A Tinkerbell Party

The long awaited party has come and gone. And it WAS everything Brielle hoped for! She had four friends come over, they had a fairy lunch (little foods: tiny pizzas, mini muffins, jello jiggler stars, little fruit, and pixie punch.....), then we decorated wands and played games. Though most of the games quickly degenerated to a version of tag where all five little girls ran around the living room waving their wands in the air. =0)





Then after lunch and games Brielle opened presents, much to everyone's delight. It's fun at that age, opening a gift is exciting for both the giver and the receiver. Then we did face painting. (Before criticizing our skills, try painting on a three year old's cheek yourself!)






Last of all the long awaited cake and ice cream. (we saved the sugar overload for last so that we could then send all the 3-year-olds home with their parents for detox!)




As you can see in the picture below, Brielle was absolutely thrilled with the party. And her parents are thrilled it's all over. Thank heavens birthdays only come once a year!


(update: Brielle is already planning her fourth birthday party!)

Third time's the charm.....

However this is just my second time......decorating a cake that is. I decorated my first cake for Brielle's first birthday. It didn't look that great. However it's been two years since then and I had forgotten how difficult decorating a cake can be (and frustrating) and so I gave it another go. Brielle has been begging for a Tinkerbell party ever since Hyrum's birthday (when we told her she had to wait til January for a party of her own). I wanted to make the most fabulous cake she could imagine, something that would simply amaze her when she woke up on the day of her birthday party. My mom would do that for us when we were young, there were some great ones, a guinea pig cake, a schoolbus......ahhhh good times. Anyway, by the time the crumb coat had chilled and the base coat, and all the roses and drop flowers were made and chilled I was exhausted, so around midnight I just finished as quickly as I could. What that means is that this cake isn't my best, BUT now I know what to do better, so Hyrum will have the best Tinkerbell cake EVER!!!

Brielle's 3rd Birthday!

Brielle is three. And it shows. She's very independent now, and way too smart for her own good. Her memory is amazing. To a fault. I can no longer tell her we'll do something tomorrow or the overused "later" and then not follow through. Also she picks up my phrases, and then gives them back to me at the most inopportune times. The other day I cut my finger and cried out in pain. Brielle rushed to me and said "What's wrong? You're crying like a little girl." (something I say to Russ every chance I get)



On her birthday her friend Chloe came over to play. Then that evening she got to pick whatever she wanted for dinner (McDonalds, obviously her gourmet tastes are not hereditary!) then we went home to open presents from her grandparents and eat chocolate cream cheese brownies. (homemade from "the scratch")



Brielle got a princess dress from her Grandma Streadbeck which, if she had her way, would never leave her body! So now instead of running around naked all day, she glides around as cinderella, bopping her brother on the head with whatever she's holding and shouting "BIBIDI BOBIDI BOO!"

It's a GOOD day.

Barrack Obama's Inauguration Speech

The Inauguration of the 44th President was not only historic, but inspiring as well. I hope everyone had a chance to hear it.

Sunny days.....

After several blizzards in Washington, we really enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine of California.

We took advantage of one of those warm days to go feed ducks....

.....and to feed Hyrum.

The Nativity

And what would Christmas be without children and grown-ups alike running around in sheets and towels, misquoting the scriptures!

Actually, acting out the nativity each year is one of my favorite Christmas traditions, it's so fun to watch, and a sweet reminder of the reason behind all of the merriment.

Brielle was the bunny-herder.

Here's the whole cast, we had a stellar performance this year!

Better than presents!

What's better than a present? Why the wrapping paper of course! Seriously I think the children had more fun jumping in all of the paper than they did with their new toys. Silly children.

Brielle has always enjoyed destruction and chaos so this was right up her alley.

Hyrum was the responsible one, "hold on guys, SOMEONE is going to have to clean up this mess."

Brielle and Elizabeth jumping in paper long after the others.

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas with the Streadbecks in California! We spent most of our time ENJOYING our vacation and not photographing it, so I'm afraid we have more memories than pictures this time. On Christmas eve we went to see Santa Claus. Neither of my children would sit on his lap, and getting a picture of all the cousins with Santa proved impossible.

A rare shot of all the cousins save one.

On Christmas Eve the children opened up their matching Christmas jammies. Brielle thought that was the best, wearing the same pj's as the other girls. Hyrum was less impressed.

Hyrum had a darling "Oooooooh" face that he would do every time he opened a gift he liked. The best reaction was when he opened some Disney Pixar Cars. He "oooooh"-ed and squealed for a long time, holding the package over his head, then kissing it, then looking at it once more.


Hyrum became pretty adept at wrapping paper ripping.

Brielle was more serious about her present opening.

Brielle got a jewelry case to put all of her treasures in. She received all sorts of bracelets and necklaces and rings from her parents, grandparents, cousin, and Santa, so now hopefully she won't have to steal her mom's jewelry any more.

Yahoo for noisy toys!!!