New Years Noon

I skipped a Christmas post. It was chaos. Rich was sick. It kinda turned into a one man show and paparazzi was not on the list of important playas. It was wonderful. My parents came to visit. We played with family. Everyone got awesome toys...and a hampster {I know. They poop.}.  I'm glad we are on the short side of getting back to a routine.

But today we went to A New Noon Years Eve Party at the Riverwoods. It was sponsored by Radio Disney and was lots of fun.

{Mr G's got several points and giggles while we were running other errands. }

 The kids danced, ate pink cookies, received balloons animals, shot arrows at stuffed animals, got their face painted and...since we were so close... had some Ike's aka BLUE BELL.

There was even a balloon drop at noon so the new year has been celebrated early!! We had to run other errands at the other mall, so played at the tree house there for two more hours. I am worn out. They are not. I really hope they are ok ringing in the New Year with the east coast. I don't think I've got any later in me.

What have you been up to?

 Umm. I can't remember.

THANKFULLY I have a phone. Otherwise it'd be more of a blur than it is. Phone dump = brain dump. Rich and I were called as Activities Chair in our new ward and we did what I've been afraid to do in the past. We did not have ham! We had a Costco spread and tables prepped for service. We wrote 250+ letters to missionaries, tied 3 quilts, bought Christmas for 5 families, taught people how to index, made bookmarks for the library, and collected food for food banks...and took one picture. Sorry.

 Last week it snowed pretty well and we made an assortment of snow creatures.

 Kate turned 7.

 Manda made her a Brave dress.

 And took us to see her friends.

 She had enough leftovers in the break room to throw Kate a party for one.

Kate had a Brave party and we did all things Brave. Did I mention we got a bow and arrow for her birthday. So far I don't regret it.

 We made "empire biscuits" aka Brave cookies, crafted our goblets and tiaras (and Brave girl streaming ringlets), played games, ate pizzas that looked like targets, drinks with raspberries in it (think the triplets hair), bears, and the best of pinterest's Brave ideas.

 Last night we had a Brossette white elephant party. Kelly got the Dusty Madonna.
 Those are real emotions people. Real. If you are not familiar with the dusky Madonna, think 1950 ceramic, Native American nursing mother, with exposed {stitched so you can't make her modest} D cup. It's hot. 

WE'RE FAMOUS

OK, we're on Kid Snippits and they are famous.

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To protect the innocent, I will only note that we have received help; in the form of a home made movie, from someone in Louisiana. In today's effort to get to 100 those niiiiiiiiiiines were THICK... and fifty, and the sixty's, and the eighty's, and ninety's. I hope our Utah teacher enjoys them, because I do.

Grace is 9

You are welcome to judge once you have thrown you own hedgehog party.

Why we can't have normal themes is beyond me.

Grace turned 9. I was given the option of a hedge hog party on Tuesday or Friday. Tuesday so that I wouldn't have to worry about it all week...also conveniently close to the Sunday she decided she needed a party. Just in case you are wondering, there are no hedgehog party supplies. We ended up launching a (dollar store pokey ball) hedgehog to his habitat.

 I also learned that a stegosaurus cookie cutter, tweaked a little, looked like a hedgehog. We then decorated those with chocolate frosting and pokeys...err sprinkles... I think technically they are spines, but whatever. 

They went wonderfully with the chocolate and vanilla ice cream.  Because hedgehogs are a blend of chocolate and vanilla colors.We also had hedgehog babies (beignets, dipped in honey, dipped in chocolate sprinkles).  I know it is a stretch but remember I was assigned hedgehogs, not something you could just go to Target and buy! These are Costco 5 dozen pack egg packaging turned hedgehog decoration. There are awesome. So was the individually cut hedgehog banner.

We had dad cranking out grilled pizzas and {out of no where} started a bit of a dance party with, Gangam Style dancing and dad's mix of cool kid music {like Alice the Elephant}. Is that what 9 year olds do? That was new to me. Does this mean I have a tween? ...because there may have been some tweenish flirting {giggle}. We changed gears fast! I'm not ready for that.

Thankfully, my good friend Marissa came and helped with this crowd of crazies.

Welcome to NINE-hood.

1st Grade Presentation

Kate was the cutest Black Widow at school.

On a sad note the videos come complete with too much back light, some lady that won't be still, inability to zoom in, and a shaky camera. It's magical. Plus, I have no idea what these songs are called, so I am making them up.

 Yes Master

 

Aye Aye

 

Chicky Chicky Waa Waa 

Grant thought the whole event was spectacular!

