Graham Crackers & Milk, Does A Body Good

Halle's first experience with graham crackers and dippin' them in milk. Evidently, it's a Josh favorite. I came home on Saturday and she was just loving every minute of it.

"Dip and attempt to knock the cup over."

"In the mouth, SWEET VICTORY!"

That face is a, "Yum, I love these" and a
"Why you been holding out on me, MOM?"

Relaxation, Awhhh.....

I have wanted a hammock for a while now. Amy has one and Halle loves it. I love to just sit in it, it's so comfy and if Halle will stop screaming when she's in it, well then, I MUST have it!!!

I actually scored a screaming deal on it. It was originally $240 at Kohl's. It was 50% off, making it $120. I got a 30% off coupon there, which took off $36, making it $84. My mother-in-law had given me a $30 gift card to Kohl's for my birthday, so BAM... I got it for $54!

I guess I'll let the rest of the fam enjoy it too!

We need to work on Chloee's "pretend" sleep face.

I got it last week but the weather was so crazy, so we put it up yesterday. It was so fun. After we put the girls to bed, Josh and I stayed up until midnight looking at the stars and talking. Of course he pulled out his phone and did Google Sky on all of the stars and constellations. Amy, I'm sure you wouldn't expect anything less!

The Daddy Daughter Ball

A few weeks ago Josh and Chloee went to a Daddy Daughter Ball. It was all she ever talked about until the day finally arrived. It was at The Castle in Layton, which is were a lot of receptions are held.

I saw an ad for it in a magazine. It was a princess ball. It was on a Friday night from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. The ad said this, "Autograph book for meeting the princesses, pictures with dad and princesses, princess story time, dancing, hors d'oeuvres including a chocolate fountain, Cinderella carriage rides, all at the Castle in Layton."

I knew instantly when I read the ad that Chloee would have so much fun. It was $35 and we told her it was part of her birthday present.

They had all of the princesses there:

Cinderella - Josh said she looked just like her and did a very good impersonation.

Sleeping Beauty - She wrote in Chloee's autograph book, "We've met before, once upon a dream. Love, Aurora"

Snow White - She looked awesome too!

Ariel - Chloee was sad, she wasn't able to ever get Ariel's autograph.

Pocahontas- (who Josh said was white and wearing dark foundation to make *just her face* look "Indian")

Jasmine - She wrote in Chloee's book, "You are so pretty! Love, Jasmine"

Tinkerbell- She wrote in the book, "Cloe, you are going to be a heart breaker. you are just captivating! Love, Tinker Bell"

Tiana- wrote in her book "Cloe, I love your poka do dress! Love, Tiana" (No, I did not spell those words wrong, that is exactly how she wrote it. Looks like New Orleans didn't teach her very good grammar, but voodoo, all pro!)

Belle- Chloee didn't get her autograph either.

Mulan- wrote in her book, "Be true to yourself. Love, Mulan"

Josh asked me, "Since when is Pocahontas, Tinkerbell and Mulan princesses." I about died laughing, you probably would have had to have been there.

I did her hair in sponge curlers and then pinned all the ringlets up and put some diamonds in her hair. She looked so stinking cute! I can't believe she's as old as she is.

This was the day after Josh's brother's wedding. I was staying at Amy's to run the race the next day. I took Chloee to Josh at his work, then they went home together. I wasn't there so I didn't get one picture of them together. Josh told me he was going to take her some place nice and then they were going to go to the party. Ends up, they were running late. Guess where he took her for "dinner"? Oh yeah, Maverik, yes the gas station, for a hot dog. I couldn't believe it. Well, she loved it and still talks about going there and eating with dad and that's all that matters.

The lady who was there taking the pictures has a site I pulled their pic off of. I am going to have to order it because it is the only picture I have of those two together, even if I think the picture totally washes them out.

Josh said that when you entered the castle, they read off your name as if you were entering an actual royal ball. He said the carriage ride was awesome and everyone was dressed up in older clothes like on Cinderella. He said it looked just like Cinderella's carriage.

I know Chloee had so much fun and this is something she'll always remember. Something she'll always cherish, something she did with her dad. I'm so grateful to Josh for taking her and realizing it was something that would mean the entire world to a little 4 year old girl.

Just Because, The Simple Pleasures

Chloee came home from the store the other day with these. She walked in the door and said, "Mommy, these are for you. I love you!"

Josh said they were at Costco and she spotted these flowers and told him that they needed to buy them for me because I really needed some flowers. When Josh tried to tell her that they'd go get flowers from somewhere else, she exclaimed, "But I picked out these ones. Mommy needs these ones."

Melted My Heart!

Chloee's 4th Birthday

Chloee turned 4 on June 3rd. It was supposed to be nice weather so we could set up the slip n' slide but it was ugly and overcast. Of course, it poured on my birthday, took a break and was sunny and hot on the 2nd and then was bad weather again on the 3rd for Chloee's bday. We can't catch a break.

