Happy Birthday Grandpa!

My kids get really excited for other peoples' birthdays, especially people in their family! So even though my dad could have cared less about turning 58, :) the kids were thrilled to help plan a birthday party for him and were not about to let the day go by unnoticed. Ava helped me make the cake and frosting, and even did most of the cake frosting herself.
Here they are watching Grandpa open his presents
Carter had been battling a stomach bug during the week and because of it was taking extra long naps... so he slept through dinner and much of the celebration. But I did get this picture of grandpa with all three of his grandkids before we left that night.

Kinda crazy...

I was given a Kindergarten registration packet today to fill out for Miss Ava, and it's due by February 28th. WHAT?? I can hardly believe that my days of having Ava home with me during the days are quickly coming to an end. I realize I still have 7 months until she actually starts Kindergarten, but having this packet at home, sitting by my computer is making is all very real. 7 months will fly by, I know that, and until then, I will cherish having her home, she's been such a great shopping buddy for the past (almost) 5 years!!

Husky basketball game

Cristian was so excited to get to go to his very first Husky basketball game with my dad a couple weeks ago! I only have these two pictures from my dad's cell phone since I wasn't there. But it was a GREAT game, Huskies won, and we saw Cristian and my dad on TV at the game! Cristian also got to see cousin Meredith at half time since she was there cheering.
What a fun way for Cristian to help my dad celebrate his birthday!!

Birthday Party

Ok, I have A LOT of pictures from this Princess birthday party Ava went to a couple of weeks ago, but it really was the cutest birthday party EVER! Here is Ava ready to party!
The first thing the kids did was a craft. Ava always enjoys crafts!
Her finished wand
then the girls all got their nails painted. Ava picked a pretty sparkly purple color.
She's looking so grown up these days!
waiting for her nails to dry
Then they were introduced to Rapunzel, who sang them the theme song from the movie, Tangled, which of course all these girls have seen!
Then Rapunzel took them back to the dressing room and each girl got to pick out a dress to wear for the party. (there were hundreds of dresses, and again, Ava chose a Purple one :)
Then they got to pick out some accessories to wear
Ava with two of her friends from preschool, Ari and Claira.
Then Rapunzel put some sparkles in their hair
And they each got to individually meet Rapunzel and talk to her for a few minutes.
Ava and the birthday girl, Hayden, picked the same dress :).
A group picture with Rapunzel
Rapunzel taught the girls how to spin and dance
how to wave (elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, touch your heart, blow a kiss) :)
All the girls on stage listening to a story
I couldn't help but think she has a pretty FUN job!
Turns out she's a college girl who does this on the weekends. The girls were listening so intently to the story she read them
A few pictures of my princess
Big grin!
Admiring herself in the mirror
Rapunzel also introduced each girl individually and they got to come out and perform the dance skills, wave, and courtesy that she had taught them to the parents in the audience.
Ava all smiles during her performance
and after :)
Looking pretty cute while watching her friend Ari perform on stage
High School pose... elbow on the hip
They also played music and got to dance with Rapunzel
I kinda think Rapunzel really liked Ava :)
She is pretty darn cute!
Lunch time!
Hayden's mom was so nice to bring Ava her own food since she couldn't eat the scones and cookies that went with the tea.
And she made sure to order cupcakes that Ava could eat.
Then Hayden got to open her presents.
Ava got Hayden a jewelry box
Then it was time to say their good byes to Princess Rapunzel
and change back into their clothes...
and steal one last look in the mirror :) Thanks Hayden and family for such a wonderful birthday party, Ava had a fabulous time!

My Level 4's

So, to top off a great time and lots of fun playing at the Great Wolf Lodge... my level 4's also WON the GWL invitational meet that Friday night with a gym, record-high team score of 113.2. (for those of you who don't know gymnastics, this score is HUGE... and what was even more impressive was the fact that my girls beat the 2nd place team by over 3.5 points!! again, HUGE accomplishment). Tara, the other level 4 coach, and myself have been working really hard with these girls detailing their routines and drilling skills to make them the best they can be... and apparently it's working! Great job girls!!

Great Wolf Lodge

The kids were very excited that we let them skip school on Friday January 21st to spend the day/night at the Great Wolf Lodge! We left our house pretty early so we could get there and have the majority of the day to play, play, play! Here they are posing while we were checking in.
Ready for some water park fun!
kind of a bad picture, but the only one I had of all of us at the water park. It is very difficult to take pictures with all the water.
Cristian was tall enough to do the BIGGEST waterslide at the park this trip... the Howlin' Tornado. Here he is coming off of it with Kyle after his first time on it.
A big hit!! Since we basically had the water park to ourselves, he went on this MANY times!
Carter playing with the little water fountains.
Ava on the red slide
LOVED it!!
Again, not a good picture, but one of the only ones I was in, haha.
Kyle and the kids going down one of the kid slides together
Ava playing on the jet ski
Cristian under a big water fall
We also brought my sister along with us, and she took Ava on her first ride down one of the big water slides. Ava was tall enough for every waterslide except the Tornado. So, lots of "firsts" on this trip :)
Coming down other really big water slide :)

The kids were excited when their friends arrived. Ava and Natalie went many water slides together


Cristian, Alyssa, and Caleb after several trips down the Howlin' Tornado
Carter having a blast! And doing so well without a nap.

Ava taking a shower
All 3 of my kids
Choo Choo train of kiddos
Carter all smiles!
Cristian playing on the jet ski
Ava floating in the water
After several hours of water fun, we went back to the room and showered, got a snack, and then set off to play the Wizard Wand game.
Carter... the proud new owner of his very own wand!!
Carter didn't last long... he fell asleep and poor Kyle had to carry him all over the hotel.
The next morning the kids finished their dragon quest and defeated the dragon!


The 5 of us