For Tony

We have a trail near our house that is almost done. We tested it out last Sunday. Our angelic six year old, who doesn't love BYU, saw a "Y" flag in someone's backyard (that backs up to the trail) and was appalled. Where does she get this anti angst? Probably Uncle Tony.

And that sailor mouth for a six year old. Eek. We do not approve of that language or attitude. It's not funny. She can keep those thoughts to herself. Unless she's gone to bed... and doesn't know Dad was filming... and Mom posts it. Then it's funny.

Grant Danger Lewis

I realize it's not Grant's blog but whatever. Mr. Granty is 2. {like 26 months, so barely two} This scares me to death. He's not even tall as the handle bars. I thought the Grandma's would appreciate an adrenalin rush. :) Enjoy.

Why taking the last 5 minutes...

Why taking the last 5 minutes of a phone call, outside where it's quiet, is a bad idea...

just in case that skippy on orange is not clear enough for you... not to mention the undocumented computer desk and keyboard look worse than his hands. {ps: How'd you flip your shirt little man? That's a new skill.}

This could also be a lesson as to why we clean out our backpack and lunch bag after school, then HANG it in our cubby AND shut the door.
 

Brossettelewis WrestleMania

 "Dad, if we clean up all the toys in the playroom will you wrestle us?"

Two hours later and 15 minutes before bedtime...

Gt's Car

Somebody keeps telling us we don't blog enough. It's pretty boring around here. Albeit, boring is good. Do they want blogs of our spelling lists? Homework time? We could have taken pictures of the school carnival and Running Club, I promise I will at the next Running Club. Honestly, Kate's choice in running clothes was blog worthy. I was busy PTAing for the other 100 kids but next Friday I'll be a better mommy blogger. For now, here's Grant trying to pick out a car.

Dry Creek {Take 1}

"Surprise girls. Get in the van. We're going on a hike." This trail head is close to our house and they've been talking about needing to "hike that mountain"{as seen from the backyard}. One day we'll make it up Baldy or even Timp but today we made it that far and saw squirrels, baby lizards, a hawk, a hummingbird, bugs, mountain bikers, and a chatty, weed chewing, informative gpa hiker.

It seemed much more intense than this...

 

but whatever, the trailhead was pretty enough. Come on guys. Fake happy. This is going to be fun. You wanted to do this.

 

This is when we made it to the first little zig on the map.

This was just huge so we had to take a picture of it.

Grant finally let his delicate toes touch the ground and scaled some mountain. This is that V-point on the map where the elevation start to make your legs and butt regret carrying someone up the mountain.

The views were beautiful.

Here was our stop at our switch back when it started to rain. We made it out damp but not drenched. One mountain biker even came back looking for us and Dad met us at the trail head.

We're pretty hard core hikers. We made it .7 mile up Dry Creek Trail.

Lindon Days

I was worried. Coming from the "big city" of Orem to Lindon, that prides itself in "a little bit of country", I assumed they had yet to master the fine art of parades and such. I was so wrong.

 It rocked. I think our candy haul could have weighed in around 8lbs of good stuff,  it wasn't all tootsie rolls and stale taffy. There was even a company that had a candy cannon. That was magical.  But the fun did not stop there. Afterwards we went to the activities in the park. For a $20 family pass, all the girls {we took a friend, hence the extra lady in grey} rode the mechanical bull, {I bribed the girls that if they all did it, I would too.}

 all the kids climbed the rock wall 

 

{multiple times},

  

 the train {multiple times},

 played in bounce houses, 

 visited a petting zoo, 

went on a carriage ride,

 

rode little horses. {I tried to get a technical name but the cowboy was more interested in telling me that one had just given birth 4 weeks ago. Poor girl was already hauling my heavyweights around.}

 

 

The kids were also under the impression that the hawaiian ice was free with their wrist band. Oops! It wasn't even real Hawaiian ice, but it was cold, so it was welcomed. 

A little before 2pm the crowd started rumbling that "it" was about to start. I kept it a secret from my kids, if by chance, 4 hours into the day they were pooped. Lindon Fire Department + Foam = Awesomeness.

 He had no idea what was about to happen, bwaa haa haa ha.

 

Bunch of tough little toddlers awaiting the unknown. 

Then 30 minutes of ..........

 {Rich took the camera. So there's an excess amount of me. I thought more than just I was playing in it?!?} Kids were burying themselves in it. It was knee high in places.

 Grace wouldn't touch it. She even climbed a tree to avoid her brothers throwing it on her. We'll get her next year.