Madeline Turns Three

When Madeline asked for an "Ariel" party, I had to use my creative juices. While I love to throw parties, I really can't stand character anything. So, I created an ocean party, threw an Ariel candle on top of the cake, and Madeline loved it. I can hardly stand that my baby is three years old! It is seriously breaking my heart. She has just been an absolute delight to have in our home.

You are so precious sweet Madeline. We love you so. Madeline's invitations read, "Little mermaids of the sea, Madeline is turning three!" She walked around the house all week long saying it over and over and holding up three fingers at the end.

Fellow cake lovers, check my other blog for a better cake view.

Madeline's favorite present was a jewelry box with five pullout drawers. She spends hours pulling the jewelry out, putting it on, and then packing it back up.

We went fishing for prizes (punch balloons).

The two little mermaids.

The gentleman.

Emma, Madeline, her friend Kendi, and the three sweetest older girls ever. They are from our church and love to play with Madeline. I invited them to our party to help out with the little girls and it made Madeline feel so special.

We made mermaid crowns from silk flowers, ribbons, and stretch cord.

Jesus Wants Me For a Sun-beep

I'm the children's music leader at church, (which is the best calling in the world) and every week I spend time in Nursery with Madeline and the rest of the children. We've been singing "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" for months. This morning, I asked Madeline to sing it for me, and this is what she did. I was cracking up because I had never realized she doesn't know what the words really are.

Images from a Great Trip

Shan, Ryan, Bryce

Eli's blessing

cutie pie with the macadamia nuts

David and Henry

Chelsea and Eli

Bryce's football game

Ryan in the cockpit

I love our Veterans

This picture is of my stellar grandparents, Joseph and Marie Stobbe. It is the only picture I have of my grandpa wearing his military uniform so I thought it was appropriate for Veteran's Day. Grandpa Stobbe landed at Utah Beach in France on D+10 as one of the first replacements for the 90th division. He fought through extraordinary situations and was wounded three times. To this day, he credits his survival to the Lord for protecting him and answering his prayers, which were offered from fox holes and hedgerows when they were in dire circumstances. It is to this hero and so many more that I say thank you this Veteran's Day. Shan's grandpa, Knude Swensen, also fought in WWII, and Shan's uncle, Bill Youngren, fought in Vietnam. So many soldiers throughout America's history gave the ultimate sacrifice, and so many more gave where they could. What I love about these noble men is their love of freedom and their sheer bravery. Goodness and muscles are such a good combination. I love them- every single one.

Emma's Animal Library

I walked into the living room last night to an Animal Library. Emma had set it up all over the couches, fireplace, chairs, and floor and she even picked books that she thought the specific animal would enjoy reading (the ocean book for Mr. sea turtle and so on). How cute are children?

Pinkalicious Party

Shan and Ryan are taking a "boys' weekend" to visit Bryce and Shan's family in Oregon. Emma is so jealous, so I've been trying to make our girl's weekend lots of fun too. So far, we've painted fingernails and toenails, gone to Chick-fil-a for lunch, seen "Madagascar 2" at the movie theatre and held a "Pinkalicious" party.

Pinkalicious is a darling new book that the girls love. It's about a girl who eats too many pink cupcakes and turns pink. It is clever and cute. So, for our Pinkaliciuos party, I had the girls dress up in everything pink we could find and we made pink cupcakes with pink frosting. Then, my little Pinkalicious fairies delivered them to friends and neighbors.

Psuedonyms

OK, so I'm extremely anxious about the election today, but since there's nothing I can do, I decided to do a fun post instead of vent. So play along with me, it's fun. I tag ALL the people on my "family" and "friends" lists.

1. ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Gretchen Sienna

2. GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Burnt Almond Fudge Flip Flop

3. NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Blue Dolphin

4. SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Ann Salt Lake

5. STAR WARS NAME (the first three letters of your last name, first two of your first name): Grima

6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Green Water

7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Joseph Dallas

8. HUSSY NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Happy Chocolate

9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your fifth grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Lindstrom Los Angeles

10. SPY NAME (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Valentine Peony

11. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you're wearing right now): Peach Spandex

12. HIPPIE NAME (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Omelet Oak