Her Day

So this happened a couple of weeks ago. 

I remembered to take a few more pics of this occasion (unlike Adi's)... but I still didn't take too many.  I get a little wrapped up in the hostessing part and forget about the preserving memories part. Maybe by Wyatt I'll be able to capture the event...

Yeah, probably not.

Piper was so excited to finally get to join her sister in the rank of "baptized".

Also to wear this dress and these shoes.

 

She was even more excited to put this jumper on and have her Daddy walk her into the waters of baptism.

These events really are horrible for my make-up.  Seriously.  Especially when I forget to buy waterproof mascara. Seriously- I looked like a raccoon.

Piper lucked out and was the only kiddo baptized in our ward that day.   Which was awesome to be able to just have our family there to hog the whole program.

But, then, I realized that it was just our family.  To do the entire program.

Yikes.

A big thank you to all of you who rescued us last minute and helped out with the program. I am pretty sure that in a few years when all of these people have kiddos that are about to be baptized... payback will be coming my way.

And yes, she has a lot of aunts and uncles.

We headed back to the size-of-a-postage-stamp Merrill Manor for pizza and the trimmings.

And we can't forget about the cookie bar. 

Funny story about this here cookie bar: I asked a lot of people to bring cookies.  So we ended up with nine different trays overflowing with cookies. For about thirty people.  I spent the party forcing people to eat more sugar.

You're welcome.

I only snapped one pic of the guests (because I am a total dork), and it was of our Marshall cousins that had just moved down here from Utah. Hurray for family moving so close!

My friend Ayami snapped this pic of the young boys playing on the tramp.

Gotta love these kids.

And Pipes and Rylee hanging out.

For all of our awesome family who came and are not pictured on here: I am so so sorry. I feel like an ungrateful brat.

Just know that I will make up for it at Porter's baptism in a few years.  And if not then, I'll be sure to get you at Wyatt's!

Splash Pad!

Well, Spring Break is now over.  It's a bittersweet thing.  Bitter because we're back to the same old routine, which starts at 5:30 am. 

*Shudder*

Sweet because these darn kids have not stopped fighting for four days now.  Yeah for a little peace and quiet again!

Anywho, we spent a good chunk of last week at the pool (the HOA was kind enough to heat it for Spring Break), which was awesome fun for the older kids, but near-torture for me and the lil' Wi-fy.  He didn't really want in the water, but then he didn't really want out of it.  Then he really wanted to run wild on the slippery pool deck, and Mom wouldn't let him.  Which means he threw a lot of his now-infamous fits.

So on Friday I forced Adi, Pipes, and PG over to the splash pad side so Wyatt could run as free as he wanted.  We brought some of our bestest friends with.

Hello Nortons!

Yeah, Wyatt had the chance to do as much running and exploring as he wanted, and he chose to climb on baby Zane's stroller.

Go figure.

Mr. Casey jumped right into the water.

Wyatt was a little unsure (yep, Buddy, that is water shooting up from the ground).

But then he decided to investigate a bit more.

And he decided that it was kinda fun.

I offered Adi a quarter if she stayed under this waterfall for 10 seconds (it may not sound like long, but the water was ice cold and it was only 85 degrees outside).

 

She then decided it was fun and went back under for free.

Porter didn't enjoy the cold water so much.  He mostly laid out on the little brick bench and sunned himself like a gecko.

But he did get down and do some splashing around.

Whoa.  Now that's the face of a charging warrior right there.  Oh, and just so you know, he's wearing Wyatt's rashgaurd.  He sustained a rather bad sunburn earlier in the week (awesome job, Mom) and he didn't have anything to wear.  Wyatt didn't mind sharing, though.

Piper probably enjoyed the water the most out of everyone.

Smile, Pipes! 

Adi suddenly remembered that she was waaay too cool for this whole splash pad scene.

And Ayami and I cooed over lil' Zayne's sweet smiles.

Wyatt convinced Piper to follow him around from mini water fountain to mini water fountain.

We left when we noticed that everyone was laying about, sunning themselves and not playing in the water.

Now the warm weather has left and we are currently dealing with rain and colder days (it's only 55 degrees right now).  But I'm so glad that it was warm for Spring Break!

The Big ONE

So, remember this little guy?

Well, it decided to grow up and have his very own first birthday.

I still haven't forgiven him.

Now, to be honest, I wasn't going to have a birthday party.  I know, I know.  Courtney not wanting to throw a party?  GASP!  But he's only one, we had Christmas, our anniversary trip, Orrin has to work on his actual birthday, he won't even know the difference... but then certain people made me feel guilty *cough* Vanessa *cough* *cough* Mom *cough*.  So I gave in and somehow planned his bday while doing Christmas stuff, doing laundry and packing for our trip, yada yada yada.  Please, don't feel bad for me.  I obviously felt bad enough for myself :)

I had the party a couple of days early so our closest friends and familia could come.

Now, what kind of party would it be without the traditional treat table?

And yes, the lighting is pretty crappy in all of the pictures.  Next time I will remember to shut the blinds before I start snapping.

Then there was the cake

This cake was gonna be perfect... in my mind.  Well, four cake mixes later, a late night run to Fry's for more white cake mixes (you're my hero OP), two boxes of food coloring, and more than a few crumbled layers later... learned my lesson.  Layer cakes are evil.

But very cute.

And the (very few) decorations

Thank you Whitney and Chris for giving my kiddos bubblegum machines for Christmas.  They worked with the party theme awesomely.

I bought some paper party hats and pom poms from Targhetto and then let the girlies decorate them up.

I don't know why I bother with party hats.  People will put them on for pics,

And then immediately pull them off.

But they are cute, aren't they?

Oh, hey Aunt Whit.  Thanks for the clothes and everything, but I'm really only interested in the bow.

Then it was time for cake.  I made Wyatt his own little multi-colored cupcake to destroy.  And then Piper wanted to bring it over to him.

Oops.

Instead he got a slice of the seven layer cake (it was supposed to be nine layers, but well, I explained all of this earlier).

He really had no idea what to do with the thing.

Until Uncle Chris shoved his hands down into it.

He was still a bit hesitant at first, but then he really got into it.

Hey kid, you wear your food well.

I then bathed the smooshed-up cake off of him in the kitchen sink.  It was very gross.

Then he opened his presents.

He was more interested in the wrapping paper than anything else.

The girls did get him to give it a go eventually.

Wyatt then insisted on going outside with all of the other dudes.

Where Daddy had to chase him around.

As soon as I can get a certain member of our extended family *Stephanie* to take Wy-fi's one year photos I'll get 'em up here.