WATER BALLOONS

Amy filled up all of these water balloons for the kids. They each had one big one and then there were all of the little ones.

Those little ones wouldn't pop for anything.

Chlo hoarding her big balloon, planning who she's going to throw it at.

Amy and I got on the tramp and started bouncing the little ones, trying to see if we could get them to pop.

No such luck!

Yeah, let's just say that I should have went to the bathroom before I got on the tramp. When I was jumping I thought I was going to wet my pants. We were all throwing balloons at each other and Kai has quite the arm and hit me smack in the bladder. Yep, I wet my pants! That's right, I'm admitting it!


THE ARCADE

Chloee hit the jackpot on this game and got 106 tickets!

Chloee is obsessed with those ticket/arcade places. We went out to eat at McDonald's, she picked. Then we hit this place called The Classic Fun Center or something like that. It was packed! Lots of kids, it was the last day of school. Lots and lots of people!

This was the only thing that got Hals to stop screaming.

Halle having to do it herself.

As you can see, all of the kids LOVED this horse!

This stupid game. I think it was rigged. I swear Amy hit the jackpot on it multiple times and then it would switch its lighting. We were addicted to it.


Yes, I took pictures of these weirdo kids. They were the most crazy kids ever.

Check out this kid's hair. A mohawk and a mullet? Are you joking? And how old is he, like 4, MAYBE????

What's with the braided rat tail? Josh called this a Lehi hairdo. These kids whipped Amy with a licorice rope, they were running around like crazy kids on top of the games. One of them was probably 7 and wearing a nicely faded wife beater and that was it for his top. Another one was maybe 8 and he had diamond studded earrings in his ears. What????

Hallseis' favorite game, when Daddy holds her upside down and pretends to drop her.

The kids had so much fun with all the games.


THE CAKE

This doll head would not stop shedding hair, so I covered her up with aluminum foil. Amy thought this was hilarious and took a picture.

She turned out great. It almost killed me. I had to do parts and then stuff her back in the freezer and then repeat. It seriously look me all day to do it because I had to do it in intervals. My wrist started clamping up on me!

You can see here that I put earrings and a pearl necklace on her.

Cute little flowers in her hair.

The back.

Chloee loved it! I was so happy that she loved it so much. My mom gave me cake decorating tips for my birthday. That was the only reason I could do this cake. Thanks, Mom!

Singing Happy Birthday to the birthday girl!

I did the cake batter in colored layers so it would look cool when he cut into her dress.

Chloee's big present was a new bike and helmet. It was outside and we basically had to point at it and say, "this is yours" for to get it. It was way too late. I think we did cake and ice cream at 10 pm and then did presents after that!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHLOEE!

I Had A Birthday.... Shout Hooray!

My birthday was on June 1st. We had a lot of fun. I talked Amy into coming and staying for my birthday and then for Chloee's 2 days later. I had to get my driver's license renewed. I spent about 2 hours doing that. That was NOT fun.

We went out to eat at Olive Garden. They actually seated us back in our own little room, set back in. They probably took one look at us and Halle (who was screaming) and thought, "Put them in the 'special' room". Oh well, good for us.

It would have been even better, if the walls were echo/sound proof.

Of course she's crying. That's about all she did the entire night.

Josh came home early and made me my favorite.... NY baked cheesecake. Oh, it doesn't get much better than that. So, so good. I once ate almost the whole pan by myself. I was sick for 3 days and if I remember right, I threw up. That says a lot about this divine cheesecake. Usually after I throw something up, I can't eat it again.

I had a fun day. My friend, Cindy, took me out for lunch (which Halle was awful at too) and we went shopping. That Wiley Amy, she said she had to "go to the bathroom" at Olive Garden. Josh had to take Halle out and he caught her out there paying for the bill. Stinker!

I saw a lady in the waiting area as we were sitting there too. I was drawn to her and I didn't even know why. As she tried to make her way to the bathroom, she could hardly walk. I offered to help her into the restroom, she accepted. She proceeded to tell me about how she has cancer and she had just done a chemo and radiation treatment that day. She was so tired and fragile. I helped her in the bathroom and with washing her hands. She was so sweet to talk to. She even showed me her bald head. We laughed about how much real hair wigs cost. I brought her out of the bathroom and there was her husband, waiting outside the door for her. I stopped, gave her a huge hug and she hugged me back. I couldn't help but feel so close to this woman, who then didn't want to end our embrace. With tears streaming down my face, I told this woman that I loved her and in that moment I felt as though I knew she wasn't going to make it through the rest of her treatments. It was weird. Something I can't really explain.

Her husband told me how grateful he was that I helped her in the restroom. A tear ran down his cheek. I felt so close to the spirit, it is indescribable. I thought I was doing something for someone else when in reality, this woman did something for me.

It's all about timing. Certain things that I am experiencing had drawn me to her and that day I needed her. I needed her sweet spirit to lift me up. She simply put a smile on my face and made me feel closer to my Father in Heaven.