When we're helping we're happy

Maybe I would have fewer children or there would be bigger gaps in between if my "helper girl" hadn't been born first. Grace helps me with so much, especially her siblings. I know it made a few (maybe all) of my friends nervous that Grace used to carry Bella around when she was tiny. But ever since then, she has been helping me with Bella.

Grace is quiet around most other adults so not everyone gets to see her personality. She is not only my number one helper, but she also; loves to shop; is into clothes and house stuff; has a great sense of humor; notices when I get my hair done; usually minds well; and is so kind to Bella and McCade.

McCade's gift

I was getting ready to come to work and I was looking for the laptop, I couldn't find it anywhere. Really, our house isn't that big and there are only a few spots we keep it. So the longer I look the more I am thinking, "When was the last time we used it? Could someone have taken it? Horror, gasp, (what about all my photos?)" Then we asked Grace. She says, "McCade wrapped it up for you for Christmas, it's in Nana's closet."

Good wrapping job, eh?

McCade's birthday festivities

Instead of just a birthday party, McCade had two days of fun filled festivities. (Even though at the end of his "party" he said, "This wasn't a very fun party, Mom." a knife through the heart. On his birthday we took brownies to his preschool, his choice. Then after school, his friend Luke came over and they built a sweet fort with every blanket we own and opened Luke's present. Then we had "Arizona dinner" (tostadas). Later that night Don, Tracy, Hunter, Kassy, and Emma arrived from Boise so we had cake.... The story behind the "tractor cake"... Last year at WalMart we saw this cool cake with a tractor on it. McCade has been talking about it ever since. I had this great idea to dye coconut green for grass and do Oreo dirt and a hill. But no. McCade just wanted a tractor on his cake (well actually he wanted 10 but we limited him to his two favorite.) So there it is, the tractor cake. Pretty funny don't you think? Then the next day we had eleven kids at the house at different times during the day. We did the pinata and opened presents and ate more cake. I guess we should have played "duck, duck, goose", then maybe McCade would have thought it was a fun party. A full view of the "tractor cake"

Five years old, I can't take it.

Dallin hitting the T-Rex pinata. Those kids went crazy when it broke. Talk about mob mentality.

What is it about that chocolate covered boy that is so darn cute?

Bella and the black beast

You would think that Bella, being the smallest of us all, would be the most scared of Toby. But no, she loves him. (And not just because Matt is holding on to him.) She loves to get his bones out of the drawer and take them to him.

Mighty hunter

Matt got the "draw of a lifetime". He drew one of 10 tags for area 48, a trophy deer hunt. He was so thrilled and made sure I cleared the calender for the two weeks of the hunt. Small problem, I had a girl's 24, (That is 24 hours) I was invited to. He was supportive and I did my thing, the next weekend Don came over and they brought home this fine specimen. (It took them 5 hours to drag it off the mountain.) I am grateful that Don goes with Matt on these adventures. I don't worry when they are together. I am also glad Matt is such a good shot. We have all the organic meat we can eat. He's always bringing home the bacon, one way or another.

Grace's Princess pajama party

Last year Grace didn't get to have a party because we were in Montana. But we had bought some party favors so she has been waiting a year to give those little bags away. I guess you could say this party has been planned for a year. Did you notice that McCade (in the background is in pajamas too?)

Grace LOVED opening her presents. She kept asking McCade to get her the singing Ariel doll she got for Zoe's birthday. McCade kept telling me we had to get it for her. They are always looking out for each other.

An exciting game of "duck, duck, goose" Isn't Dani cute in those jammies? (Did you notice McCade is in different jammies than he was in the other pictures?)

The party goers; Ruhvnian, Sidney, Bella, Lauren, Dani, Taylor, McCade, Grace, and Zoe.