up dances and plays. She and her friends and Sydney have spent many afternoons in our basement 'rehearsing'

10. Amanda LOVES dogs! More particularly, her dog, Max! She babies him way more than he deserves! She plays soccer with him in the backyard and it is so much fun to watch!

11. Amanda is almost as tall as me! She has always been tall, but this summer she must have grown 3 inches! She has only about an inch to pass Grandma Gib and she can't wait to reach my height! It sure makes it hard to do her hair for her! She has to sit on a small chair!

Amanda is an amazing young lady. We love her so much! She is such an important part of our family! I don't give her enough credit for everything she does and how kind she is.

Happy Birthday sweet girl! WE LOVE YOU!!

I'm so glad they know....

Last night I was feeding the kids fish sticks for dinner (it was one of those days....don't judge), and I told Brandon I was going to save some for Dad since he wasn't home from work yet. Brandon asked me why. I told him because Dad is the best and we love him we want him to have something to eat when he got home. Brandon asked me why again...I tried to explain some more reasons by telling him that Dad makes the money to buy the fish sticks so he should get some of them.

Brandon said, "Why does he make the money?" And before I could answer, Brandon said, 'Oh, because he loves us!"

Such a simple statement from our darling 4 year old, but it made me pause and think. I am so glad that the kids know their Dad does things for them because he LOVES them!