My niece Haley is here and we are all completely SMITTEN!

 Proud Auntie

 Proud Uncle

 In love cousin

Adoring cousin

Over the moon cousin.

Yup we love her, and are adoring all the PINK!!

Fishing = Heaven on Earth for little boys

Our boys got fishing poles for Christmas and we have been using them like crazy.

 Last weekend we went fishing down at the lake by our house with our little besties, Jack and Jakoby Johnson.  It was sunny and warm.  Not much was biting so they enjjoyed the snacks, wading and catching minnows and frogs in the nets.  We caught one giant frog and lots of minnows!  But no BIG fish so....,

 We went out on Lacamas Lake with my dad in the boat.  Here is Gabe's trout!  He caught it, noticed it was on and reeled it in all by himself!  What a big boy!

Way to go Little Fisherman!

Poor Gabe!

Gabe has allergies like crazy!

As soon as it is nice, (and fun to go outside and play) they hit him.  His eyes swell and itch, he sneezes and is miserable.  My poor little man.

But this year we got him a nose spray and KA-ZAM!!

He is healing up quickly.

We are now able to be outside.

Best Friends are a Gift - Treat them well

Best Friends-  I have a few, and they are the girls that I can always count on, lean on, laugh with, try to encourage, and share joys with.  Ahh....  nothing can make the world seem or right, or me seem more normal than after time with a bestie.  It can even be phone time, just me and a bestie, chatting and sharing life.

My friends are gems, and a gift and I cherish those SWEET friendships.

Now, these two little munchkins... JUST LOOK at them.  A twin bond... Oh yeah, it is deep.  So deep that although invisible is felt.  They were born with a best friend.

They do it naturally- chat about life, figure/work out problems, try to help the other one stay out of trouble, protect fiercely, goof around constantly, laugh, stick together, and love the other.

 What a bond!!

 Their bond is natural, precious and deep. 

I have learned to let them work it out- because they will and do, JUST DON'T GET IN THE MIDDLE,  because they will turn on me.

EASTER

HOP-PY EASTER!

 Here are the handsome little men.  All dressed up, lookin' good and ready for church!

 Yes, they are handsome little monkeys!

 Afterwards we had a delish dinner at Andy and Sarah's.  While the ladies cooked, the men filled eggs and the kids played!

 They were totally anxious for the egg hunt- carrying their baskets with them everywhere.

 Here are the cousins.

 Here are the cooks and mamas!  The dads and Toby are hiding the eggs.  Little boys in the backyard while the big kids will go after in the front yard.  READY SET GO!!!!!!!

 Grant- his first egg

 Gabe- on the hunt (look at that FULL basket!)

 Gavin- go some

 Lance- dropping out eggs as fast as he gets thems  :)

 Then comes the BIG kids

 Alaina and Rileigh had their own hunt in the front.

Here are the men- all enjoying the sun while watching the kiddos hunt.   Happy belated Easter!

** and now the kids are on a sugar detox.  I swear we had candy from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas treats to Gavin and Grant's B-day in January to Valentine's Day in Feb.  to Gabe's B-Day in March to Easter  AND NOW IT IS OVER.  Good-bye sugar.  We are eating healthier and need to be cavity free.

Magic Magician Birthday Party ~ Gabe's 6th B-day

My big boy is SIX!!! 

And he made up his mind, LAST YEAR to have a Magician Birthday.  He loves tricks and magic, so we hired a magician, and SEARCHED out "magic" party ideas and got to work.

My family is large and my home is cozy, so I separated the party into a friends party on Saturday and a family party on Sunday.  I was pleased as it wasn't as crazy and overwhelming for me, Gabe or the guests.

OK... so here was the spread.

1.  We had Hocus Pocus Punch--  sprite and lime sherbet.  YUM!

2.  Kettle corn and popcorn for during the magician "SHOW." 

3.  The kids loved making Abra-Cadbra- Kabobs.  *Easy and helpful since I didn't know his Kindergarten buddies and if they didn't like a certain fruit, they didn't have to put it on the kabob.

4.  We had veggies and called it magical rabbit food.  They loved it munched happily.

5.  Main dish- I ordered pizza for the kid party cause MOST kids like pizza.  For the family party we had hamburgers and hotdogs, potato salad, and chips.

6.  I made magical lollipops, said ABRA CADBRA ZAM!!!  and they "turned" to cake.   Cake pops were tedious and time consuming, but they were good, a nice size and festive looking!!!

We played "POKE THE EARS OUT OF THE RABBIT."  *just like pin the tail on the donkey.*

And took a few pictures of Gabe before all the guests arrived.

We had capes with a "G" on them from my sweet friend Laurel.

I ordered wands and hats for the kiddos.

I also had a BUNCH of mustaches of all shapes and sizes.  I kids L*O*V*E*D these!

Gavin taking a turn posing!

Grant showing off his POWERS.

Here are some of Gabe's little buddies.

Here all the kids are eating popcorn while watching the MAGICIAN!!

They were all amazed.  Good thing cause a slightly older crowd wouldn't have been so gracious.

His tricks were funny, and some astounding, the kids mesmorized.

Here is Gabe helping with a trick.

After that we opened gifts, sang and had cake, then played until there families picked up the kids.

Super fun and Gabe made a HAUL on Legos.

*Round 2*

At the family party, Gabe performed some tricks since I didn't hire the magician 2 days in a row, or want to pay twice.  This party was longer about 2 and a half to 3 hours VERSUS 1.5 hours at the friend party.  We were able to chat, hang out and enjoy it.

Here is Gabe with his Aunties.  Oh, and the BBQ was amazing.  My man can grill.

Here are the 3 little cousins.

Here are Uncle Andy (my bro) and Aunt Sarah who is "about to pop" pregnant.

Here is Papa John helping Gabe with gifts.  Oh yes, that is a Magic set!

And here was a special gift made by Aunt Shannon and Aunt Ashley.  A table tent with doors and windows.  It hasn't come down yet and fits perfectly over a card table.  So special- and all sides are different!

Again, the mustaches were a hit!

It was fun, but I am done with birthdays until next January although my boys are already planning an Angry Birds birthday.  Knuckleheads......

How do you all do birthdays with friends and family?  Seperate?  Together?  At your home?  At a place/venue?  Are your parties expensive?  Do you go all out?

Just another day in PARADISE folks!

 This is Grant and Gavin on a typical day! 

Eat your hearts out ladies! 

They are one of a kind!