Do ya think I should be blogging when our family room looks like this?



I let the kids make this "tent" yesterday. Then they wanted to bring up a "few" toys to play with in the tent. As you can see a few toys turned into a huge mess. Kate begged me not to take it down, so this mess with live to see another day at least.

This weekend was super busy, but fun. Dan turned 32 on Saturday. We also had a ward luau that night. The food was fabulous and later they had Polynesian dancer's come. Dan was called up to shake it with them. He did a good job!

Since the party was Saturday, we celebrated Dan's Birthday on Sunday. I made Dan's favorite dinner; Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and fruit. We invited his parents, and my parents over to eat with us. Then the rest of the family came for some cake and ice cream. It was a little crazy because right when everyone got there the lights went out. We still had the party, we just talked in the dark. Luckily we had a handy dandy emergency preparedness lantern Dan's mom had given to us for Christmas a few years ago!

I made Dan blow out thirty two candles. Even though the cake got a bit waxy, I think that blowing out the number candles is just cheating. He actually did it in one breath, what lung capacity!

The kids made this "tent" yesterday, then they wanted to bring a "few" toys from the basement. A few turned into about fifty tiny toys. Kate has begged me not to take it down, so it looks like the family room disatster will to see another day. It's funny how I thought a play room would solve the messy toy problem, but the kids want to play were ever I am. They follow me were ever I go, and the toys tend to follow the kids. Hence the messy family room. I'm super excited for the kids to start preschool so that they can release some of their messy creativity someplace other than the family rooom.

This past weekend was a busy, but really fun one. Dan turned 32 on Saturday. We also had a big ward luau that night. It was fabuous. I felt like I was at an actual luau. The food was awesome, and then later they had polynisian dancers come. Dan got to go up there and shake it with them. Because of the party, with celebrated Dan's birthday Sunday night. I invited Dan's parents, and my parents over for dinner. Then afterwards Dan's siblings all came for some cake and ice cream. It was really crazy because just as everybody got here, the lights went out. Everbody still stayed, we just had to talk in the dark.

I was just thinking how quickly the year has past. I remember last year just buying a cake for Dan becauswe I was pregnant, and to sick and tired to cook. My how glad I am that I'm done with that pregnancy, and that our sweet baby is here! Benjamin will be 5 months this week, and it's amazing how quickly he's growing.

Kirk's new do!

I'm just squeezing in a quick post. I really should be downstairs on the treadmill, but I wanted to post Kirk's cute new haircut (thanks so much Wendy). He was is dire need of one. I thought his hair was starting to look like a mop. I always put it off as long as I possibly can. He hates having his hair cut sooooo much. He cries, and won't hold still. He's ten times worse at the salon, so I usually try to snip a few pieces here and there just at home. With preschool starting in a week, I thought it would be nice to start out the year with a good cut, not my haphazard snips. I took him over to my sister in law's house. She cuts her four little boys hair, and is a kid's cut expert. We gave him a treat, turned on a movie, and even with all that bribery, we barely eeked out a cut. (Granted his hair was so long, that it really annoyed him. It was falling into his face, poor kid). I think he looks so cute with it. I love styling it now. I'm going to try the spiky look. Let's hope that his hair doesn't grow too fast. I want this look to last.

Also yesterday we saw this little creature crawling across our driveway. Luckily I'm not afraid of snakes.

Fun at the Fair

Kate poseing in front of the chicken's. We had to keep our distance, I was pecked at twice!

Kirk in his highly prized rootin, tootin, cowboy hat. His face is covered with Cotton candy remnants.

Benjamin and Dan checking out the bunny cages. These are my favorite, and reminded me of my sister's old pet bunny Oreo. (unfortunately he froze to death such a sad fate for such a cute furry little thing, we never had the best knack for caring for pets).

Okay so I'm playing catch up. We went to the Davis County fair grounds last week, that was actually before Dan's birthday dinner, but I'm blogging this out of order. We heard that the alligator show at the fair was worth seeing, so Dan took off work early and we headed to the fair grounds. Everybody was right, the show lived up to our expectations. This alligator show was really impressive. I was surprised at how aggressive the alligator really was. I was expecting his jaws to be wired shut, but this guy wrestled with him without any safety measures. The alligator even snapped at his hand. I know that the kids had a great time. After watching the show we went and saw the animals, and let the kids pick out a little prize. Kirk insisted on getting a cowboy hat. He's been really into Cowboys ever since aspen grove. At first we couldn't find a blue one, which would have been devastating! Luckily a booth worker went and got some more blue ones to put out for sale. Kate picked out some lip gloss which she was really thrilled about. She's a girl after my own heart, she loves lip gloss. The kid's also went on a ride. I say "a ride", because we only had enough cash for one. It was a dollar per ride. Luckily I happened to have two dollars in change at the bottom of my purse. I was glad to get rid of some pennies. Finally we finished off the night by eating pizza. It really was fun, the whole family enjoyed the night. I'd love to make this a new tradition.

It's been almost a month since I've blogged! I just have to say that I've been a little busy. August at the Mower home is celebration city. We started the month off with a super fun anniversary trip. Yes Dan and I have been together six years now. It doesn't really sound that long, but having three kids doesn't exactly leave a couple with newlywed status. It's amazing how life whizzes by. Reminiscing back on all the fun, gushy lovey dovey feelings I had for Dan when I first married him has been fun. It's interesting how marriage works. You begin your new life together thinking that your in a total fairytale. As Dan and I have worked at our marriage I realize that the love I feel for him now is so much stronger than what it was six years ago. We've seen each other at our best and our worst, laughed, cried, and everything in between. We are forming a history together, full of memories. He is such apart of me that it's almost impossible to imagine my life without him. We were able to celebrate with a little get away. Dan surprised me at Christmas with a night at the anniversary inn. We went to the one in Logan. Since it is so close to Bear lake we went there first for a night also.

Dan's awesome Dad took Kate and Kirk. We kept the baby, he was such a little angel, he wasn't a problem at all. It was so nice to only be woken up once by the baby to eat, instead of 4 times like we usually are. Kate and Kirk are usually up to get a drink, or climb in bed with us, or need comforting from a scary dream, throughout the night. The room was awesome, and the bed was soooo comfy. I was able to coax Dan into watching Twilight with me. He's never seen it, he didn't even know the plot. I was surprised that he actually liked it. I guess there was enough suspense to keep him interested. It will also be Dan's birthday on the 22nd. Dan's parents took us to dinner tonight. It's a tradition we always look forward to every year. He chose Ruby River. I was excited since steak is one of my favorites. We got a cute family picture. Benjamin had just gotten his shots that morning, so he didn't have the greatest time. Bless his heart he is such a good baby, we are so lucky to have him.