Birthday Extravganza

THEN:


and NOW:

Oh, man! We've had quite the week around these parts-- TWO birthdays, 90 degree weather, and a camping trip! So let's start at the beginning:
Our sweet Zachary turned 1 on Tuesday, April 6th. What a WELCOME addition to our family he has been! He has brought SO much joy and happiness into our lives, he's his sister's best friend, he has the cutest and quirkiest personality, and he is a terrific cuddler.

He was a little awed when he woke up to a pile of presents, but quickly warmed up to things once Lucy began trying to take over his new loot. His favorite toys are cars, hands down. He LOVES Lightning McQueen already, which is kind of funny since he's so little, but we swear he tries to say, "Ka-Chow!" like Lightning.

The Happy Birthday boy playing on his new fire truck!!



What else could I attempt to make but a Dump Truck cake for his birthday? But this is not just any cake-- this cake has a story: I bathed both kids in a rush but then decided I'd better get started on his cake. I didn't diaper and dress Zach right away because I figured he could air out a little bit (plus let's face it, he loves to be naked!), and in order to distract him while I was busy in the kitchen I gave him an Oreo cookie. A few minutes later he came in crying with goo all over his hands, and I was like, "What did he do to his cookie?!?" Yea. It wasn't cookie. It was POOP smeared EVERYWHERE!! I couldn't believe it!! He'd pooped and then preceded to play in it and walk through it etc. It was horrifying. I think I would have put him up for adoption had it not been his birthday.:)


So, cake finished, poop cleaned up, we decided to get Happy Meals and take Zach to his new favorite place-- the park! After the park we took him to visit his next favorite place, which is the pet store where he likes to look at the puppies behind the glass.

That evening we decided to have a little party with a couple of Zach's buddies. He LOVES other kids and being right in the thick of the action. He's started to do this really loud kind of fake laugh when the other big kids laugh, to show he gets "the joke" too.:)


No hesitation!! He dived right into his cake and ice cream and was covered in blue frosting in no time! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZACHY!!

The very next day was Jon's 28th birthday-- so we got to celebrate all day again. We had a special breakfast, got lunch at Olive Garden, and then Jon got to go see "Clash of the Titans" with some friends. But the topper was that the next day he got to go on a Daddy-Daughter camp-out with Lucy. So fun!



He said that Lucy was very paranoid about the campfire smoke getting into her eyes, so in every picture she has her hands up to block her eyes.:)

They had great weather all day and then it rained a little bit at night. I think she looks a little worse for the wear after a night rolling around in a sleeping bag, but she LOVED her camping trip and dubbed herself Jon's "camping buddy" (she said that many times). HAPPY BIRTHDAY JONATHAN!!

Happy Easter!

We enjoyed a BEAUTIFUL Easter weekend, which was such a refreshing change from the rain and sleet we've had to endure on previous Easters. We celebrated in all kinds of ways, including a few Easter egg hunts, dying Easter eggs, as well as the arrival of the Easter Bunny! Easter has always been one of my favorite holidays, and it was even better to get to celebrate over Conference weekend too. Despite the candy that was somehow finding its way into my children's bellies all weekend long, I hope we helped them remember why Easter really is so special.

Our little Spring Chicken toddling around at the Easter egg hunt.

Lucy ready with her bucket!! The anticipation was killing her!

Daddy helped Zach find the tricky eggs that were hidden too high for the other kids. Imagine his jubilation when he discovered there was candy in them!!

Mmmmmmm. Enjoying the spoils of victory!!

Lucy got her Tiana doll (from Princess and the Frog) from the Easter bunny and played with her all morning before Conference started.

Zachy with his chipmunk cheeks FULL of chocolate!! He got 4 Reeses peanut butter cups crammed in there before I could stop him-- foil and all.

And here's "Trouble" fast asleep. He's turning 1 tomorrow, so check back soon for his birthday extravaganza!!