Let's Play Croquet!

When I saw this croquet set at Costco this Spring I had to get it. I have so many great memories of playing this game every summer at my Grandma Rosie's house. It was a tradition. My brothers and I would spend one or two weeks up near Seattle every summer and those weeks were always the best part of summer vacation. My grandma and grandpa were so great! They tried so hard to make sure we had the best time and we always did. They weren't your average grandparents. They took us to Enchanted Village, Wild Waves, 20 mile bike rides, Johnny Cash concert (although at 8 I didn't appreciate), county fairs, beaches and lakes, but the best time was playing croquet in the backyard after dinner. We would do this every night. My parents even bought a croquet set so we could play at home, but it was never the same. Although my girls didn't get a chance to play croquet at Grandma's, I hope the tradition will still live on at our house!

7 Years

At our rehearsal dinner

Sunday was not only Father's Day, but it was also our wedding anniversary! Last weekend we celebrated by seeing the Broadway show Curtains, (which was so fabulous)and Eric brought home some very yummy cupcakes from Buttercup Bakery. He never disappoints! For my 18th birthday he took me to the Broadway touring of Beauty and the Beast in Portland, OR and now eleven years later we celebrated on actual Broadway. This got me thinking about all the years we've been together so here's our relationship by the numbers.

• 7 years married
• 13 years since our first date
• 24 years since we first met (Wow!)
• 2 kids
• 4 apartments
• 3 states
• 4 different school programs/degrees
• 4 Broadway shows together
• Too many sweet treats to number!
  

One of my favorite gifts from our wedding is an anniversary book given to us by my sister-in-law. You fill in each year's details and place a picture from that year. It's so fun to see the changes to the family. It's amazing to me how much we have been through, seen and done in these past seven years. He has given me a life that I have always dreamed of living! I'm so glad my 16 year old instincts were correct! I'm the luckiest girl! I love you!!

Outside the Portland Temple

Happy Father's Day!

Thanks for being such a great dad! We love you!!! XOXO

The Ballet Recital

I am getting behind on my posts! On Friday we attended Ella's ballet recital! She was so excited and looked adorable. I sat in on the rehearsal and was so impressed with her dancing abilities! This is Ella's second recital of her life and like the first had it's "Ella" moments. Last year she started to walk off with her teacher and then realized the other girls were doing their end pose so she ran on stage while they ran off and stood there by herself in her pose. (She got her own applause.) This year her first dance was super, but the second dance she couldn't get back to her sticker because the girls were spread out so instead of just dancing where there was room she stood there with her arms folded with the saddest look on her face. It heartbreaking! I tried to motion to her to keep dancing, but she just stood there. I was afraid the rest of the night she would be upset, but by the time she showed the gymnastics moves she had learned, all was forgotten. She did some great somersaults, a cartwheel, and a back bend! She tried to do each of them without help which was pretty darn cute! Her favorite part of the night was getting the rose from her teacher and eating the cake! Forget ballet, bring on the cake!!

Happy Birthday Will!!

Today is my little brother's 28th birthday! Because as of today(or any other day most likely), he hasn't received a card or a gift from me, I thought I'd will share my love for him through a blog! So, with no more delay, here are my top 10 favorite things about my brother!

1. He always tries to be active and eat right, which is a great example to me.

2. He always shared vital information about the boys we went to school with so I would know who to stay away from. (He loved Eric and approved of him right away.)

3. He is very social and still great friends with people from high school and college.

4. He is great with kids, and one day will be a great father.

5. He always calls me on Mother's Day and my birthday.

6. Appreciates a good chick flick.

7. Fun to talk to on the phone.

8. He's a guys guy, but is very sensitive and sweet.

9. He married someone who is a perfect match to him and didn't disappoint me with a sister-in-law I didn't like! (Because it's all about me right?)

10. He is the nicest guy I know and I'm the luckiest sister!

Preschool Graduation

Yesterday, Ella had a little preschool graduation. It was so sweet! She made a hat to wear and got a certificate. They also had made yearbooks about what they enjoyed during the year. Ella of course can't decide on anything so her answers included: favorite color-whole rainbow, favorite snack-all snacks, favorite activity- everything! I wish she was that agreeable at home!! (What do you want for dinner?-Anything!) How nice would that be?

To continue the discussion of Ella and school, I went to the kindergarten meeting today for next year at the school we may attend. Although I still haven't made a decision, I was very pleased with the school and staff. The two kindergarten teachers seemed very sweet. Ella went to the class with one of them while my meeting was going on without any hesitations and when I picked her up she said, "I love school!" That was a good sign! We'll see how the summer goes and then make the big decision.

I think I'm being replaced?

Ella- Mom, can you have another kid for me to play with?

Me-You mean, you want mommy to have another baby?

Ella-Yeah, so I can have someone else to play with.

Me-If I have a baby you won't be able to play with it until it gets bigger. Just like when Chloe was born.

Ella- I can take care of it for you.

Me-What would you do?

Ella- I can feed it milk, water and juice and some food. You won't have to do anything at all! But you can still live with us because I still want to live with a mom!